Our Director, Peter travels the winding roads of Croatia's Adriatic coast to reach the Sun Gardens Dubrovnik for a week of tennis, deep tissue massage, fresh seafood and crystal clear waters.
What were your first impressions of the resort?
What struck me first was the location. It was a beautiful drive from Dubrovnik Airport on the road elevated above the coast. You pass the old city of Dubrovnik on the way and the vistas are stunning. There are great views of the Adriatic with lots of little bays and all the islands right off the coast. You come around a bend and the resort comes into view perched on the cliffs above the sea. The contemporary design is a beautiful contrast to the natural setting.
What do you think makes the resort so special?
There is a lot to like about the Sun Gardens Dubrovnik which is why it appeals to lots of different guests. The size of the resort works to its advantage as it never feels crowded. For me specifically, there are a few things that make it special. The sea, crystal clear and great for swimming, the dedicated sports centre with tennis courts, gym and tonnes of other activities and the staff who were really genuinely nice, fun people and delivered a great service.
What was your favourite treatment?
The deep tissue massage was excellent. This treatment is normally one of my favourites wherever I go, but the therapist took a little extra time to talk about my lifestyle which helped him focus more specifically on certain muscle groups and give advice on posture and offer other little tips that could help me with my daily routine.
What was your favourite activity?
For me it was the tennis. I love the game but find it tough to make time to get on a court in London. I would get up at 7.00am, be at the sports centre by 7.30am and hit for an hour in the morning. I would finish and go to breakfast then straight down the path to the beach for a swim. I did this four of the days I was there and am still missing it two weeks later!
How was the food?
The hotel is large and caters to a lot of different tastes so there is no shortage of choice.
There are several 'themed' restaurants offering Italian and Asian cuisine and another with a 'butcher's grill' with nice cuts of beef, lamb, etc. Fresh fish is a part of Croatian life so you can enjoy their restaurant overlooking the sea offering a nice fish menu. If you'd like a tip though, ask one of the staff or the excursion companies for info about some of the local restaurants. This part of Croatia is famous for raising mussels and oysters. The city of Ston, (about 30 minutes drive away) is famous for this. Explore a little, chances are you'll be happy you did and get a little local flavour.
What was your favourite aspect of the resort?
For me again, it was the sports centre. This is a completely separate facility from the spa. I was trying our own 'Flexible Fitness' programme so I was spending time at both the sports centre and the spa which was great. There is no shortage of things to do as they publish a weekly schedule of activities that could range from Nordic walking, basketball and tennis tournaments, Pilates and Tai Chi classes, to cooking and wine tasting.
Who would you recommend the resort to?
The Sun Gardens Dubrovnik would appeal to many types of guests, that is what it set out to do and they do it well. From a single traveller wanting to relax and have some quiet time in the spa and perhaps participate in some group activities, to a couple that wants to do some water sports together and then go off and do their own thing for a few hours, the choice and facilities are there.
For personalised advice, please call our expert wellness team on 020 3735 7555.
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