After a couple of hours in our pre-flight lounge (No.1 Lounge), we flew to Dubrovnik from Gatwick on a BA flight.  The flight was great, cabin crew were friendly and amenable, everything went according to the published time table i.e. no delays and to add to our enjoyment, BA have just launched a new in-flight menu, including Jason’s sourdough rolls and toasties, Trip drinks, magnesium sachets as well as the usual British classics.  It’s the little things, after all.

A seamless transfer took us to our hotel, the 5* Valamar President Hotel in the Babin Kuk area, approximately 15 minutes from the Old City.  The hotel benefitted from a stunning location with a private beach and a bus stop right outside which transports you to the Old City at regular intervals.

We arrived at sunset, walking into a fully glazed lobby, overlooking the sea and distant islands, it was truly breath-taking.  After checking out our room, which was great, we settled into the comfy sofa’s in the terrace bar for a few post flight cocktails, which eased us into the holiday perfectly!

The hotel offers indoor and outdoor swimming pools, gym, spa, piano bar, pool bar, and two restaurants.

Dubrovnik has so much to offer, both in terms of exploration and relaxation, some of the notable sights are;

City Walls – a full circuit of the medieval ramparts which give incredible views over the terracotta rooftops and deep blue Adriatic sea.

Stradun (Placa) -  The polished limestone main street of the Old Town, perfect for gentle strolls and people-watching from one of the many café terraces.

Lokrum Island – A short boat ride away, this green island offers walking trails, rocky coves, botanical gardens and roaming peacocks.

Mount Sra & Cable Car – Ride the cable car up Mount Sra for a panoramic viewpoint that showcases the full drama of Dubrovnik’s sea walls.

I could tell you that we did all the sights………..but that would be a lie, instead we mainly enjoyed strolling the streets, dining in the old port, chatting over a bottle of delicious Croatian wine (I can highly recommend the Chardonnay!), relaxing on our private beach and taking a sun-downer boat trip, to really appreciate Dubrovnik from a different viewpoint.

I absolutely love Dubrovnik, this was in fact my third trip, and apart from its increased popularity due to it’s connection to Game of Thrones and the move in currency to the Euro, nothing has really changed.  The people are still as welcoming and friendly as they were when I first visited in 2010, clearly having a sense of pride in their beautiful city.  The food is delicious, we dined in Poklisar which has a hidden terrace over-looking the old port, right on the water’s edge.  I would suggest booking ahead and selecting the hidden terrace for a romantic evening.  We also dined at Port 22, which is right at the edge of the old city, boasting spectacular views and when we wanted to be closer to the hotel, we dined in a small, locally owned restaurant called Prima Veda, which offered Mediterranean dishes as well as some Croatian classics.

For those of you who enjoy the finer things in life, I would highly recommend Restaurant 360, which is located within the walls of the city and boasts a Michelin star!  Just a tip…..if a Michelin star restaurant is a little out of budget, try Nautika, as this is Restaurant 360’s primary fine-dining competitor in the city.   

Dubrovnik really is a treat and worth exploring, only 2hrs 40mins from UK airports, it is easy to get to and full of historic charm, natural beauty and unique culture.