Sun Gardens Dubrovnik

I had a suboptimal experience last year and was candid with my feedback and areas that required improvement. After being invited back by email promotion, I chose to give this hotel another chance for a night to see if improvements had indeed been made. This time I was upgraded to the main hotel building, and I must say, the experience of staying in these rooms vs the townhomes is marked better. Truly comfortable bed, excellent air conditioning and a great bathroom with perfect water pressure. And lots of closet space. It’s also nice to sit on the terrace and enjoy the unobstructed views of the sunset and the sea through the glass railing, really memorable moment. I tried the Market restaurant for dinner which I hadn’t tried last time and dinner was excellent, fresh seafood and a lovely view. The property was not yet crowded as it was shoulder season and I think this added to the overall atmosphere of calm and relaxation. I would still advocate for more smaller tables outside at breakfast (too many 6 and 8 tops that go unused as most people there were couples or singles and had to sit inside as a consequence). I also found the pool too cold to swim, it was 25 degrees weather when I visited but the water was frigid, if the pool was heated even just to 20, it would be a better swimming experience. Lastly the same problem I had last time, no one outside to greet you or help with luggage, had to shlep everything through the front door and up to my room. That was honestly my biggest pet peeve the whole time. While no stay is perfect, I would say there have been improvements made to the service, and unless you are a big family needing extra space, I would highly highly recommend you book a room in the main building.

This was hands down the nicest hotel resort my friend and I had ever stayed in. It was our first trip to Croatia and we had an adventure vacation that was very busy... we ended our trip with one night at the Sun Gardens and spoiled ourselves with comfort! We didn't want to leave,e wish we had more days to enjoy the resort! Sun Gardens is top notch in every way and we hope to be able to return someday! The breakfast buffet was unbelievable. I have food allergies and was able to find everything I could ever want and now. No detail was left out. Highly recommend this resort for family, honeymoon, friends traveling together, groups or solo travel, it is for everyone!

We had a delightful visit to Sun Gardens outside of the city of Dubrovnik Croatia. The grounds are superb with the Agean Sea shining from everywhere on the property. Three outdoor pools, indoor pool with sauna and steam rooms. The fitness club is in a separate building. Restaurants are on the property with an amazing breakfast. Martina was there every morning with a welcoming mile, even at 6am. She knew our party after the first morning. Aleksander was our bellman extraordinaire. He was kind and helpful. Adriana at the front desk was a doll. She was there for us. She never bated an eye when we asked to change rooms. She was clear our visit was her top priority. And she treated us that way. Plus she is a runner; a woman after my heart. And finally dear Mia who sprouted wings and got my forgotten luggage to the ferry before they departed. I am still not sure how she got there so quickly. But THANK-YOU! Definitely above and beyond.. The only drawback was the distance from town, about 20 minutes by car. But plenty of options to get there. Thank you all so very much. With love, Linda

We stayed at Sun Gardens Dubrovnik in early May with our new baby, and it was absolutely perfect for us. The resort was lovely and quiet at that time of year, at times it genuinely felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. One of the best things was how relaxed everything felt. We could always get a table and never needed to book restaurants in advance. The food throughout the resort was unbelievable. Yes, it’s expensive, but every meal we had was excellent and completely worth it. The breakfast buffet was a real highlight, especially the DIY mimosas and the omelette station. It felt like such a treat every morning. There were always plenty of sunbeds available around the pool, although the outdoor pools were freezing when we visited (probably because it was still early in the season!). Thankfully, the indoor spa pool was lovely, and it was great to be able to use it with our baby. We stayed in a garden apartment, which was spacious and really well-equipped for travelling with an infant. A travel cot was provided, and having both a microwave and kettle made sterilising bottles really easy. The Rituals of Mehr toiletries in the bathroom were also a lovely touch. The only downside for us was the number of stairs throughout the resort. That said, we found a good workaround by walking to the main hotel and using the lifts wherever possible, which made getting around much more manageable. It still involved a fair bit of walking and a few steps here and there, but it was far easier than tackling long flights of stairs with the pram. Overall, we had a fantastic stay and would absolutely recommend this hotel, especially for families with young babies looking for a relaxing, luxury break.

Setting & Views Sun Gardens Dubrovnik is, above all else, a resort carried by one of the most beautiful natural settings I have ever experienced. The views are genuinely spectacular. We stayed at two other hotels during our Croatia trip, and this property had by far the best scenery of all three. The Adriatic here is impossibly blue, the coastline dramatic and rocky, and nearly every walkway or terrace seems to open onto another panoramic sea view. At times, it honestly reminded us of the views we had during our honeymoon in Krabi, Thailand. The setting alone made the stay worthwhile. The beach itself is absolutely gorgeous. Crystal clear water, beautiful stone coastline, and stunning views in every direction. In many ways, the natural beauty surrounding the resort explains why this property continues to be so popular despite some quirks and inconsistencies elsewhere. ⸻ Overall Atmosphere & Resort Personality The overall vibe of the resort is honestly difficult to describe, but in an entertaining way. The main hotel areas occasionally had a sort of “Mediterranean singles club circa 2008” atmosphere, complete with luxury sports cars parked outside, while parts of the residence section felt more like an upscale grandparents-timeshare community overlooking one of the world’s prettiest coastlines. It is a very unusual combination. Our 6 year old son, however, considered the Ferraris outside to be perhaps the pinnacle of European civilization. Oddly enough, learning more about the resort’s history made me appreciate it more. I later found old redevelopment plans and read about how the original complex was heavily damaged during the Croatian War in the 1990s before eventually being rebuilt and transformed into the current resort. Once I understood that history, the slightly layered and inconsistent atmosphere suddenly made much more sense. The property feels less like a newly built ultra-luxury resort and more like several different eras of Adriatic tourism stacked on top of each other. I actually found that strangely charming. ⸻ Apartments & Family Practicality The condo-style apartments themselves are very large and spacious, which worked extremely well for our family. The kitchenette added enormous practical value when traveling with small children who survive primarily on warm milk, fruit, snacks, pizza, and highly specific emotional-support foods at unpredictable intervals. Having the ability to refrigerate food, prepare simple meals, and avoid relying entirely on restaurants made the stay dramatically easier. We also genuinely loved the enormous outdoor terrace attached to our apartment. Ours connected to only one or two neighboring units, which appeared mostly unoccupied during our stay, so it felt peaceful and semi-private. There was quality outdoor furniture including a large dining table and woven-style armchairs that were surprisingly practical for dining outside with small children. The terrace became one of our favorite parts of the stay because it allowed the kids to play quietly outside while we relaxed and enjoyed the scenery. The resort also did a lovely job setting up a toddler bed for our daughter. For reference, she is 30 months old, approximately 37 inches tall and 31 pounds, and she still had plenty of room. They even included a tiny bathrobe for her, which was honestly one of the sweetest touches of the trip. That said, the apartments themselves definitely feel dated, particularly the bathrooms, which are overdue for renovation. Nothing was dirty or unusable, but parts of the accommodations felt more early-2000s Adriatic resort than modern luxury property. The electrical outlet situation was especially odd. There were so few outlets that we literally had iPhone charging cords stretched across doorways, and despite providing a hair dryer, there did not appear to be a usable bathroom outlet for it. We also noticed significant ant activity around the residence walkways and stair areas. The apartment entrances are open-air and effectively outdoors, and there were thousands of ants near parts of the stairs by our building. To be fair, we were staying beside the sea in warm weather surrounded by landscaping, so some level of insects is understandable, but it was another detail that felt slightly inconsistent with the luxury pricing. ⸻ Pools, Beach & Family Amenities The pool areas were very nice overall. The bathrooms near the pools appeared recently renovated, were clean and well maintained, and generally felt more updated than parts of the residence accommodations. We also appreciated that both the beach bars and pool bars were fully open and operating in late May. At several other resorts we visited during this trip, many seasonal amenities still felt partially shut down for shoulder season, so it was refreshing that Sun Gardens already seemed fully operational. One unexpectedly excellent feature for families was the availability of shower facilities directly next to the beach. Our children both have eczema, and the very salty Adriatic water immediately irritated their skin when they got in. Thankfully, there were shower sprayers directly beside the beach chairs, and we were able to rinse them off immediately, which helped tremendously. Even beyond eczema concerns, the showers were simply incredibly convenient for rinsing saltwater off children, bathing suits, sandals, and skin before walking back through the resort. Our children especially loved the children’s pool and slide area. The slide was perfect for our 7 year old son, who is not particularly adventurous or thrill-seeking. It felt exciting enough for younger kids without feeling overwhelming. One thing I also appreciated was that the resort struck a good balance overall in terms of atmosphere. It did not feel overly rigid or uptight. After another resort where beach towels were apparently guarded with the intensity of classified government assets and could only be exchanged during highly specific hours, Sun Gardens felt much more relaxed and practical for families. ⸻ Safety & Maintenance Concerns There were, however, a few safety concerns that surprised us for a resort of this caliber. The pool decks themselves were genuinely slippery, and our 2 year old slipped and fell even while walking carefully. There were also several low stone stumps/posts around parts of the pool area that blended into the deck visually and felt like potential tripping hazards, particularly for elderly guests or adults carrying small children on wet surfaces. ⸻ Resort Layout & Accessibility One logistical challenge for families is that the property is enormous. Building 7, where we stayed, felt very far from the main front desk/lobby area, and the walk is not flat. There are hills, pathways, and many stairs throughout the property, including at least 20 stairs between the front desk and our apartment building alone. With young children, especially after a long beach or pool day, the distance and stairs became very noticeable. By the end of one evening, our exhausted 2 year old had tripped several times just trying to make it back to the apartment. A stroller also became fairly impractical in some sections because of the stairs. We did not have an outrageous amount of luggage by family-of-five standards, but certainly more than the average couple vacationing on the Adriatic, and navigating the property with children, bags, and pool gear required some effort. Thankfully, the bell staff were consistently excellent and extremely helpful with luggage and transportation around the property. ⸻ Transportation Frustration One unexpectedly funny frustration involved transportation to dinner. We called the front desk and asked for “a ride” to a nearby restaurant. Coming from NYC, that phrase could reasonably mean a taxi, an Uber, or a hotel car. At a luxury resort, complimentary or modestly priced short-distance transportation is not uncommon. Instead, we accidentally summoned what appeared to be a Croatian men’s fashion catalog with hazard lights attached to a Mercedes, and the cost for the short ride was €50. On the way home, we ordered an Uber XL ourselves for roughly €18 total. A little upfront clarification regarding transportation pricing would have prevented the confusion entirely. ⸻ Dining We only stayed one night, so we did not fully experience all dining options. The gelato, however, was genuinely excellent. Restaurant prices around the resort were moderately high, though after a week in Dubrovnik Old Town and coming from NYC, we were not especially shocked. Nearly every restaurant in the area also seems to include a spectacular Adriatic view, which softens the financial blow considerably. One frustration for us was the breakfast policy. We booked and paid for a 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath accommodation for 3 adults and 2 children, yet breakfast was apparently included only for two adults, and staff could not clearly explain whether the children would be charged or how much. We ultimately skipped bringing the kids because spending luxury-resort breakfast pricing on extremely picky children felt difficult to justify. Better clarity around pricing would have been appreciated. ⸻ Value & Final Thoughts We booked through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and received both a property credit and an upgrade, which definitely improved the overall value proposition for us. I think we would absolutely consider returning, particularly because the natural setting is so extraordinary, but personally I would probably not pay much more than roughly $550/night for 3 adults and 2 children unless similar Amex credits/upgrades were included. Overall, Sun Gardens Dubrovnik is not a flawless ultra-luxury resort in the polished Four Seasons sense. Parts are quirky, sprawling, dated, or operationally inconsistent. But the natural beauty of the setting is genuinely extraordinary, and for families who value space, scenery, convenience, and independence over hyper-attentive luxury service, it can be a really enjoyable place to stay. Once I stopped expecting “perfect luxury hotel” and instead appreciated it as a sprawling Adriatic family resort layered with history, the property became much more charming to me.