Falkensteiner Family Hotel Diadora

The Falkensteiner chain dominates the family holiday scene around Zadar, with seven properties in Dalmatia, and the ‘Falky’ kids brand is found everywhere around the Family Hotel Diadora. The hotel is a long and low-rise building that’s centered around its outdoor pools. First impressions are good, with a simple, light, and airy triple-height lobby featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, a shell-filled front desk, and a fish tank. The underwater theme continues outside, where there's a pirate ship in the kids’ pool. The rest of the decor is simple and clean, with a lot of dark wood and splashes of bright color. The target audience here is in the hotel’s name; couples and solo traveler should certainly look elsewhere. It’s a solid option for a family holiday in the sun, but during summer, the property can get chaotic and crowded -- expect to see hundreds of children.

The Falkensteiner Family Hotel Diadora sits on the seafront close to Petrcane, a small 900-year-old village north of Zadar. The hotel is on the private Punta Skala peninsula and shares its surroundings with holiday apartments and a handful of other hotels. Although it has a seafront setting, the closest beach is a few minutes’ walk away and it’s not sandy. The center of Zadar, with its charming old town -- home to sights like the Roman Forum, 12th-Century Cathedral of St. Anastasia, and the unique Sea Organ -- is a 20-minute drive away. Zadar’s airport is also around a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

The decor in the rooms is typical of a chain hotel; simple, neutral tones, and various shades of wood. Thankfully, though, the look is relatively modern, making these a pleasant option in a category that doesn't always translate to nice rooms. Rooms are divided into Falky Rooms, Family Rooms, and Family Suites, with each category offering resort or sea views. Most have small balconies with space for seating. All categories are suitable for families, with a children’s sleeping area that sleeps up to two children, even in the entry-level rooms. Rooms start at 355 square feet (33 square meters) and standard amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges (filled at a fee), and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms feature separate showers and tubs, and hairdryers are provided. Plenty of baby equipment can be arranged in-room on request, like cribs, changing mats, bath tubs, baby monitors, and bouncers. 

Features here are almost completely geared toward families. There’s a huge focus on water activities, with a large outdoor pool area that has three pools, a giant water slide, and a lazy river. The kids’ facilities here go beyond the usual offerings. As well as Falky-Land, with its indoor and outdoor children’s area, there’s also Falky’s Farm with a vegetable garden, a children’s gaming hall, and mini-disco. Kids even have their own Falky-Spa with indoor pool, baby paddling pool, igloo, and steam bath. Animation teams are constantly at work entertaining families. The littlest guests are taken good care of too, with a nursery, mother and baby corner, and 24-hour baby station for warming up milk and baby food. 

While the kids are occupied, adults can enjoy the Acquapura Spa wellness center, which has an indoor pool, treatment rooms, saunas, and steam baths. A fitness center has a range of cardio equipment and free weights. For dining, buffet breakfasts, lunches, and dinners (plus beer, wine, and soft drinks at meal times) are included in the rates at the main restaurant, Hedonia, where live cooking stations serve Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Previous guests comment on the abundance of seafood, though other options may be limited. There’s an elegant terrace for alfresco dining -- perhaps without the kids. Guests will need to pay extra to dine at the bars, beach hut, and two a la carte eateries: Konoba Planika (a typical Dalmatian tavern) and Bracera, specializing in grilled seafood and meats in a romantic spot by the sea. The hotel has a dedicated buffet restaurant for children that’s done in a fun jungle theme. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. There’s plenty of secure parking, but it’s not free.