ISTRIA - Croatia and Slovenia - page 204

$$ Vila Kristina, run by Kristina Kiš and her family, has 10 rooms and five apartments
along a busy road. All but one of the units has a balcony. I'd skip the overpriced apartments
(Db-€95/€85, apartment Db-€140/€120, no extra charge for 1-night stays, includes break-
fast, air-con, no elevator, free Wi-Fi, Luje Adamovi ć a 16, tel. [phone], www.kis-rov-
inj.com , [e-mail] ).
$ Elda Markulin, whose son runs the Baccus Wine Bar, rents three rooms and four
apartments in a new, modern house a short walk up from the main harborfront road (Db-
€50/€45/€40, apartment-€75/€60/€50, cash only, air-con, free Wi-Fi, Mate Balote 12, tel.
052/811-018,mobile[phone], [e-mail] ) .ToreachitfromtheOldTown,
walk along the waterfront; after you pass the recommended Maestral restaurant and the
ragtag boatyard on your right, turn left onto the uphill Mate Balote (just before the park).
$ Apartmani Tomo, nextdoortoElda(seedirectionsabove),isrunwithAlbanianpride
byTomoLleshdedaj,whorentssevenroomsandninestudioapartments.Whilethelodgings
are basic and communication can be a bit challenging, it's a handy location for a budget
last resort (Db-€50/€40/€35, Db with kitchen-€70/€60/€50, smaller studio Db-€75/€65/€55,
biggerstudioDb-€85/€75/€65,extraperson-€10,cashonly,air-con,freeWi-Fi,MateBalote
10, tel. [phone], mobile [phone], no email—reserve by phone).
Maistra Hotels
The local hotel conglomerate, Maistra, has several hotels in the lush parklands just south of
the Old Town. As all of the hotels were recently either completely renovated or built from
scratch,theseareaveryexpensiveoption;mostofmyreaders—lookingforproximitytothe
Old Town rather than hanging out at a fancy hotel—will prefer to save money and stay at
one of my other listings. However, the Maistra hotels are worth considering if you can get
a deal. These hotels have extremely slippery pricing, based on the type of room, the season,
and how far ahead you book. (I've listed the starting rate for a 1- or 2-night stay in July-
Aug; you'll pay less if you stay longer or visit off-season. Complete rates are explained on
thewebsite, www.maistra.hr . )I'velistedthehotelsintheorderyou'llreachthemasyouap-
proachfromtheOldTown.Allhotelshaveair-conditioning,elevators,freeparking,andpay
Wi-Fi, and include breakfast in their rates. The Maistra chain also has several other proper-
ties (including the Old Town's Hotel Adriatic, described earlier; Hotel Katarina, a cheaper
option with basic rooms picturesquely set on the small island facing the Old Town; and oth-
er more distant, cheaper options). Most Maistra hotels close during the winter.
$$$ Hotel Park isthehumblestofthepack,withjustthreestars.Ithas202renovatedbut
dull rooms in a colorized communist-era hull, and a seaside swimming pool with sweeping
viewstotheOldTown.ThisisthehandiestforwalkingintotheOldTown—it'sa10-minute
stroll, entirely along the stunning harborfront promenade (Sb-€144, Db-€180, about €50
more for sea view, tel. [phone], [e-mail] ) .