After two nights at the Hotel Excelsior, I moved on to Villa Dubrovnik, a beautiful boutique hotel that really shines if you are looking for a more intimate guest experience.

What I loved about this hotel is that it only has 56 rooms. It is intimate and you know it the moment you walk in. It’s quiet. The staff greets you by name. The service is incredibly personalized. I greatly appreciated the amenities and ambiance at this hotel, which was quite different than the 158 rooms at Hotel Excelsior.

During the peak summer season, nightly rates run about $1100/night for a base-level room (with a sea view). If you book via American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts with a Platinum or Centurion Card, however, you will receive:

Pricey? Of course. But if you are paying with cash instead of points, it certainly makes sense for this splurge (in my opinion, of course) over a larger property that may be slightly cheaper.

While this property is above my comfort level in terms of spending for a hotel room, even during my brief stay I could perfectly understand why many find this hotel so attractive.

The old adage, “You get what you pay for,” is not always true, but there is something to be said for spending a bit more for something over-the-top nice when you are already spending so much anyway for a hotel room during peak season.

Built into the rocky bluffs of the Dalmatian Coast, Villa Dubrovnik is located within walking distance of Old Town (about a 15-minute walk to the Medieval town walls) and offers great views of Lokrum Island. You’ll notice the pine trees, which were unique in an area that is dominated by olives and cypress.

I’m of the opinion that if you come to a very nice hotel property, you want to spend the bulk of your time here. If you’ll be out every day sightseeing or on a boat, it’s still a nice hotel to come back to, but seems to partially defeat the many amenities that help to justify the high price tag.

As you pull up to the hotel, you’ll be met with an edifice that extends into the air, like a piece of modern art. It is an elevator that will take you down to the hotel lobby.

If you’re driving, a valet will take your car and there is a parking area right outside the hotel entrance.

I’m not into beaches, but the hotel offers a private beach so you won’t have to go far if that is your thing.

The deluxe room included a king bed, a terrace overlooking the water below, and a small bathroom.

Some sea view terraces have whirlpool tubs, though mine did not.

The restroom was small, featuring a single sink, toilet, and shower bathtub combo.

I loved the charging bank, which included two universal power ports, three Apple lighting ports, two USB-A ports, and a USB-C port. This is something I’d consider using at home.

A minibar featured drinks and snacks for purchase.

Disappointingly, there was no espresso machine, just a hot water kettle.

Bathrobes, slippers, and a safe were located in the closet.

Wellness facilities are well-appointed and include a steam room, bio sauna, and relaxation area.

This is located one level below the Villa Spa. While spa treatments and beauty treatments are pricey, you can use the wellness facilities at no cost.

An indoor pool is available with glass walls that open to a shaded terrace outside.

A wide selection of drinks was available for purchase:

Compared to the spartan fitness center of the Hotel Excelsior, I was elated to enjoy a more comprehensive workout thanks to an all-in-one strength resistance machine. Still, the gym was cardio-heavy.

Private classes were available on-demand:

Free headphones were also available:

The hotel offers a main restaurant and bar as well as room service and a rooftop.

Breakfast (7:00 am – 11:00 am) and dinner (7:00 pm – 11:00 pm) are offered at Pjerin. Chef Robert Račić focuses on Mediterranean dishes, though there is a wide assortment of a la carte items available for breakfast like eggs benedict with salmon or freshly-baked croissants. I prefer cooked-to-order breakfast over a buffet, especially when   Orange juice is fresh-squeezed and the espresso-based drink of your choice is available from a fancy coffee machine, though I think my barista needed more practice on his latte art…

The dining room, lounge area, bar, and outdoor terrace are perhaps the most beautiful part of the hotel.

Al Fresco Bar Giardino is only open from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and also offers Mediterranean cuisine under the shade of pine trees.

Views are beautiful on the roof and the emphasis is on cured meats and cocktails.

It was here I met Manny, who was the nicest guy and representative of the great personalized service offered at this hotel. He was engaging and attentive and we had a great conversation about traveling around the world.

After getting settled, I worked for a bit and then ordered lunch from the room. My friend, who had stayed here before, suggested the cheeseburger, which was a great suggestion…filling, delicious, and quite substantial (even after skipping the bread). The French Fries were also nice, demonstrating precisely why fine hotels always have a hamburger and French Fries on the menu… because people appreciate comfort food.

My friend came over and joined me, trying a grilled ham and cheese and some sauteed vegetables. I ordered some orange juice as well, which was fresh-squeezed and delicious.

The fresh fruit for breakfast was perfectly ripe and the coffee strong.

I like that every room at this hotel is overlooking the sea. I like the private beach. The service struck me as incredibly personalized. But the price…this is an expensive place. So if you’re looking to use miles and points, you will find better value at the Hilton or Excelsior. But if you’re willing to splurge and looking for a better overall experience with fewer people and a more private feel, this is the place.

Have you stayed at the Villa Dubrovnik? What was your experience like?

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Back in June I was browsing around Ross Dress for Less over in Compton. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted the most magnificent summer blazer. But as I approached the rack, so too did someone else. It was Matthew, and as he got closer he lunged for it, grabbing it mere seconds before I did. And now here he is, flashing around that same beautiful blazer in Dubrovnik. The disappointment stings to this day.

Oh Joe, was that you? I didn’t recognize you in the pink sports bra. We should go shopping together. I hear Marshalls has a better selection. 😉

Only if we can have lunch after at the Golden Corral

I was there two weeks ago. As you say, there are some odd ommissions like the coffee machine (and arguably single sinks) but it is a lovely spot. You’re basically paying for no-one else to be there. If you take the pool, for example, with just 56 rooms and with the majority of guests out in the town or off on a boat during the day, you usually have it virtually to yourself. Given how busy Dubrovnik is in peak season, this is something worth paying for.

Strange you fail to mention you can book this Hotel with IHG points…did you pay or use points?

Wait. You can use IHG points? I had no idea.

I see this is now a Mr. and Mrs. Smith property, but the cost is 127,500 points per night…

It looks like an $1100 Hyatt Centric. You and Ben aren’t making me feel bad about sticking with point hotels.

I’ll put in a plug for rooms not having espresso machines and encouraging guests to take coffee in public spaces. I find one of the most interesting parts of high end Mediterranean hotels in summer is people watching at the pool/bar and cafe. Taking espresso in public spaces while people watching is more valuable to me than most resort amenities. I appreciate people come with different personalities but most bloggers seem to be introverts reviewing nice resorts that often cater to (bratty?) extroverts. It would be nice to get a sense of the people and energy in public spaces for this hotel. In all the pictures the outdoor space is disserted, which is sad. If I want to sit in a nice space by myself, which I do sometimes, I’ll rent a villa for a similar price to these rooms.

Why say taking espresso? You drink it. It’s an awfully dreadful way to try to appear fancy.

Just scratching my head here about traveling to Dalmatia, then paying $1100 for a hotel and eating a room service cheeseburger. Hurray for ‘travel’ I guess.

Definitely not worth $1100/night. I have visited properties that are just as nice (and nicer) for far less cost. That room isn’t that high quality, matter of fact, it is sort of average. Fancy hotels in Amalfi or Cinque Terre are half the cost, possibly more crowded. But, hey thanks for the review.

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