PLACES Hvar Villas by Valamar
This property is suitable for travelers seeking a comfortable villa stay with sea access and the option to explore a nearby village, though it leans more towards a boutique resort experience than a purely unprogrammed calmcation.
PLACES Hvar Villas offers a modern, comfortable stay in a villa setting with direct sea access and private terraces. While it provides a relaxing environment with good amenities and proximity to Stari Grad, some aspects of the resort experience, such as food quality and service consistency, suggest it caters to a slightly broader audience than pure 'dolce far niente'.
Twelve dimensions of rest, read from 30 reviews.
Slow pace
While not explicitly described as 'slow-paced' by many, the mentions of relaxing on terraces and the romantic atmosphere suggest a generally unhurried environment. However, the presence of activities like aqua aerobics and DJ sessions indicates it's not exclusively for quiet contemplation.
“The Villa terrace with the sea view is lovely, we loved relaxing there with having the beach/pool/restaurant/bar just a few steps away.”
“Amazing time! Very romantic”
Private outdoor space
Many guests praised the private terraces and balconies of the villas, often highlighting the sea views and comfort for relaxation.
“The Villa was amazing with a few of the water and the room was very clean and comfortable.”
“The Villa terrace with the sea view is lovely, we loved relaxing there with having the beach/pool/restaurant/bar just a few steps away.”
“Stayed in one of the villas. Very clean and comfortable room with a large terrace.”
Water access
The property offers excellent water access, with villas directly by the sea and private pools mentioned by some guests. The main pool is also noted as a positive feature.
“The pool villa was amazing.. one of best experiences even on the adriatic”
“The Villa terrace with the sea view is lovely, we loved relaxing there with having the beach/pool/restaurant/bar just a few steps away.”
“New villas right next to the sea, offering amazing views from the room and terrace.”
Village within reach
The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance to Stari Grad, allowing guests to easily access local restaurants and bars.
“Eating lunch and dinner every day got a bit repetitive so we went to Stari Grad to mix it up a little, only a 20 minute walk away.”
“I love the breakfast, and how close it is from town.”
“easy walk into the village which was delightful with good restaurants and bars.”
Quiet
While not extensively discussed, one review noted noise from the air conditioning and fridge, which could disrupt a quiet stay. Otherwise, there is no strong signal for or against quietness.
“The air con and fans are very noisy. The fridge is right by the bed we had to turn it off at night as that was so noisy!”
Privacy
The villas offer a good degree of privacy with their own outdoor spaces. However, one guest expressed concern about the security of the patio doors, which could impact the feeling of privacy.
“The Villa was perfect, spotless clean, very comfy beds and pillows, very nicely decorated with everything you might need (beach towels, microwave, coffee machine, fridge).”
“The whole glass door can be opened completely, connecting the indoor and outdoor areas.”
“The patio doors didn’t feel secure enough when locked.”
Nature immersion
The hotel is situated in a natural setting, described as a 'pine forest' and 'green and sustainable', with villas right next to the sea, suggesting a good connection to nature.
“Absolute heaven on earth. Green and sustainable subtle luxury.”
“Beautiful villa in pine forest, right next to the sea.”
Bed comfort
Guests consistently praise the comfort of the beds and pillows, contributing to a restful experience.
“Sehr schönes Bungalow, tolle Aussicht sehr sauber und modern. Helles Bad und gemütliches Ambiente. Mega”
“Fin villa, mycket skön säng, rymligt och fräscht. Stort bra badrum. Fin och modern inredning.”
“The Villa was perfect, spotless clean, very comfy beds and pillows, very nicely decorated with everything you might need (beach towels, microwave, coffee machine, fridge).”
Service warmth
Service receives mixed reviews. Many guests highlight excellent, helpful, and friendly staff, even naming individuals. However, some experiences describe staff as needing customer service training, being dismissive, or not providing adequate assistance, particularly concerning issues like illness or lack of information.
“Amazing resort, excellent facilities and very helpful staff.”
“Service was excellent with the nicest stuff we ever had a chance to meet. Big thanks to Minja, Marina, Sonja, Biljana, Marko, Luka and absolutely everyone else whose names we didn’t catch. We felt very welcomed and comfortable the entire stay and look very much forward to staying here again.”
“We found the staff very mixed, some were great others definitely needed a few hours of customer service training. To top it all we all got sick whilst there with vomiting - both my husband and I and 10m old baby. Not sure whether it was from food or the cleanliness of the place but the staff were very dismissive (especially the head of customer services) and just tried to get us to pay the bill asap.”
Food on site
Breakfast is consistently praised as excellent, with some even mentioning oysters and Prosecco. However, lunch and dinner are frequently described as repetitive, lacking flavor, or not meeting expectations for the price, leading guests to seek dining options in the nearby town.
“The breakfeast buffet was amazing!”
“Breakfast was one of the best we've experienced. Eating lunch and dinner every day got a bit repetitive so we went to Stari Grad to mix it up a little, only a 20 minute walk away.”
“Lunch and dinner food could have done with a bit more flavour.”
Best rooms to request
Guests consistently recommend the villas, particularly those with sea views or private pools, for their comfort, space, and proximity to amenities. Seafront villas also offer additional benefits like access to neighboring hotel facilities.
“We hired a sea front villa which meant we also had access to the neighbouring hotel to use their slides and shoots which the kids loved.”
“The Villa terrace with the sea view is lovely, we loved relaxing there with having the beach/pool/restaurant/bar just a few steps away.”
“Stayed in a villa 2+3 with sea view. Small but really Lovely and perfect for a family of 4.”
Things to know
Several guests expressed dissatisfaction with unexpected charges, such as for changing pool towels, and the high prices for drinks and food on-site. The lack of basic amenities like shampoo/conditioner and daily bottled water, given the price point, was also noted as a negative.
“They charge you to change your pool and beach towels for clean ones.”
“För det priset man betalar hade jag förväntat mig mer. Det fanns t ex inte schampo och balsam utan endast kombinerad duschkräm och schampo i en ganska skruttig plastflaska. Inga andra toalettprodukter fanns heller, något man kan förvänta sig på ett hotell med det priset. Vid ankomst fick man en flaska vatten, men övriga dagar fanns inget vatten på rummet.”
“Priserna på hotellet var otroligt höga, en 25 cl läsk kostar 4,70 euro. En ordinär glasstrut omkring 6 euro. Även maten var extremt dyr i förhållande till kvaliteten på maten.”
This property offers many calmcation elements: private outdoor spaces, excellent water access, and proximity to a charming village. However, the resort-like atmosphere with activities and mixed reviews on food and service prevent it from reaching Tier A.
Practical guidance from PLACES Hvar Villas by Valamar reviews.
Which room category to choose, what to mention in special requests, and what to verify at check-in — extracted from real guest reviews.
Guests consistently praise the villas, especially those with sea views or private pools, for their comfort, cleanliness, and overall experience. The sea front villas also offer access to additional facilities.
- Villa
- Pool Villa
- Sea Front Villa
- Villa with sea view
Be cautious when booking a villa, as some guests expected a private pool based on imagery but did not receive one. Clarify pool access if it's a priority.
Bathrooms are generally described as bright, spacious, and modern. However, some guests experienced issues like flooding, falling shower heads, and loose towel rails.
- Check for any maintenance issues upon arrival
The air conditioning, fans, and even the fridge can be noisy, potentially disturbing sleep. Consider bringing earplugs.
- Bring earplugs if you are sensitive to noise
Breakfast is consistently highlighted as exceptional, with a wide variety of options, including luxury items like oysters and Prosecco.
- Enjoy the breakfast buffet, which includes a wide selection
Check-in can be problematic with a lack of assistance for bags and poor communication regarding hotel information and amenities. Be prepared to ask questions and clarify details upon arrival.
- Be proactive in asking questions about hotel amenities and room functions
- Don't expect help with luggage to your room
Verified Booking.com reviews, unedited.
“Sehr schönes Bungalow, tolle Aussicht sehr sauber und modern. Helles Bad und gemütliches Ambiente. Mega”
“We stayed in Stari Grad the last two nights of our 8 days in Croatia and it was by far the best stop on our trip. The Villa was amazing with a few of the water and the room was very clean and comfortable.”
“The pool villa was amazing.. one of best experiences even on the adriatic”
“Amazing resort, excellent facilities and very helpful staff. Breakfast was one of the best we've experienced. Eating lunch and dinner every day got a bit repetitive so we went to Stari Grad to mix it up a little, only a 20 minute walk away. We hired a sea front villa which meant we also had access to the neighbouring hotel to use their slides and shoots which the kids loved. All in all, a family of 5 had a great time and would definitely return.”
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