The crystal
clear turquoise of the seemingly-endless Adriatic Sea glittered in the
sunlight. In the distance was the island of Lokrum. To my left were hills
carpeted with greenery, peppered with white terracotta-roofed houses. This is
what I call a room with a view.
Nestled into
a cliff overlooking the Dalmatian Coast, the Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik
serves up idyllic views in a warm and friendly ambience. Built during the
Communist era, the hotel was severely damaged during the Balkan Wars. Having
been lovingly restored by the Turkish-owned Rixos Group, it is now one of
Dubrovnik’s most luxurious contemporary five-star hotels.
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| Room with a view |
The simply decorated lobby with a central atrium and floor–to-ceiling windows, makes it feel light and spacious.
Check-in was
quick and easy and there was a glass of Croatian bubbly waiting to welcome me. The guest relations team is
especially helpful. Ivana went the extra mile when she bumped into me on
her day off and took me for a walk along a beautiful coastal path that I am not
sure that I would have found myself.
You get the
sense that the people who work in this hotel enjoy their work. The ones I met all seemed so
eager and willing to ensure I had a great experience.
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| Atrium |
There are 254 rooms, most with large balconies, and apartments as well as conference facilities. Rooms are decorated in calming neutral shades and fresh, crisp white. A touch of black gives it a modern feel. The open-plan bathrooms are tastefully decorated. There are coffee and tea making facilities and the free Wi-Fi is quick and efficient. A lovely touch is the bowl of fruit and bottle of water waiting for guests on arrival.
Being by the
sea was therapeutic enough for me, but if you want to indulge in some serious
pampering head down to the Royal Spar that has an impressive menu of
treatments. There you will find an
indoor and outdoor pool and one for children.
You can also
swim in the sea. The beach is rocky. Don’t go to Dubrovnik looking for lovely
sandy beaches. They are mainly shingle or pebbles.
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| Superior twin |
Another great plus of this hotel is the location. Dubrovnik’s fabled old town is only a 15-minute walk away. As I was there early autumn I missed the crowds and most of the cruise ships.
It is not often I would say to go half-board at a hotel. While there are plenty of eateries in
town, they can be hit and miss. Executive chef Özgűr Dönertaş has honed his
skills from many highly-regarded restaurants including Heston Blumenthal’s Fat
Duck in Bray, Berkshire, so you can expect the quality of the food in the hotel to be good.
Produce is
sourced locally. Breakfast and dinner buffets are served in the Mozaik
Restaurant. You will get plenty of choice from international to dishes with a
distinct Mediterranean and Dalmatian flavour. (More on Dalmatian cuisine and
wines in another post.) In the summer you can also dine at the Azzur Fish
Restaurant.
For a real
treat, book yourself a table at the Lalezar Grill House, where Özgűr has
put together a superb choice of Dalmatian dishes with a Turkish twist. There is
also an impressive wine list featuring a variety of Croatian wines.
After dinner
you can relax on the terrace or in the bar and listen to the piano player.
Alternatively if you fancy a flutter there is the Golden Sun Casino, the only
one in town.
Unlike so many resort hotels which can be soulless, the Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik exudes its own special charm making it an idyllic place to stay.
Unlike so many resort hotels which can be soulless, the Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik exudes its own special charm making it an idyllic place to stay.
By Daralyn
Danns
Getting
there
British Airways flies from
London Gatwick to Dubrovnik from £62 each way. For connections from regional
airports and to book visit www.britishairways.com
Rixos
Libertas Dubrovnik is a member of Great Hotels of the World Premium Collection.
Double room rates start from EUR 84.80. For more information or to book, visit
http://www.ghotw.com/hotel/home/rixos-libertas.htm or call 020 7380 3658.
