wcrhkd

Does anyone know if there's a club lounge at this hotel? If there is, are platinums granted access? Is there anything special given to plats for the amenity? Thanks..

boston aa flyer

We've booked a trip to Budapest... and we're thinking about a side trip to Split.... any thoughts on how long is a good time to be there? and how is the hotel?

goplaces

I have read a few places around the web that this hotel has a dive center. Can anyone confirm this? Also, is there still a hotel shuttle? We are looking at flights that arrive quite late - about 11:30 PM on a Friday night. What would be the best way for us to get to the Le Meridien?

Thanks!

wcrhkd

We're actually still in Croatia but we completed our stay at Le Meridien in Split last week. I recommend it highly, can't say enough good things about it.

As recommended earlier, we took the Croatia Airlines bus to the city center at the cost of about $8 each. We then took a taxi to the hotel and we think it may have been around $25 or so. We arrived and I was mildly disappointed at the exterior. Large (but that was the casino), white, and not terribly attractive. Once inside, I was pleasantly surprised. We were greeted warmly by the very young, enthusiastic staff. Check-in was easy and quick.....but then we experienced something surprising and new to me. The manager came out, greeted us by name, and personally escorted us to our room. That's never happened before, and it was a nice touch.

We were upgraded to a superior sea-view mini suite on the top floor, and at the end of the wing. Delightful! We could not have been happier with our room. We had a large balcony overlooking the marina with a table and chairs that went the length of the room. Perfect for the sunset and the full moon. Glorious.

We spent the following morning at the Palace in Split and decided we'd rather be back at the hotel. We took the hotel shuttle into town (get a ticket from the concierge) and the city bus back.

Breakfast at the hotel was incredible. Fabulous cheese, fruit, yogurt, cereal, omelets to order plus the usual buffet breakfast stuff. (Pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausages, etc.) We ate dinner at the hotel one night and at Fabio's the next. Both were great, Fabio's being cheaper.

There was a fee for internet in the rooms but free access in the lobby. There was only one computer for guests, but we had our own so it didn't matter.

Pools were great, but I loved our balcony. Sorry, I'm not certain about a dive center but don't hesitate to write to the hotel and ask. They're very prompt and helpful in their response.

Oh, also...the lobby at night is really lovely. Lit candles are everywhere.

We were extremely impressed by this hotel and happy to have been there for our way too short 2 days. The entire staff was delightful right down to the housekeepers. It's a little trying to get to, but well worth the effort. My only concern is - and I'm not certain how to say this without causing offense - is that it may be a little loud for some people. We were just there last week (but it was a perfect 80 degrees) so the season hasn't even begun. The hotel was relatively uncrowded, but there were a couple of families there with young children. This is not the fault of the hotel at all......but the parents tended to let the children run unsupervised. I don't know how it will be mid-summer.

Sorry to be rambling, but we really had a lovely time here.

Johnny Rocket

This is a beautiful hotel.

In response to others questions:

1.) There is no Platinum lounge or special breakfast laid on. You pay for it if you want it.

2.) The is however, FREE intenet. There is a machine in the lobby area which requires a code, however the same code can be used in the room. This is excellent considering how much some of the other hotels charge.

3.) Driving in Croatia is pleasant and the drivers are not agressive or drive particularly fast.

4.) Parking at the hotel is free too.

eefor jfp

I live in Split, so for further information about the city and the Dalmatian coast, feel free to PM me. I can't really answer too many questions about the hotel itself (the rooms, benefits for plats, etc.) since I have no real reason to stay there--though we do go for drinks maybe once a year.

mojorisin'

Stayed at this hotel last week for a 4 night stay. All around, a top notch experience.

Some of the pros of this property:

1. Close proximity to Split, while not actually being in Split.
2. Outdoor pool, beach area, indoor pool/spa were fantastic.
3. Great home base for day trips to local islands (Brac, Hvar, etc.)
4. Decent food and service.
5. Free wifi internet.

Higly recommend this place and would definitely stay again.

flyingstudent

I also stayed here last week. Other than than 1 kiosk in the lobby, there's complimentary internet in the business center 1 floor down and it has many computers. It's only opened between 8am-8pm.

Tickets for the complimentary shuttle is hard to get, just go early the day before.

Bus from Split center costs 12 Kuna. Bus number is 60 bound for Omis and it leaves next to Riva every 30 min. Do note that you need to get off before you see the hotel. For me, I missed that stop and had to walk back. There's no side walk in the highway so it's a bit scary.

leishmaniac

We have booked a Classic Sea-view room for one night in May, and originally for two of us - now, there is a third coming, and we were told there are no extra beds allowed for the reservation. Has anyone asked for an extra bed at this hotel?

SfoDtwFlr

Has anyone stayed here recently? I am planning to spend 4 nights in July. I have to change my reservation (now planning a side trip to Hvar), and a breakfast option is now coming up for ~25 Euro more. Does anyone here know what breakfast costs in the restaurant? They'll be two of us and I'm wondering if that is a good deal or not. I'm assuming that we could find breakfast elsewhere for less, but it's vacation, what better time to be lazy.

Thanks in advance.

alterman

Nice city , excellent property, but far away from main attractions

catIII

Just wondering in the past year if anyone has stayed here?

My partner and I are planning on using my free resort nights here November 8-13th. First trip to Croatia for us both and although not the best time of year to go, our travel schedules allow us to check it out easily, so we figured why not. Hopefully the weather will remain what it's been recently, low 20's.

I checked availability and looks as though there's many suites still available, so hopefully we'll get a nice upgrade... are plat's treated fairly good here? I read no lounge or breakfast, but perhaps this has changed?

If anyone has any information about stays in the past year or so, please let me know, thanks!

cat

SanDiego1K

There were a lot of positive reports in 2007 when the hotel opened. There's fewer reports in the 5 years following than there were that first year. There's not been much of anything the last two years.

Who has stayed there recently? What are your thoughts? How is treatment of platinums? What are plats getting for the new breakfast benefit? Is there a lounge? Is parking free?

Any restaurants to recommend in Split?

FrAAmer

We will be there in June and if there is not a report before then, will certainly post our report.

SanDiego1K

I can now highly endorse this hotel. It is a gem, a comfortable property with many facilities. Most importantly, it has spectacular views over the Adriatic of adjacent islands.

We drove from Dubrovnik, where we stayed at Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik. We rented a car from Sixt at the Hilton for a one way car rental to Split. It was about a four hour drive, the first hour or so very windy road along the shore. It was a surprise to leave Croatia and enter Bosnia, then reenter Croatia. General Tito wanted access to the water. The Croats have a scheme to build a lengthy bridge out to an island and back to the land, avoiding the Bosnian interlude. I can't imagine that being any time soon as surely it will be massively expensive. We then took the multi lane road and left our gorgeous water scenery. On the Dubrovnik side of Split, our GPS signaled that we should exit and head to the shore. We backtracked a mile or two to Podstrana. Le Meridien Split was immediately off the road, a boxy structure that gave no hint of the pleasures within.

We drove past an unmanned parking shack, and found that parking was free despite the sign on said shack. On entering the building, we turned left to the check in desk. Turned that direction, due ahead was a spectacular view to the sea. This area is for the bar and has both inside and outside seating.

On checking in, the GM immediately came to greet us. In my experience, this is very rare. I can remember three Starwood hotels where this has happened, all of them Le Meridien properties: Le Meridien Chiang Rai (Thailand), the much lamented recent Le Meridien Juan-les-Pins, and now here. The GM is Dutch, very affable, and has worked various places for Starwood, most recently in Albania.

We were delighted to be told that we had been upgraded to a Diplomatic suite (though on reading that someone was given an Adriatic Suite, I wonder if I misheard). It was on the 8th of 9 floors on the front tower. It had 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, and a smallish living room (but no dining area). We had no need of the second bed/bath so asked that housekeeping lock it off to prevent them from having to clean it on our departure. The best part of the suite was that it was on the corner of the building, so had a spectacular view along the north shoreline as well as directly out over the small marina. There was a narrow terrace with a table and two chairs that ran the length of the suite on both sides. The bathroom was spacious with a walk in shower. The bed was very firm. I like firm, but this was really firm. In the entry hall to the suite was a walk in closet and a half bath.

We booked through a Virtuoso agent, and that allowed stacking of benefits. The Virtuoso rate was the breakfast rate offered on SPG.com. With a two night booking, a 50 euro credit toward their excellent spa was included. I took advantage of this and found a very high calibre treatment. They were offering a 20% discount, and the 50 euros covered a full 60 minute massage.

We particularly liked the range of restaurants immediately available. There are two restaurants by the marina. Take the elevator to the ground floor, exit the building, and one is to the left and one to the right. We ate at Leonise twice. Food and service were both excellent. We really enjoyed sitting outside enjoying the sea breeze and looking at the luxury yachts brought in for a boat show. Another restuarant is managed by the hotel. Pivnica is to the immediate left of the entry door. It offers both steak and pizza in a rustic interior. We were given two coupons on check in that gave us a discount on a steak/French fries combo.

Split is about a 10 minute drive away. Take a GPS if you plan to make it to the waterfront and the Diocleatian Palace. There is a long line of cafes with their tables sprawling along the waterfront. I love the European way of allowing you unlimited time at your table once you have bought a beverage or food. It had been raining the past month, so spring has only arrived the last three days or so. It was idyllic. Trogdir is beyond Split, and the airport is near Trogdir.

If you have yet to visit the Adriatic Coast, put it on your list. And I highly recommend staying at this hotel. Our schedule was a bit complex, and I really spent a lot of hours deciding if I could include Split. Now that I did, I realize what a loss it would have been to skip it. We flew Croatian Airlines nonstop from Frankfurt to Dubrovnik, and again Croatian Airlines from Split to Zagreb.