Hotel Park

Given its seaside location, bright and breezy would be the expected theme here, and the hotel manages to pull that off. The modern almost all-white lobby is a cool, clean, and light space that sets the scene for the rest of the hotel. The look continues in the simple restaurant and the bar, which beckons those looking to unwind with a cocktail. Even so, much of the action takes place outside. The grounds are white-tiled, with the occasional potted palm tree adding a splash of greenery. There’s generally a calm and stress-free vibe here, aside from when it comes to sun loungers. Unfortunately, for a region where sun worshipping is a prime pursuit, the sun lounger issue is troubling on three levels: there aren’t enough; poolside loungers are tidied away hours before sunset; and guests have to pay to use the sun loungers on the beach. Despite these flaws, the hotel draws couples seeking a convenient beach stay and spotless style.

Hotel Park has a prime position on the seafront promenade just outside the center of Makarska. A public pebble beach on a sweeping bay is just across the way.  The hotel shares the immediate area with a string of other hotels, supermarkets, and restaurants. There’s also the occasional spot of nightlife too, and a couple of beach bars hosting DJs are nearby. It’s an easy walk along the promenade to the tourist attractions -- it takes 10 minutes to reach Makarska’s attractive old town, where in summer the restaurants, coffee shops, and bars come alive. Down at the harbor, boat trips depart for the islands of Hvar and Brac. The closest airport is in Split, which is 90 minutes away by car or bus.

Rooms are reached via a glass-shaft elevator that offers panoramic views of the sea. Spacious, modern, and clean-lined, interiors are dressed in neutral palettes. However, splashes of color are injected by bright cushions and artwork made by students of the local art academy. Standard features include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Coffee- and tea-making facilities are provided, but milk unfortunately costs extra. One of the highlights here is that most rooms have balconies with pleasant views of the Adriatic Sea or over the terra-cotta rooftops to Mount Biokovo (Standard Park Double Rooms are the exception). In all rooms, double beds are twins pushed together, and some rooms can fit a third bed. Fully-tiled bathrooms have shower/tub combos and underfloor heating, and toiletries and wall-mounted hairdryers are provided. Superior Double Rooms have a living area, while a range of suites -- including Duplex Suites -- have more plush decor and larger balconies. Previous reviews highlight the housekeeping, as rooms are impressively spotless. It’s also worth noting that all units are well soundproofed, with little-to-no noise from other rooms or nearby bars.

The beachfront setting is a highlight, with the hotel making the most of its prime position. However, there are some surprising misses for a hotel that aspires to upmarket status. The views are glorious, but the pebble beach is narrow and -- like most European beach towns -- draws thick crowds in the summer. Additionally, using the sun loungers on the beach comes at a fee. The pool is also quite small and suffers from a lack of sun loungers. The best spot for drinking and dining is on the hotel’s seafront terrace, across the promenade, or at one of the tables on the pebble beach. There’s also a lobby bar and a pool bar, though the latter is only open in peak season. Breakfast includes the standard continental selection and nice novelty touches like squeeze-your-own juice. However, previous guests comment on the hot options being served lukewarm. The Carpe Diem Wellness Center has a sauna and indoor pool, plus an extensive selection of treatments. A small fitness center has cardio equipment, free weights, and exercise balls. Keep in mind that there’s an hourly or daily fee to use the wellness center facilities. Guests have free Wi-Fi, but the limited parking comes at a fee.