Stella Maris - Stella Maris 8A, Umag, Croatia | (937) 315-4602
Scenic seaside location just north of Umag
Man-made laguna on-site has a pebble beach and loungers
Indoor, outdoor, and kids' swimming pools with loungers
Spacious villas have kitchenettes, living/dining areas, and covered terraces
Villa amenities include AC, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and sofa beds
Some villas have outdoor hot tubs or hammocks, Superiors have beach access
On-site sports center and tennis courts, plus children's and teens' activities
Several restaurants and bars, plus nightly entertainment during the high season
Free light breakfast and evening drinks for guests in Superior Villas
On-site supermarket, shopping zone, health center with doctor
Free on-site parking
Free Wi-Fi in the villas and the reception area
Can get crowded during the summer season
Breakfast is charged extra
Villas do not have minibars
Wi-Fi not available in the restaurants
Hotel closes in the winter
The upscale Melia Istrian Villas is part of a large resort complex popular with families, with a scenic seaside location and a man-made laguna and pebble beach. The 180 spacious and comfortable garden villas are decorated in a simple, rustic style. Each is equipped with a kitchenette, living and dining area, sofa bed, 32-inch flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and a covered outdoor terrace. Upper-category villas offer sea views, hammocks or outdoor hot tubs, and private beach access. The resort offers a huge variety of features: indoor and outdoor swimming pools, free children's and sports activities, restaurants, bars, and a supermarket. Downsides include no minibars in villas, no Wi-Fi access in restaurants or on the beach, and free breakfast only for guests in Superior Villas. Travelers looking for a quieter vacation spot can try the adult-only Melia Coral.
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Scene
Attractive vacation resort, with some Istrian touches, popular with families
Built in 2007 and exceptionally well-maintained, Melia Istrian Villas is located in a garden setting at the edge of the Adriatic Sea. The property is part of a larger car-free tourist resort called Stella Maris, and is made up of a collection of charming villas featuring typical Istrian accents, like stone walls and wooden window shutters. The reception area is located in the middle of the resort in a separate villa; it has a handsome but homey look, with Chesterfield sofas, black-and-white photographs, and framed maps. Guests have access to the many pebble and rocky beaches surrounding the resort, as well as a large laguna which is used for swimming, and a boat marina. The many sports and activities on offer make this a popular summer vacation spot with families, and it can get busy during peak tourist season. Note that the resort is closed during the winter.
Location
Part of a car-free tourist resort in a scenic seaside location
Melia Istrian Villas is part of the large Stella Maris tourist resort, located on the Adriatic coastline just north of the city of Umag. This car-free resort includes two other hotels, and has several restaurants, bars, a supermarket, a shopping zone, and a health center located on-site. A seaside promenade leads to the city of Umag, which can also be reached via the tourist train that connects all the major hotels with the city. Guests who want to explore the region outside Umag would need a car to get around.
Rooms
Spacious and comfortable villas decorated in a rustic style
The guest villas at Melia Istrian Villas are set in gardens, and have exterior features like stone walls and wooden shutters inspired by local Istrian architecture. Interiors are decorated with unembellished, farmhouse-style furniture made of solid wood. Ochre-painted walls and exposed wooden beams add to the rustic look, and velour-covered sofas bring in a little bit of softness. Vintage black-and-white photos adorn some of the walls.
Each villa has a covered outdoor terrace with patio furniture, curtains for privacy, and sunbeds, and all are equipped with air-conditioning, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi -- but no minibars. Each villa also has a fully equipped kitchenette with a mini-fridge, microwave oven, stovetop with two burners, electric kettle, sandwich toaster, pots, and utensils. There's also a separate living area with a sofa bed that can sleep two extra people, and a dining area. Modern bathrooms are simply tiled in white, fitted with shower/tub combos or showers, and equipped with towel warmers, free toiletries, and hairdryers.
The one-bedroom Standard Villas are 463 square feet in size, while the bigger two-bedroom villas cover 646 square feet of floor space and include a master bedroom with a king-size bed and attached bathroom, and a second twin-bed room with an attached bathroom with shower. The two-bedroom and bathroom Luxury Villas are 840 square feet in size and have a hammock in the garden. Superior Villas also have two bedrooms and bathrooms, and offer sea views and a few notable extras, like outdoor hot tubs, and private access to the beach. Also, the kitchens feature four-burner stove tops, and full-size refrigerators.
The sea-facing Presidential Villa covers 1938 square feet and includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms (one with a whirlpool bathtub), and two fully-equipped kitchens with dishwashers. The villa's 6,458-square-foot yard has an outdoor hot tub, and two hammocks, and a private beach is located directly opposite the entrance to the villa.
Features
Several on-site restaurants and bars, three swimming pools, beach, and children's activities
Melia Istrian Villas offers a wide range of extra features and outdoor activities for its guests. There's an indoor lap pool, and two outdoor swimming pools filled with seawater, as well as a separate outdoor children's pool. Loungers and towels readily available. There's also an indoor hot tub, and massage treatments are available for an extra charge. Several pebble and rocky beaches line the coastline, and the man-made laguna has a pebble beach.
The kids' and teens' clubs cater to all age groups from toddlers to teenagers and offer a range of free supervised activities. Other facilities for children include a playground, and a water park featuring a pirate ship. A range of sports activities for all ages is also included in rates, such as tennis, handball, soccer, volleyball, and table tennis. Other activities available at extra cost include paintball, an amusement park, mini golf, diving center, sports center, electric bicycles, excursions, and boat rental.
Breakfast is not included in the room rate, except for guests staying in the Superior Villas who are offered a free light breakfast of fruit, croissants, and coffee served in the reception villa. The same guests are invited to a free evening happy hour with drinks and appetizers. The resort has three a la carte restaurants -- two offer seaside dining, a pizzeria, and several snack bars and eateries, and several beach and lounge bars.
From mid-June to mid-September, there is free entertainment on offer each evening, and events like wine and olive oil tasting. Wi-Fi is free in the villas and the reception area only, where there is also a computer center with four desktop computers available for guest use. Other notable facilities available include an on-site supermarket, shopping zone, and health center with an on-site doctor. Free on-site parking is also available.
