Villa Dubrovnik, Croatia /
The entrance to Villa Dubrovnik is completely unmemorable. You may even think you have arrived at the wrong place, as there is no building per se. What you see is an L-shaped structure (imagine a periscope that has popped up from the water) with a wood-paneled door and a small button.
Press it, enter, and you are swiftly transported, James Bond-style, many levels below to the lobby of Villa Dubrovnik. The elevator doors open and the full expanse of the Adriatic Sea appears before you.
The Walled City of Dubrovnik
The dramatic views follow you everywhere – the lobby, the open-air restaurant, and the rooftop bar. The floor-to-ceiling windowed rooms steer your eyes towards the sea at every turn so you have no choice but to admire it. And while you can clearly see the ancient walled city of Dubrovnik in the near distance, you simply have no desire to go there.
That is until you are reminded of the complimentary Venetian Vaporetto speedboat service that will shuttle you from the hotel launch to the piers of Dubrovnik each half-hour. But first, maybe you decide to relax at the rock-terraced and intimate private lounging area that juts out into the sea.
Or maybe you will climb the rocks alongside the resort and cliff jump into the water below as my husband and kids did with wild abandon.
Dubrovnik’s Red rooftops and white stone walls
When you do venture from the hotel, and you likely will, because Dubrovnik has so much to offer, you won’t be able to help being mesmerized by the architecture, first of all. What strikes you is the contrast of the red rooftops and white stone walls against the stark blue backdrop of the Adriatic Sea. And since one of the best ways to see Dubrovnik is from above, along the high stone walls, there is red, white, and blue for as far as the eyes can see!
You could spend an hour or more traversing the high walls, which were built in the 10th century, ducking into the towers and forts for some much-needed shade. August brings the tourists, and the heat, so be prepared. The wide pedestrian-only Stradun, with its white limestone pavers, will provide some respite though, as coffee houses and ice cream parlors abound. It is mayhem, but happy and incredibly lively, mayhem.
And to get the best view of the walled city, short of hiring a helicopter, head over to the funicular. It takes you far enough above the city to see the cerulean blue sea, the harbor in the foreground, and the island of Lokrum sitting beautifully in the distance.
Villa Dubrovnik’s Room with a view
Book the two-bedroom Villa Dubrovnik Royal Suite. It has a wraparound deck with a jacuzzi and offers the ultimate panorama of the Old City. It also has two en suite glass-walled bathrooms, so that you’re never, ever without a view.
And if you are feeling even more indulgent, the chef and staff will happily serve your dinner on the deck, under the stars, and within view of one of the more magical places you can find.
Five reasons to get lost in Dubrovnik
• Taking the Venetian Vaporetto to the old city and feeling like James Bond.
• Eating ice cream along the wide-open pedestrian-only plazas of the old city and then climbing a few hundred steps to get to the top of the wall where you can then spend hours hovering above the city.
• The never-ending maze of narrow streets, alleys, and staircases, bars and restaurants, gardens, and terraces.
• The uniquely designed lounge chairs at Villa Dubrovnik allow you to cast shade exactly where you want it, and sun exactly where you want it. The perfect tanning machine.
• The Prosciutto and Wine Bar on the roof of Villa Dubrovnik with unobstructed views of Lokrum Island and the Old City.
Where will you find yourself next? Just click.
Consider taking on a chartered gulet and sailing the Dalmatian Coast.
Neighboring Montenegro is the latest hot spot. Stay in a 15th c. village island called Sveti Stefan.
