Dalmacija [PLACES] Hotel review

Nestled in the heart of the Dalmatia coast is the town of Makarska, slap bang in the centre of the town’s namesake Rivera, stretching for 60km between the towns of Brela and Gradac. Sat beneath the impressive Biokovo mountain range looking out to views of the Adriatic is Dalmacija [PLACES] hotel, owned by the Valamar brand.

The former Dalmacija Sunny Hotel underwent a major renovation and restoration project in 2022, transforming it into the second hotel to join Valamar’s lifestyle brand [PLACES].

The trendy hotel has a somewhat Scandi-vibe, with plenty of greenery and wicker furnishings. The reception area offers water jars, reminiscent of a spa stay, infused with lemon, citrus fruit or cucumber, ensuring guests always stay hydrated.

Upon arrival, you might notice the breakout area to your left. Set through an archway, the hotel features its own games room, with fun neon signs, pinball machines, ping pong tables and even a Playstation 5. The space also has its own drinks truck serving an array of cocktails.

Other breakout zones include a communal working area and a quiet lounge close to the concierge desk. Unique vases and statues of Dalmatians line the surrounding shelves, firmly rooting you on the Dalmatian coast.

The pièce de résistance Dalmacija [PLACES] Hotel, however, can be found outside. There’s no better place that encapsulates the laid-back, chic theme of the hotel quite like its pool area. Sun-loungers and beanbags shaded by fringed parasols are scattered across the pool deck, looking out to sea views.

There are two swimming pools to choose from, with one surrounded by stylish cabana beds. Though we visited at the start of the summer season, we never struggled to get a sun bed and even the usually high-demand cabanas were free.

Once you find a spot to sun yourself for the day, the beach bar with its vast cocktail menu, is just steps away. During the summer there is a music schedule with DJs playing throughout the day, and dance music is a prominent feature so it’s worth keeping this in mind when booking the hotel.

If you prefer beachfront over poolside, then you’re in luck. Dalmacija [PLACES] hotel has its own pebble beach complete with cushioned sun loungers and a beach bar, tucked away in a sun-dappled pine grove. The beach, referred to as the beach club, is accessible via a connecting tunnel which leads you towards some of the clearest water we’ve ever seen.

Check-in at the main desk is straightforward and staff are friendly, though not overbearing. But rather than being handed your typical room key, Dalmacija [PLACES] hotel provides guests with a handy waterproof wristband which acts as your one-stop-port for everything. As well as your room key, the wristband can also be used for dinner at the hotel restaurant, for poolside drinks or down at the beach bar.

This is all part of [PLACESFLEX], the brand’s Flexi-halfboard concept which includes breakfast plus €25 per person per day, and for this amount, you can buy either lunch, dinner or drinks as you wish.

Head to the panoramic glass lift for incredible views across the seaside resort as you climb the building’s 10 floors to reach your room.

Like the other hotels in Valamar’s portfolio, Dalmacija [PLACES] Hotel is commited to nature, with the hotel proudly advertising itself as a “green holiday” provider. You’ll notice reminders throughout your time about saving water or the option to swap your towels every other day to help reduce unnecessary waste.

Rating: 4/5

Every room at Dalmacija [PLACES] Hotel boasts its own balcony with a view of the sea. The slightly more expensive rooms look out directly towards the Adriatic, while other rooms have a pool view set to the backdrop of the rolling tides.

Standard [PLACESROOMS] come with either a double bed or a double bed and sofa with enough space to sleep three. The cherry on top is the [PLACESSUITE] sleeping up to three people with a vast four-poster bed at its heart.

For our stay, we checked into the slightly larger [PLACESROOM] with sofa, which stays on brand with the hotel’s “cool and funky by the sea” theme.

It’s obvious the hotel has only been recently renovated, with modern features, wicker furnishings and a natural colour palette accented with hues of green.

You may notice the black headboard is magnetic, with moveable letters spelling out the hotel name. There are also some rather interesting additions to the room, including an adults-only “pleasure box” left out on the bedside table.

There’s a decent-sized storage space to hang clothes and store your belongings, while pool towels are stored on one of the lower shelves in a wicket basket-bag (which doubles up as a handy beach basket in case you forget yours).

Rating: 4/5

From breakfast to lunch to dinner, the Dalmacija [PLACES] Hotel dining room has you covered. This self-service buffet experience has plenty to cater to all, including vegetarian and vegan options. Most of these are labelled but if you are confused staff members are on hand to help.

Dishes are mostly inspired by the Mediterranean, including salads, rice dishes, meats and cheeses, pasta, as well as a few local Croatian favourites. It’s nice to see some of the options changing day-to-day. A dessert cart is on hand to deliver fruit, pastries and cakes to those who like a little sugar hit after dinner – though there was no ice cream during our stay which would have been the perfect addition.

Drinks can be ordered using the QR code, and everything over the daily €25 credit can be charged to your wristband to pay on check-out.

Dinner is a fairly relaxed affair and the main buffer never seemed to be too busy, although the outdoor seating area is the most popular spot leading up to sunset. Here you’ll find a mix of table sizes, with some featuring ornate rattan peacock chairs adding to the boho aesthetic of the space.

Breakfast is the same set-up as dinner, with all of the usual cereals, fruit, vegetables, cheeses and hot dishes, plus some extra special additions including a champagne station. At the heart of the space is a hot drinks station, featuring coffee machines and pots of freshly brewed coffee meaning there are rarley queues. There’s also a self-serve juice, smoothie and water station.

Rating: 4.5/5

Rating: 4/5

Double rooms for two people start from £135 per night. The [PLACES] hotels offer flexi-programmes available at Dalmacija and Hvar. This programme offers flexible rates between June 25 and October 1 for travellers, in case plans change. This includes a €25 daily credit for breakfast, live music, DJs and pool bars in beachfront locations.

Find rooms and book direct on the Dalmacija [PLACES] Hotel website. Or, compare deals and prices for a stay at Dalmacija [PLACES] Hotel with Booking.com or Hotels.com.