Brulo 2, Porec, Croatia | (937) 315-4602
Coastal location a two-minute walk from a public beach
Family-oriented hotel with many children's facilities and activities
Most rooms have a balcony with garden views and partial sea views
Outdoor heated swimming pool filled with sea water
Outdoor children's pool and whirlpool
Free supervised children's activities and entertainment programs
Buffet breakfast is included in room rate
On-site restaurant with separate supervised children's section
Poolside snack bar and lobby bar
Access to the wellness center at neighboring Valamar Diamant Hotel
Free Wi-Fi in the lobby and rooms (not poolside)
Located in an isolated spot outside Porec
Some guest rooms are small
Crowded in high season, especially the dining room
Rooms lack coffee/tea facilities and irons (available on request)
Extra fee charged for beach loungers and cribs
No free tap water at meals
Resort closes in the winter
Valamar Crystal Hotel is an upper-middle-range beachside hotel located just outside Porec. The hotel caters to families, offering amenities like free supervised children's activities, a game room, a kids' pool, a children's section in the on-site restaurant, and free family kits, but cribs are charged extra. The 223 well-maintained guest rooms are spread over six floors and feature air-conditioning, 22-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, and sofa beds. Most rooms have balconies overlooking the garden, some with partial sea views. Downsides include some cramped guest rooms and dated bathrooms (but renovations are planned). Thanks to its family facilities and reasonable rates, this resort can get crowded during the busy summer season. Another alternative families could consider is Valamar Club Tamaris.
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Scene
A family-friendly and functional vacation spot drawing guests with small children
The Valamar Crystal occupies an older building dating back to 1970, but despite having a functional look, the interiors are clean and well-maintained. The lobby area has low ceilings and is a little dark, and the faux stone walls give the space a bit of a dated air. Part of the lobby is occupied by a comfortable bar area with an ample stretch of sofas and armchairs, which was completely refurbished in 2016. Most guests who choose to stay here are European families with young children who are attracted by the hotel's many family-friendly amenities and children's activities on offer. During the summer months, the hotel can get very busy when many bookings are made by package vacation companies. Note that the hotel is closed every year from November to Easter.
Location
Seaside location just outside the historic city of Porec
The hotel is located along the coast in a quiet leafy area with a few other hotels. It's situated outside the historic city center of Porec. It's a six-minute drive to the city's tourist sights, shops, cafes, and restaurants. Porec can also be reached on foot via a pleasant walking path following the coastline, a 20- to 30-minute walk.
Rooms
Cheerful, bright, and comfortable guest rooms, many with balconies
Guest rooms at Valamar Crystal are impeccably clean and well-maintained, decorated in a cheerful style with bright orange accent walls, light-colored wood furniture, beige curtains, and beige and brown striped carpeting. Except for the rooms on the sixth floor, all the guest rooms have balconies with garden views, some with partial sea views through the trees. Double glass doors opening to balconies let in plenty of sunlight. The bathroom tiles and fixtures feel a bit dated (there are plans for an upgrade in the near future), but they are clean and well-maintained and fitted with shower/tub combos.
All rooms are well-equipped with air-conditioning, 22-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, minibars, safes, and hairdryers in the bathrooms. Some rooms also include sofa beds or easy chairs. There are no in-room coffee- or tea-making facilities, or irons and ironing boards, but these are available on request. Families receive a “Family Kit” in their rooms, which includes a kid's toothbrush and toothpaste, kid's soap, a games set including a picture book, coloring book, crayons, and balloons, protective covers for plug sockets, and a night light.
A variety of room categories are available at Valamar Crystal, which include a few singles, and plenty of doubles, twins, and triples. The largest rooms are the family rooms, at 430 square feet and with a maximum occupancy of five with four twin beds and one sofa bed. Families can also book two separate rooms with connecting doors. Some of the double rooms can feel a bit cramped for two people at 215 square feet. Note that cribs are available but charged an extra fee.
Features
Buffet breakfast, heated saltwater pool, whirlpool, children's pool, and kids' clubs
Valamar Crystal has the features you'd expect from an upper-middle-range resort, and they add appeal for their main clients, families. The generous buffet breakfast is included in the room rate and gets enthusiastic reviews from guests for quality and variety. A large selection of hot and cold breakfast options are available, as well as live cooking counters where eggs or pancakes can be prepared according to guests' preferences. The restaurant also serves buffet-style dinners. Options are available for diabetics, vegetarians, and vegans, as well as gluten-free alternatives. Some past guests have complained about the hotel's policy of not serving tap water during meals. The poolside snack bar and lobby bar both serve drinks and light meals throughout the day.
The outdoor swimming pool is heated and filled with seawater, and there's also a whirlpool tub, and a circular pool especially for young children. Guests can easily access the rocky beach from the hotel's garden. There's an extra fee charged here for sun loungers and paddle boats.
Maro Children's Club organizes a free daily program of supervised children's activities throughout the day, while the Teen Club is for ages 12 to 18 and includes a games room.
There are many activities available to guests for an extra fee, including mini-golf, water sports, beach volleyball, and diving, as well as the extensive sports and wellness facilities on offer at the Valamar Diamant Hotel next door.
Other on-site features include free Wi-Fi (not accessible in the pool area), live entertainment programs during the summer season, an Internet corner (charged extra), a currency exchange office, and a small store in the lobby area selling newspapers, souvenirs, and handy items like sunscreen.
Pets are welcome but subject to an extra fee, and on-site parking is available and charged a daily flat fee.
