Hotel Uvala

Built in 2003, this contemporary low-rise has a sleek facade and light-bathed common spaces with a distinctive, visually-interesting look. The lobby, for instance, is a study in contrasting textures. Linear chaise-style sofas upholstered in soft white leather are offset by crudely-hewn stone cubes that act as tables; similarly, smooth white floor tiles are bordered by rough gray paving stones, and a delicate pink accent wall stands alongside a hefty slab of heavily veined green marble. It’s worth noting that even though the resulting design is eclectic, the clientele is not. On the contrary, it’s comprised mostly of Europeans on package vacations during summer and tour groups in spring and fall (like many area options, Hotel Uvala closes in winter). 

The Uvala is one of many options on the Lapad Peninsula, a scenic area a few miles northwest of Dubrovnik's historic Old Town. The public beach is a five-minute walk away, but guests are also welcome to use the pebbly private one at a sister property across the street (Hotel Vis). Proximity to the seaside promenade means pedestrians have lots of restaurants and bars to choose from, too. When you’re ready to explore more, there’s a bus stop outside the hotel (the No. 4 will get you to Pile Gate, on the edge of Old Town, in 20 minutes). Guests averse to public transit can arrange car and bike rentals or guided excursions on-site. The hotel can also organize shuttle transportation for the half-hour trip to Dubrovnik Airport. 

• One-minute walk to nearest bus stop
• Five-minute walk to public beach 
• Eight-minute drive to Port Gruz 
• Nine-minute drive to Dubrovnik Main Bus Station 
• 10-minute drive to Fort Lovrijenac 
• 11-minute drive to Walls of Dubrovnik (main entrance)
• 12-minute drive to Franciscan Monastery
• 12-minute drive to Pile Gate (20 by bus)
• 19-minute drive to Dubrovnik Cable Car 
• 30-minute drive to Dubrovnik Airport

Compared to common areas, rooms here are decidedly bland. White walls, whitewashed laminate floors and pale peach bedspreads create a neutral canvas that’s enlivened only by strips of teak-toned paneling and undersized abstract art. On the upside, their ho-hum matching curtains pull back to reveal sliding glass doors that open onto big furnished balconies, the majority of which offer at least a partial sea view (a dozen rooms at the back overlook the grounds instead). All come with air-conditioning, minibars, digital safes, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and on-request kettles; Superior Rooms add separate living areas with sofa beds. Across the board, the white-tiled bathrooms are outfitted with showers or shower/tub combos and have turquoise accents that offer a much-needed shot of color; their towel warmers, magnifying mirrors, and hairdryers are appreciated extras. 

In keeping with its upper-middle-range ranking, this property has many features -- including both an outdoor pool and a solarium-style indoor one, plus a spa anchored by treatment rooms and a trio of saunas (Finnish, Infrared, and Turkish). Guests who prefer exercising to pampering can retreat to a bright work-out room, while those who like mixing business with pleasure can rent a pair of meeting rooms with a combined capacity of 90 people. In-house dining is available at Mantala, a pretty pastel space with an alfresco eating area next to the outdoor pool and floor-to-ceiling windows that highlight the view. It offers an international menu at lunch and dinner; at breakfast, the free buffet laid out there includes a generous selection of dishes (special diets, such as gluten-free and vegan are catered to, and all ingredients are labeled). An adjacent bar is open for drinks throughout the day. It, too, is oriented toward the pool, but a little library corner with books, board games, and a flat-screen TV provides a place for sun-seekers to kick back in inclement weather. Other noteworthy features are a 24-hour reception desk, dry-cleaning/laundry service, room service, free parking, a free lobby computer station, and free property-wide Wi-Fi.