Maslina Resort

Hotel Maslina is hands-down one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed at, with a design that felt both unique and beautifully thought out from the moment we arrived. The landscape is stunning, and the sunbeds along the Adriatic gave us some of the most peaceful, scenic moments of the entire trip. From start to finish, the staff made us feel completely taken care of, anticipating our needs before we even had to ask. A special thank you to Batu, who helped with dinner reservations, spa bookings, and taxi rides, and who frequently checked in on us to make sure we were enjoying our stay. Communication before we even arrived was fantastic too — the team provided us information in advance, so by the time we landed, everything was seamlessly in place. We hope to someday have the opportunity to return!

If you’re looking to escape the bustling crowds of Hvar town, Maslina Resort (a Relais & Châteaux property) seems to be the current darling for out-of-bounds luxury. Located about 30 minutes by car from Hvar's main hub, it has become a massive hit with American tourists seeking a quieter slice of paradise. Getting there is a breeze: from Split Airport, it’s a smooth two-hour ferry ride followed by a literal two-minute car transfer to the property. The crowd here is decidedly well-heeled. In fact, you might even spot a Hollywood A-lister or two. While I won’t drop names, let’s just say a certain True Detective star with the first letters is “MC” was enjoying the resort with spouse and family during our stay. But star-spotting aside, the real question is: Is this a true five-star resort, and is it worth the money? Here is the honest breakdown of our experience. The Good Stuff: Where Maslina Shines * The Staff & Management: The ambition here is palpable. The front desk is incredibly receptive, and the hotel manager is genuinely keen on making adjustments to ensure you feel right at home. * Design & Comfort: The hotel is immaculately clean. The rooms are beautiful, simple, and stylishly designed. You can tell a lot of thought went into the furniture—personally, I fell in love with the chairs in the restaurant! * Excursions: Simple to book and worth every penny. We opted for a 4-hour boat tour of the nearby archipelago. At around €1,200, it wasn't cheap, but the 10-meter modern day cruiser and the experience made it entirely worth it. * The Seafront: The rocky beach by the sea is wonderful. It’s secluded yet easily accessible, giving off a highly exclusive vibe in its simplicity. Room for Improvement: The Execution Gaps While the bones of a five-star resort are there, the execution in a few areas currently feels more like a 4-star hotel with some 3-star elements. * The Food: This is the biggest area that needs to step up. From the breakfast buffet to the main dinner menu, pool food, and kids' options, the culinary experience was just "so-so." Look, charging €40 to €70 for a main course isn't the issue for international travelers—but it becomes an issue when the food meet some standards. I also think the tableware, the table setting felt more like a much cheaper hotel. * The Pool Area: Service here was surprisingly absent. There was no one taking orders, menus weren't easily available, and we had to set up our own sunbeds— all of which unfortunately were soiled with a few white spots. * The Resort Beach: The intention is lovely, but it needs way more attention. It felt empty and abandoned; there was no staff to serve guests, and old, used towels were left sitting in all of the cabanas felt unattended. Since no-one else used this spaced of the hotel guest, I believe we were not the only one holding this view. The Verdict: Try Harder, Work Harder Final Thoughts: In the elevator, the resort gently prompts you to vote for them in the Condé Nast Traveler awards. While I love to support great properties, my honest feedback to Maslina is to try harder. Train the staff to nail those luxury details, refine the service execution, and elevate the food. Ironically, my advice to management would be to raise their prices by a couple hundred dollars. If a guest is already paying $1,400 a night, they will gladly pay $1,600 if the experience is absolutely flawless. Maslina has the potential to be a true 5-star gem—they just need to bridge the gap between their high ambitions and daily execution. I am giving this a four star review, but it is just barely.

We absolutely loved our honeymoon at Maslina. It was the perfect paradise with a mix of relaxation and fun. Very close to the lovely town of Stari Grad. Batu Cetiner, in particular, ensures that every aspect of our trip, travels, and overall experience was perfect. We can’t recommend this place enough and will return ASAP.

We had an amazing two days at the Maslina Resort. The staff went above and beyond making us feel welcomed at the gorgeous property. The design is stunning, the spa and gym are state of the art and the pool is one of the prettiest we’ve seen. The real gem of the resort, besides the people, are the platforms along the sea - private, comfortable and direct access for a dip in the clear water. We loved the wooden bikes and adventuring to Stari Grad each day, which looks like a movie set. Can’t wait to return!

Food was 10/10 Service was 10/10 One do the best meals in Croatia for the week. We had the local olive oil, reasonable priced Croatian wine and incredible desserts.