Maslina Resort

“A gem in the Adriatic”

Hotel Maslina is hands-down one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed at, with a design that felt both unique and beautifully thought out from the moment we arrived. The landscape is stunning, and the sunbeds along the Adriatic gave us some of the most peaceful, scenic moments of the entire trip. Fr… more

Hotel Maslina is hands-down one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed at, with a design that felt both unique and beautifully thought out from the moment we arrived. The landscape is stunning, and the sunbeds along the Adriatic gave us some of the most peaceful, scenic moments of the entire trip. From start to finish, the staff made us feel completely taken care of, anticipating our needs before we even had to ask. A special thank you to Batu, who helped with dinner reservations, spa bookings, and taxi rides, and who frequently checked in on us to make sure we were enjoying our stay. Communication before we even arrived was fantastic too — the team provided us information in advance, so by the time we landed, everything was seamlessly in place. We hope to someday have the opportunity to return!

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“Amazing Honeymoon”

We absolutely loved our honeymoon at Maslina. It was the perfect paradise with a mix of relaxation and fun. Very close to the lovely town of Stari Grad. Batu Cetiner, in particular, ensures that every aspect of our trip, travels, and overall experience was perfect. We can’t recommend this place eno… more

We absolutely loved our honeymoon at Maslina. It was the perfect paradise with a mix of relaxation and fun. Very close to the lovely town of Stari Grad. Batu Cetiner, in particular, ensures that every aspect of our trip, travels, and overall experience was perfect. We can’t recommend this place enough and will return ASAP.

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“Lovely but needs some changes”

We had an amazing week in this beautiful property and would definitely recommend it. I agree with many of the glowing reviews. There are also however some areas it falls quite a long way short. We had numerous food and beverage issues through our stay at one point it took over an hour to get the … more

We had an amazing week in this beautiful property and would definitely recommend it. I agree with many of the glowing reviews. There are also however some areas it falls quite a long way short. We had numerous food and beverage issues through our stay at one point it took over an hour to get the wrong bowl of pasta and I saw numerous guests send back breakfasts - generally uncooked eggs/ omelettes while I had an inedible raw French toast even the waitress knew to whip away and not let a guest eat once she saw it. One night the expensive but chewy beef which was a struggle to swallow despite being sold as slow cooked and tender was left it in its entirety on our final bill despite flagging how bad it was. My wife’s chicken salad at lunch was a pre cooked breaded escalope left stone cold on top of a few pieces of cucumber. Luckily our other dinners in the hotel were far nicer and only that one was a let down. The head of food and beverage said he acknowledged every time something went wrong all week it seemed to be to us it happened to, but then also no one did anything to make up for that happening all week. The poke bowls and burgers were excellent at lunch and the food in the evenings seemed to depend who exactly was making the dish and was about consistency. There are all sorts of strange rules which don’t seem to be guest centric. My daughter couldn’t take food in the kids club but could be given popcorn by staff once there. You cannot have a poke bowl from the beach bar by the pool unless a member of staff secretly arranges it. I think only once all week were we offered a drink by the pool without getting up to ask for one which sometimes also didn’t ever come. The blaring music from the DJ night said it ended at 10.30pm but then went on without warning until 11.30. We asked for a room not backing onto the road behind the hotel but were assigned a room right on that road where guests stood outside our window shouting and beeping after that DJ night. This is not a customer first approach. However while there are operational and service issues for the hotel to address, somehow it doesn’t really detract that much from a beautifully designed and stunning property with generally lovely and friendly staff who work so hard to look after guests. We loved the setting, style and warmth. I agree with some of the criticisms of the rooms around storage and dark bathrooms but can’t say they were actual problems versus the overall great feel. On needing a pump for my daughter’s ball, Mario brought one from home. The concierge staff - notably Batu - checked in proactively every day to see how dinners off site had been etc. the kids club staff were all fantastic. That side of the staff plus the incredible setting made it a great week despite the areas which need improving for this to be the level it wants to aim itself at. A few tweaks and he could be as good as it gets.

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“Maslina Resort: High Ambitions and a Few Rough Edges”

If you’re looking to escape the bustling crowds of Hvar town, Maslina Resort (a Relais & Châteaux property) seems to be the current darling for out-of-bounds luxury. Located about 30 minutes by car from Hvar's main hub, it has become a massive hit with American tourists seeking a quieter slice of p… more

If you’re looking to escape the bustling crowds of Hvar town, Maslina Resort (a Relais & Châteaux property) seems to be the current darling for out-of-bounds luxury. Located about 30 minutes by car from Hvar's main hub, it has become a massive hit with American tourists seeking a quieter slice of paradise. Getting there is a breeze: from Split Airport, it’s a smooth two-hour ferry ride followed by a literal two-minute car transfer to the property. The crowd here is decidedly well-heeled. In fact, you might even spot a Hollywood A-lister or two. While I won’t drop names, let’s just say a certain True Detective star with the first letters is “MC” was enjoying the resort with spouse and family during our stay. But star-spotting aside, the real question is: Is this a true five-star resort, and is it worth the money? Here is the honest breakdown of our experience. The Good Stuff: Where Maslina Shines * The Staff & Management: The ambition here is palpable. The front desk is incredibly receptive, and the hotel manager is genuinely keen on making adjustments to ensure you feel right at home. * Design & Comfort: The hotel is immaculately clean. The rooms are beautiful, simple, and stylishly designed. You can tell a lot of thought went into the furniture—personally, I fell in love with the chairs in the restaurant! * Excursions: Simple to book and worth every penny. We opted for a 4-hour boat tour of the nearby archipelago. At around €1,200, it wasn't cheap, but the 10-meter modern day cruiser and the experience made it entirely worth it. * The Seafront: The rocky beach by the sea is wonderful. It’s secluded yet easily accessible, giving off a highly exclusive vibe in its simplicity. Room for Improvement: The Execution Gaps While the bones of a five-star resort are there, the execution in a few areas currently feels more like a 4-star hotel with some 3-star elements. * The Food: This is the biggest area that needs to step up. From the breakfast buffet to the main dinner menu, pool food, and kids' options, the culinary experience was just "so-so." Look, charging €40 to €70 for a main course isn't the issue for international travelers—but it becomes an issue when the food meet some standards. I also think the tableware, the table setting felt more like a much cheaper hotel. * The Pool Area: Service here was surprisingly absent. There was no one taking orders, menus weren't easily available, and we had to set up our own sunbeds— all of which unfortunately were soiled with a few white spots. * The Resort Beach: The intention is lovely, but it needs way more attention. It felt empty and abandoned; there was no staff to serve guests, and old, used towels were left sitting in all of the cabanas felt unattended. Since no-one else used this spaced of the hotel guest, I believe we were not the only one holding this view. The Verdict: Try Harder, Work Harder Final Thoughts: In the elevator, the resort gently prompts you to vote for them in the Condé Nast Traveler awards. While I love to support great properties, my honest feedback to Maslina is to try harder. Train the staff to nail those luxury details, refine the service execution, and elevate the food. Ironically, my advice to management would be to raise their prices by a couple hundred dollars. If a guest is already paying $1,400 a night, they will gladly pay $1,600 if the experience is absolutely flawless. Maslina has the potential to be a true 5-star gem—they just need to bridge the gap between their high ambitions and daily execution. I am giving this a four star review, but it is just barely.

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