Beckhams’ holiday favourite Croatia is ideal for restoration in the winter sun

2022-10-15

With the clocks going back a the end of this month, colder days and darker nights are well within touching distance. And while the season may signal the fun of bonfires, roasted marshmallows and autumnal walks, the changing weather has many of us wishing for warmer days.

So what better way to pass the gloomy, chilly evenings than to book your next sunny break? Inspired by David and Victoria Beckham’s lavish trip earlier this year, Croatia is at the top of our bucket list thanks to its beautiful pebbled beaches, crystal-clear waters and magnificent mountains.

Here, OK! takes a look at the seven top reasons why you should pay the European destination a visit too…

It’s ideal for sun seekers

Picturesque and unspoiled, the Croatian islands offer travellers a slice of paradise and the perfect place to unwind fairly close to home. Set in the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic, islands such as Hvar, Brac and Vis have their own distinctive charms.

Situated off the coast of Dalmatia, they are blessed with long, hot summers and mild winters. Autumn is the perfect time for an island visit, avoiding the summer madness and peak temperatures.

You'll discover sparkling bays, pebbled beaches and hillsides adorned with olive plantations and vineyards, while nestling between them are picturesque towns and villages to explore.

It’s well connected

Direct flights into Split, Dubrovnik and Brac international airports provide the perfect starting points and journey times between airport and island range from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on choice of transport and location.

For island hopping, ferries and catamarans offer an easy, affordable way to go between them and explore.

It’s home away from home

During our visit, we enjoyed a stay at the 5-star Maslina Resort on Hvar, overlooking Maslinica Bay. The resort offers a private airport pick-up and speedboat service, and we were whisked from Split airport to the hotel in under an hour.

Windswept and exhilarated, we made the short climb to the foyer, with its imposing Brac stone reception desk, to be greeted with iced drinks and cool towels.

The hotel is set in a pine forest and the stone and wood-clad buildings blend in. If you’re a cat lover, be sure to meet resident moggie Garfield – he has his own living area with a splash pool, and a host of admirers’ comments can be found in the hotel’s guest book.

The 33 rooms offer breathtaking views and suites and villas have private gardens, terraces and, in some cases, plunge pools. The beach is a five-minute stroll away and staff visit hourly offering refreshments.

It’s perfect for younger guests, too

There’s no need to get your elbows out, as the beach has private sun loungers for hotel guests. The hotel boasts two heated saltwater pools, a larger family pool with a shallow area for the kids and an infinity pool.

There’s also a playroom to keep kids busy, which offers everything from music and arts and crafts to water play and wall climbing.

If you want to enjoy some alone time, staff can organise surprise film screenings or entertainers to keep your little ones occupied.

You can escape the stress of day-to-day life

Health and wellbeing lie at the heart of the Maslina Resort – and nowhere more so than at its prestigious Pharomatiq Spa, open from 7am to 8pm. Feel the tension melt away as you step through its imposing limestone entrance and into the cool, welcoming, marble-lined interior. The atrium, with its overhanging ferns and palm trees, lend the space a pleasantly light and airy feel.

Containing indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, a thermal spa and five treatment rooms – including one dedicated to couples and a specialised sound healing treatment room – you’ll find everything necessary to combat the stresses and strains of modern life.

There’s something for everyone

If exploring is your thing, Hvar island is an ideal location for hiking and cycling enthusiasts alike. If you are feeling adventurous, book a speedboat excursion to the nearby islands or arrange activities such as diving, snorkelling or paddle- boarding via the hotel’s experience team.

The old harbour town of Hvar is a 20-minute drive away. We visited its hilltop fortress, taking in its breathtaking views across the bay before making our way down winding paths to the town.

Its quaint cobbled streets are dotted with tiny boutiques and merchant shops brimming with local foodstuffs and fine wines.

Scallops and steak are on the menu

Massimo Cvek, the resort’s head chef, has worked and trained in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. He prides himself on providing simple, traditional dishes made from locally sourced ingredients that showcase the island’s Mediterranean culture. Choose from dishes including buttered scallops, crispy red mullet or Slavonian black pig skirt steak. And for dessert, try cheesecake with fig ice cream or apple panna cotta with blackcurrant sauce.

Alternatively, stroll to nearby Stari Grad, one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites dotted across the island, for lunch at Jurin Podrum, a husband and wife-run restaurant in a quiet cobbled backstreet that serves traditional home- cooked fare. We had boar stew, gnocchi and smoked tuna with an octopus salad.

How to book

Red Savannah (01242 787800, redsavannah.com) offers a seven-night stay at Maslina Resort from £1,965 per person, based on two adults sharing a Garden View Room on a bed and breakfast basis. Includes private airport transfers from/to Split with return public ferry tickets and return economy EasyJet flights from Gatwick to Split.

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