Brulo 1, Porec, Croatia
Beachside location just south of Porec
Well-maintained rooms, many with balconies with partial sea views
Top of the line sports facilities including 18 tennis courts
Excellent, spacious fitness facilities catering to athletes
Indoor and outdoor swimming pools with loungers
Buffet restaurant, poolside bar, and lobby bar
On-site spa with four saunas (discounted rates for guests)
Generous buffet breakfast included in rates
Extra in-room amenities available for athletes (for a fee)
Playground and kids' activities
Free Wi-Fi in guest rooms and lobby
Located a bit outside of Porec's center
Bland decor in public spaces
Outdated bathrooms with plastic shower stalls
No in-room coffee- and tea-making facilities
On-site parking is charged a daily fee
Cots are charged extra
Located in a quiet resort area just south of Porec, Valamar Diamant Hotel is an upscale beachside property with an array of features like indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, and a buffet restaurant. Its 244 rooms are well maintained, and many have balconies with partial sea views. Bathrooms are clean, but fitted with outdated plastic shower stalls and molded plastic sink-tops. This hotel caters to families during the summer, and athletes all year around. The sports facilities are top of the line and include 18 tennis courts, a fitness center with 40 machines, and a professional multifunctional sports hall. A generous breakfast buffet is included in room rates and gets good reviews. Travelers looking to stay in Porec's old town may prefer Valamar Riviera Hotel & Residence.
Scene
A large property with a functional atmosphere and excellent sports facilities
Built in 1975, Valamar Diamant Hotel has a dated exterior, but the interiors are bright and well maintained. This is a large property that has a functional “vacation hotel” feel to it: Public spaces are tidy and clean, but the decor is bland and uninspired. The floors of the lobby area are covered in beige tiling, contrasting the bright blue ceiling, while a bar occupies a corner opposite the reception desk. Boxy tan and beige-colored sofas and armchairs provide seating around small coffee tables. The restaurant has an equally simple look, furnished with blond-wood tables and chairs, while plants sprouting from lime green planters provide some color. Open throughout the year, this hotel is popular with vacationing families in the summer, while many sports groups and professional teams come to train here during the off-season and take advantage of the excellent sports facilities on offer. The hotel is also a popular venue for conferences and various events.
Location
Quiet seaside location near the historic city of Porec
Valamar Diamant Hotel has a seaside location, just a few miles south of the historic city of Porec. The city and its historic sights, restaurants, shops, and cafes can be reached in six minutes by car. There's also a scenic walking path that follows the coastline all the way to Porec, a 20- to 30-minute walk.
Rooms
Streamlined, contemporary rooms with minibars -- but bathrooms are outdated
The spacious guest rooms at Valamar Diamant are impeccably well maintained and feature pleasant decor done up in soft blue and beige tones. Accent walls in powder blue match blue bed runners and complement the pale wood of the furniture. Instead of curtains, the floor-to-ceiling glass balcony doors are covered with chic fabric blinds. Amenities include air-conditioning, 21-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and minibars, but there are no coffee- and tea-making facilities and cots are charged extra. Most rooms have balconies, some with partial sea views. For an extra fee, an athletes kit can be provided, which includes amenities like an exercise mat, mini weights, an elastic exercise band, sports TV channels, a hygienic and toiletries kit in the bathroom, robes, and slippers. Guest rooms are available as singles, twins, and doubles, and there are 30 suites with separate living rooms fitted with sofa beds.
The bathrooms are impeccably clean and well maintained, but outdated: the vast majority are fitted with plastic shower stalls, which some guests may find a bit cramped, while the sinktops are made of molded plastic. Only four guest rooms feature shower/tub combos, while four are fitted with whirlpool bathtubs. All bathrooms also have heated towel racks and hairdryers.
Features
Indoor and outdoor pools, spa, professional sports facilities, buffet-style restaurant, and meeting rooms
Valamar Diamant Hotel offers several notable on-site features and professional sports facilities, including two indoor and outdoor swimming pools as well as a kids' pool, all surrounded by loungers. There's also a beach that's accessible on foot down a path from the hotel, and guests have the option to rent sun loungers, paddle boats, and swimming equipment like inner tubes. Spa facilities are charged extra, though guests receive discounts. There are four saunas, a whirlpool, relaxation rooms and a sunbathing zone. The professional on-site sports facilities include two indoor and 16 outdoor tennis courts, a large fitness center with 40 machines, and a 10,764-square-foot multifunctional sports hall that was completely renovated in early 2016. For kids, a playground and a kids' room with activities are also on hand.
Breakfast is served buffet-style in the restaurant and is included in the room rate. A wide range of hot and cold items is available, and several live cooking stations prepare made-to-order dishes like omelets and pancakes. The restaurant is also open for dinner, which is served buffet-style and features a variety of foods, including live pasta and pizza counters and a selection of local specialties. And there's a poolside snack bar as well as a lobby bar.
Other facilities and services available includes four conference and meeting rooms, an on-site beauty parlor, bicycle rentals, a gift shop, Internet corner (charged extra), free Wi-Fi, and live entertainment during the tourist season. Parking is available on-site for a flat daily fee.