I'have just returned from Opatija, where we spent 4 days in Grand Hotel Adriatic. I checked the hotel web-site for offer and booked a 4-day package directly with the hotel. We stayed in the 4-star part of the hotel. The room was excellent, huge and well equipped, as well as the bathroom. It was really disappoiting that the sea-view which we had booked turned out to be a view onto a lawn and another hotel building, whereas the real sea was to be seen in one corner when you lean over the balcony. But the reception-desk staff claimed it was still to be categorized as a sea-view and I didn't want to bother and to spoil my vacation by arguing about it. We had a half-board. The breakfast-buffet had a very good variety of food, but I would appreaciate a better selection of rolls, f.e. The dinner-buffet had an excellent selection of food, very tasty indeed. The Istrian Dinner on Tuesday was really yammie. The wellness center on the top floor of the hotel is a real asset. Don't miss it by any chance! It has a magnificant view onto the Kvarnerski Zaljev Bay. An there is a relax zone in which you can help yourself with apples, fresh water and warm tea. The only inconvinient thing about the wellness centre is that bath robes must be hired and paid about € 2.5 per a day and you must leave it in the wellness centre on leaving, so you can't go to your room in it. The service of the beauty centre is very well worth trying as well. We tried the hotel beach, which is not sandy however, but that is how the beaches look like in entire Opatija region, but it is clean, has shadow enough to hide from the Sun, it is open only to the hotel guests and it is very nice to stay there and there is a beach restaurant. The chairs are to be hired even by the hotel guests and they are charged about € 2 per a day. The hotel staff is very nice and helpful, although the reception-desk staff might appear a little bit confused, confusing and uncoordinated, but they were really doing their best to help us with whatever requests we might have, including booking us tickets for perfomrances in the town. The cleaning staff was a little bit annoying with slamming on the door in the morning in an attempt to check weather we were already off for breakfast. And we had twice to ask for soap and toilet-paper which the cleaning staff forgot to deliver. However, the cleanness is on the 4-star level. There is a casino in the hotel, which he haven't visited. The location of the hotel is very good, not right in the centre of Opatija, but about 10 minutes slow walk from it. I can certainly recommend this hotel for a real getaway and enjoyable stay.

The Grand Hotel Adriatic is split into two sections, one 3-star and the other 4-star. So this review is for the 3-star section. Our room was fine. It was clean, and the maids always managed to service the room whilst we were at breakfast, which was very handy. The room is a bit cramped but all the facilities were there and in good working order. The best part was our balcony overlooking the sea. The hotel's location is good, within walking distance of many restaurants, cafes, etc. Parking is a problem but that seemed to be the case all over Opatija. It advertises having its own private beach but, as with the rest of Opatija, the beach is rocky with no sand. Saying that, there is a concrete platform with sun loungers (that you have to hire) and easy access to swim in the water. Breakfast was good however we had dinner one night at the hotel and it was not inspiring. It was also the most expensive meal we had on our holiday so I had expected better. We did have some problems with our reservation which was through an online hotel-booking agency, not directly with the hotel. It took us 1.5 hours to check out as we had to phone the agency to get them to re-fax the booking through to the hotel. Not the hotel's fault, but their initial tone was quite abrupt: they do not allow bookings through agencies so we have to pay. After much phoning around, we sorted things out ourselves and I was too tired to begin pointing out that we'd proven that they do in fact take bookings from agencies. Also they didn't let us use their phones so we had to keep walking back and forth from the nearest payphone outside their hotel (no payphones inside). So just a word of warning - come armed with printouts and contact numbers should you have a problem. We've used online hotel agencies many times before and it has always been seamless.

We planned a short trip (4 days) to Croatia and after considering the most popular destinations, ie. Pula, Rovinj and Porec decided to stay at Opatija since it is suitable to explore both Istria and Kvarner regions. Since there are some hotels in Opatija, I'm sure that there are some cheaper and some better than Grand Hotel Adriatic, but this one offers a good price-quality relationship. We got a good deal by contacting the hotel directly. Check their webpage for special offers as we did. Grand Hotel Adriatic has two buildings, seems they were separate hotels before but now they connected by a corridor, the one we booked is the "standard" one, where they have the budget rooms and the casino, while in the "modern" you will find the reception, the buffet and the spa and I guess the better quality rooms. Our room was what we expected: double bed, ensuite bathroom, air conditioned and a small balcony with a view on the bay and the sea. The breakfast buffet was fine but not great. The staff is very gentle and helpful. The only problem that we found is that rooms could be cleaned better. The swimming pool and the spa are noticeable new and sure they are one of the hotel's assets. The best choice for a rainy day. The parking is a problem in Opatija while on high season, so it is for Grand Hotel, as they have less parking spaces than rooms. We have been told that the direction plans to construct a parking soon. They also have a bar next to the beach where you hire a beach lounge chair. Again, Grand Hotel Adriatic may be a good choice if budget matters while having a standard quality.