Hotel Parentium Plava Laguna

Completely refurbished in 2012, Hotel Laguna Parentium is part of a hotel resort area called Zelena Laguna located just outside the historic city of Porec. The building is a modern, boxy, six-story structure with a stretch of windows to make the most of the hotel's position on a small peninsula surrounded by the sea. The broad, open-plan lobby is light-filled and offers sea views from its lounge. The atmosphere here is chic but laid-back: Beige and soft gray upholstered armchairs provide ample seating, and there's nightly live piano music. Though children are welcome, the hotel caters to an adult crowd, and most guests staying here are couples. During the summer months, many tourists on vacation packages are accommodated here, with many older travelers staying here during the pre- and post-summer season. The hotel is a good choice for travelers looking for a quiet atmosphere away from the bustle of the busier tourist resorts. Be aware that the hotel closes in November, opening again at Easter.

Hotel Laguna Parentium is located on its own peninsula just south of the scenic seaside city of Porec. It's surrounded by water on three sides. Along with other nearby hotels, it's part of a large secluded beach resort area called Zelena Laguna. The beach is a short walk from the hotel, and a walking path follows the coastline all the way to Porec. It's a nine-minute drive to the tourist sights, shops, cafes, and restaurants of Porec, or even faster by boat taxi.

• Two-minute walk to public beach
• Nine-minute walk to Byblos night club
• Five-minute drive to Aquacolors Porec water park
• Nine-minute drive to Porec (five-minute boat taxi ride)
• 10-minute drive to Trg Marafor and Roman Forum
• 11-minute drive to Euphrasian Basilica Complex
• 36-minute drive to Bale
• 44-minute drive to Pula international airport
• 44-minute drive to Fazana ferry terminal to Brijuni National Park
• 45-minute drive to Groznjan
• 52-minute drive to Pula

All the guests rooms are impeccably clean and well-maintained, and decorated in a minimalist color palette of white, beige, and navy. Stark white walls contrasts sharply with the dark furniture, while curtains, bed runners, and soft shaggy carpeting are beige. Elegant cube-shaped bedside lamps provide soft mood lighting. Each room has a sofa bed upholstered in a soft navy blue fabric placed at the foot of the bed; it faces the TVs in larger rooms. Built-in wardrobes, with an automatic push open function, provide plenty of storage space.

The modern bathrooms are spacious and tastefully tiled in a soft sand-color. Glass partitions separate the toilets from the shower areas, with long white sink-tops between them. Most bathrooms have large walk-in showers equipped with rainwater showerheads, while a few feature shower/tub combos; suites have both. Upscale amenities include air-conditioning, 40-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, minibars, safes, and hairdryers and robes in the bathrooms. However, coffee- and tea-making facilities and irons/ironing boards are not available in-room.

Most guest rooms at Hotel Laguna Parentium are Double Rooms with double or twin beds which can accommodate up to three guests. The smallest rooms measure 269 square feet and can seem a little cramped because of the low ceilings. The 22 suites are more spacious at 376 square feet, sleeping a maximum of four, while the Presidential Suite offers 1431 square feet of floor space. The guest rooms are light-filled thanks to the large floor-to-ceiling windows, and each room has a balcony, offering either a sea view, or a view over the hotel's gardens with partial sea views through the trees.

Hotel Laguna Parentium offers all the features travelers expect of an upscale property. A highlight is the two outdoor swimming pools -- one of which is heated and features a swim-up bar, while the other is filled with sea water. There are also six outdoor whirlpools. There are plenty of sun loungers by the pool, on the hotel's lawn, and on the public beach which is just outside the hotel gate.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and consists of an extensive and varied buffet of hot and cold continental and American-style dishes, and several counters where foods like eggs or pancakes are prepared fresh. The two buffet restaurants, Mediterano and Amare (specializing in seafood), occupy opposite ends of the same semi-circular space. From here, guests get scenic sea views. There's also an outdoor seating area. Dinner is also served here buffet-style and features options for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diets. Bacchus is the third on-site restaurant with an a la carte menu. Room service is also available. The lobby and lounge bars serve drinks and cocktails, and light meals.

Guests get free access to the wellness center, which includes an indoor pool and whirlpool, a tepidarium (a heated relaxation room), and four different types of sauna: Finnish, Turkish, Russian, and "aura." Located on the same floor is the fitness room, equipped with six weight machines, a treadmill, and two stationary bicycles. The adjacent spa offers massage services, and a variety of beauty and relaxation treatments which are charged extra.

The hotel has a large hall seating up to 500, which can be also divided into three meeting rooms. Two smaller meeting rooms can seat 30 and 10 people, respectively. An adjacent business center is equipped with a photocopier and a computer with an Internet connection. The Wi-Fi connection is free and available throughout the property.

Other extras include a lounge bar and piano in the lobby area, a souvenir shop, currency exchange office, library, beauty parlor, and hair salon. Live music nights take place regularly during the tourist season, as well as weekly gala dinners, and live piano music in the lobby.

On-site parking is charged a very nominal daily fee. From the hotel, there is a boat taxi and mini-train service to nearby Porec (not provided by the hotel and charged an extra fee).