Dubrovnik

Hotel Dubrovnik Palace

A luxury waterside hotel on Dubrovnik’s Lapad peninsular, three milesfrom the lovely fortified Old Town. It has 308 rooms with contemporary décor, all with a balcony and sea view, as well as a VIP wing which hosts four ultra-luxurious suites, including the vast and magnificent Presidential suite. Facilities include a rock-and-concrete beach with a scuba diving center, two outdoor pools, a spa with an indoor pool, and a tennis court. It’s a perfect base for combining seaside relaxation and cultural sightseeing. – Starting at $110 per night

Hotel Excelsior

Dating back to 1913, the Excelsior has hosted numerous illustrious guests, including Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Roger Moore and Francis Ford Coppola. It comprises the original building, Villa Odak, plus a modern extension, all built into a steep hillside. The 141 rooms and 17 suites are functional and comfortable, with dark-wood furnishing and a natural palette of brown, cream and grey fabrics, plus slick modern bathrooms. The Energy Clinic Spa & Wellness offers a decent indoor pool, whirlpool tubs, a sauna, gym, and a range of health and beauty treatments. – Starting at $500 per night

Villa Orsula

This boutique hotel, housed in a white stone villa dating from 1939, is a truly romantic retreat. Ideal for couples, it offers discreet luxury and impeccable service. There are just 13 rooms, plus a chic restaurant serving Peruvian cuisine with tables on a vine-draped terrace affording sublime sea views. From the garden, planted with fragrant pines and lavender, steep stone steps lead down to a bathing platform, with sun beds, beach towels and easy access into the sea. Former guests include Elizabeth Taylor. – Starting at $400 per night

Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik

The Grand Dame of Dubrovnik hotels, the 19th-century Hilton Imperial stands just outside the medieval City Walls. Dignified and peaceful, it has 147 spacious rooms, a lovely restaurant terrace in the leafy front garden, a small spa with indoor pool, and facilities for meetings and events. Original 19th-century architectural features remain, along with plush furnishing, and colour schemes of imperial yellow and Bordeaux red. The Porat Restaurant has a lovely front terrace, with tables under big green parasols and two camphor trees, offering seasonally-inspired Mediterranean dishes. – Starting at $500

Valamar Dubrovnik President Hotel

Valamar Dubrovnik President is a big, modern five-star seaside hotel, a short distance from the Old Town. All 292 rooms have balconies and sea views, and there’s a wellness centre, indoor and outdoor pools, watersports, a kids’ club and spaces for conferences and events. The stand-out feature is the hotel beach, a pebble cove with sun beds, parasols, baldachins and palm trees. The Abyss Diving Centre is based here, offering jet-ski, water-ski, wake-board, stand-up paddle, banana-boat and parasailing, plus scuba diving. – Starting at $300 per night

Hotel Stari Grad

Enjoy old-fashioned charm with 21st-century details at this historic hotel in Dubrovnik. You can reach all the main attractions with a leisurely 10-minute stroll. The decor is “classic contemporary” with quality fabrics in mottled shades of blue, mauve and mustard, and slick new bathrooms stocked with Chanel toiletries. Continental breakfast on the rooftop terrace, with amazing views over the terracotta roofs of the old town, is a perfect start to the day. Dinner is also served here – expect a short but enticing choice of dishes. – Starting at $200 per night

St. Joseph’s

St Joseph’s is located in a beautifully restored 16th-century stone building in Dubrovnik’s pedestrian-only old town. This lovely boutique hotel attracts discerning couples on a romantic city break, in search of a chic but unpretentious retreat. There are just six stately suites, combining wooden floors, beamed ceilings and some exposed stonework. Expect super comfortable beds, a slick marble bathroom, and a discrete kitchenette. You’ll be treated to an extremely indulgent breakfast, brought to your room by a maid. – Starting at $400 per night

The Pucić Palace

The 19-room Pucic Palace is a luxury boutique set in a superbly restored 18th-century palace in the center of Dubrovnik’s stunning Old Town. The building’s original Baroque ambience has been meticulously maintained with original antiques and refined historic detailing throughout. Rooms are stately and grand with long drapes and carpets covering wood floors; marble bathrooms are a particular highlight. The lack of spa facilities is a minor gripe, and some rooms are smaller than others, but this is without doubt one of the finest, if not the finest, hotel within the city’s ancient walls.  – Starting at $350 per night

Split

Vestibul Palace

This chic boutique hotel in the heart of Diocletian’s Palace in Split occupies a cluster of historic buildings with contemporary interiors. There are seven rooms and a restaurant in the main building, plus four rooms in a nearby annex. Expect highly-personalised service and luxurious extras. – Starting at $350 per night

Hotel Park Split

Split’s oldest hotel, by the sea just outside the Old Town, dates from 1921. Set in gardens with a palm-lined terrace for open-air dining and a pool, this elegant five-star hotel has 72 plush rooms and suites (many with wide sea views), a small spa and a gym. – Starting at $255 per night

Judita Palace Heritage Hotel

This property is a 12-minute walk from the beach. The Palace Judita is a heritage hotel set in a palace dating back to the 16th century and located on the main square of Split, next to the UNESCO-protected Diocletian’s Palace. It offers luxurious appointed rooms, and free WiFi access. All rooms feature exposed stone walls, parquet flooring, elegant furniture and luxurious bathrooms including bathrobes and slippers. The rooms are air-conditioned. This spacious patrician home is accessed through the internal courtyard with a historic well. From the balcony you can enjoy panoramic views over the square. – Starting at $320

Heritage Hotel Antique Split

Decorated with pastel tones, all rooms feature a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a mini-bar. The private bathrooms also come with a hairdryer. You can enjoy views of the surrounding landmarks, such as the St. Domnius Cathedral and the Peristyle. – Starting at $350

Marmont Hotel Heritage

Enjoy the blue skies and historic sidewalks while dining on the cobblestone sidewalk in the center of town at the Marmont Hotel Heritage. Behold the original color-blocking. The hotel is only a minute’s walk from Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But you needn’t venture off the premises to be treated like royalty. Amid the luxury and elegance of the Marmont Hotel Heritage, you too can live like a queen for a day. – Starting at $280

AirBnB & Vrbo are both fantastic options for lodging throughout Croatia