Sol Umag

The five-story facade of Sol Umag is painted a bright orange hue, with large windows and balconies overlooking the sea. The hotel's public spaces were redesigned in 2013, updated with a modern look. The high ceilings of the light-filled lobby  are supported by tall white pillars, while geometric armchairs upholstered in vibrant yellow, violet, and turquoise shades add bursts of color to the white walls and cream tile floors. The lobby bar is equally modern and pleasant, while the restaurant is fairly plain, furnished with simple wooden tables and chairs, though pleasantly sunlit by floor-to-ceiling windows. This hotel is popular with families and couples during the summer season, while many sports groups choose to stay here during the off-season to take advantage of the nearby sports facilities and on-site wellness center. This hotel is closed during the winter. 

Sol Umag has a seaside location in an area that's a bit isolated from the town center and is surrounded by a few other hotels. Guests can get to town via the tourist train that connects all the major hotels with the city, or follow the seaside promenade from the nearby marina. A car is necessary to explore the region outside Umag as public transportation is limited. 

• Three-minute walk to Umag Tennis Academy
• 12-minute walk to ATP Stadium
• 20-minute walk or five-minute drive to Umag town center
• 17-minute drive to Adriatic Golf Course
• 21-minute drive to Aquapark Istralandia
• 25-minute drive to Novigrad
• 30-minute drive to Groznjan
• 40-minute drive to Motovun
• 43-minute drive to Porec
• 56-minute drive to Rovinj
• 59-minute drive to Pula International Airport
• 64-minute drive to Pula

The guest rooms at Sol Umag are clean and well maintained, but have a bit of a dated appearance. The curtains and bedcovers look old-fashioned, and some of the furniture reveals signs of wear and tear, like scratches. Rooms are bright thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and warm tones of the wooden floors. The best features are the large and sunny balconies, especially in the Sea View Rooms. The aquarelles of typical Istrian architecture adorning the walls add an interesting decorative accent.

All rooms have air-conditioning, minibars (beer is the only alcoholic drink), 32-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi (though some guests complain of a poor signal), but no tea- and coffee-making facilities. Superior Rooms include an extra sofa bed suitable for a child. Family Rooms are made up of two interconnecting double rooms, and the Junior Suites feature a separate living area and can accommodate a maximum of three adults or two adults and two children. Bathrooms are spacious and equipped with shower/tub combos, large mirrors, heated towel racks, hairdryers, and free toiletries. The blue or yellow tiling of the sink countertops add to the overall datedness of the rooms. 

One of the highlights here is the hotel's private beach, which is paved with flat stones and offers facilities like a relaxation zone, showers, beach chairs and umbrellas (charged extra), and a beachside bar. Another notable feature is the Istrian Relax Village, a large on-site wellness center covering three floors and a total area of over 17,000 square feet. Use of the facilities here is charged extra, and includes three saunas, a Turkish pool, hot tubs, massage and treatment rooms, a beauty center offering beauty treatments, and a relaxation room. The attached fitness room and indoor pool are free for guest use. Another option is the outdoor swimming pool and adjacent children's pool, surrounded by tan loungers and sun umbrellas.

A free generous breakfast includes a wide spread of both hot and cold dishes served in the Miramar buffet restaurant. Options for special diets like gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan are available, as well as halal. Breakfast service can get busy during the peak summer season. Guests also have a half-board option, which includes a buffet dinner as well as breakfast. There's also an a la carte restaurant, Leon D'Or, located on-site that serves local and Mediterranean specialties for lunch and dinner. Room service is available for an additional charge. The hotel has a lobby bar and a poolside snack bar as well.

Children enjoy free supervised activities (seasonally) that include sports, games, workshops, and arts and crafts. There's also a range of free adult activities, like aqua aerobics, yoga, Pilates, and social activities. Guests have access to other activities for an extra fee, like tennis, cycling, and beach volleyball. A free gastronomic program of cooking demonstrations is also on offer seasonally, as well as wine, truffle and olive oil tastings. During the peak summer season, entertainment in the form of live music and shows is staged nightly.

The hotel has a business and convention center located in a separate building with several multifunctional meeting rooms. Other on-site services include a small newspaper and provision store, souvenir shop, ATM, hair salon, room service, and a laundry service. Free parking is available nearby, while reserved parking in front of the hotel is charged extra. Wi-Fi is free and accessible throughout the hotel, including in the pool and beach areas, but there have been some complaints of poor service.