D-Resort Šibenik, Croatia
We’ve been wanting to visit Croatia for so long, and finally we managed to leave Emma with my sister and fly for a few days to Šibenik last autumn. It’s more quiet, still the weather is great, and you get to visit the old town without all the crowds getting in the way. After almost 45 minutes by car from Split, we arrived at D-Resort Šibenik. The hotel and marina complex occupy their own peninsula, just outside the medieval port town of Šibenik. Awarded the Design Award two years ago and the Third Best Resort in the category of TOP 10 Luxury Resort Meeting Hotels’, you can get a feeling of why this hotel has been a favourite among tourists and businessmen alike. The hotel is an homage to contemporary design and artwork, having 69 sea-view rooms, two restaurants, and facilities such as a luxury spa, outdoor infinity pool and kids club.
Surrounded by sea on three sides, the hotels looks like a large ship. Inside, all the floors are linked by a sky-lit central atrium. Made out of rough cast in-situ concrete, I found the hotel being really modern, bathing in natural light, and refreshing. The hotel has 63 spacious rooms, six suites and three villas, all with sea views. The concrete walls all across the hotels are raw and unpainted, with imprints left by the timber boards that made the cast, oak floors, glass doors for the big balconies. I absolutely loved our room, so clean, huge, contemporary furnished. The bed was really comfortable, and I was finally able to catch up on my sleep! The bathroom was really beautiful, having a spacious walk-in shower, twin hand basins, a vast mirror and Etro toiletries. The service is 5 stars, we were really impressed with the staff from the concierge to the housekeeping. Young, smart, polite and well trained. Great English too! 
The D-Marin Mandalina marina is five minute walk from the hotel. The D-Spa offers massage and beauty treatments, including hammam, Finish sauna, steam room, vitality pool, ice fountain, a gym, and an outdoor infinity pool. I honestly had an amazing massage there, and a really relaxed day by the pool, although it was a bit chilly outside.
We only had breakfast and dinner at Art Restaurant, a really beautiful restaurant on the hotel’s rooftop. On the first evening there, we were talking about being just the two of us in a long time and the live band (which was absolutely amazing) sang our song! Excellent food, breathtaking view, delicious wine, superb music, but we still missed Emma. Next time we’ll definitely bring her, as there are many facilities for kids too. There is also Skyline Bar opened evenings with live music, but it closes for the low season. The Yacht Club restaurant, in the marina, serves Mediterranean and Asian cuisine (dinner only) overlooking the infinity pool. There’s also a Pool Bar, plus the all-day Greens Bar and Lobby Bar in the main hotel building.
The area is quiet, adjacent to an award-winning super-yacht marina D-Marin Mandalina where you can admire all the boats and plan a sea trip. The hotel is perfectly located for a seaside holiday, while the historical beauties of Šibenik are just a walk away. The city is more and more visited because of its historical heritage, rich gastronomy, medieval architecture. We took a cab every time we wanted to go into town, which is around 8 minutes away. Known for the splendid Unesco-listed Cathedral, or the church that appears in Game of Thrones as per my husband’s delight, the city is an oasis of culture. 
Get lost in the old town, and discover the town hall across the square from the cathedral, famous for its beautiful large columns, arches, and balustrade. Wander off the narrow paths and immerse in historic attractions, such as St. Anne’s Fortress, The Count’s Palace, The Church of St. Barbara, St. Nicholas Fortress, to name just a few. Me and my husband are fascinated with discovering secrets about medieval places, and Šibenik doesn’t disappoint. 
The town is home to a number of amazing restaurants offering local and international cuisine. We had lunch at Tomaseo (big delicious portions) and Restaurant More for that authentic seafood experience and we couldn’t have picked better. Well, we definitely wanted to dine at Pelegrini, the best restaurant in town, but we should’ve booked it well in advance. Now we know for the next time. My seafood platter was so big and felt fresh out of the sea. The waitress spoke so many languages, we couldn’t keep up. She was so much fun and sweet! I finished my lunch with a huge ice-cream and even though the weather was moody, I still enjoyed it without too many shivers. If you ever think about visiting Croatia, D-Resort Šibenik is definitely the best choice for accommodation, location, spa facilities, and friendly staff. So close to the old town, but away from the tourist bustle, your own little oasis of happiness. 
