Maistra Select All Suites Island Hotel Istra

I don't often leave reviews, but I felt compelled to pass on our gratitude to the hotel. We have been to Hotel Istra 7 times now - the reason we return is there's nowhere in the world like it. We've travelled a lot but Hotel Istra feels like a home from home. Recently the hotel has been thoughtfully refurbished, with consideration given to impactful, and helpful improvements - not just superficial change. The rooms have been redecorated, but touches like complimentary nappies in baby changing areas, security gates on pool areas, entertainment like pool basketball, refurbished children's play area and pools, and wristband room keys all made the stay smoother and more enjoyable. The location is second to none, and we were apprehensive to go in August in case it was really busy - but it was so well managed and now our favourite time of year to visit. There's so much to do, from walking around the adjoining wooded island, snorkelling, paddleboarding, inflatable watersports, rock pooling, spa. We're already planning our next visit as there was more things we'd love to try (even after 7 years!). Each experience changes and offers something new as our son gets grows up. Thank you Maistra for our best trip yet. Our only small comment would be that we couldn’t understand why guests aren’t able to board the ferry at the first arrival point on the dock (the hotel side) to cross over to the city side. It’s quite a long walk around the harbour, particularly in the heat with a young child. It would be really useful if this could be offered as an option, especially for guests wanting to visit the supermarket and carry heavier bags back, or simply to get to the city side more easily.

We visited the hotel last week and while a lovely location, I don't think we will go back: 1. My daughter got an ear infection from the pool and had to go to the doctors. 2. The buffet was not great - after one meal my son vomited. The food was often cold and not great quality. There is a second dining room but they clear everything away before the end of service. 3. The staff are rude. We witnessed a fight between staff in the dining room. 4. The fire alarm kept going off. Twice during the middle of the night. We went down to reception at 2am where people were evacuating too - and no staff in sight. And no apology or explanation. 5. They over charged us at the bar for sandwiches and won't return our money. We have been home for 3 days and keep making excuses why they can't issue a refund (it's with a manager; it will be there tomorrow; it's the weekend...). All of the above are reasons we won't go back - which is a shame because Rovinj is beautiful. This was far below the standard we had experienced at the hotel Eden (which is meant to be a lower quality hotel).

We just spent 11 nights here and apart from a few minor issues, I would definitely go back and recommend it anyone who wants to holiday in Croatia. The hotel itself is obviously on an island, with another island joined by a walkway. This means there is loads of space for people to go and investigate, and set up on a sunlonger out of the way if they wish. There are 4 pools (2 large, 2 kids), and lots of sunbeds. The pool area is closed until 9 am, so as long as you're there on time, there's no real danger of not getting a bed. The food selection at breakfast and dinner, was good, and is much the same that you would find at any half board hotel. I've had better, but I've also had a lot, lot worse! I've read some reviews with people who have complained about it, which I really don't get. The staff were all super friendly and helpful. It was my wifes birthday while we were there and we came back to the room one evening to find a bottle of champagne, and a birthday banner. The ferry to and from the hotel was no issue as long as you time them correctly. The only things that could have been better all concerned our room. It was myself, my wife, and our 11 year old daughter staying. We found our room (No 275) to be a bit on the small side. There's a table and chair in the room, and with the pull out bed opened, they get in the way when going out onto the balcony. Toes were stubbed on the chair on numerous occasions 😂 The wardrobe space wasnt great for the three of us. There are two top shelves for clothing which I had to use the chair to stand on (it did come in handy i suppose 😂 ) to be able to reach. I couldn't reach them, and I'm 6ft 1" tall. Our fridge didn't work. The drinks that were in there were luke warm, which also meant, any bottles of water that we put in there, also stayed luke warm. I reported this to reception the day after we arrived, and nobody had came to check it out by the time we left. These are minor things, and it would not put me off from returning. All in all, we had a lovely visit 😊

This was my second stay at this beautiful hotel, and returning to Rovinj always feels wonderful. Hotel Istra has a truly magical setting and so many qualities that make it special. With a few thoughtful improvements, it could easily be first class. Pool — Absolutely outstanding. Spotlessly clean, perfectly maintained, and always the ideal temperature. Setting — The island is breathtaking. The jogging path, the sunsets and sunrises, and the peaceful atmosphere make it unlike anywhere else. The addition of water sports is a fantastic bonus. Food — A hugely noticeable improvement since my last visit. Plenty of variety and consistently good quality. Genuinely great. Rooms — Compact but smartly designed, well equipped, and very comfortable. The beds are excellent. Boat transfer — Efficient, punctual, and a smooth way to travel between the island and the mainland. Air conditioning — The biggest challenge during peak season. Both the rooms and communal areas were often too warm, and it was hard to find a genuinely cool space. Daytime entertainment — The daytime schedule is extremely limited. The kids club focuses almost entirely on very young children, with activities such as learn to swim, mermaid-tail sessions and ball games in the pool. Usually once a day for about 20-30 mins.These are lovely for small children, but they don’t cater to a wider age range or to sporty kids. Given the facilities available — tennis courts, large open spaces, shaded areas, and a huge indoor kids club room — there is so much potential for sports sessions, mini-football, tennis lessons, creative workshops, or mixed-age challenges. The list could be endless. If these do exist, it certainly wasn’t clear to me and they were not well advertised as a cohesive daytime programme of activities across the resort. The kids club itself is a large, well-equipped space, but it’s not being used to its potential. It could easily host structured sessions, themed afternoons, indoor sports, At the moment, it feels under‑utilised and again very much focused on very young children. Evening entertainment — This is where the gap is most noticeable. All very confusing. The hotel has a fully set-up stage and a large bar area that could create a brilliant evening venue if opened up, yet during peak August there was hardly any evening entertainment at all. Families naturally look for evening entertainment, something for the kids at a slightly earlier time, and then something later in the evening too for adults and slightly older children to enjoy. Without this, guests head to the mainland, which reduces atmosphere and bar revenue. Rovinj has a thriving creative scene, and bringing performers to the island would be simple, cost-effective, and hugely appreciated. The Captains Bar is perfect for couples wanting quiet music and conversation, so keeping that space calm and peaceful while adding a full family entertainment programme to the main reception/bar area would give everyone something that suits. Island shop — Convenient and well-stocked for toys, inflatables, and pool essentials, but missing a range of everyday practical items that families often need. Because the hotel is on an island, even small errands require a boat trip to the mainland. Essentials such as snacks, basic toiletries, women’s sanitary products, simple medication, and children’s necessities would make a big difference. For families , especially with young children, taking a one hour round trip for something small can be inconvenient and disruptive. In summary Hotel Istra is a beautiful place and holds a special place in my heart. I would never want it to lose its charm or become overly commercial, it’s a hidden gem. But with a few thoughtful tweaks, especially around entertainment and practical family needs, it could elevate itself from lovely to exceptional. Right now, it feels a little unsure whether it wants to be an adults-focused romantic retreat or a family-friendly resort. It works wonderfully as the former, and in reality it’s a large enough island that it could do both really well if developed. But to truly cater for families of varying ages, it needs to refine the subtle but important details that make a family holiday seamless. Dare I say an all inclusive option would not go amiss here and would offer something hard to find on the mainland. More family boat trips and day trips with pick up from the hotel would be a real winner to, currently the options are very exclusive and expensive, missing a trick. Until the next time! Thanks for a wonderful holiday.

Hotel very clean and staff very friendly and professional . However the breakfast was good the evening meals buffet was tasteless. Lots of choice . Children running around the dining room with people carrying hot plates of food. Not good overall. This was our third visit and wouldn’t go back it was very noisy.