Le Meridien Lav Split

Surrounded by landscaped garden grounds on one side and the beach on the other, this massive hotel, part of the European Le Meridien chain, is also a Starwood property. The minimalist interiors, designed by Italian architect Lorenzo Bellini, are wide spaces with marble floors and ceilings that gently slope toward the outer walls, or rise to inner balconies along the floor-to-ceiling windows. Couches with striped beige-and-copper fabric crowd around ottomans and low tables in the sprawling lobby, with free-standing glass panels hung with framed works of art arranged as dividers. Guests are given one-of-a-kind room key cards, each with artwork designed by different artists.

The hotel is popular with both couples and families. Business travelers on working holidays will likely find that the setting and the facilities are excellent for their needs.

Located on the beach in Podstrana, Le Meridien Lav Split is actually about six miles southeast of Split, or 15 minutes away by car. There is little within walking distance, but the hotel operates a (seasonal) shuttle service into town. Split is one of the largest cities on the eastern Adriatic Coast, with a major harbor and a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. It's a growing tourist destination with a rapidly developing hotel and restaurant scene thanks to attractions like Diocletian's Palace and Mausoleum, the Grgur Ninski Statue and natural coves that form several great beaches. Split Airport is west along the coast, about 30 minutes away by car from the hotel.

The 381 rooms are on the large side, with a beige and soft earth tone palette done in 2006  that's beginning to look a tad worn. Matte blue stripes highlight the curtains and walls behind the headboards with photos of sailboats and other nautical art adding some additional, if somewhat generic, personality. The dark-wood work desks have an interesting cross-leg design, but the rest of the furniture is a bit chain-like. All the rooms have panoramic windows and private balconies. The bathrooms are paneled in light wood with matching floor tiles. The smaller Classic Rooms have either a shower/tub combo or glass walk-in rainfall showers, but larger rooms have both. Large open closets have minibars, but the rooms do not have coffeemakers.

Seminars, business meetings, and team building functions are daily events within the hotel's meeting facilities, which include a grand ballroom with a 748-person capacity. All the rooms are located on a dedicated conference floor, with staff, catering, and state-of-the-art equipment available. For those arriving in style, a private marina provides berths for 75 yachts, just off the stretch of pebbled beach with on-site waterskiing, windsurfing, and parasailing. Guests who prefer freshwater dips can float in the outdoor infinity pool or hot tub overlooking the sea. There's also a large indoor heated pool. The kids' club gives parents a safe haven to leave their kids entertained with games or staff-run activities while they get some R&R -- possibly at Diocletian Spa, which has multiple treatment rooms, an attached solarium, and a large modern fitness center. For team workouts, there are four outdoor tennis courts on the grounds with equipment rentals. 

The main restaurant, Spalatum, focuses on elevated regional and Mediterranean cuisine, with dishes like a foie gras terrine with cherry coulis and maraschino jelly, as well as more traditional Dalmatian lamb and seafood. The more casual Pivnica does pizza and pasta, and the hotel's espresso cafe features a changing art exhibit. The Champagne Bar requires a dress code for its views looking out over the Adriatic, while the beach bar and grill and the pool bar provide less formal environments for imbibing local spirits.