Valamar Meteor Hotel ~ Croatia

“Well where to begin is the only problem I have with the review of this hotel. It is quite simply the best hotel I have ever been to that is so geared up for kids and adults alike. Whoever designed this hotel clearly put an awful lot of care and thought into it. There is something for everyone!

Outside the hotel there are large spacious areas for sunbathing. An infinity pool that looks out to sea (the beach is 10 seconds away). There is also a pool for kids with slides going into it, and a further smaller area for toddlers to paddle about in safely.

Inside there is a climbing play zone for under fives, and a large nursery where parents can leave their little cherubs for an hour or two with an unsuspecting Nanny. There are little trikes and bikes also for them to ride round on in the huge reception area.

The toilets are another nice little touch (never thought I’d write about hotel loo’s) but in both the ladies and gents, by the play zone, there is one cubicle for the adult, and next door one cubicle for a child with suitably reduced sized toilet for them to get on and off. Outside the toilets is a changing mat for nappy changes.

For the older children there are bar-football tables, tennis table and pool tables (we’ve moved out of the toilets now). And for everyone, when the weather is inclement then there is a huge indoor pool.

Not only is this hotel great for parents but has been thought through for people in wheelchairs as lots of slopes, as opposed to stairs, and easy access into lifts.

For the adults there is a nice bar, and also a casino, should the mood take you. Of course there is the obligatory hotel duo murdering all your favourite songs in their nightly slot! But after a couple of beers it all becomes tuneful enough (poor Rosie, she doesn’t drink).

Breakfast has been very good and a huge selection of choices from freshly cooked omelettes and fried egg through to fruit salads, pastries, hams and cheeses.

The staff have been excellent on all fronts and shall try find the duty manager before we leave to say thank you.

The hotel has an Italian restaurant, Penalola, attached which has been excellent for dinner. There is a walkway past the hotel that takes you along the sea front and to more restaurants, bars and a marina. There are a few day trips on offer but a lot of things have closed now that we’re in October.

Now I can imagine this place must be bedlam in the summer when the kids are off school but as a place to come in September with five year olds and under then absolutely perfect and we shall be bringing our granddaughter, Darcey, here in a couple of years time.

One very minor thing to keep an eye on are the size of the bedrooms as quite small and certainly ours couldn’t cater for having a child of more than four years old in it. But all very clean and a children’s toilet seat and tiny step provided in the bathroom.

As for a week’s getaway to recharge the batteries then this has been perfect for us and so glad Meon Valley Travel were able to change us to this hotel from our original booking.

They have a Spa here as well but will have to update you on the quality of their massages when Rosie has finished but this hotel has been quite the find for future family holidays.” ~ Geoff C