Plitvice Holiday Resort

The original motel here was burned down in 1991 during the Croatian War of Independence, but re-opened as a resort eight years later. These days, Turist Grabovac -- popular with families, and named after the hornbeam tree common in the area -- is all about getting back to nature, and it’s surrounded by forest. The small, but pleasant pool, sits at the center of the accommodations, the simple front desk is set in a paneled wooden lodge, and the separate restaurant and bar are just the right side of homey and dated. There’s also an attractive alfresco dining terrace, but views are of little more than the parking lot. Most of the guests here are families on vacation. 

Secluded, peaceful Turist Grabovac isn’t as close to the Plitvice Lakes National Park as some properties, but it’s still only a short drive. There are other hotels, a couple of restaurants, and a bus stop within walking distance, but getting farther afield requires a car.

• One-minute walk to Grabovac village
• Seven minutes to Dreznik Grad village by car
• 10 minutes to Plitvice Lakes National Park and Licka Kuca national restaurant by car
• 16 minutes to Licko Petrovo Selo village by car
• 17 minutes to Barac caves and Slunj town by car
• 18 minutes to Rastoke village by car
• Almost two hours to Zagreb Airport by car
• Two hours to North Velebit National Park by car

The array of accommodations on offer is dizzying and caters to a variety of budgets. Brightly colored Teepee Tents, set on sturdy concrete bases, have four single beds, and simple, functional dining tables in the center. They share communal bathroom facilities, which can be a far trek (especially for little ones). On our visit, we saw rainwater leaking inside the teepees.

Air-conditioned and heated Wooden Superior Triple Houses and Suites are charming dark-wood log cabins set among the trees. They have cream walls and attractive ceiling beams, dated red carpets and queen-size bed bases, checkered headboards, and built-in bedside tables, plus separate small single beds. There are dark-wood desks, cream curtains, and flat-screen TVs. Suites add impressively equipped modern kitchens and lounge spaces with generously sized, but garish, sofas. Small bathrooms feature brown and white floor and wall tiling, shower stalls with power showerheads, contemporary wall-mounted sinks, and basic toiletries. Pleasant paved patios are furnished with simple outdoor furniture.

Attractive, two-bedroom pine-clad Mobile Homes are also air-conditioned and heated. Decor is modern, but quirky, including wood-paneled flooring and gray-patterned accent walls. Master bedrooms have queen-size beds, and smaller second bedrooms have twin beds; both have pleasant but tight ensuite bathrooms (in master bedrooms these are partly open, which might cause privacy issues). Well-equipped kitchens include sinks and stovetop ranges. Large balconies overlook the pool.

Plentiful campsite pitches are available for travelers with their own tents, though not in winter. All pitches have power supplies, and some have water and sewer access. There are shared bathroom/laundry facilities, though these are far from some pitches.

Note that the cheapest hotel-type rooms lack air-conditioning, and guests report some housekeeping issues, as well as thin walls in some rooms. Some double beds are actually two single beds pushed together.

Turist Grabovac offers a decent range of facilities, starting with the small outdoor pool, sunbeds, and umbrellas. The restaurant serves Croatian lunch and dinner (but it can get crowded in the evening), and there’s a separate bar. The buffet breakfast offers good variety but costs extra; half-board and full-board packages are available. There’s an outdoor playground, the hotel can arrange excursions and activities, and there’s a summertime shuttle bus to Plitvice. There’s a minimart and ATM on-site, too. Wi-Fi is free throughout, but connecting can be tricky (login required) and the signal is patchy. Pets are allowed (costs extra), and there’s free parking.