La Villa

Press Reviews

The Observer, August 2010
"This 16th-century stone villa gets the crown for the best location: right by the sea on the tiny, car-free island of Lopud, just an hour's ferry ride from Dubrovnik. There are six stylish rooms - with whitewashed walls, wicker chaise-longues and colourful Indian cotton bedcovers. Relax in the lounge, with its library and internet corner, follow the footpath that winds its way across the island to Sunj beach... and then return for supper made using La Villa's homegrown vegetables and herbs."

The Observer, June 2009
"Croatia has islands to suit every mood but Lopud is one for purists. Only two miles wide, with no cars, the Dubrovnik elite have used it as a hideaway for decades. For somewhere so idyllic, it is rather easy to get to - there are regular ferries, as well as speedboats from Dubrovnik. No roads - and unusually for Croatia, there are sandy beaches here, especially Sunj with its gently shelving white sand.

Where to stay: La Villa is a homely, 16th-century seaside hotel on the island."

The Times, April 2009
"A homely, 16th-century seaside villa on a tiny unspoilt island, an hour's ferry ride from the walled city of Dubrovnik. This is a back-to-nature escape among some of the loveliest seascapes in the world. Above the ground-floor lounge, with its library and internet corner, are 6 spacious, white-washed rooms, stylishly furnished with wicker chaise-longues and splashes of colour from Indian cotton bedcovers. From the seafront, a path leads across the island through herb-scented Mediterranean vegetation to one of Croatia’s rare sand beaches set in a blissful bay."

The Times, May 2008
"Croatia isn’t quite the bargain it was 10 years ago but it still compares favourably with its neighbours in the eurozone, particularly when you factor in the unspoilt islands, the pine-shaded beaches and the freshly caught seafood. Escape to the tiny car-free island of Lopud, an hour’s ferry ride from Dubrovnik, and bag one of the six stylish rooms at La Villa, a 16th-century seafront villa."

The Guardian, May 2008
"makes a peaceful escape from touristy Dubrovnik. Its sole settlement (population 269) is built around a gently curving bay, while a 15-minute trek across the island through dense, herb-scented vegetation brings you to the lovely Sunj sandy beach. You can reach Lopud from Dubrovnik by ferry in 50 minutes or by the summer-only speedboat in 30 minutes. And, come sunset, if you don't feel like returning to city life, there are several small, family-run hotels, where you might chance upon a spare room. Stay at the six-room La Villa, overlooking Lopud Bay."

Fodor's
"In a 19th-century villa set in romantic gardens overlooking Lopud Bay, this small hotel is run by a friendly, young Croatian couple. The six guest rooms have minimalist modern furniture and primary coloured fabrics, mosaic-tile bathrooms, and either look onto the open sea or the back garden, which is planted with a giant magnolia tree, orange trees and lavendar bushes."

Guest Reviews

Reviews are only from people who have stayed there and booked through i-escape.

• “We went in early May and were blessed with mostly perfect weather, sunny and warm. The Island was quiet and peaceful, though I have heard it can get busier in high season, and everything had just opened for the summer. The Food at La Villa was fantastic, with breakfast including cereals, bread and spreads, pancakes, yoghurt and fruit, and cured ham and cheese. The restaurant food was some of the best on the island and reasonably priced (£35-£40
  for two including wine and 2 courses). The Hotel is in the middle of the bay with views from the terrace restaurant out to sea, our room (pink) was simple and stylish as was the rest of the hotel. The couple who run La Villa could not have been more friendly and accommodating, and they helped to make our stay one we will never forget for all the right reasons.
  
  In short, a perfect place to relax and get away from it all with the convenience of bars and restaurants on your doorstep, a lovely beach and Dubrovnik a short & cheap ferry ride away.”
  alasdair, United Kingdom (16.05.12)

• “We had a lovely holiday. The hotel was unique but not luxurious. The owners were charming and made the holiday for us. Eating out on the island is expensive but the fish and wines are first class. We found a lovely restaurant called Terasse Peggy run by a local family just up from the jetty and Hotel Glavovic by the side of the harbour both sold amazing fish. Everyone on the island was very friendly and the scenery is amazing.”
  Teresa, United Kingdom (07.10.11)

• “La Villa itself was delightfully set right on the front on the island of Lopud with a beautiful restaurant area under vine leaf terrace. Dobrila and Mischel were perfect hosts ready to help at any time before and during our stay. We had booked the yellow room (the smallest and cheapest - which on sight was pretty small) but were delighted to be told on arrival on the Sunday night that we had been upgraded to the Lilac room. The Lilac room was huge, clean and had a sea front view. The furniture is all IKEA but it is clean, sharp and functional. There is a stocked minibar provided and air conditioning. The bathrooms were also spotless, with powerful showers.
  
  Breakfast at La Villa was a very standard continental affair of meat, cheese and bread. However, some mornings there was the joy of pancakes with blueberries! As described below, dinner is highly recommended at La Villa on their shore front terrace looking over the bay as the sun sets. The food is as good as you will find on the island and the staff attentive and friendly. Overall staying at La Villa was a great experience and I would highly recommend it.
  
  Late September is a great time of year to head to Croatia - the weather is a perfect not too hot not too cold 26oC every day, there are no clouds in the sky and significantly at this time of year most of those pesky fellow tourists have returned home. The island itself is stunningly beautiful, palm trees, crystal clear waters and very importantly Lopud has the only sandy beach in the region. The island also has some interesting sights to discover - a huge fort on top of the highest peak (a bit of a taxing ascent in the heat) - a few ancient churches and shrines dotted all over and trekking paths for you to explore. I genuinely cannot think of a better place I have ever visited for doing nothing but relaxing.
  
  On Lopud there are around 12 bars and restaurants to pick from - easily enough to cover a weeks stay on the island. Coming from the UK, the meals and drinks did seem pricy which over a week of lunch and dinners really adds up. The only cheaper options available are pizzas, which are surprisingly good. Recommended, are Opala - fantastic selection of daily caught fish (around £70), Peggy’s - hidden just up the first left off the harbour front - excellent fish dishes (around £45) and of course La Villa which serves fantastic sized steaks at reasonable prices (around £50). All the prices above cover two courses and an alcoholic drink each for two people.”
  Fraser, United Kingdom (02.10.11)

• “We enjoyed our stay at La Villa. many things were very good. The room was large and light, the bathroom good. The food in the restaurant was great. Lopud is a very nice place to stay.
  The downsides - I felt that the online description didn't quite match the hotel. I was lead to believe from photos and description that there was an exclusive terrace area for residents to sit in. This is now a commerical restaurant and there isn't any outdoor space to sit if you just want to drink/read etc. The big hotel at the end of the bay plays music every night. On our first night it was really loud. The front rooms of hotel can be v. noisey. We got use to it and didn't mind but might be worth saying this if customers are particularly sensitive to noise.
  TIPS : Make the most of the lovely walks all over the island. I think they're undersold. There is a lovely walk with a spot for watching the sunset. Also walks up to churches and fortress give a lovely view of the island and the town.”
  julie, United Kingdom (10.09.11)

• “What a fantastic find. It is the ideal escape from it all. Excellent hosts, service and divine food. The lobster linguine was amazing. Hope to get back there again”
  Ronan, United Kingdom (28.08.11)

• “We had to fiddle a bit with air conditioner and the showers weren't consistently hot. On the other hand, we loved the restaurant under the trellis that we sat under for meals watching the people and sea. Michel and Dobrila went above and beyond booking one of us into a nearby guesthouse, despite it being high season, when we had a later addition to our party.
  
  Hire Darko to take you island hopping on his little wooden boat. He is charming and it was the most idyllic day. The private transfer was efficient, cost-effective (for party of 5) and a bit glam (taxi pickup to motorboat that whisked us over to Lopud!)”
  Raghav, United States (10.08.11)

• “The people were very helpful and friendly. There was free internet access which was brilliant, and the hotel was perfectly located on the island. The breakfasts were great too, such a fantastic view as well. The restaurant with the hotel, was ok, the food was nice but quite expensive for what we had.
  
  Some people said to us that we'll be bored on the island for 4 days, but this was not true, there is a sandy beach a 20 minute walk across the island, there is the fort to climb to, which is a must because the views are out of this world. There were churches to see and sea kyacking but we didn't get round to these things, as we ran out of time.
  
  There is a small shop on the coast a 2 minutes from the hotel which I would recommend getting water and beers from, as its a lot cheaper than the water you can buy near the beach - three times cheaper!
  The ferry is brilliant for getting to the island, and its very cheap too - for a 45 minute boat ride, it cost us around £3 each. Look around the options before you eat, there are some lovely places to eat and some are dearer than others, its well worth a look first.”
  Marie, United Kingdom (09.08.11)

• “We had a wonderful time at La Villa. Mischel, Dobrila and their staff made us feel very much at home. The food at their konoba was fantastic. Highly recommended!”
  jo, United Kingdom (06.08.11)

• “I loved the mixture of old and modernist, clean simple and uncluttered lines. Also very great young staff. Plus the fact it is bang on the sea. Stunning. If the Olafur Elliasson and David Adjaye pavillion, Your Black Horizon is still there, it is stunning. As are the walks to the other coves across the islands. A+”
  Ariane, United Kingdom (25.07.11)

• “Very lovely - bang next to the sea, so you go to sleep with the sound of it in your ears. Run by a very friendly, committed young team. A gorgeous place to stay and unwind on a lovely island. Perfect in every way”
  Ariane, United Kingdom (24.07.11)

• “We had a really wonderful stay - Dobrila and Mischel's approach creates a warm and friendly atmosphere which is very relaxing. Perfect for our short honeymoon. I missed the sound of the sea waking up this morning.”
  Jo, United Kingdom (03.07.11)

• “We have just come back from 10 wonderful days in Croatia. On the last few days we were lucky enough to stay in La Villa on Lopud.
  
  Firstly, the island itself is so relaxing and the perfect retreat after spending some time on Dubrovnik (which is also great!). The 'hotel' itself though was gorgeous. Right on the seafront, perfect location. Very homely, great deco and not pretentious which is key. The perfect boutique retreat.
  
  I made a slight error with our travel and had to get a last minute room before we got to La Villa. Unfortunately they didn't have any room so we stayed one night at the Lofodia - the new biggest hotel on the island (it basically looks like a cruise ship). Not the right hotel at all for the island - entertainment teams, karaoke nights...stay clear. When we arrived at La Villa it was a huge relief. Dobrila & Mischel run it - a lovely couple and so helpful. This year they've just opened a restaurant, food was stunning - go for the fish platter, Mischel cooks it!
  
  We stayed in the Orange room - very private and located in the garden. I've heard the Blue one is lovely too. If you don't want to work around the sometimes, unsociable ferry timetable, Dobrila and Mischel can arrange a speedboat.
  
  We are definitely going back!!”
  Kelly, United Kingdom (14.06.11)

• “An extremely friendly couple who run La Villa. They are quick to respond to queries and provide a very relaxing service. The views from La Villa are tremendous. The food offered by the restaurant at La Villa is wonderful - to have fresh fish prepared in front of you is very nice. The only concern is the impact of the hotel on the island. I really hope that the scenic, quiet & calm atmosphere can be maintained.”
  Nick, United Kingdom (29.05.11)

• “A beautiful location right on the shore front and we could see and hear the sea from our room. Our hosts were excellent and very friendly and helpful. Lovely garden. We will go back.”
  Olivia, United Kingdom (24.05.11)

• “The owners were wonderful, welcoming, attentive and full of information to make your stay better. The food they cooked was better than anything else we found on the island. The room was a bit damp smelling but maybe that is due to us going at the start of the season, however it was a very comfortable bed with a nice area to sit outside. The garden was also very nicely done and good to sit and relax in. The breakfasts were plentiful and fresh, perfect to start your day of exploring.
  
  Lopud is a very small island, although there is one shop it is tiny and stocks very little. Right by Dubrovnik port there is a large Konzum and we went there to stock up on beer, wine, nibbles, cheese and fruit for our stay. This meant we could pack picnics each morning and just get bread from the shop which worked well and made it much more affordable.
  
  There are two walks that were stunning, first; turn left out of hotel and walk all the way past new large hotel then keep on following that path up and along cliffs. It will drop you back onto the main path from the harbour to the beach. The second was up to the fort but instead of going back down the same way you can turn off to the church of nikolav (or something like that) another lovely walk that will again drop you onto that road between the harbour and the beach. We took a picnic and our books and lazed our way along each walk finishing in a refreshing dip in the sea, lovely. We went at the end of April and the island really wasn't yet up and running for tourists. There were no toilets at the beach (a 25 min walk to the nearest one) and nothing else open on the island. This in no way ruined the experience it is just something to be aware of.”
  Stuart, United Kingdom (01.05.11)

• “Amazing location with wonderful hosts, room nice.”
  Claire, United Kingdom (01.05.11)

• “We recently spent two days at la Villa on Lopud. This is to confirm that your positive presentation of the hotel was matched by our experiences. We struggled in pouring rain to find it initially because the hotel sign had blown down the previous night, but once inside, the young couple running what is really a very good guest house made us very welcome and were happy to provide an excellent evening meal so that we could get dry and not go out in the rain again. The bedroom is basic but everything is provided and it is comfortable. There is an excellent library, internet communication etc
  
  Lopud out of season is very very quiet but utterly charming – probably three or four days is enough to see everything. Nevertheless there is a real charm in just sitting watching the world go by and you do get to meet a few locals which you wouldn’t at busier times.”
  Andrew, United Kingdom (27.10.10)

• “We had a glorious week staying in the 'yellow room' at La Villa in October 2010.
  Extremely relaxing, serene atmosphere, the most beautiful view from the breakfast terrace you could imagine and all good value for money too. Our hosts were really welcoming and very helpful in giving advice on where to explore on the island. We hope to be back in the future!”
  Liz, United Kingdom (02.10.10)

• “It was a truly fantastic week at La Villa. Dobrila and Mischel are great; the food was some of the best we have ever had. We have never wanted to go back to another hotel, however a second trip is definitely on the cards!”
  Amanda, United Kingdom (26.09.10)

• “Very nice hotel with excellent hosts who go out of the way to make your stay as pleasurable as possible.”
  Kevan, United Kingdom (19.09.10)

• “Can't recommend this hotel enough - beautifully decorated, incredibly friendly staff, and the best food on the island!”
  Sam, United Kingdom (16.09.10)

• “Lovely hosts. Ferry times back to the main land can be restrictive but Mischel and Dobrila can arrange a very reasonably priced speedboat and taxi transfer.”
  MATTHEW, United Kingdom (06.09.10)

• “Excellent cleanliness and daily service. The views were outstanding. The evening meal we had was carefully prepared and very well presented. It was also delicious. Breakfast was always on time and sufficiently varied to accommodate most people's tastes.
  Dobrila and Mischel were always on hand to help and serve. Their command of the English language was excellent; this made communication so much easier. Their recommendations to eat and visit were always spot on and they are a delightful couple.
  We would have preferred on arrival to have been warned of the dustbin collection system which took place outside our window on Monday and Thursday mornings although this did not detract from our enjoyment of La Villa.
  Well worth the money charged.”
  Alice, United Kingdom (03.09.10)

• “Lopud is a magical place with crystal clear seas lapping just below the terrace of La Villa. La Villa was delightful, made all the more so because of Dobrila and Mischel who could not do enough to make our stay so wonderful. There was no better place on the island to watch the sunset than La Villa's terrace, and we ate there most evenings as the food was extremely good - simple, fresh and delicious. We stayed in the Blue Room so had the benefit of a private terrace which was well worth it for the shade in the hottest part of the day. The transfer from the airport by taxi and motor launch arranged by Dobrila & Mischel worked perfectly. We would highly recommend La Villa for a relaxing break.....but we think we might just keep it a secret!”
  TERRY, United Kingdom (11.07.10)

• “Great place, lovely people and a beautiful island - what more do you need?”
  simon, United Kingdom (30.06.10)

• “What a very special hotel on a paradise island! We abolutely loved our time at La Villa - the service, food, ambience were all really great. Dobrila and Mischel were fab and made the stay even more special with their warm and friendly hosting.
  
  We stayed in the yellow room which, although very small, was fine as a base.”
  Sarah, United Kingdom (12.06.10)

• “Amazing location and run by an absolutely lovely couple. No thing was too much trouble. Would go back in a minute!”
  Holly, United Kingdom (11.06.10)