Near Rijeka, Croatia
A small, friendly, family-run hotel with bohemian décor, in
a peaceful village between the sea and mountains
In the sleepy village of Tribalj, backed by the karst hills of the
Vinodol valley, and 6km inland from the seaside resort of
Crikvenica, lies Balatura. The 300-year-old traditional stone
farmhouse has belonged to the Godec family for several generations,
but it was only in June 2008 that it opened as a hotel, after 2
years of careful renovations with the help of conservation
specialists.
Today, the interior exudes a cosy, arty-intellectual ambiance, with
10 rooms decorated in natural muted colours and furnished
with antiques. A leafy courtyard patio opens onto a small raised
garden planted with rosemary and lavender, and backed by woodland.
Informal, serene and wonderfully off the beaten track, the hotel is
small enough for the owners to be able to give their guests
personalised service and advice about this underrated corner of
Croatia.
Highs
- Lying between the coast and the mountains, it makes an ideal
base for hiking, paragliding, mountain biking, sailing and scuba
diving - Tasteful, rustic-chic interiors create a laidback, arty
atmosphere, with occasional yoga, sculpture and writing
courses - Charming and helpful Croatian-German owners, Gordan and
Anne-Kathrin, who give their guests individual attention - Superb breakfasts in the leafy courtyard, and
delicious fixed-menu dinners too
Lows
- The nearest beaches are in Crikvenica (6km away), and there are
no good restaurants within walking distance, meaning you really
need to hire a car - No pool, but there are plans to build one in the future
- As there are only 10 rooms, it’s often fully booked in high
season - No twin bedded rooms, so not great for friends sharing
