Jadranska BB, Umag, Croatia
Scenic seafront location with private beach
Rooms with minibars and flat-screen TVs; some offer sea views
Buffet and a la carte restaurants, plus breakfast included in rates
Poolside snack bar and lobby bar
Indoor, outdoor, and children's pools
Large wellness center with saunas, hot tubs, and fitness room
Free adult activties, nightly entertainment, and gastronomic events
Free supervised children's activities
Wi-Fi available in all areas, including on the beach
Some signs of wear-and-tear in guest rooms
Extra fees for using some wellness center facilities
Rooms lack tea- and coffee-making facilities
Beach chairs and umbrellas charged extra
Some complaints about Wi-Fi
Hotel is closed in the winter
Sol Umag is an upper-middle-range beachfront hotel located just outside the city of Umag. Its 217 rooms are clean and pleasant, equipped with air-conditioning, minibars, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi -- but they're a bit dated and show signs of wear and tear. The hotel has a private beach, as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, but use of beach chairs and umbrellas is charged extra. Other on-site features include two restaurants and a large wellness center with a fitness room, saunas, hot tubs, and a variety of beauty and health treatments -- though use of some of the wellness facilities costs extra. Breakfast is included in rates, and there's also a half-board option. Travelers looking for a quieter scene should consider the nearby Melia Coral, an adult-only upscale hotel that also has a private beach.
Scene
Beachfront resort-style property attracts families, couples, and sports teams
The five-story facade of Sol Umag is painted a bright orange hue, with large windows and balconies overlooking the sea. The hotel's public spaces were redesigned in 2013, updated with a modern look. The high ceilings of the light-filled lobby are supported by tall white pillars, while geometric armchairs upholstered in vibrant yellow, violet, and turquoise shades add bursts of color to the white walls and cream tile floors. The lobby bar is equally modern and pleasant, while the restaurant is fairly plain, furnished with simple wooden tables and chairs, though pleasantly sunlit by floor-to-ceiling windows. This hotel is popular with families and couples during the summer season, while many sports groups choose to stay here during the off-season to take advantage of the nearby sports facilities and on-site wellness center. This hotel is closed during the winter.
Location
Located on the Adriatic coast just north of Umag
Sol Umag has a seaside location in an area that's a bit isolated from the town center and is surrounded by a few other hotels. Guests can get to town via the tourist train that connects all the major hotels with the city, or follow the seaside promenade from the nearby marina. A car is necessary to explore the region outside Umag as public transportation is limited.
Rooms
Clean and pleasant rooms, if dated, with flat-screen TVs and minibars
The guest rooms at Sol Umag are clean and well maintained, but have a bit of a dated appearance. The curtains and bedcovers look old-fashioned, and some of the furniture reveals signs of wear and tear, like scratches. Rooms are bright thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and warm tones of the wooden floors. The best features are the large and sunny balconies, especially in the Sea View Rooms. The aquarelles of typical Istrian architecture adorning the walls add an interesting decorative accent.
All rooms have air-conditioning, minibars (beer is the only alcoholic drink), 32-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi (though some guests complain of a poor signal), but no tea- and coffee-making facilities. Superior Rooms include an extra sofa bed suitable for a child. Family Rooms are made up of two interconnecting double rooms, and the Junior Suites feature a separate living area and can accommodate a maximum of three adults or two adults and two children. Bathrooms are spacious and equipped with shower/tub combos, large mirrors, heated towel racks, hairdryers, and free toiletries. The blue or yellow tiling of the sink countertops add to the overall datedness of the rooms.
Features
Indoor and outdoor pools, beach, two restaurants and bars, wellness center, and free breakfast buffet
One of the highlights here is the hotel's private beach, which is paved with flat stones and offers facilities like a relaxation zone, showers, beach chairs and umbrellas (charged extra), and a beachside bar. Another notable feature is the Istrian Relax Village, a large on-site wellness center covering three floors and a total area of over 17,000 square feet. Use of the facilities here is charged extra, and includes three saunas, a Turkish pool, hot tubs, massage and treatment rooms, a beauty center offering beauty treatments, and a relaxation room. The attached fitness room and indoor pool are free for guest use. Another option is the outdoor swimming pool and adjacent children's pool, surrounded by tan loungers and sun umbrellas.
A free generous breakfast includes a wide spread of both hot and cold dishes served in the Miramar buffet restaurant. Options for special diets like gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan are available, as well as halal. Breakfast service can get busy during the peak summer season. Guests also have a half-board option, which includes a buffet dinner as well as breakfast. There's also an a la carte restaurant, Leon D'Or, located on-site that serves local and Mediterranean specialties for lunch and dinner. Room service is available for an additional charge. The hotel has a lobby bar and a poolside snack bar as well.
Children enjoy free supervised activities (seasonally) that include sports, games, workshops, and arts and crafts. There's also a range of free adult activities, like aqua aerobics, yoga, Pilates, and social activities. Guests have access to other activities for an extra fee, like tennis, cycling, and beach volleyball. A free gastronomic program of cooking demonstrations is also on offer seasonally, as well as wine, truffle and olive oil tastings. During the peak summer season, entertainment in the form of live music and shows is staged nightly.
The hotel has a business and convention center located in a separate building with several multifunctional meeting rooms. Other on-site services include a small newspaper and provision store, souvenir shop, ATM, hair salon, room service, and a laundry service. Free parking is available nearby, while reserved parking in front of the hotel is charged extra. Wi-Fi is free and accessible throughout the hotel, including in the pool and beach areas, but there have been some complaints of poor service.