Hotel Istra

Talk to many Croats in this part of the Istria region and they will tell you that the turbulent yet fascinating history – and the story – about the Brijuni islands would make a fantastic Hollywood movie. And they are probably right. The small archipelago of 14 islands became a National Park in 1983 when visitors were first allowed onto the islands.

The Hotel Istra is a three-star hotel built around 1908 without any thought to ideas of modern tourism. There is no swimming pool (the Adriatic Sea is just steps away), no spa-wellness centre nor chocolate massages. There is no animation team and so on. Like its sister Hotel Neptun, any stay here was traditionally about a special feeling within nature and surrounded by a turquoise blue sea when visitors often believed they were special too. This was about privacy, escape and some kind of affluence. Hotel managers point to the Adriatic Sea as “our best swimming pool”.

Visitors who choose to stay here today do so because they too are not interested in those chocolate massages or cocktail bars yet who want to experience something unique, a nostalgic time-warp experience when hotels were built to provide comfort and space rather than high-speed internet. All amid unspoilt nature, the beautiful Adriatic, some amazing Roman and Byzantine ruins and a remarkable feeling of privacy.

This hotel has a historic structure and was built to provide space and comfort to elite visitors. The lobby -reception area is large; the main restaurant is large and spacious and so it continues. The design was all about space and standard rooms here are larger than many superior rooms in more modern hotels. There is a wonderful feeling of a bygone era here. It is almost impossible to describe.

On arrival after the 15-minute boat trip from Fazana on the mainland, the exterior of the hotel looks special. Different. Charming too. A place that has witnessed remarkable and historic events.

The entrance and reception area are shared with the adjacent three-star Hotel Neptun and there is a feeling that important matters of state might have been discussed late into the night in that lobby. Think dark polished wood, mirrors and some memorable old photographs.

There’s the Kavana café-bar with a terrace and most guests choose to sit on the outside terrace with the most amazing views across the bay and the Fazana channel to the mainland. Some guests seem to reside there from coffee time to the late afternoon with only an hour or two departure for a swim. It is that kind of place, a chill out zone created by Nature with the only distraction being the coming and going of the boat connection with Fazana on the mainland coast.

Used also by guests at the sister hotel, the main restaurant serves buffet breakfast and half board buffet dinner although many guests opt for the bed and breakfast option and either dine at the Galija a la carte restaurant (with beautiful waterfront terrace) or use the free boat trip pass to enjoy the numerous restaurants and bistros of Fazana on the mainland 15 minutes away (last boat back in summer is usually at 10 or 1030, check at reception). Or a combination of the two.

A lovely beach restaurant at Saluga beach is open from early July to early September and is about 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel. There are sun loungers on the stone-pebble beach there and a choice of simple a la carte menu featuring pasta, risotto, pizza, salads and burgers and a good selection of drinks.

There is a “folly” yet challenging golf course with hire of clubs available, (18 or 22 holes depending how you look at it and with some holes over the Adriatic Sea to the green or fairway), tennis courts, bicycles for hire along with golf buggies to get around as well as walking of course. Occasionally a roaming deer or peacock may expect golfers to wait until they clear the fairway!

This hotel location is perfect for adults seeking relaxation, who want to swim in the sea from secluded little coves and yet who want to be able to be close to bars, restaurants and a few shops in low-key Fazana on the mainland reached by regular boat. Marbella this is not!

A perfect option is to have a few nights on Veli Brijun for a pure chill out experience after a busy sightseeing holiday perhaps elsewhere in the Istria region or in another part of Croatia. Yet some people just come here for 10 or 14 nights and claim to “forget the outside world”. There are many repeat visitors including one family from the UK which has visited for the past 6 years because (as they put it) “the children are safe here; they cannot escape and they seem to forget their mobile phones after a day or two. They now swim like fish and bring back shells and stones”

Accommodation

• There are 33 very spacious and well-appointed bedrooms (lots of space was the key in the era when this hotel was built), choice of views and rooms with or without balcony (which is spacious). We suggest you go for the sea view rooms with unforgettable views.
• All rooms have double beds with the exception of rooms on the second floor where twin beds are available (request at time of booking)

Amenities/Features

• Beautiful waterfront terraces serving the a la carte restaurant and the café bar
• Restaurant serving breakfast and half board dinner buffet style
• Small shop near hotel reception for essentials, usually open June-September
• Indoor café-bar area
• Close to hire of bicycles and golf buggies
• Room service subject to availability and not 24 hours
• Free WiFi throughout hotel
• Free daily return ticket per passenger from island to Fazana (mainland)
• No lift. Ground floor plus two floors
• Parking – not relevant, this is car-free island except for emergency vehicles or those of national park rangers

Superior Room with sea view

Superior more spacious double room with double bed, air conditioning, bathroom (bath and shower or shower and hairdryer), telephone, satellite TV, safe, mini-bar. Additional sofa-bed for one child possible. With a balcony and sea view.

Superior Room with park view

Superior more spacious double room with double bed, air conditioning, bathroom (bath and shower or shower and hairdryer), telephone, satellite TV, safe, mini-bar. Additional sofa-bed for two children possible. With views of the park.