Hotel Materada Plava Laguna

Hotel Laguna Materada looks a bit like a suburban office complex, but the property sits on pretty, well-tended grounds that are lush with palm trees, flowers, and manicured hedges. Unlike many hotels and resorts of this type, interiors are sleek and modern, with bright orange throw pillows dotting grey sectional sofas and chairs. The dining room has a similar streamline look, with a series of mod, circular ceiling fixtures that shed colorful LED light. But guests spend much of their time outdoors on the beach and around the pools, or playing games and sports. The hotel draws a lot of tourists, particularly travelers from Germany, and families with kids in tow. 

Hotel Laguna Materada is about a five-minute drive off Highway 75 in an area with other resorts and campgrounds, about a two-minute walk from pebbly Materada Beach. Restaurants and bars can be found in the town of Spadici, about a two-minute drive or a 13-minute walk from the hotel. 

As for sights, Baredine Cave, Aquacolors waterpark, and Cervar Beach are all within a 10-minute drive of the hotel. Porec is 10 minutes by car, and guests can also catch a Porec-bound tourist train about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Porec features an old town with cobblestone streets and attractions like the Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an excellent example of early Byzantine architecture. Also in Porec are restaurants and bars, the Porec Aquarium, Renaissance-era House of Two Saints, the marina, and ferries to Piran (Slovenia), Rovinj (Croatia), and Venice and Trieste (Italy). Pula Airport is roughly a 45-minute drive, as Pula's city center. 

Guest rooms at Hotel Laguna Materada have a simple contemporary look that's spare and a bit bland. There's light-wood trim and furniture, seafoam green carpeting, and pale pink drapes, and while accent walls behind beds are done in an attractive shade of muted orange, they do little to spice spaces up. However, units are comfortable, and some have balconies that overlook the beach or the pool. All come equipped with AC, flat-screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi. There are no electric kettles or mini-fridges, though the latter can be added for an extra charge. Connecting rooms and suites with sofa beds are available. Bathrooms are done in similar tones, and have walk-in rainfall showers, heated towel racks, toiletries, and old tube-style hairdryers. Units are small, starting at roughly 180 square feet. 

Hotel Laguna Materada features a wealth of amenities. Topping the list is the 80-foot-long outdoor freshwater pool, surrounded by a spacious patio with loungers and umbrellas, and there's a kiddie pool. Outdoor pursuits include tennis, table tennis, miniature golf, volleyball, pedal boats, soccer, beach soccer, a poolside animation team, and aquaerobics. There's also a fitness center with guided workouts, and kids enjoy a playground, kids' club, game room, and mini-disco. Some activities are available only in summer, and fees apply to some activities.

For dining, the hotel has an a la carte Mediterranean restaurant and Istrian/Mediterranean buffet restaurant, with breakfast for a fee and an outdoor terrace. Half-board plans are available, and themed dinners and wine dinners are served in summer. The beachfront bar serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and light fare. The Laguna Materada also offers nightly music and dancing, and entertainment like magic shows and dance performances. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, and the hotel also has a lobby business corner, meeting rooms, and parking (for a fee).