Hotel Excelsior

Hotel Excelsior in Dubrovnik, Croatia, a Michelin Key Selected property, is consistently praised for its stunning location, exceptional service, and luxurious amenities, offering guests a memorable stay with breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea and the iconic Old Town.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Hotel Excelsior generally receives "wonderful" ratings from guests, with high scores across various platforms for its location, cleanliness, comfort, and staff performance. The overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests considering it a top choice for accommodation in Dubrovnik.

2. Key Highlights

Guests frequently highlight the hotel's superb location, offering unparalleled views of Dubrovnik's Old Town and the Adriatic. The professional and friendly service, along with a high-quality breakfast, are also consistently praised. Other beloved aspects include the spacious and clean rooms with thoughtful amenities, direct sea access from its rocky beach with daybeds, and extensive spa facilities featuring an indoor pool, saunas, and whirlpools. The hotel successfully blends historic charm, particularly in the Villa Odak wing, with a sleek, contemporary design.

3. Room Quality

The 158 rooms and suites at Hotel Excelsior are described as spacious, clean, and comfortable, featuring modern interiors and high-end touches. Guests can choose between rooms in the historic 1913 Villa Odak, offering classical charm and original features like crown molding, or the more modern Tower wing. Many rooms boast breathtaking sea views and private balconies, some with tables and retro white-wicker chairs, providing cinematic vistas of the Adriatic and the medieval Old Town. Standard amenities across categories include complimentary Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, well-stocked minibars, coffee and tea facilities, and flat-screen TVs. The elegant bathrooms are equipped with generous amounts of gray and cream-colored marble, double vanities, separate walk-in rainfall showers, soaking tubs, heated towel racks, and L'Occitane toiletries.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Hotel Excelsior is highly regarded. The breakfast buffet, often included in room rates, is exceptional, offering a wide array of hot and cold items, including made-to-order omelets, fresh blueberry smoothies, and chocolate croissants, all enjoyed with views overlooking the Old Town and the sea. The hotel features several restaurants:

• Sensus: Offers fine-dining with a predominantly Mediterranean menu, available for lunch and dinner with both indoor and outdoor seating.
• Prora Restaurant: A more casual, seasonal option serving fresh seafood in an alfresco setting right by the water, perfect for late lunch or evening drinks.
• Salin: Provides a terrace dining experience with spectacular views. The Abakus Piano Bar is also available for drinks and snacks, offering comfortable seating and views of the sea and Old Town. Guests rave about the quality of the food and the stunning backdrops for meals, with some specifically recommending the lemon gelato.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Hotel Excelsior consistently receive high praise. Guests describe the team as friendly, professional, attentive, helpful, and accommodating, noting that staff go above and beyond to meet needs and exceed expectations. This excellent hospitality contributes significantly to the memorable guest experiences.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts an "enviable" and "superb" location on the coast, just south of the Old City. It is conveniently situated for easy access to Dubrovnik's main attractions, with the medieval fortress walls and Ploce Gate only a short 5 to 10-minute walk away. The location provides spectacular views of the Old Town and the Adriatic Sea, which is a major draw for guests. The area around the hotel is relatively quiet, yet it's easy to arrange taxis or Ubers.

7. Value & Pricing

While a luxury property, Hotel Excelsior is generally considered "well worth the money" by guests, especially given its prime location and amenities. Average weeknight prices in recent weeks have been around $527, with weekend nights averaging $831. Prices can fluctuate significantly, with January being the cheapest month (average 54% drop) and June being the most expensive (average 114% rise). Booking in advance or during shoulder seasons (late summer/early fall) is recommended for better rates. Room rates typically include the highly-regarded buffet breakfast.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some guest feedback mentions minor issues. A few guests have reported inconsistencies in service or noise concerns. Additionally, the hotel's iconic outdoor rock pool, while offering stunning views, is sometimes noted as being "more for looks than for swimming" due to water levels being dependent on tides and the rocky floor potentially being slippery with algae. However, direct swimming access to the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea from the hotel's deck is highly praised as an alternative.

Sources

1. booking.com
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9. adriaticluxuryhotels.com
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