Obala 3 21, Vela Luka, Croatia
Beautiful midcentury-meets-modern decor throughout common areas
Located in the center of town near the harbor
Restaurant serves some of the best Croatian food in town
Rooms are modern and stylish with pops of color
Flat-screen TVs, minibars, ample toiletries, and safes come standard
Bathrooms have sleek glass showers with hydromassage jets
Wellness center offers lovely saunas and Turkish baths, as well as massages
Tranquil outdoor pool surrounded by loungers
Modern gym with a decent array of equipment
Hotel offers shuttle boat service every half-hour to a beach
Airports in Split and Dubrovnik are far away
Showers in the rooms might be too exposed for some
Beaches can get quite crowded (they're all public)
Not a lot of kid-specific offerings
Entry-level rooms skew a bit on the small side
Wi-Fi is free, but can be a bit unreliable
Guests have to pay for on-site parking
The ultra-stylish, 58-room Hotel Korkyra is ideally located in the center of town and blends midcentury influences with glamorous modern design. A true highlight of the four-pearl hotel, besides the decor, is the restaurant, which is among the best in town and serves excellent Croatian cuisine. A few beaches are nearby, but guests looking for a more relaxing spot for some sun might prefer the pool, which tends to be quieter. The hotel is good for couples -- particularly with the glass showers that open to the room (privacy shades are provided) -- but there's not a ton for families. It's also a long drive (roughly four hours) to the airports in Dubrovnik and Split. Those with kids might want to look into the Marko Polo Hotel, though it's all the way over on the other side of the island.
Scene
Stylish decor blends midcentury influences with modern glam
Hotel Korkyra was built in the 1960s, but thanks to renovations since, guests are greeted with a stunningly stylish modern exterior and lobby. Midcentury influences are pulled in through the Mondrian-esque accent wall, while soft, glamorous tones (light pink and navy) set against mostly white decor keep the look modern. In the dining area, the wall is done in a sapphire blue and groupings of contemporary white tables and chairs sit under cloud-like fixtures.There's not a ton to do on-site specifically for kids, and most guests tend to lounge at the peaceful outdoor pool or head to one of the nearby beaches. Clientele-wise, the hotel is popular with Backroads Bike Tour Groups, though it's also good for couples looking for a relaxing holiday.
Location
Situated in the center of town with great access to beaches
This property is situated in the center of Vela Luka, across the street from a boat dock. For some beach time, the hotel's shuttle boat takes guests to a beach a five-minute ride away (rides are available every 30 minutes). Guests can rent loungers and umbrellas, though it tends to be a bit busy.
Guests can also rent bicycles and cars on-site, though visitors are already fairly close to everything in town: There's two restaurants within a 10-minute walk, as well as the town's beach -- though they might come in handy for accessing cycling trails and hiking nearby. The ferry port, which has lines to Split and Lastovo, is a 10-minute walk away. Getting to the airport will be a trek: Split's is about four and a half hours away, and Dubrovnik's about three and a half.
Rooms
Rooms are modern and stylish, but the glass showers are divisive.
The hotel's 58 rooms are modern and welcoming, with khaki, spring green, or navy blue adding accents to a monochrome design. A modern painting with bright pops of color provides some character to what might be otherwise bland, though stylish, rooms. All rooms are air-conditioned and come with a flat-screen TV (with several English channels), desk, safe, and minibar. Guests might consider booking one level up when it comes to rooms though: a few have complained that the entry-level rooms are too small. However, even in Superior Rooms, the unfurnished balconies are quite small.
Bathrooms aren't the greatest for families, as the glass shower with hydromassage jets opens directly to the room, but it has blinds to pull down for privacy. Bathrooms come with a hairdryer and hotel-brand toiletries. Junior Suites have large bathtubs with jets, and the shower is more private.
Features
Food is excellent, and the large pool tends to be quiet.
The on-site restaurant's local cuisine is some of the best in town and vegetarian meals are available upon request. There's plenty of seating on the terrace as well as indoors, so there's not generally a wait. During the summer, Croatian musicians perform here. Breakfast is buffet-style with typical cooked and continental offerings.
The pool tends to be on the quiet side (lots of people opt for the area beaches instead), and it's surrounded by sun loungers.The property's wellness center has saunas, Turkish baths, and a spa offering massages (towels and bathrobes are included with visits to the wellness area). A small but stylish fitness center and snorkeling are both free; tennis courts, fishing, and diving are available off-site for a separate charge.
Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the property, though its reliability gets mixed reviews. Parking is available on-site for a nominal charge.