Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik

In a 14-story cliffside building, the Rixos Hotel Libertas offers beautiful sea views from most of its common spaces and floor-to-ceiling glass windows in abundance. The property is smarty designed to maximize the views; terracing means the hotel enjoys a high vantage point while the lower-level outdoor pool has a set of stairs leads to the clear waters below (but there's no beach). Guests are a mix of well-heeled couples, business travelers, and families. The airy lobby is decorated with lovely flower arrangements and art, and right in the middle of the hotel is a massive glass-roofed atrium with palm trees extending multiple stories. White wicker furniture with blue cushions provide a place to relax while taking in the sea views from the balcony at one of the bars. This polished property has all the fantastic features of a luxury hotel, and delivers a peaceful experience from its spa to its rooms and beyond. 

Rates are competitive for this level of luxury; the Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik is often pricier (though it does have a lovely beach cove, as opposed to the seaside terrace here). The Hotel More, located farther from Old Town, is similarly priced and its rooms aren't as nice, though it does have a cool bar in a natural cave.

This hotel has direct access to the sea, with a set of stairs leading from the pool area to the water. There are a couple of restaurants nearby, and it’s around a 15-minute walk to the sights in Dubrovnik's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with preserved churches and fountains dating back to the 13th century. Dubrovnik-Cilipi Airport is less than a half hour drive away.

Rooms at Rixos Hotel Libertas have beautiful, elegant decor including posh bedding and sleek furnishings such as glass-top desks and velvety chairs. Most have cool, modern color palettes of gray and white. Beds are comfortable, and all rooms have minibars, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi, though guests complain that the air-conditioning doesn't always cool the rooms enough at times. Bathrooms are modern and appealing with generous amenity kits, and suites are furnished with bathrobes, slippers, and Bvlgari toiletries. Rooms with whirlpool tubs, separate walk-in showers, and furnished sea-view balconies are available.

This hotel has an outdoor pool situated below the terraced property, with a kiddy pool, a lounge chair deck, and a (seasonal) poolside bar and drink service; a staircase offers direct access to the sea. The large, on-site spa has an indoor pool, Turkish bath, and Finnish spa; beauty treatments are available for a fee. The buffet restaurant has an elegant dining space with white linens; the breakfast buffet (included in most rates) is typically a hit and includes plentiful options (cooked-to-order omelets and pancakes among them; coffee and tea are served to the table). Theme nights, such as Italian night with pastas and pizza, may be offered. The poolside bar and restaurant turns into a fish restaurant in the evenings, the upscale Lalezar Grill House serves Turkish dishes, and Agora Bar has a pretty sea-view balcony. The dinner we enjoyed at the hotel was one of the best we had in the area. 

For the kids, there's a children's club complete with slides and a game room with foosball and a ping-pong table. A small casino and bright fitness center round-out the plentiful on-site offerings. Free Wi-Fi and parking are also available.