Kardinala Stepinca 31, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Overlooks the sea on a rocky beach
All-suite rooms have kitchenettes and private balconies
Great restaurant and bar with beautiful outdoor terrace
Outdoor and indoor pool and hot tub
Modern meeting rooms and banquet hall
Full-service spa with sauna
Large fitness center
On-site car rental
Free Wi-Fi
Far from Dubrovnik's Old Town
Small pools and beach area gets crowded
Breakfast service can be slow
No coffeemakers in rooms
The newest part of the Importanne Resort along the coast of Lapad Bay, the Royal Princess Hotel is also the most luxurious. The restaurant and bar have enviable outdoor terrace seating, and each all-suite room has a private balcony. While it doesn't have a proper beach, the hotel sits right at the edge of the pristine waters of the Adriatic, where swimming conditions might be more appealing than at some of the area's crowded pebble beaches. A seaside promenade allows for easy access to the other properties within the resort, in addition to the Royal Princess's full spa, and indoor and outdoor pools. Tourists should note that the hotel is far from the historic attractions in Old Town but is also on the bus line that can take guests there within 15 minutes. Its dramatic location overlooking the rocky shore, chic modern facilities, and large elegant suites put it at the top of the list in Dubrovnik.
Several areas missing from the photo gallery made this difficult to write up. Its rocky beach, meeting facilities, and the full size indoor pool are absent (and not even mentioned in the notes). Had to triple check that this was the right hotel -- which was made all the more difficult by the fact that there are several Importanne Resort hotels in a row, of which this is a part.
Scene
Classic elegance and bright spaces
Though relatively new, the Royal Princess Hotel, completed in 2012, has a classic old-world ambience. The lobby is bright with a wall of windows overlooking the sea, and a sleek black front desk anchors the room, but the modern design shares space with old heavy wooden tables, ornate couches, and gilded mirrors. Small sculptures and framed oil paintings add to the antique character of the decor.
Location
On Lapad Bay northwest of the city center
The hotel is located on a resort along Lapad Bay, surrounded by pine forest on one side and the sea on the other. It's far from Old Town, but the No. 6 bus stops outside the entrance to the hotel, and most destinations are within a 15-minute drive down the shore of Dubrovnik's Babin Kuk peninsula. Ringed by ancient walls, Dubrovnik's picturesque Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with historic attractions in narrow limestone-paved streets. Dubrovnik Airport is a little more than 30 minutes away by car.
Rooms
Suites with kitchenettes, and balconies
Every room is a suite with a living area and kitchenette, combining elegant furnishings with modern amenities. Cream and warm pastel blue tones, ornate carpets, and floor-to-ceiling windows make the rooms bright and inviting. Rich dark-wood furniture and ornate lamps (in some rooms) made by a local Croatian artist add upscale character details worthy of a luxury rating.The modern kitchenettes have a breakfast bar with stools under pendant lamps. There's no coffeemaker, but a minibar and fridge come standard, along with an electric teapot and a microwave. The large marble bathrooms have bidets, oversize vanities with double sinks, and shower/tub combos. Thoughtful additions include a small stool and heated towel rack. Some rooms also have their own saunas. All rooms have private balconies, either overlooking the sea or the park.
Features
Restaurant with outdoor terrace, two pools, modern meeting rooms, full spa
The Royal Princess Hotel lacks a real beach, but its rock platform along the crystal blue waters of the Adriatic sea has its own appeal -- along with free towels, sun beds, and sun umbrellas. There are also two pools, indoor and outdoor, though they're both too small for the high season crowds, and the hot tubs are tiny. The full-service spa provides a wide range of treatments, from exotic collagen and caviar facials to more familiar body massages. The facilities include a sauna, steam room, and an attached fitness center with rows of treadmills, stationary bikes, and weight-training machines. The ultra modern event spaces consist of 12 multi-function meeting rooms, including a large banquet hall that can host up to 500 people. For dining in style, restaurant La Castile serves international cuisine and wines on a stunning outdoor terrace. A promenade behind the hotel connects to other hotels within the larger resort. Guests can enter other restaurants and bars. Free parking is available, but limited, and there's also an on-site car rental service.