Hotel Balatura
Near Rijeka, Croatia
A small, friendly, family-run hotel with bohemian décor, in a peaceful village between the sea and mountains
In the sleepy village of Tribalj, backed by the karst hills of the
Vinodol valley, and 6km inland from the seaside resort of
Crikvenica, lies Balatura. The 300-year-old traditional stone
farmhouse has belonged to the Godec family for several generations,
but it was only in June 2008 that it opened as a hotel, after 2
years of careful renovations with the help of conservation
specialists.
The people behind it all are a young Croatian-German couple - Goran
Godec, a keen paraglider who produces TV documentaries, and his
wife Anne-Kathrin, an author and the inspiration behind many of the
hotel’s cultural events - as well as their 5 growing,
multilingual children.
Today, the interior exudes a cosy, arty-intellectual ambiance, with
10 rooms decorated in natural muted colours and furnished
with antiques. A leafy courtyard patio opens onto a small raised
garden planted with rosemary and lavender, and backed by woodland.
Informal, serene and wonderfully off the beaten track, the hotel is
small enough for the owners to be able to give their guests
personalised service and advice about this underrated corner of
Croatia.
Reviewed by Jane Foster
Last updated 06 March 2012
Highs
- Lying between the coast and the mountains, it makes an ideal base for hiking, paragliding, mountain biking, sailing and scuba diving
- Tasteful, rustic-chic interiors create a laidback, arty atmosphere, with occasional yoga, sculpture and writing courses
- Charming and helpful owners who give their guests individual attention
- Superb breakfasts in the leafy courtyard, and delicious fixed-menu dinners too
Lows
- The nearest beaches are in Crikvenica, 6km away, and there is no public transport there so you'll need to hire a car
- No pool, but there are plans to build one in the future
- Only 10 rooms, so often fully booked in high season
- No twin bedded rooms, so not great for friends sharing
- There are no good restaurants within walking distance so you'll have to eat in every night or drive
