Seliste Dreznicko bb, Rakovica, Croatia | (937) 315-4602
Modern hotel located right outside Plitvice National Park
Contemporary rooms with hardwood floors and air-conditioning
In-room flat-screen TVs, minibars, kettles, and shower/tub combos
Restaurant that serves regional cuisine
Free hot buffet breakfast
Cafe and bar with an open-air lounge
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Bike rentals available (for a fee)
Free on-site parking
Standard rooms don't have balconies or patios
Rooms lack toiletries
No fitness center
Built in 2011, the three-and-a-half-pearl Hotel Degenija stands out for being relatively new, which gives it a competitive edge against many older properties in and around Plitvice National Park. Its 20 guest rooms have contemporary decor with hardwood floors, though most don't have balconies. Standard amenities include AC, flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles, and shower/tub combos, but they lack toiletries. There's a great open-air cafe and bar where a free breakfast is served, plus a restaurant that offers regional cuisine, but no fitness center. The property doesn't have a pool, either, although one was being built during our visit. For a step up, travelers can consider Hotel Jezero inside the park, which adds a spa and has rooms with better views, but there's no air-conditioning.
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Scene
Quiet, rustic hotel near the park for older couples and other leisure travelers
Hotel Degenija sits right off the main road that treks through Plitvice National Park, but keeps a quiet profile set back on wooded grounds. The hotel mainly attracts older couples seeking solitude in a rustic setting. There are three brown-shingled buildings, and the main house contains a small lobby with polished stone floors and a cozy seating area with two glossy chairs and a shag rug. There's a larger lounge area up a flight of stairs, with attractive red leather couches next to floor-to-ceiling windows. We noticed a lack of music in the common spaces, which tended to make it almost awkwardly silent, but artwork adorning every nook and cranny lends a welcoming, homey vibe.
Location
Right outside Plitvice National Park, but not within walking distance of town
The hotel is located in a quiet, natural setting, but despite being right off of a main road, it's somewhat isolated. Reaching nearby villages and their grocery stores, cafes, and restaurants requires a car. Plitvice National Park is a two-minute drive away, though it's much farther to lakes, waterfalls, and other natural attractions inside the park. The village of Rastoke is 20 minutes away by car, but the closest big city is Karlovac, a 70-minute drive from the hotel. Expect a two-hour drive to Zagreb Airport.
Rooms
Comfortable with contemporary decor, plus minibars and kettles, but no toiletries
The hotel's guest rooms are located in the main building and a handful are housed in an annex next door. All are air-conditioned, with contemporary decor and hardwood floors. Spaces have neutral tones and simple, dark-wood furniture, but colorful accent walls and artworks make them lively. Standard rooms have one double or two twin beds, large desks, and small seating areas with stylish white armchairs. All units have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles, safes, slippers, and free Wi-Fi. Upgraded rooms add balconies, and suites have separate living rooms with couches. The four annex rooms, a short walk from the main building, all have private balconies. The tiled bathrooms are plain but spacious, and have heated towel racks, shower/tub combos, and hairdryers, but they lack toiletries.
Features
Cafe and bar, restaurant with an outdoor terrace, and free breakfast, but no gym
The main building houses a cafe and bar with an open-air lounge under a wood-beamed ceiling. The free hot breakfast buffet is served here, and there's also a regular menu of sandwiches, steaks, and salads. Restaurant Degenija occupies its own building but it's connected to the hotel, with an air-conditioned indoor dining room, and an outdoor terrace with views of the surrounding mountains and countryside. It serves pasta and regional cuisine, with specialties like veal and potatoes under a peka (an iron cooking “bell”), and spit-roasted lamb and pork. The hotel doesn't have a fitness center, but on-site parking and Wi-Fi throughout are free. Bicycles can be rented on-site for a fee.
