Apartments Sol Stella for Plava Laguna

Sol Stella Apartments is a mid-range apartment hotel located in a larger tourist complex that it shares with a couple of other hotels. Apartments are housed in three-story buildings on grassy grounds filled with trees and shrubs, while the reception stands alone in an independent structure. The lobby is bright but not particularly inviting, with just a few chairs off to one side plus an internet terminal. Guests are more likely to congregate in the restaurants or out on the grounds, which feature a few sets of benches along with lots of play areas for kids. Most guests are vacationing families looking for a coastal stay on a budget. 

Sol Stella Apartments is located within the car-free Stella Maris tourist resort on the Adriatic coastline just north of the city of Umag. The resort features plenty of restaurants, bars, and a supermarket, along with a couple of other hotels. Umag is a three-minute drive away, while it's about 10 minutes on foot to the ATP Stadium. It takes about 12 minutes by car to reach the Adriatic Golf Course, while Aquapark Istralandia takes closer to 20 minutes. Factor in about a half-hour by car to Novigrad and Groznjan, or 45 minutes to Motovun or Porec. Pula international Airport is an hour away by car. 

This hotel offers three types of room: Classic, Superior, and Premium. Classic Rooms feature balconies and separate bedrooms with two bedrooms plus living rooms with sofa beds that sleep one person. Superior Rooms -- though the same size as their Classic counterparts (28 square meters/301 square feet) add separate sofa beds in the living rooms, plus full kitchens with microwaves. Premium Rooms are located on the ground floor and have terraces plus two sofa beds and a kitchen. All rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs with cable and a simple -- if mildly dated -- decor scheme featuring lots of medium wood in rooms and common areas. 

Bathrooms are simple and snug, with wall-mounted toiletry dispensers, white tile, and walk-in showers -- but they lack adequate counter space for most guests.

Amenities at Sol Stella are geared toward vacationing families, with lots for kids including special clubs for different age groups (most of which are open only seasonally) along with an outdoor racetrack with go-karts, table tennis, and a huge trampoline area. There are also all sorts of adult-friendly activities ranging from diving to bicycle rentals. Unfortunately, the outdoor swimming pool is located at a sister property. 

Dining options include O Grille, located next to the pool at the Melia Istrian Villas sister property, which serves primarily Mediterranean fare. Buffet Stella offers -- as the name suggests -- buffet-style dining, with a mix of local and international cuisine. Konoba Stella Maris focuses on the traditional Istrian food for which the area is known. 

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's an internet terminal for guests who don't have their own computers. Parking is available free of charge and there's also a harbor with 80 berths on the property for guests who have a boat.