Sun Gardens Dubrovnik ★★★★★

The impossibly blue colour of the sea, the ancient city walls rising out of the water, the pretty yachts swaying in the harbour, the whitewashed buildings and terracotta roofs, the stunning architecture and flowery gardens, the breath-taking colours of the Adriatic sunset… It is not hard to see why Dubrovnik is such a popular Mediterranean destination, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Celebrities and regular folk alike are increasingly rolling up to this part of the Croatian coastline in luxury yachts and budget airlines, making for a lively feel and vibrant atmosphere during the day, and a glitzy night scene.

VeryChic are always one step ahead, however, which is how we came to discover the Radison Blu Resort. While everyone else is packing out Dubrovnik’s beaches and marble-paved streets, you can luxuriate in a peaceful paradise just a few kilometres along the coast, from where you can easily explore the history, beauty and charm of the famous town before retreating to your own private world of luxury, calm and space.

Speaking of which, luxury, calm and space don’t get much better than in these stunning Junior Suites. Though we had already had a tantalising taster of the resort’s scale and splendour when we pulled up outside the entrance of the glittering glass structure, this was definitely the main course. A staggering 68 square metres contained a roomy lounge area, desk space and a gorgeous bedroom, all of which were light, airy and stylish, while the icing on the cake was a magnificent private balcony. Spacious and complete with sun loungers, this was a heavenly spot to sip a coffee from our Nespresso machine and admire the views over the shimmering, sapphire water, with the Elaphite Islands almost within touching distance. The sleek bathroom was partitioned by a retractable curtain, so we could admire the views from the bath or shower (this is also a great way to release your inhibitions for the ultimate no-holds-barred romantic escape!).

So, a great room, a beautiful location and a lovely town – everything was looking up. But little did we know this was just the beginning of a perfect holiday at the Radison Blu Resort! There was so much to do here, so many ways to unwind and have fun, so much to keep the whole family entertained, and the only stress was trying to find time to get out and discover Dubrovnik, the coastline and the fantastic surrounding area. Feeling hot from our traveling and the sweltering sunshine, our first stop was the swimming pool. Or should I say swimming pools, because there are three outdoors alone – two where you can splash and play with the little ones, and one adults-only pool where you can retreat for a spot of quiet romance while the children play in the kids club. All are open throughout the summer, with bars nearby so we could sip refreshing cocktails and smoothies to keep cool during the day. Here during the winter? No problem, there is also a great indoor pool within the spa…

Fortunately, the kids club was apparently so fun that it allowed us a few peaceful moments alone to retreat to the spa. There is an extensive thermal area with a coal sauna, salt sauna, hammam, an aromatherapy steam room and a thalassotherapy bath. As well as this, there are indoor and outdoor spaces to simply lounge and chill out, a bar and a superb range of treatments to enjoy individually or as a romantic couple’s experience. All relaxing things must come to an end however, and we would soon enough find ourselves meeting up with the rest of the family, with so much still to do. We tried out the sports centre, with a gym, football, tennis, climbing walls, table tennis and much more. Then there was the fun-filled range of water sports just outside, for endless adrenaline-fuelled excitement, and once we were worn out we could sit on the resort’s picturesque pebbly beach with a cool drink from the bar, while those feeling more energetic could go diving or play beach volleyball.

Days would simply fly by, and before we knew it, the sun would be setting over the Adriatic, which every night made for an enchanting scene of dramatic seascapes and mesmerising colours. In terms of evening entertainment, with around fifteen different restaurants and bars open in summer and plenty open in winter, there is quite a variety. We would eat fresh seafood on a quiet terrace by the sea, enjoy freshly prepared pizzas and Italian specialties, snack on indulgent home-baked cakes, and enjoy pre-dinner aperitifs at a classy wine bar, or after-dinner cocktails at the chic lounge bar. And that barely even scratches the surface…

In the evening just as during the days, therefore, we struggled to tear ourselves away and take the land or sea shuttles down to Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic which exudes an alluring and charismatic vibe at all times of day. If we thought the hotel had a lot to offer, this idyllic town could delight us with its elegant architecture, dazzling marble streets, quirky boutiques, scenic beaches and inviting bars for weeks on end. I suppose that’s the problem with the Radison Blu Resort: with so much to see and do at home or in the town at any time of year, however long you stay here could not possibly be long enough!