Hotel Istra

Set on an unspoilt island surrounded by rocky coves and crystal waters, the Hotel Istra is a real escape-from-it-all. This place is perched on a little island just off the coast. As such, you’ll start your holiday with a 15-minute boat ride from the pretty port at Rovinj. The ferry is free, and it runs to and from the mainland every hour - so you can come back whenever you fancy.

The hotel itself is fairly ordinary-looking from the outside, but step into the lobby and everything changes. It’s super-sleek, dressed in a cream-on-cream colour scheme with funky orange sofas adding a splash of colour. It’s more of the same in the rooms. Along with tangerine bed linen and ivory walls, they come with satellite TVs and minibars.

Outside, two curvy pools are flanked by sunny terraces. There’s also an indoor pool surrounded by cushioned loungers and floor-to-ceiling windows. And if you’d rather swim in the sea, there’s a little shingle beach at the front of the hotel, and rocky coves all the way around the island. The water’s warm and clear, so it’s perfect for snorkelling.

Lastly, the food here is well worth a mention. Meals are served up buffet-style, and you can help yourself to a glass of wine or a cool beer at dinner as part of your half board plus package. On top of that, you can spend an evening at the Lanterna à la carte restaurant. With rich mahogany furniture and aged brass chandeliers, it’s a world away from the cool, contemporary décor elsewhere. And the seafood’s pretty good too.