Korcula De La Ville Hotel

Built in 1906, Hotel Korcula De La Ville was the first hotel built on Korcula Island, mostly to lodge vacationing Austro-Hungarians. Excellently maintained, the property has retained its Victorian elegance, with manicured hedges, a pair of palm trees ushering guests into the front doors, and blue-and-white awnings. The interior was renovated around 2015, now featuring sophisticated and serene decor in shades of mostly blue, purple, and white. The hotel's restaurant, which sprawls out onto a terrace with white wrought-iron and wicker chairs and excellent views of the sea, is a popular morning coffee and newspaper stop for local residents. There aren't any meeting rooms here, meaning most guests are vacationers, especially couples on honeymoon. Guests with mobility issues should know that there's no elevator, however, the hotel is only two floors.

Located on the beach promenade between Korcula town's medieval walls and the water, the hotel is within a 15-minute walk of a few beaches, including the sandy Luka Korculanska Beach. The tiny old town is right out the door, which makes exploring the medieval streets a treat -- especially when it's easy to stumble upon sights like Marco Polo's house (two minutes away) or the Gothic Cathedral of St. Mark (six minutes away). 

The eponymous island is easy to navigate by car, and there are other beaches close by (Vela Przina Beach is a 15-minute drive away). There are nearby catamaran connections to the cities of Split, Hvar, and Dubrovnik, while car ferries are a bit farther away. However, getting to and from the airport is no short journey: The car and ferry commute takes three hours. 

Hotel Korkula's 20 rooms and suites have a tranquil blue-and-white color scheme that reflects its seaside setting. Rooms were renovated in 2015, and the result is elegant and traditional, though made chic with soft, pearly grays in the carpeting, white wooden furniture with curved designs, stylish sapphire velvet armchairs, and round mirrors. Guests should know that Standard Rooms don't have sea views, so upgrading to a Superior Room for a glimpse of the waves might be well worth it. Somewhat disappointingly for such a beautiful location, only a few of the hotel's rooms have balconies. Another downside is that rooms are small and some have sloped ceilings that make them feel more compact -- although they have the perk of skylights. All rooms have a lovely pillow menu to choose from, and they're advertised as coming with queen-size beds; however some are actually two singles pushed together. 

Bathrooms are modern but tiny, with gray-taupe and white vertically striped walls much like the awnings of the dining terrace. Showers tend to run small, and none of the rooms have tubs. All bathrooms are stocked with Adria Spa toiletries and hairdryers. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, desks, safes, and minibars. 

Hotel Korcula's restaurant is airy, modern, and bright, with chandeliers hanging from high ceilings and periwinkle armchairs that add color to an otherwise neutral room. The restaurant's popularity with locals is merited: From morning, when a truly excellent and free continental buffet of cereal, fruit, and hot dishes like grilled vegetables, bacon and eggs is served, to evening, when happy hour begins, there's hardly a bad time to sit on the terrace. The sea and sunset views are also superb. Menu prices throughout the day are, surprisingly, cheaper than many restaurants in town, making it a convenient way to try local specialities (including lots of fresh seafood). The lobby bar is similarly decorated as the restaurant, with the addition of groupings of sapphire velvet armchairs clustered around windows. There aren't any other features, as the property lacks a wellness center, pool, and fitness center. Wi-Fi is free and accessible throughout the property, while on-site parking is available at a per-day cost.