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Le Meridien Split, Croatia [Master Thread]

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Le Meridien Split, Croatia [Master Thread]

Old May 2, 2012, 4:06 am
  #46  
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Originally Posted by SanDiego1K
We ate at Leonise twice. Food and service were both excellent.
I was just at this hotel as well, and agree that Leoni is one of the better fish restaurants I have found in Croatia- both for food and service. We also went for two nights there for dinner and will be back.
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Old May 3, 2012, 8:02 am
  #47  
 
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Originally Posted by SanDiego1K
If you have yet to visit the Adriatic Coast, put it on your list.
Absolutely. Agree with all you reported and had similar experience last September.

Agree with you andTRAVELSIG on Leonise too! ^
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Old May 10, 2012, 12:59 pm
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I'm considering a 5-6 day trip to Croatia, specifically Split in July using points and miles. I'm also considering Panama and Budapest (as well as Santiago/Mendoza to meet up with a friend, but I've spend extended periods of time in Santiago and want to visit somewhere new). From this thread and some initial research, Le Meridien Split sounds like a great hotel and a great value for my points. I'll hopefully be a *W Plat by the trip.

However, I'm a single guy in my early 20s and probably traveling alone. I'm looking to do some siteseeing, a day trip to one of the islands or a smaller town down the coast, and relaxing with a book by the pool and beach. It'd be nice to meet other people, but I'm very independent. I don't want to stay somewhere relaxing that gives a too much of a honeymoon/couples vibe.

Does this hotel and Split fit what I'm looking for or should I consider staying closer to town?
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Old May 10, 2012, 1:29 pm
  #49  
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Originally Posted by Duke777
I'm considering a 5-6 day trip to Croatia, specifically Split in July using points and miles. I'm also considering Panama and Budapest (as well as Santiago/Mendoza to meet up with a friend, but I've spend extended periods of time in Santiago and want to visit somewhere new). From this thread and some initial research, Le Meridien Split sounds like a great hotel and a great value for my points. I'll hopefully be a *W Plat by the trip.

However, I'm a single guy in my early 20s and probably traveling alone. I'm looking to do some siteseeing, a day trip to one of the islands or a smaller town down the coast, and relaxing with a book by the pool and beach. It'd be nice to meet other people, but I'm very independent. I don't want to stay somewhere relaxing that gives a too much of a honeymoon/couples vibe.

Does this hotel and Split fit what I'm looking for or should I consider staying closer to town?
I like Split- however wouldn't stay at the LM as a single.

Head over to Hvar....
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Old Jun 28, 2012, 3:06 pm
  #50  
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Stay Report - June 2012


The hotel has several buildings, this tower, the Starwood Preferred Guest building (where we stayed), and another one overlooking the marina.

This stay report is part of a larger Croatia trip report that will be posted in the Community section as I have time to complete it. I thought I would knock out the hotel stay sections first, and then fill in the gaps. As I am limited to 20 photos for this post, here is a link to the album of photos of this property: http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y91...lit%20Croatia/

As others have posted on this thread, this is a wonderful hotel, and at 10,000 points per night (cat 4), possibly the best point redemption to value of any Starwood property we have stayed at. A few days prior to our arrival we received an e-mail offering the opportunity to upgrade our room to insure we would have either a Superior Sea View room (with internet and a cocktail at the 7 Palms Bar and Grill) for 10 euro per night, or a Deluxe Sea View room (with internet access, the cocktail and a 20 euro food and beverage credit) for 25 euro a night.

As a paid stay, the hotel is still very affordable and they run specials on a regular basis- http://deals.lemeridien.com/Le-Merid...D_SOP_ICM_EAME

My experience with Starwood as a lowly Gold (especially at properties outside the US - see my other trip reports) has been so good that we decided to roll the dice and see what the Upgrade Gods had in store for us. If you read on, fate was with us .

We sandwiched our stays at the Hilton in Dubrovnik (another fabulous property) and at this hotel with stays in guesthouses and apartments. It made for a wonderful combination of luxury and affordability and also allowed us to stay in some beautiful and remote places.

We arrived in Split from Korcula via the 6 AM (ugh - there is only one per day) jet powered Catamaran at 9 AM. http://www.krilo.hr/en/fleet.html Since the Le Meridian is in Podstrana (about a 15 minute 103 Kuna (about $17 USD) cab ride), we took our luggage and deposited it at one of the many luggage deposit facilities that line the street between the ferry port and the bus station (15 Kuna - about $2.50 USD) per bag regardless of length of time for storage . That way we were unencumbered, and could spent the day in the old town of Split, tour the Diocletian Palace, and then head to the hotel (without having to come back to the old city.) Our room most likely would not have been ready at that hour and it seemed silly to cab it to the hotel, drop our luggage with the bellman and then have another round trip cab ride to see the old town.

The taxi stand is just outside the old city, adjacent to the ferry port and a short walk from the luggage storage. After retrieving our bags we were on our way to Podstrana and the Le Meridian. (see the trip report for info on Split)

Check-in was fast, friendly and efficient. The Upgrade Gods favored us with a Deluxe - corner Sea View room on the 7th floor. We were offered the opportunity to add the full buffet breakfast to our room folio at time of check-in for 12 euro per person - (a reduced rate from eating in the restaurant and charging breakfast to the room). Knowing that there are many European properties that charge upwards of 30 euro per person, this seemed like a deal. (Since Croatia will join the EU next year, many places in Croatia are quoting prices in euro)

We were given an "instant awards" brochure that offered Starpoint redemption opportunities such as a 60 minute massage for 8250 Starpoints, dinner for two at the Spalatum restaurant for 7500 Starpoints, or a bathrobe and flipflops for 6,000 Starpoints. (Remember that our room was only 10,000 Starpoints per night.....)

This was the first trip I have taken with only an i-Pad. It is hard to believe that in this day and age that the Le Meridian in Split has no wireless internet in the rooms- so paying for internet access would not have been beneficial. There is complementary basic wireless (via a 24 hour code given at check-in) in the lobby that was fine for e-mail, reading Flyertalk, and basic mobile uploads of photos to Facebook. If one needed faster access, it was available for purchase at tiered rates based on speed or in the business center on a pay per use computer. Ironically, though it is not advertised as such, I was able to receive a wireless signal in our room that seemed stronger at night.














Balcony View


Letter from the Manager was waiting along with complimentary water bottles on each nightstand and a large Croatian chocolate bar. Mrs. FrAAmer's bar had lavender bits, a Croatian specialty.


Another balcony view. The town of Split is across the water at the end of the spit of land. We could watch the ferries coming and going.


Podstrana from the balcony with the Le Meridien beach in the foreground.

The hotel is clean, modern, and very well maintained. While we were there it never seemed crowded and one could easily get a chaise at the pool or at the beach. There is a beautiful vanishing edge outdoor pool and also a large indoor pool.

Spa access for the sauna, steam room, whirlpool, and solarium is complimentary and there is a full menu of assorted massages and treatments available. The large, well-equipped exercise room has one of the best views from a treadmill anywhere. (The only one I can recall that is better is from the bow of the Celebrity Galaxy cruise we took to Alaska)


Exercise Room


Vanishing-edge pool


Indoor Pool


One of the many lobby sitting areas


Omlette station at breakfast

On our first afternoon we wanted a snack but did not want to sit outside by the pool, nor did we want to eat in the hotel's restaurant. Unfortunately the Pivnica restaurant in the hotel (less fancy - that has a great reputation) does not open until 5:00 PM. One of the doormen suggested a short walk up the hill to the left of the hotel to Fabio's. They have a covered outdoor seating area and (also inside seating) where we enjoyed a surprisingly good thin crust pizza. They have a great beer list too!


Just outside the hotel and up the hill to the left is Fabios. Surprisingly good thin crust pizza and a great beer list.



The Marina adjacent to the hotel. There is a "provisions" store there with all sorts of snacks and drinks.

We read of Leonis (restaurant in the adjacent marina) from other posts in this forum so we planned on dining there our first night. As others have posted, it was so good - that we ate there the second night as well.

The wonderful Leonis Restaurant with live music nightly. In the Marina connected to the hotel. http://www.restaurant-leonis.com/en/

In fact, we enjoyed our time at this property so much that we really had no desire to go back to Split at all and spent two days swimming, reading and relaxing. Housekeeping was prompt and discreet turndown service happened each evening (with fresh towels and water bottles) while we were out.

One day while we were looking at a map in the window of the travel agency in the marina, a woman (Maggie) came out and engaged us in conversation. She wanted to know where we had been and where we were going, where and what we had eaten, in general- how we were enjoying our Croatian experience. When Maggie learned we were driving the next day to the Plitvice Lakes, she wrote down her cell number in case we needed someone to translate something or help with anything while we were on the road! This was so typical of the warm, friendly people we met throughout our entire trip.

We discussed our prior meal at Leonis (which she said was the best of all the restaurants in either the hotel or marina) and she suggested that if we were to eat there again, there were some menu items we had missed. She walked over to the restaurant and reviewed the menu with us to point out some "specialties" (which had lost something in the English translation), including a house made pasta (that was unfortunately described as "macaroni") - but was actually a Korculan specialty (a flat pasta rolled on a needle to make a tubular pasta, served in a red Buzara sauce with Scampi).

More on Leonis- (and some of what we learned about eating in higher end Croatian restaurants) Every guide book we read said that fish was "expensive," which we found was a "relative" term. Sure, compared to other items one could order, a whole fish (priced per kilo) is more expensive - but a whole fish could easily serve two and perhaps three people. Another option is a fish "steak" cut as a portion from a larger whole fish (as I had my first night at Leonis), or a portion of clams and mussels (again priced per kilo - but there is no obligation to order a kilo) as I ordered the second night at Leonis.

At our first dinner we were a party of four. Two in our party did not want fish. One ordered a t-bone steak that was as large as her whole plate that also came with seasonal vegetables and potato. The other ordered grilled chicken. The rest of our meal was an octopus salad, seasonal salad, grilled vegetables, two fish steaks, a bottle of sparkling water and a bottle of Posip wine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pošip Total bill was 1015.50 Kunas or about $173.00

The next night wanting something lighter, we had an avocado and shrimp salad, the pasta with scampi, and the clams and mussels in a white buzara sauce. Mrs. FrAAmer wanted wine but we didn't want a bottle. We had the same waiter as the prior night and he offered to pour a premium glass of white wine that was not on the "per glass" menu and even brought a few tastes for her to choose from. Total for the meal was 174 kuna or about $55.

Of all of the white wines we drank while in Croatia, Krajancic Posip "Intrada" (from Korcula) was our favorite. It runs about 170 kuna in a restaurant (about $28 USD). You can find it retail from specialty wine shops in the states for about $21.

This hotel would be a great "base" for a Croatian visit, especially since the redemption rate is so good. One could do some "resort time," some "culture" in the town of Split, or a day trip to Hvar Island via ferry. There is a travel agency in the marina that can book all sorts of day trips by boat (to a number of the surrounding islands with a fish picnic) or with a small tour group to many places - (or one could rent a car and drive to the Krka waterfalls in 90 minutes).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krka_National_Park).

After our stay here we were on our way to Plitvice Lakes. I booked a 3 day rental car from Hertz via the AA website ($89 per day including tax with FULL insurance) for a pick-up at the Split airport and return to the Zagreb airport where we were departing for London. We took a cab from the Le Meridien to the Split airport for 300 kuna (about $50 USD).

If you were arriving at the Split airport, you could either take a cab to the hotel (for about $50 USD) or a transport bus (about 4 euro) from the airport to the old town, then a cab (about $17) from the old town to Podstrana.

There are few places I really want to return to. Croatia is way up on our list and we will definitely return to this hotel when we do.

Last edited by FrAAmer; Jun 29, 2012 at 9:22 am
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Old Jun 28, 2012, 7:19 pm
  #51  
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What a wonderful report. It makes me want to return - soon. I'm helping some honeymooners plan and have suggested the Croatian coast. Should they choose it, this report will become one of the planning documents.
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Old Jun 28, 2012, 10:00 pm
  #52  
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Awesome report FrAAmer. Makes me want to be there right now. Wow. Thank you.
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Old Jun 29, 2012, 4:10 am
  #53  
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Really great report- FrAAmmer- Thank You.

Just one very small point- Croatia will indeed join the European Union next year- however will not join the European currency (euro) (EMU)- they will thankfully keep their own currency which makes Croatia much more affordable indeed than its neighbors Slovenia and Italy on the same coast.

I am glad you enjoyed Leoni's so much- I visit Croatia quite often for both work and holidays- and have not yet found another restaurant which has the match of ambiance/service/value/quality.
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Old Jul 2, 2012, 7:00 am
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Awesome report! Like the others, I am anxious to get back there now!
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Old Jul 12, 2012, 8:29 am
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I spent three nights last week at Le Meridien Split using points. Unfortunately C&P was unavailable and it appears there is no availability in July and August.

I just became a Platinum, but I don't think they had updated my room selection based on my status bump. When I arrived, I was sent to guest relations that walked me through everything, which I found nice and personable.

I ended up on the top floor of the tower (says Le Meridien Casino on the top) with a view of the sea and town. My room was a superior room, an "upgrade" from the standard room. I was exhausted after traveling, so I didn't push for a better room. I was a bit peeved I wasn't even put in the Preferred building. Also, my king bed was really two singles pushed together with separate sheets.

The room was pleasant enough. The highlights are the nice bathroom (with a rain shower) and the balcony. There are about 20 TV channels in a bunch of languages, including ESPN US. There is no wireless in the rooms, but there is wireless just about everywhere else (lobby, pool, & beach).

The facilities are quite nice. It's a beautiful hotel. It was quite crowded - July and August are THE two tourist season months. Traveling alone, I was hoping that the property wouldn't be all couples. Instead, there were A TON of children. Even though the hotel was busy, I never had a problem finding a seat by the pool or the beach.

I chose the breakfast for my Plat amenity. I was able to eat at Spatalum, which offered a delicious buffet. I would recommend choosing the breakfast if it's not already included in your room rate.

There is a shuttle that runs between the hotel and nearby Split. The shuttle is 40 kuna round-trip ($7-$8) vs. 120 kuna ($20-$25) for a one-way taxi. The shuttle only runs in July and August. It basically runs hourly from 9 AM to 11 (?) PM. I should've contacted the hotel before in order to catch the shuttle from the Ferry Port (where airport buses drop you off).

Overall, Le Meridien Split is a nice property, especially as a Cat 4. I think Plat treatment is usually quite good - I was just unlucky with the status bump occurring in close proximity to my stay and didn't feel like pushing for a better room after a long trip from the U.S. Croatia is a wonderful country. I have a feeling it'll capitalize on Greece's troubles and become even more popular, especially among Americans.
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Old Apr 5, 2013, 4:32 am
  #56  
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some great trip reports from last year....mrs. keyser & i are planing on staying here in a couple of months....however, we are a little unsure of how many days to spend here....we will have a total of 8 days in croatia....should we spend than evenly between zagreb & split or spend 5 days in split & 3 days in zagreb????
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Old Apr 5, 2013, 4:57 am
  #57  
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Originally Posted by Keyser
some great trip reports from last year....mrs. keyser & i are planing on staying here in a couple of months....however, we are a little unsure of how many days to spend here....we will have a total of 8 days in croatia....should we spend than evenly between zagreb & split or spend 5 days in split & 3 days in zagreb????
I would recommend:

2 days Zagreb (optional)
2 days Hvar (add 1 day here if deleting Zagreb)
1 day Dubrovnik (add 1 day here if deleting Zagreb)
3 days Split
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Old Apr 5, 2013, 5:24 am
  #58  
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I'm not sure what the attraction is for Zagreb. For us, it was a fine for a day spent before flying out- but unless you are into museums, not sure of the appeal. I sure would not spend time there - even if there was a Westin to stay on points. Plus the hotel location isn't anything special.

Re: Splt- we are working on plans for our return trip. We'll base ourselves at the Le Meridien and take day trips with our rental car - so one could spend 3-5 nights there easily.

I would not miss Dubrovnik or Plitvice Lakes.

You don't say how old you are- but I prefer Korcula to Hvar as Hvar has more of a bar/night scene which isn't our "thing". But an island stay is pretty special - and one can rent a great apartment for next to nothing.
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Old Apr 5, 2013, 5:29 am
  #59  
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Originally Posted by FrAAmer
I'm not sure what the attraction is for Zagreb. For us, it was a fine for a day spent before flying out- but unless you are into museums, not sure of the appeal. I sure would not spend time there - even if there was a Westin to stay on points. Plus the hotel location isn't anything special.

Re: Splt- we are working on plans for our return trip. We'll base ourselves at the Le Meridien and take day trips with our rental car - so one could spend 3-5 nights there easily.

I would not miss Dubrovnik or Plitvice Lakes.

You don't say how old you are- but I prefer Korcula to Hvar as Hvar has more of a bar/night scene which isn't our "thing". But an island stay is pretty special - and one can rent a great apartment for next to nothing.
Hvar is great for sailing as well. If you get out of the main town Hvar is very quiet and quite spectacular.

Agree that Zagreb is nothing special unless you are there for business as there are quite a few interesting opportunities in Croatia.
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Old Apr 5, 2013, 5:35 am
  #60  
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Originally Posted by TRAVELSIG
I would recommend:

2 days Zagreb (optional)
2 days Hvar (add 1 day here if deleting Zagreb)
1 day Dubrovnik (add 1 day here if deleting Zagreb)
3 days Split
Originally Posted by FrAAmer
I'm not sure what the attraction is for Zagreb.
have a close friend who lives in zagreb so will have to spend a couple of days there at least....i could reduce zagreb by a couple of days & this way i would have 2 days in dubrovnik....thanks....
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