Splendid Golden Rocks Resort — Hotel in Grad Pula

Edited. August 2025

Review for Splendid & Horizont Resort – Pula, Croatia (2 stars for the view and the clear waters )

We have been coming to Croatia for almost 10 years, often staying at this resort. Unfortunately, while prices have consistently increased (which is understandable in peak season), the quality of services has declined year after year.

Accommodation & Housekeeping • Upon arrival in August, we received only two small and two large towels. Although a towel change is supposed to be included every 3 days, we only received new towels after 5 days, and only after personally asking at reception. • Housekeeping staff passed daily in front of our balcony but made no effort to communicate or provide service. • No proper cleaning was done during our stay, not even after 7 days, despite this being part of the package.

Pool Area

Swimming Pool Condition The pool was “renovated” last year, but the materials used are not suitable or hygienic for proper cleaning. You can even hurt yourself.. Parts of the pool are already green and crumbling.The pavement around the pool is extremely slippery and unsafe, making it dangerous for guests.

• The pool has become increasingly disappointing: only uncomfortable plastic chairs, with no mattresses or covers as in previous years. • Music is either non-existent or depressing, making the atmosphere feel more like a funeral than a vacation. Occasionally, a short one-hour program plays on repeat, with the same songs daily. • Activities such as aqua gym are poorly organized and repetitive. • Sunbeds must be paid for, yet there are never enough. Some guests sit all day in the shade on unpaid chairs while others are crammed two per sunbed. • Pool rules (no jumping, no inflatables, etc.) are completely ignored. People jump in, play with balls, bring floats, and no staff enforces the rules – but they are quick to collect money for sunbeds.

Restaurants & Food • At the poolside restaurant, we waited 30 minutes without even receiving menus, despite staff promising to come “soon.” We left without being served. • The other restaurant in the resort is even worse: visibly dirty kitchen, questionable hygiene, and overpriced meals (e.g., €21 for calamari that looked like they were fried in old oil).

Staff & Management • The night receptionist drove recklessly through the resort in his car, honking at us as if on a highway – very unsafe. • Cleaning staff gather at 7 a.m. in the hallways, talking loudly and drinking coffee, disturbing guests. • At reception, no one informs guests about available services (e.g., laundry, ironing). The overall attitude is careless: “We take your money, and whether you return is not our concern.”

Facilities & Safety • The breakfast building is in a dangerous state of disrepair. Parts are fenced off, the terrace is closed, and the structure looks unsafe, yet it still operates indoors. • It is unclear how the resort still holds a license to function in this condition.

Parking Guests with very large cars are allowed to use the small parking spaces without any control. As a result, they often take up two or even three spaces, and no one from the staff says anything or manages the situation.

Positive Notes • The air conditioning worked well. • The view of the sea is beautiful – but sadly, even that no longer makes up for the poor experience.

Conclusion

What used to be a pleasant holiday destination has turned into a declining resort with rising prices and falling service standards. Management seems absent, with no inspections or improvements being made.

I can no longer recommend Splendid & Horizont Resort. Sadly, after many years of coming here, this was our last stay. Unless management takes serious action, future guests will face the same...

Great Views - Very outdated facilities. Booked for roughly 5 nights in July 2022, we paid more for a sea view and thank goodness we did. The views of the bay are amazing and we even saw a dolphin one evening which was the highlight of our visit.

The good: Great views IF you paid for it Has a pool and easy access to the rocky beaches and has some snorkelling (ok selection of fish, don't expect barrier reef!), watch out for jellyfish. If you pay for breakfast (roughly Euro 10 pp and 5 for kids) its really good. They have a golf cart that can help with luggage if needed. They have a lock up hut for baggage if you need to wait for airport. Free childcare if you need it, leave kids over 4 years old if you need a few hours to go sunbathing etc. Special shout out to Thea who our daughter loved! Very good with kids and knows how to draw trucks! Has a gym, couldn't find it. Nice bars at other resorts! Need to walk to them. We had a kitchen and were able to cook! Place is dog friendly! Great area to run along the coastline for miles!

The bad: Place is run down! Needs investment but that would most likely raise the prices, so its a bitter sweet thing. We paid roughly 650 Euros for 5 nights and paid extra for the views which isn't that bad but this place is stuck in the 80s! Trust me when I say this, some people booked places and the only view they had was a parking lot. Place is massive and was completely full! You almost need a car to get from one end to the other. Have an outdated horrible mini child's golf game area that is on the map but not operational at all. Why even advertise it? lol You have to pay to use sun loungers, that's unacceptable because they don't provide ANY place to even hang your towels. Went to this CASTLE / FORT area at the top of the resort - on the map and it was littered with rubbish all over, why the resort wont clean that...

Booked for roughly 5 nights in July 2022, we paid more for a sea view and thank goodness we did. The views of the bay are amazing and we even saw a dolphin one evening which was the highlight of our visit.||||The good:||Great views IF you paid for it||Has a pool and easy access to the rocky beaches and has some snorkelling (ok selection of fish, don't expect barrier reef!), watch out for jellyfish.||If you pay for breakfast (roughly Euro 10 pp and 5 for kids) its really good.||They have a golf cart that can help with luggage if needed.||They have a lock up hut for baggage if you need to wait for airport.||Free childcare if you need it, leave kids over 4 years old if you need a few hours to go sunbathing etc. Special shout out to Thea who our daughter loved! Very good with kids and knows how to draw trucks!||Has a gym, couldn't find it.||Nice bars at other resorts! Need to walk to them.||We had a kitchen and were able to cook!||Place is dog friendly!||Great area to run along the coastline for miles!||||The bad:||Place is run down! Needs investment but that would most likely raise the prices, so its a bitter sweet thing. We paid roughly 650 Euros for 5 nights and paid extra for the views which isn't that bad but this place is stuck in the 80s! Trust me when I say this, some people booked places and the only view they had was a parking lot.||Place is massive and was completely full! You almost need a car to get from one end to the other.||Have an outdated horrible mini child's golf game area that is on the map but not operational at all. Why even advertise it? lol||You have to pay to use sun loungers, that's unacceptable because they don't provide ANY place to even hang your towels.||Went to this CASTLE / FORT area at the top of the resort - on the map and it was littered with rubbish all over, why the resort wont clean that...