Apartments Savudrija Plava Laguna — Hotel in Grad Umag

Ferragosto Holiday 12 august to the 24 th august - family holidays

The structure is located in the quiet and remote area of Bassania (a quick drive from the border crossing and a 30 mins drive from UMAG, according to traffic).

It’s an old structure probably constructed in the late 80’s with all the necessary requirements of a 3* campsite.

I was lucky enough to book this structure in APRIL (early booking) though the Plava laguna website ( I am a registered client). For 12 days, a very spacious room 2 adults and 1 child (free upgrade) with a half board treatment I spent €870 euros with parking included ( thanks also to the matured loyalty points of 175 euros from the previous year).

I read the reviews before coming and I was expecting the worst! But to be honest for the money I paid it was absolutely marvellous. The hotel needs some basic TLC refurnishing and improvements. I am sure that with the euro arriving Plava Laguna will improve the structure.

Only one thing I did not agree with was, why the Campsite visitors had a free for all roam at all hours (creating disturbance) in the swimming pool, basketball courts… The two areas should be separated! in correctness to those who pay the full hotel fee and not those paying a pittance for a pitch enjoying the same priviledges. Either the rooms and bungalows are offered only on the ISTRA campsite website or only on the main Plava Laguna hotel website. You get the services you pay for!

Pros’

Friendly backoffice Staff and restaurant staff ( always on hand to help) Perfectly acceptable food The swimming pool The tennis courts The transparent seaside water

Cons

Room cleaning once every 5 days Towels change once every 2,3 days The use of the basketball courts after 11 pm ( wakes you up, often campsite clients who are very rude and arrogant… actually i nearly went down to give a smack in the face at 2 am in the morning) No air conditioning in summer Entrance to the sea (slides) need constant cleaning and adding anti-slip strips. My wife and son nearly injured themselves very badly the first day! The entrances to the sea are only acceptable for able-bodied swimmers. I do not recommend for the elderly. Supermarkets outside of structure very expensive Exchange machines outside of structure: thieves.

Advice

If you are used to 4 star hotel service (fine dining and constant room changes), Elegant Gala Nights .... this is not the place. You really need to increase your budget. Plava Laguna has an excellent offer of hotels! It’s somewhere to enjoy and relax in tranquillity on a shoestring budget Do not use the ATM machineds to change you money! Use euros directly at exchange booths possibly in Umag, Novigrad or Porec Drive to Umag LIDL and stock up on water and necessities there. Pay when you can with BANCOMAT and not CREDIT CARD ( you willl save on fees) When you cross the Italian border exit straight away at the OMV petrol station and set your navigator to reach Plava Laguna Savudrija excluding motorways (so you save on the slovenia vignette/fees). Returning set it to the Supermercato Famila Superstore Rabuiese Di Muggia ( avoiding motorways). Remember always follow the yellow road signs, and do not use the blue ones in Slovenia.

Conclusion

Would i stay here again? Probably not as i never visit the same structure twice. I recommend registering on the plava laguna website as a member then booking it early. It’s perfectly acceptable for families or friends who want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of...

This is such a terrible place.... Its called a hotel but its NOT.. Its the absolutely unworthy of the money... They say it has 3stars but one is more than enough... We have kids, we dont need airconditioning, free wifi (paid for reasonable price 60kn/3 days), but the problem is... People do not do their jobs....!!!!|The accomodation is old but the cleaners do not even clean up... In a HOTEL the cleaner came once in a week to clean floors (you are in a forest so you bring mess in room, balconies are dirty too), cleaners do not do their job properly... Everywhere in the building there are ants , we had them every evening moving in hundreds... The cleaners came after the reception called them, they put some spray but didnt even clean up the falling ants from the wall... I had to clean it with my towel... Perfect for a hotel....|Then the rooms... The management cannot be reasonable to put family with two young kids (one in pram) to the second floor without a lift and no change possible... Incredible....|And the restaurant???? Disgusting choice of cooked meals , everything same all evenings, without salt, really disgusting even fruit... I have been to many facilities with kids but have never seen anything so horrible..... But the staff here was very nice and the dining room has adorable views on the sea....||And yet... I have never seen so many Polish people behaving so rude and almost jumping over my baby pram just to get to the dining room even if it was empty... As I said... I have been to many hotels, met many kind Poles but here this was unbelievable...||If you have any other chance, please dont go here.... Istria is such a beautiful place, dont let this place destroy your opinion... I havent seen such a bad...

Facilities are budget! If you know that's what you're going to, you'll be fine.|The biggest problem is the lack of air conditioning and the fact the pool is saltwater. |The apartment itself was very very tired, interior made entirely of chipboard, and very very chipped. It was clean on arrival though, and we asked for missing items (plates, tea towels and a kettle) which were promptly delivered. Internet was £15 for the week - I feel this should be included with the accommodation cost.|Towels were changed 3 times in the week we were there, and the stairwell lights worked intermittently.|Set your expectations low - it's similar to the Pontins in Wales (which we go to annually for a chess tournament) - functional, but not much more luxurious than camping.|Also, be aware of the drive to get anywhere. About 35 mins to Porec, and over an hour to Pula. |The water park nearby by fab! And we loved walking through the campsite along the beach to the campsite in an evening. Kids found a little shop on the campsite that sold fruit and veg grown on site.|The kiosks by the beach sold ice creams, fresh bread and pastries, beach toys, postcards etc... and canoes / SUPs available at a reasonable cost.|Whatever you do DO NOT book half board. We went in on the first night to look and it was very very basic and not looking at all appetising. There are lots of places to eat...