Boutique Hotel Luxe

Boutique Hotel Luxe is at K. Zvonimira 6, on the waterfront in the Bačvice district, between the old town and the beach that gives the area its name. The page shows it as a four-star property and puts Diocletian's Palace at about five minutes on foot, roughly half a kilometre, which is a rare combination: you can walk to the Peristyle after breakfast and be back by the sea within minutes. Facilities include a spa, a hot tub, a gym, a restaurant, a bar, a free breakfast buffet, free wifi, air conditioning, a lift and a 24-hour front desk. In the rooms you find bathrobes, designer toiletries, desks, safes and televisions, and many rooms have balconies. A round-trip airport shuttle is available at a surcharge, which is useful for late arrivals.

The room list is wide. There are standard singles with a queen bed and sea view, classic and standard doubles, superior doubles with balconies and sea views, comfort doubles, and larger suites including a deluxe suite with a balcony. Suites sleep four or five and suit families or small groups, while single rooms make it a comfortable choice for solo travellers.

Sea-view and balcony rooms are the ones to request if you want to watch the harbour from your room, and they tend to be in demand in summer. As in any waterfront hotel, noise from the street and evening activity can reach lower floors, so ask for a higher room if you want quiet.

Location is what sets it apart. Bačvice is the city's beach quarter, with a sandy cove, cafes, a promenade and a lively summer atmosphere, but it is only a short stroll from the walls. That makes the hotel a good compromise for people who want to swim and sunbathe without giving up the palace, and it works well for couples and friends.

In winter the quarter is quiet and the spa and hot tub come into their own. Parking is available for a daily fee and spaces are limited, so book ahead if you are bringing a car; many guests rely on taxis and walking.

Who should book it? Couples who want a boutique feel and a bit of pampering, travellers on a short break who want both sights and sea, and anyone who likes a hotel with a restaurant and bar on site. Business travellers will appreciate the conference space and desks. Families with small children may prefer a property with a pool, as this one has a spa and hot tub rather than a swimming pool.

Combine the stay with an evening sunset cruise from the nearby harbour, a morning swim at Bačvice and dinner in the old town, all within a few minutes' walk of the door.

As a base for two to four nights it offers an appealing blend of comfort, convenience and character. The free breakfast buffet and the walk to the palace simplify the day, and the sea outside your window gives the stay a holiday feeling even when the weather is grey.