Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Deluxe Double in Split, Croatia
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Deluxe Double in Split, Croatia
Escape to Paradise: My Chaotic Love Affair with the "Dream Deluxe Double" in Split (Croatia) - A Review That's Actually Real
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your average, sterile hotel review. We're diving deep into my stay at the "Dream Deluxe Double" in Split, Croatia, and trust me, it was an experience. Forget the perfectly symmetrical photos and canned pronouncements. This is the raw, unfiltered truth.
Accessibility: (Let's Be Real, It Matters)
Alright, so, I'm not in a wheelchair myself, but I did notice a few things. There's an elevator (thank goodness!). I saw some ramps around, but honestly, I was so swept up in the sheer beauty of Split, I didn't meticulously check every single detail. But I'd wager it's pretty good. Just maybe give them a heads-up about your needs before you go.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Honestly, I don't recall specifically looking, but the restaurant looked decent for access, and the outdoor seating with the view of the sea looked great.
Wheelchair accessible: They should at least be ok, but call and ask, always a good idea.
Internet & Wi-Fi: (Because Let's Face It, We Need It)
"Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" they boomed in the online listing. Praise the digital gods! But here's the thing…sometimes the "free" part felt a bit… optimistic. Don't get me wrong, it worked most of the time. But there were a few glorious moments where I was desperately trying to upload a photo of a particularly stunning sunset, only to have the dreaded spinning wheel of doom taunt me. That said, wi-fi in the main areas was good enough to call my family and do online banking, though not always at the same time. (And yes, there's also Internet [LAN]. I'm guessing for all you super-techy types, but I'm a simple soul.)
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: (Oh, the Choices!)
- Body scrub/wrap: Didn't get around to it, unfortunately. I was too busy wandering the Diocletian's Palace.
- Fitness center: I glanced in. Looked… sufficiently gym-like. Not my personal cup of tea, but if you're into that whole "working out on vacation" thing, go nuts.
- Foot bath: Missed my chance, too.
- Gym/fitness: As mentioned, it was there.
- Massage: Now we're talking! I indulged in a massage, and it was pure bliss. Seriously, a masseuse worked out all the knots from carrying my luggage and dodging crowds. Highly, highly recommend.
- Pool with a view: The pool area? Breathtaking. Crystal-clear water, and the view of the Adriatic sea? Staggering. Spent a whole afternoon just floating and staring at the horizon.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom: Didn’t delve into any of these, though I did think about the sauna after the massage.
- Swimming pool: Check. Excellent.
- Swimming pool (outdoor): Double-check. The best part of the afternoon.
Cleanliness & Safety: (Because We All Want to Survive the Trip)
Okay, so, in a world that's still figuring out how to deal with germs, I was pretty impressed.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Fingers crossed!
- Breakfast in room: I skipped this. More on that later.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Again, not my thing.
- Cashless payment service: Yes, yes, and yes! Thank goodness for contactless payments.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Seemed to be happening. I didn’t witness the cleaning, but the place always looked sparkling.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Hopefully, I didn't need them.
- First aid kit: Never had to use it, thankfully.
- Hand sanitizer: Available everywhere.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Presumably.
- Hygiene certification: If you need that, you’ve probably already checked!
- Individually-wrapped food options: Didn't order room service.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They tried. It's tough in the summer heat, especially with hordes of tourists.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Good to know.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: A good thing.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: The usual cleaning, it was, and it showed.
- Safe dining setup: Felt safe enough.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Probably.
- Shared stationery removed: Didn't notice any shared stationery.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed to know their stuff.
- Sterilizing equipment: Don't know.
Dining, Drinking, & Snacking: (Food, Glorious Food!)
- A la carte in restaurant: Yup. Plenty of options.
- Alternative meal arrangement: I'm not the best person to ask.
- Asian breakfast: Nope.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Maybe but I didn’t try it.
- Bar: Excellent! Cocktails with a view? Yes, please!
- Bottle of water: Provided. Lifesaver.
- Breakfast [buffet]: The buffet. I've already alluded to it. The reality? The food was… well, let's just say it wasn't the reason I booked the hotel. I'm not a huge breakfast person and preferred the local bakeries.
- Breakfast service: More on this later.
- Buffet in restaurant: Not the best, in my humble opinion.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes.
- Coffee shop: Yes, a handy one.
- Desserts in restaurant: Tempting, but the gelato in town was too strong a draw.
- Happy hour: Definitely a plus!
- International cuisine in restaurant: Yup. Varied.
- Poolside bar: Perfect for sun-kissed afternoons.
- Restaurants: Several.
- Room service [24-hour]: Didn't order any.
- Salad in restaurant: Healthy option (for those who choose it.)
- Snack bar: Great for a quick bite.
- Soup in restaurant: Appealing.
- Vegetarian restaurant: I’m not sure, but there were vegitarian options.
- Western breakfast: See breakfast [buffet].
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Yes.
Services & Conveniences: (The Little Things That Matter)
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Not relevant to my stay.
- Business facilities: Didn't use them.
- Cash withdrawal: Present.
- Concierge: Super helpful with recommendations.
- Contactless check-in/out: Smooth and easy.
- Convenience store: Nice to have.
- Currency exchange: Available.
- Daily housekeeping: My room was always spotless.
- Doorman: Always there with a smile.
- Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace: All the basics.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Didn't use it.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Not applicable to my stay.
For the Kids: (Because Vacationing with Children is a WHOLE Other Story)
- Babysitting service: Not relevant.
- Family/child friendly: Seemed to be. Saw lots of families.
- Kids facilities, Kids meal: Didn't notice.
Access (Basically Everything Else):
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms: Standard.
- Pets allowed: Sorry, my furry friends, you’re out of luck, or unavailable.
- Proposal spot: Haha.
- Room decorations: Nice, but I barely noticed.
- Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms, Getting around, Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: All there.
**Available in all rooms
Gigli d'Oro Suite: Your Roman Holiday Awaits (Luxury Unrivaled)Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly manicured itinerary. We're going to Split, Croatia, and frankly, things are already teetering on the edge of delightful disaster. I booked a Deluxe Double Room - BGold Luxury Rooms, which, let's be honest, sounds like something a Bond villain might use. But hey, I'm in. Let's dive in!
Day 1: Arrival and "Lost in Translation" (and Luggage)
- 9:00 AM: (My brain: "Wake up! We're going to the freaking Adriatic!" My body: "Five more minutes…is that a croissant?") Okay, finally dragged myself out of bed. Tried to be that "effortlessly chic traveler" but ended up looking like a rumpled potato. Airport here I come!
- 2:00 PM (Local Time): Arrive in Split. The airport… well, let's just say it wasn't exactly the Taj Mahal. Immediately felt a stab of panic. The luggage carousel was a giant, evil circle of doom. My suitcase (affectionately nicknamed "Bertha") was nowhere to be seen. Panic Mode: Activated.
- 2:30 PM: Speak to the baggage people. They assure me Bertha is "probably enjoying a scenic tour of Europe." Charming.
- 3:00 PM: Found a taxi. The driver spoke minimal English, but somehow, through a combination of hand gestures and my best, butchered Croatian ("Hvala!" I think I said it right), we got to BGold Luxury Rooms. Check-in was smooth… but the anxiety about Bertha's whereabouts kept me on edge.
- 4:00 PM: Deluxe Double Room! It's… actually pretty swanky. Think plush velvet, a balcony overlooking something that might be the sea, and a bathroom so ridiculously big I could probably host a small rave in it. My first thought? "I could get used to this." My second thought? "Where's my damn suitcase?!"
- 5:00 PM: Wandered around the Old Town. Dioklecijan's Palace is seriously impressive, even if a bit overwhelming. I swear, every alleyway smells like a mix of ancient history and grilled fish. Found a tiny gelato shop and ate two scoops of pistachio – a deeply important decision.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a konoba near the Riva (waterfront). Ordered grilled squid, which was delicious, but also managed to spatter olive oil all over my (borrowed!) white shirt. Fashion Crisis: Declared. The waiter must have thought, with my slightly frantic manner and lack of suitcase, I was insane.
- 9:00 PM: Found a bar with live music. The band was… let's say "enthusiastic." Drank some local wine and decided that missing luggage was "character building." (Famous last words, I'm sure). Fell asleep, or attempted to, with a mix of jet lag and unresolved suitcase anxiety.
Day 2: Diocletian's Palace, Cathedrals and the Quest for Bertha
- 9:00 AM: Woke up. The sun was shining, and the sea was calling. But there was no Bertha.
- 9:30 AM: Breakfast in the hotel. Finally got the hang of the breakfast buffet. Seriously, why do hotel breakfasts always make you overeat? It's a mystery.
- 10:30 AM: Explored Diocletian's Palace more fully. The sheer age of the place is humbling. Wandered the cellars… which made me feel claustrophobic. Found a cute little shop selling hand-made jewelry and bought a necklace - a small talisman of hope that Bertha would return.
- 1:00 PM: Found a restaurant nestled in the palace and ordered a pizza. Split pizza is great and the place was packed with locals. The waiter kept smiling at me and it made my day.
- 2:00 PM: Climbing the Bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. The red roofs, the blue sea, the whole city stretching out before me… It was the moment i knew I was in love with Split.
- 3:30 PM: Spent the rest of the afternoon searching for boutiques and shops and getting lost in the narrow streets.
- 6:00 PM: Contacted the airport again; Bertha is still "enjoying the sights," apparently. Starting to wonder if she's planning a full-blown European vacation without me.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant near the harbour. Ordered mussels. They were fantastic, but I was now completely alone. The lack of suitcase just made me feel more alone.
- 8:00 PM: Drank a bottle of wine. Thinking "Bertha, where are you?"
Day 3: Kayaking and a Sudden Existential Crisis (and Maybe Bertha?)
- 9:00 AM: Another gloriously sunny morning. The sea is practically winking at me.
- 10:00 AM: Went kayaking. The water was crystal clear, and the coast was stunning. I almost capsized at one point, proving I'm as graceful as a newborn giraffe. The freedom of the sea was incredible, and I felt a new sense of freedom.
- 1:00 PM: A picnic. Bought bread and cheese and some local olives from a little market, a beautiful memory.
- 2:00 PM: The hotel reception called. "Ms. [Me], we have good news!" My heart leaped! "Your suitcase… it has arrived!" Oh, the relief! But I started to feel that my trip might be over…
- 3:00 PM: Back in the room, Bertha has arrived. It felt strangely emotional, opening my luggage to find my clothes.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant with traditional Croatian music. Ordered the black risotto, which turned my teeth black. Absolutely worth it. Dancing, singing… all while black risotto!
- 8:00 PM: A long walk on the Riva. There's something magical about a promenade in Split at night, the lights reflecting on the water, the air filled with laughter and the sound of music.
Day 4: Departure (and a Little Bit of Regret)
- 9:00 AM: Packing (finally!). It felt weird to leave.
- 10:00 AM: Final breakfast at the hotel. Savored every bite, knowing I’d be back to reality soon.
- 11:00 AM: Last walk around the Old Town. Said goodbye to Diocletian's Palace and the sea.
- 12:00 PM: Taxi to the airport. Goodbye, Split. I already miss you.
- [Departure Time]: On the plane home.
- Reflecting on my trip:
- "I need to learn some Croatian."
- "Bertha's going to the cargo hold next time."
- "Absolutely come back, Split"
- Reflecting on my trip:
Postscript:
Split, you glorious mess. You were beautiful, frustrating, and utterly unforgettable. I’m already planning my return. And Bertha? Well, she’s safely back in my closet. The next adventure begins… eventually.
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