Istrian Villas Plava Laguna

First time in Croatia and it was a brilliant holiday. The villa complex itself has two large swimming pools of lovely temperature, one salt and one fresh water, plenty of sun beds with loads on the pool terraces; there is a small marina in the middle and a bakery and shop a few minutes walk. There is also sea access at multiple points again a few minutes walk in pretty much any direction. The villas are set in a larger resort called Stella Maris, which has some other apartments, the area is car free so you have a golf buggy with trailer transfer you from the main resort reception to the Villa reception and then to your Villa. The villa was lovely, really spaced for us and our teenaged children in a two bed set up, little kitchenette and large lounge and dining table. The outside area is a private terrace with curtains around if you wanted, with a large table and sunbeds, large gas barbecue and garden area; ours overlooked the marina and was about 1 minute from the pool and 5 from the beach. In the centre of the Stella Maris resort is a public beach which is really a sheltered bay with a narrow entrance under a bridge out to the wider Sea, so is ideal for safe swimming and there are pine trees for shade and a snack bar and ice cream kiosk. There are posh cushioned sunbeds with parasols and tables here which are €10 a day, but you don’t need to use them. This beach is gently shelving as are some of the coastal beaches but, there isn’t really any sand, it is all pebbles in the kind of lake and then rocks or manmade access so this is not for you if you like expanses of sand. I don’t like the mess of sand and one child also isn’t keen, so this was why I picked the resort. There are rocks for snoring over and the sea is amazingly clear. The wider area is the town centre of Umag, which is a 25 minute walk or there is land train running back and forth from Stella Maris into Umag, every 10 minutes or so; though €4 per adult one way. We tended to walk into town and get the train back as it runs quite late until around 11.00pm. The promenade in Umag around the harbour is nice, with a lot of restaurants, bars and shops, there is a town square and you can walk around to see the sunset, from the sea wall, though the sunsets were also amazing from the resort. We had a couple of day trips, we went on a cruise up the coast to swim and see dolphins one evening and slightly unexpectedly got the ferry from Umag across to Venice for the day, which is an early start but great opportunity; left at 7.30 took nearly three hours, then you have about 5 hours in Venice and get the ferry back late afternoon. We got back into Umag in time for dinner in one of the restaurants with a terrace on the Sea. Overall, great holiday, lovely place, nice food, amazing swimming, happy teenagers, which isn’t easy and we were all sad to leave.

We had a wonderful stay at the Istrian Villas. We were here for 3 nights. Our villa was a great size, clean with a well equipped kitchen. The villa was modern and very comfortable. The grounds of the resort are beautiful. The waterfront near the villas is beautiful and relaxing. The staff have been very kind and accommodating during our stay. The first villa that we were given had a strong sewage smell. I politely asked for a move and they were able to give us the same size villa. They were very accommodating with this change. The location is close driving distance to Umag. We were able to go into town and explore waterfront restaurants. Many water sports were available for purchase and my son and husband enjoyed many of them.

Don't come in May as facilities are closed until June. Minimum choice for breakfast as cater for eastern Europe tastes. I mean who has polenta and yesterdays veg for breakfast??? So for UK tourists only choice today and yogurt's Bakery 7am - 11am, supermarket 8-2.30 overpriced and minimal choice ok if you want beers and chocolate, they sell salad and fruit but been there a while, sell bread, jams, milk, yogurts just in case you miss breakfast as it's 7-9am The villas and complex are lovely, everything you need, except toaster, most with views of the water. Very clean. Gas BBQ on all balconies, plus curtains on patios for privacy. Not totally traffic free as about 30 German tourists on racing bikes used footpaths at speed. Not geared for Brits as most staff speak German not English. Plus side we found land train which leaves from by bakery to Umag, 4euro bit bumpy but it gets you out. Train dropped off at Umag harbour, walk into centre. Taxi if you hire from reception. Umag is Cafe culture, couple of tourist shops, but nothing open at night until June.

The apartments are ok nothing special , staff are rude and unfriendly in reception, definitely not 4* rooms , apartments are noisy , It’s far to set up for German tastes , no English here at all , the strangest thing we noticed is the facility is not exclusively for guests of the hotel or apartments anyone can come here so getting a sun lounger near the sea is a nightmare , you would of thought that if you stayed on the complex you may be guaranteed a sun-bed but no, Don’t do half board , food is boring and tasteless , everything tastes the same and the choice is really rubbish , the cakes are awful . I’ve had the craps for 3 days now and I’m never unwell on holiday cast iron stomach but not here , also my daughter has been unwell too , I actually think I’ve lost weight while I’ve been here , so for dieting it’s great . The complex is nice and the land train was useful when it’s hot , the train to Umag is worth exploring if only to get something less boring to eat . Shops are nice but expensive for knock off brands from china , you can see this from the boxes they remove the football tops from . Wouldn’t come here again , it’s a shame but tbh I can’t wait to get home and finish the decorating and fluff the cat . Give me Bournemouth any day over this place , A little Germany in Croatia it is .

The location of the resort is absolutely stunning: on a small peninsula where the sea is just within a few steps from each building. We made a booking very last minute, while driving in the car (after getting the confirmation email I typed in the address into the navigation and had to 'turn after 900 meters to the right' to the resort, so it was really that last minute) yet the room was prepared with fresh flowers and fruits. Check-in was quick and uncomplicated, yet I would have welcomed more information on amenities, services etc. so we don't have to figure out everything by ourselves. We booked the self catering stay so I cannot comment on the all-inclusive option. We had lunch and dinner at O Grille and the pizza restaurant. Waiters were super friendly at both places, food was OK but not extraordinary. The villa itself was amazing, nicely refurbished and equipped with everything you need incl. sunbeds, gas grill, very well equipped bar etc. the bathroom could have been a bit more spacious though. The villa area can not be accessed by car, they transfer you with a golf car to the building, this is perfectly fine. Yet the supermarket is not close so I had to walk with back with the grocery which wasn't ideal. The beaches are rocky or pebbly but this is Croatia so shouldn't be a surprise. With small children we spent more time at the pool. We had a nice stay here, probably could have explored the resort better but we were rather out for relaxation.