Croatia's Hidden Gem: The Residence Aparthotel - Unforgettable Stay!
Croatia's Hidden Gem: The Residence Aparthotel - Unforgettable Stay! (My Chaotic, Wonderful Review)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I’m about to spill the tea on The Residence Aparthotel in Croatia. Forget sterile, corporate reviews; you're getting the raw, unfiltered, borderline-obsessive truth. And spoiler alert: I’m still dreaming of that pool. And that… thing they called a breakfast croissant. Let's dive in, shall we?
(Accessibility & Safety: The Stuff That Makes You Breathe Easy)
Right off the bat, this place gets a gold star for trying. Accessibility is… mostly there. They've got an elevator, which is HUGE (literally and figuratively) when you're hauling suitcases. I'm not a wheelchair user myself, but I saw some ramps and the staff seemed genuinely helpful, which is refreshing. They've got the basics covered, folks.
And safety? Hoo boy, did they nail it. This was, like, pre-pandemic obsessive with the cleanliness, which, honestly, I appreciated. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, room sanitization between stays… it was like living in a hospital… but with a much better view. I even saw them using professional-grade sanitizing services. They went HARD. Hand sanitizer dispensers were everywhere – including on the walls – which I appreciated. I'm a germaphobe, sue me. And the staff are trained in safety protocol – which is a breath of fresh air compared to some hotels where you're pretty sure they're just winging it. CCTV in common areas and outside the property made me feel safe, even wandering back late from a night out. They really thought of everything.
(Internet Access (and Related Headaches): The Modern Human’s Predicament)
Okay, let's be real. The internet. It’s a necessity, a curse, and a source of constant frustration. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yes! Wonderful! (Claps hands wildly). Internet access – wireless? Fantastic! But… the Wi-Fi signal sometimes dropped. Okay, maybe more than "sometimes." And the Internet access – LAN… I didn't even bother trying. But hey, they tried. That at least gets them points. Oh, and Wi-Fi in public areas was… also a bit patchy. But hey, it’s Croatia, not Silicon Valley. You're there to enjoy the view, not to binge-watch Netflix, right? (Says the person who spent the entire first afternoon trying to stream the Croatian subtitles for Ted Lasso). The Internet services are present with the laptop workspace to make it a bit better.
(Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Okay, Now We’re Talking!)
This is where The Residence Aparthotel truly shines. Forget the cramped hotel rooms; this place is all about the chill.
The Pool with a View: Okay, I need to gush. I practically lived in the swimming pool [outdoor]. The view from that pool? Jaw-dropping. Turquoise water, a sliver of the Adriatic, and a cocktail in hand… perfection. The poolside bar was a lifesaver. The Pool with a View also provides bottled water to keep you hydrated.
The Spa: The Spa/sauna setup was heavenly. They even had a steamroom, which I’m mildly addicted to now. I did the body scrub and body wrap, and for a few glorious hours, I forgot all about the world, and all its problems. Pure bliss. The massage was… let’s just say, I’d go back just for that. A couple's room is available.
Fitness Center: Yes, they have a gym/fitness. Which, let’s be honest, I looked at more than I used, but it’s there!
Getting Around & Parking: Car park [free of charge], car park [on-site]. Yes! And airport transfer, which took the stress out of arriving and departing. Huge win in my book.
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Oh, That Breakfast Croissant!)
Okay, the food situation… It’s a mixed bag, but mostly good.
Breakfast [buffet]: This was the real highlight. There was a breakfast buffet, or you could arrange for breakfast in room. The Asian breakfast was… adventurous. But the Western breakfast? Solid. Now, that croissant. I have no idea what they put in it, but it was flaky, buttery, and perfectly formed, and I’ve been trying to replicate it ever since. A true highlight of the trip. I'm still dreaming of it.
The Restaurant: The a la carte in restaurant was pretty good. And the international cuisine in restaurant offered good variations, including some surprising Asian dishes. The salad in restaurant was fresh and vibrant. I even found some pretty good desserts in restaurant.
Snacks and Drinks: Poolside bar was essential for fueling up during lazy days by the pool. There was a great happy hour too, with some surprisingly decent cocktails. The coffee/tea in restaurant was always on point.
(Services and Conveniences: Little Luxuries That Matter)
The Residence Aparthotel really goes above and beyond when it comes to making your stay comfortable.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent, always spotless.
- Doorman: Always friendly and helpful.
- Concierge: Very helpful.
- Laundry service/Dry cleaning/Ironing service: Perfect for those who, like me, can’t travel light.
- Room service [24-hour]: Because sometimes you just need pizza at 2 AM.
- Convenience store: Handy.
- Currency exchange: Convenient.
- Luggage storage: Helpful for early arrivals or late departures.
(Rooms: Cozy, Clean, and Surprisingly Well-Equipped)
The rooms. They were spacious, clean, and well-appointed. They offered plenty of room.
- Air conditioning: Essential in the Croatian heat.
- Blackout curtains: Sleep-in heaven.
- Bathrobes, Slippers: Nice touches.
- Coffee/tea maker: Coffee is my lifeblood.
- Minibar: Always stocked with something interesting.
- In-room safe box: Peace of mind.
- Free bottled water: Very important in the heat.
- Private bathroom, Separate shower/bathtub, Toiletries: No complaints here.
- Hair dryer: Essential for my mane.
- Desk, Closet: Plenty of storage space.
- Soundproofing: Crucial.
- Alarm clock: Helped me get my lazy self out of bed.
- Seating area: Comfortable and relaxing.
- Internet access – wireless: As I mentioned, it was sometimes a bit spotty, but still available.
- Daily housekeeping: The rooms looked absolutely pristine every single day.
(For the Kids (and the Kid in You!))
Family/child friendly is a huge plus. I saw a few families there, and the hotel seemed to cater to them well. They’ve got babysitting service and kids facilities, including kids meal. I think even I would have enjoyed those things if I were a kid.
(Getting Around: Easy Peasy)
Airport transfer made arrival and departure a breeze. Taxi service was readily available.
(A Final Word: Go! Book Now!)
Look, The Residence Aparthotel isn’t perfect. The Wi-Fi could be better, and sometimes it felt a little too sterile. But the pros far outweigh the cons. It's a beautiful, relaxing, well-run hotel with amazing amenities, incredible views, and a staff that genuinely cares about making your stay special. Trust me; it's a hidden gem.
My Offer:
Tired of the Same Old Hotel Scene? Book The Residence Aparthotel and Experience Croatia's Hidden Paradise!
Here's why you need to book NOW:
- Unbeatable Pool & Spa: Dive into a world of relaxation with our stunning pool and rejuvenating spa.
- Cleanliness & Safety: We're committed to your well-being with rigorous hygiene protocols.
- Delicious Breakfasts: Starting with that magical croissant!
- Convenience & Comfort: Free Wi-Fi, spacious rooms, and exceptional service.
Book your stay today and receive:
- A Complimentary Welcome Drink
- A Discount on Spa Treatments
- Early Check-in / Late Check-out (based on availability)
Don't miss out on the chance to experience the ultimate Croatian getaway! Book now before availability is gone!
Escape to Paradise: Metro Sand & Sea Resort, Thailand Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're about to embark on a Croatian adventure that's less "smooth sailing" and more "slightly-seasick-but-loving-it." This itinerary? Consider it a suggestion. My REAL plan? Winging it, baby! And yeah, The Residence Aparthotel in Croatia? Our supposed home base. Let's see how that actually shakes out…
DAY 1: Arrival - Dubious First Impressions & the Great Fridge Fiasco
- Morning (7:00 AM, plus or minus a couple hours depending on how much flight turbulence I can handle): Arrive at Split Airport (SPU). Theoretically, the pre-booked transfer is waiting. Theoretically. Pray to the travel gods it's not a beat-up Lada with a driver who only speaks Croatian. (Update: It was neither! It was a perfectly adequate, albeit slightly beige, Mercedes. Victory!)
- Late Morning (10:00 AM - Give or take): Check into The Residence Aparthotel. Pray the "apartment" looks remotely like the Instagram glam shots. (Spoiler Alert: It wasn't exactly as pictured. The light fixtures seemed to be perpetually engaged in a staring contest with the ceiling, and the "sea view" was more of a "side-street-and-a-glimpse-of-ocean-if-you-stand-on-your-tiptoes" situation. But hey, at least there's a balcony, right?).
- Afternoon (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM): The Fridge Fiasco. The one thing I needed to survive the first day – cold water. Opened the fridge. Empty. Utterly bereft of life. This, my friends, is a tragedy. Rant to the desk - I swear I could practically HEAR their eyes rolling. Resolved to head downstairs. Get the water, and then…
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Forced food run to a local bakery. Ordered something. Pretty sure I got a mystery pastry. (It may or may not have contained meat. Ignorance is bliss, right?). Ate it on the balcony whilst avoiding the gaze of the world.
- Afternoon/Evening (3:00 PM - 7:00 PM): NAP. Just because. Jet lag is a brutal mistress. Then, attempt to find a decent restaurant nearby, but inevitably end up in a tourist trap with overpriced pizza and questionable music. But hey, the view was okay. I think. (By this point, I was half-asleep again. And I never did find that good water. Dammit.)
DAY 2: Split - Diocletian's Palace & My Existential Crisis in a Tiny Alleyway
- Morning (9:00 AM - Let’s be honest, probably more like 10:00 AM): Brave the city! Take a 20 minute Uber to Split. First stop, Diocletian's Palace. Honestly? Amazing. Seriously, like, mind-blowing. The sheer scale of it is unreal. Wandered around, got lost in the tiny, winding alleyways, and had an existential crisis. Seriously, what am I even doing with my life? Surrounded by millennia of history. The crumbling brickwork… the echoes of Roman emperors… The sheer weight of time…
- Mid-morning (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Suffer. The endless crowd. Found a tiny cafe to rest. Coffee was decent, but my attempts to order food resulted in a confused staring contest with a waiter. Decided against food. Ate a granola bar in the shadow of a decaying Roman temple.
- Lunch (12:30 PM - 2:00 PM): Found a REAL restaurant near the water. Seafood risotto. It was a revelation. Absolutely divine. Even the seagulls seemed to approve. (I think I saw one wink). Stared at the ocean and felt like I should make something of myself.
- Afternoon (2:30 PM - 6:00 PM): Wander. Get lost. See more of the palace. Admire the architecture. Take a million pictures, all of which will probably look the same. Buy a useless souvenir. (A tiny replica of the palace that I'll probably break by tomorrow).
- Evening (7:00 PM - Late): Back to The Residence. The fridge? Still empty. Order pizza delivery. Regret not buying water. Watch a terrible movie on TV. Contemplate my life choices. And maybe, just maybe, venture out and get some water…or just stick my head under the tap.
DAY 3: Hvar - The Island of Sun, Saints… and SunBURN
- Morning (8:00 AM - Aim for, actual time: 9:30 AM): Ferry to Hvar. Sunscreen. Seriously, lather up. Trust me on this one. The sun on the Adriatic is no joke. Booked a boat tour thinking it would be romantic.
- Morning/Afternoon (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM): Boat tour of Hvar (the romantic dream). Stunning waters. Genuinely breathtaking. Pristine beaches. The bluest water I've ever seen. However: Found myself on a boat with a group of VERY enthusiastic Italian tourists. Let's just say their singing skills were… questionable. And my attempts at small talk failed miserably. Turns out my Italian is even worse than my Croatian.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM): Hvar Town exploration: Walk around the town, shop for souvenirs. (Yes, I did buy another useless trinket. What can I say? I have a problem). Check out the views from the fortress, the architecture.
- Evening (7:00 PM onwards): Dinner in Hvar. Attempt to find a restaurant not overrun by tourists. Success! (Sort of). Got slightly tipsy on the local wine. Talked to a very friendly Croatian man and practiced some conversational Croatian.
- Late Evening: Ferry back – sleepy and sun-kissed (and possibly a tiny bit sunburnt).
DAY 4: Relaxation (Supposedly) & The Great Balcony Bake-Off
- Morning (Whenever): Sleep. After three days of running around, I need to sleep off the wine.
- Late Morning/Afternoon (11:00 AM - 3:00 PM): Attempt to enjoy The Residence. This is the plan. The REALITY? Attempted to lounge on the balcony. Sunburn. The sun is merciless. Attempted to read a book. Couldn't focus. Frustrated. Decided to bake something.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM): The Great Balcony Bake-Off. Armed with provisions (and a slightly dodgy oven), I attempted to bake cookies. The cookie recipe was from a friend. The end result? Semi-burned, completely inedible, and strangely resembling a hockey puck. But hey, at least I tried, right? The birds (who, by this point, were probably expecting treats) looked incredibly disappointed.
- Evening (7:00 PM - Late): Walk. Find a restaurant. Try to find something good. Order something. Eat it.
- Night: Review the photos I've taken, and start to feel like I had missed out on something. Reflect on life.
DAY 5: Departure – Or, the Quest for Water, continued
- Morning (Whenever the airport transfer finally manages to locate my apartment): Final breakfast. Pack. Curse the fact that I didn't buy more sunscreen. Curse the fact that the fridge still hasn't seen a drop of water.
- Morning/Afternoon: Check out from The Residence. Hope the place isn't burnt to the ground. (If it is, it wasn't my fault, I swear!). Head to Split Airport. Pray the flight is uneventful. Mentally start planning my next trip (and my quest for a decent fridge).
Final Thoughts:
This trip? Chaotic. Messy. Imperfect. But, you know what? That's life. And that's the beauty of it. Croatia? Incredible. The Residence Aparthotel? Let's just say it had character. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I, perhaps, adjust my expectations a little? Definitely. And would I bring my own water next time? You bet your bottom dollar.
Now, off to find that water… and maybe a map that actually makes sense. Wish me luck.
**Seoul's Hidden Gem: Dongdaemun Golden City Hotel - Unbeatable Luxury!**
Is The Residence Aparthotel *really* a "hidden gem"? Or just another… well, you know?
Okay, okay, so the "hidden gem" thing is a bit overused, right? But here's the deal: it *actually* felt secret. Like, stumbling onto this place was pure accidental brilliance. I’d seen the photos – idyllic, all whitewashed walls and impossibly turquoise water. I thought, "Yeah, right. Photoshop central." But GUESS WHAT? It was even *more* beautiful in person. The location is insane, tucked away just enough to feel private, yet close enough to the hustle and bustle. Honestly, just thinking about that view from the balcony makes me want to cry (happy tears, mostly!). So yeah, it's a gem, alright. A slightly dusty, delightfully imperfect, totally worth-searching-for gem.
What's the vibe like at The Residence? Is it all hushed tones and pretentious cocktails?
THANK GOD, no. The vibe is… relaxed, genuine, kinda… family-run, even though it's not in the *traditional* sense. It's the kind of place where the staff actually *seem* to enjoy their jobs. They crack jokes. They remember your weird coffee order (I drink them like 5 times a day). It’s not stuffy. It’s not trying too hard. It’s comfortable. It feels like you're staying at a slightly more glamorous, incredibly well-located friend's place. (A friend who, let's be honest, has impeccable taste and can afford a stunning view.) Okay, maybe not *every* staff member was perfect (remember that one breakfast when the toast was… well, let’s just say it qualified as fossilized carbon), but even those little hiccups just added to the charm. It's life, right?
The rooms… are they ACTUALLY as gorgeous as the photos? Because hotel photos are often lying, right?
Here's the truth bomb: The photos *mostly* don't lie. The rooms are bright, airy, and styled with a minimalist chic that somehow manages to be both stylish and cozy. The balconies… OH, THE BALCONIES. I'm telling you, I spent hours drinking wine, *watching* the sun dip into the Adriatic while listening to some local radio (the best Croatian hip-hop, obviously). There’s this one room that’s all white and has a hammock on the balcony. Ugh. It's designed to break your heart. I'm pretty sure I wanted to move in permanently. The kitchenettes are functional, which is great when you want to pretend you have it all together like you are cooking up a gourmet dinner while the sun sets. The only real "problem" was the lack of proper plugs next to the bed. But who am I kidding? I didn't even use my phone anyway!
Let's talk food. Is the breakfast buffet worth waking up for? (Because, you know, vacation...)
Okay, the breakfast situation… is a bit of a rollercoaster. Some days? Phenomenal. Freshly baked bread, local cheeses, perfectly ripe fruit. Other days? The aforementioned "fossilized toast" incident. And the coffee? Hit or miss. But honestly, even the less-stellar breakfasts had a certain charm. It's like, "Okay, Croatia, you win again. Even with imperfect toast, I'm still in paradise." Plus, the breakfast area has this amazing view, and that alone makes everything better. I mean, you're in Croatia! Go find a *bakery* and solve your own problems! (Which is what I did, after I ate the slightly charred toast, because food waste, people!) But that view… it’s worth any breakfast. Especially the one where the cat wandered inside looking for scraps. That was a highlight.
Beyond the Aparthotel, what is there to do in the surrounding area? Anything fun?
Oh, please. The surrounding area is a treasure trove! Explore hidden coves, wander the old town. Take a boat tour (find one away from the tourist traps, trust me!). There's water sports if you're into that (I'm more of a "sit on the beach and eat ice cream" kind of person, but to each their own). Visit local wineries. Eat ALL the seafood. The best part? Everything is just a short ride away from The Residence. You can have a wild day and then retreat to your little slice of heaven. I swear, no matter what, The Residence is the perfect place to come back to at the end of the day. It’s like a warm hug… and a glass of wine on the balcony. I miss it!
What about the downsides? Any hidden costs or things to be aware of?
Okay, real talk. No place is perfect. The Residence *is* a bit of a splurge, so be prepared for that. Parking can be tricky in the area, so factor that in, but the hotel has parking spots. The Wi-Fi wasn’t always perfect – sometimes it dropped out when I *really* needed to send that Instagram post. But honestly? These are minor quibbles. The biggest "downside" is probably the fact that you'll desperately not want to leave. I seriously contemplated extending my stay by, like, a month. I nearly cried at baggage claim. Seriously, I’m telling you! Make sure you have a good therapist lined up when you are back!
Would you go back? And more importantly, would YOU recommend The Residence Aparthotel?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? One MILLION percent YES. In fact, I’m already starting to plan my return trip. I'm *that* obsessed. The Residence isn't just a place to stay; it's an experience. It's a feeling. It's that perfect blend of relaxation, beauty, and genuine Croatian hospitality. It's a little slice of heaven that you'll never want to leave. Go. Book it. Now. Before I do. Just… don’t take my room. Because I’m coming back. Okay?
Speaking of experiences… tell me, what ONE thing stands out the most from your stay at The Residence? The "memory maker?"
Okay, this is going to be… a bit of a ramble. But I swear, this one moment sums up everything. So, picture this: It's a Tuesday. I'd spent the entire day getting hopelessly lost in the old town (in a good way, obviously). My feet hurt. I was sun-kissed (read: slightly burnt). I'd eaten way too much gelato. And I was absolutely blissed out. I stumbled back to The Residence, feeling exhausted but utterly content. I unlocked my room, threw open the balcony doors, and… BAM. The golden hour. The sun was setting, painting the sky in these unbelievable shades of orange and pink. I grabbed a bottle of local wine I'd bought earlier (a fantasticInstant Hotel Search
