Hotel Aria — Hotel in Općina Podstrana

A Refreshing Return to Real Hospitality – Thank You, Hotel Aria! Stayed: 12th–19th August | Duration: 7 nights

Since Covid, we’ve been on a few holidays, and honestly, the standard of hospitality has noticeably declined. Regardless of whether the hotel had 3, 4, or even 5 stars, service just didn’t feel the same anymore — staff seemed disinterested, quality was lacking, and that warm, welcoming atmosphere had disappeared. So, arriving in Croatia, I wasn’t expecting much. I braced myself for more of the same: rude staff, poor service, and the “couldn’t care less” attitude that seems all too common now.

But Hotel Aria was a breath of fresh air and proved me completely wrong.

Hotel & Room: We stayed for 7 days in this 4-star hotel, and yes — it absolutely lives up to that rating.
The room was spacious, clean, and modern — equipped with a large, comfortable bed, a TV, kettle, wardrobe, and a fantastic big shower (with actual hot water!).
If I had to nitpick, it would’ve been nice to have somewhere to hang wet swimwear or clothes (as we used the shower rail to hang our towels ), but that’s very minor.

The balcony was a real highlight — spacious, peaceful, and offered a stunning sea view. We even sunbathed there one day when we were too tired for the beach. And speaking of the beach, it’s right behind the hotel, tucked away from the main road — so you get the convenience without the noise.

The Staff – The Real Stars:

Now the real reason for this review — the incredible staff.
Huge shoutout to Zeljka, Boze, Josipa and Ana — you genuinely made our stay. From the moment we arrived and had our bags taken, the team went above and beyond. They printed out loads of helpful information (about the area, excursions, restaurants, and more), gave honest opinions, and were always available for any question — big or small. At one point, it felt like we had our own personal tour guide.

When our mini fridge wasn’t working, they stored our drinks and had a new fridge installed within two days — no fuss. And when an excursion I’d booked (Blue Cave & 5 Island Tour) turned out to be a letdown, they personally called the tour company on my behalf to help resolve the issue — within hours, we had a solution. That kind of support is unheard of these days and says a lot about how much they care.

They were kind, helpful, professional, and just genuinely good people. It was the kind of service and warmth that used to be the norm, but now feels rare. Thank you again!

Housekeeping & Breakfast:

The cleaning staff were also lovely — friendly and efficient. Rooms were cleaned daily to a high standard.
Breakfast, while a bit repetitive (like most hotels), had a good variety: cereals, fruit, croissants, meats, cheeses, bacon, sausages, yogurt, fresh bread, and made-to-order eggs/omelettes (I had one every morning — delicious!).
There’s also a self-service coffee and juice station, but they’re happy to make fresh drinks if you ask.

Extra Info: Beach towels available daily for free (just ask reception). Bus stop 2 minutes away — €2.50 to Split or Omiš. Buses can vary in quality (some with A/C, some without), and drivers may charge slightly different prices. The area itself is beautiful, quiet, and perfect for a relaxing getaway — although there’s not loads to do in the immediate area or nearby islands, but the scenery is beautiful.

Final Thoughts: If I come back to Croatia — I’ll 100% stay at Hotel Aria again.
I’d highly recommend it to anyone, especially those who, like me, have recently been disappointed by declining hotel standards. This place reminded me that good hospitality still exists.

Thank you again to the entire team at Hotel Aria — you’ve restored my faith in hospitality...

The Aria Hotel, as well as its restaurant Jure, is the perfect place for a holiday break and a break from busy everyday life. As a corporate C-level, I have been to many hotels in my life, and none has made such a positive hatch on me as the brand-new Aria. The people who make up this place are bubbling with enthusiasm professionals with a tremendously positive attitude to life. Helpful, smiling and committed. Already at the reception desk we were greeted with a broad smile and a willingness to help us settle in. Rooms kept surgically clean and in a very fitting minimalist style. All furnishings in place. Excess towels, comfortable and decent slippers, super comfortable mattress and the best matching set of pillows I've dealt with in years. Good quality cosmetics (rituals) and a spacious shower. Plus a beautiful view from the window and a balcony that allows you to spend whole nights listening to the sound of the waves. As a programmer, I obliged to say a little about the quality of the hotel's network, which is very well secured and faster than in many five-star hotels from European capitals. Air conditioning smart and, most importantly, very effective, allows you to sleep through the nights in comfort. The hotel's breakfasts are of the highest quality, on the principle that you eat as much as you want, enjoying the beautiful view of the bay, although if you are, like me, a creature of the night, you may fall asleep for them because they are served until 10:30, but this is not a problem of the hotel and the friendly staff will leave you something to eat if you ask. A huge advantage is also the PUBLIC beach in front of the hotel. For some it may be a problem that it is not private, but in my personal opinion, the opportunity to watch the charming local beachgoers instead of only hotel guests who - let's not kid ourselves - if they can afford the hotel, they are rather beautiful and young are no longer ( yes - I'm also talking about myself 😉 ) is a huge plus. You can feel the spirit of fun and beachcombing instead of sad talk about the implications of the conflict in the East in the context of the economy of emerging countries. If one expects the hotel to be isolated from civilization then suggest going to some forest and not to the Adriatic Sea in the middle of the season. The hotel rents its beach beds along with umbrellas so there will always be a place for guests. In the photos you will see how it looks like. Next to the beach and also on the lowest floor of the hotel is the Jure restaurant, which serves very good quality seafood-oriented food. Personally, I missed some purely Croatian traditional continental cuisine, which I would also like to try, but you can't expect a restaurant to do everything. In the evening there is always live music performed by a local artist who has excellent vocal skills. Service in the restaurant as in the hotel is brimming with enthusiasm and energy. You can feel the powerful Croatian spirit with which they infect their guests. They can advise, recommend and are happy to talk to you if you have questions. I would like to emphasize again that every place is built by the people who create it and in the case of this facility you can really feel the family atmosphere full of energy. The level of cleanliness in the restaurant is also ideal which bodes well for the hotel, as the restaurant itself is already several years old and maintained better than many a continental...

||Whoever designed this hotel did an excellent job. I will mention a few things that make my wife and I happy when traveling. The staff is extremely kind but not forced but natural. They are very accommodating and nothing is too much trouble for them. The reception is the first point of contact with guests and I can say that the owner knows what he is doing because he chooses local and pleasant people. In the restaurant on the ground floor overlooking the sea, very nicely decorated, with an EXCELLENT breakfast containing many local delicacies, there is a lady Silvija who is so helpful that you rarely see that, I can't single out one thing because everything she does is perfect. The hotel is clean and has everything you need, it can be compared to a 5 star hotel even though it has 4. The rooms are spacious, walk in shower, modern and have a beautiful view of the sea from the terrace.|In front of the hotel there is a pebble beach where you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas (10 euros each). The people who work there do all the arrangements for you, if you drink on the beach, they bring you drinks, set up a small table, you feel really served!!! At the reception you get thick, high-quality beach towels! Restaurant Jure is the hotel restaurant, they have an excellent menu, from pizza to lobster...the food is homemade and excellent. Once again I congratulate the owner on everything because he knows what hotel catering is. From choosing employees, interior, way of working with guests,...