May 8, 2021 - Digital nomads in Split can now work at SPAlato Spa in the Radisson Blu Hotel, with free Wi-Fi and a relaxation zone. You may also want to book a treatment to destress your mind and body while you’re there…

The digital nomad lifestyle can sometimes be rough on my posture and my brainwaves. I live on a computer and some days it feels like I’m becoming a piece of the furniture, hunched over a keyboard with a never-ending to-do list. Recently, I had enough. I desperately needed a massage to release my tight muscles and clear my head. I decided to check out the spa at the Radisson Blu hotel near my apartment. I went there last year just before the pandemic shut things down and I enjoyed a terrific treatment with a stunning view of the Adriatic Sea.

SPAlato Spa opened in a completely renovated space on May 1, including treatment rooms, pools, a sundeck, relaxation zone, fitness center, and a yoga studio.

Cool vibe

A year ago the spa was under renovation and this time I was glad to see the new space. I went on a Sunday morning and the first thing I noticed was the cool ambiance with jazz music and a lounge vibe. I loved it immediately. It reminded me of places I used to go back home to settle in and relax with the Sunday New York Times and a pot of coffee.

A lounge area includes a retail display for purchasing organic products used during treatments.

I scheduled a facial and a massage and I arrived early to swim and sweat in the sauna before my treatments. The spa was airy and light, which I like, and the design was minimal yet elegant. I was delighted to find several different “zones” where I could hang out, including comfy couches near the pool and an outdoor sunbathing terrace. Later I found out that the designated Relaxation Zone has Wi-Fi, is kid-free, and it’s where I can set-up and work for a day. Wait a minute, what?

Digital nomads can set up shop in the Relaxation Zone, Wi-Fi included, and alternate between work and spa amenities.

No more WFH (work from home)

The concept was mind-blowing. The SPAlato (a cute name playing up Spa with the old Italian name for Split) could replace my dining table office and allow me to take breaks from the computer in any number of spots:  indoor and outdoor pools, gym, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, cold and hot plunge pools, or a yoga studio. And there’s another bonus for this spa and wellness devotee—I could tackle the enticing list of treatments.

Brand new saunas are fresh and let you build up heat before jumping in the pool.

TCM (traditional Chinese massage) with a certified Chinese therapist; Power of the Sea—a combination of marine salt scrub, aromatherapy with local essential oils, a bath, full body massage, body wrap, and finisher with local immortelle oil; and other treatments promised to restore my body and mind energies.

It seems decadent, and perhaps dangerous in regard to keeping work deadlines, but my body would be so grateful and my mind would be so happy.

The indoor pool is surrounded by glass, giving a sense of being outdoors and close to nature.

Treatments

My therapist Doris asked what kind of massage I like and I said sports or deep-tissue. Every therapist I’ve ever said that to has interpreted it differently. For all the good massages, I’ve also endured being rubbed with inexperienced, weak hands and pounded with killer claws. Not this time. Doris not only had the right touch, she knew how to apply pressure in the correct way to get my muscles flowing. Yesss!

Treatment rooms are comfortable and calming, an ideal environment to relax.

She also did my facial and explained the steps and the products used, including my particular skin type needs. Small details in both treatments made all the difference, starting with the bowl of water and eucalyptus oil she held under my nose before we began. Oh my, I inhaled deeply. I’ve had enough treatments over the years to know that every place is different and charming in its own way. That also sets a benchmark for quality and this place rates high on my list.

Thalgo and Elemis spa products are organic and made with marine ingredients for maximum effectiveness.

Mediterranean experience

I spent the rest of my time on the upper dining terrace, looking over the sea and eating a fresh salad. It couldn’t have been nicer. I can’t believe I’m contemplating my future workspace in a spa; how cool would it be to be the first digital nomad to claim a co-working seat at SPAlato.

An upstairs dining terrace offers Mediterranean food and drinks in a casual, elegant atmosphere.

Learn more about SPAlato on Radisson Blu’s website.

Learn more at TCN’s Digital Nomads channel.

Story and photographs ©2021, Cyndie Burkhardt. https://photo-diaries.com

December 14, 2019 - On Thursday, December 12, 2019, the grand finale of the Get in the Ring Split 2019 competition was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

In an atmosphere that even the biggest Hollywood films would boast, six finalists who underwent an extensive program of screening and evaluation by experienced entrepreneurs and investment fund representatives fought for a prize pool of HRK 250,000 and a shot on the stage of the Get in the Ring Global Competition 2020. The competition was organized by the Faculty of Economics in cooperation with the City of Split.

The finale of the competition was opened by program manager Michael Freer, who introduced the concept to the audience, after which Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara and Dean of the Faculty of Economics in Split Maja Fredotovic addressed the crowd. The finals featured three 1-on-1 fights in front of an expert jury and audience. 

According to the Get in the Ring standard, the fights consisted of the following segments: a general 1-minute introduction per competitor, then 5 rounds of 30 seconds per competitor in which they represented their team, their achievements, business model, market and finally, in the fifth ‘freestyle’ round, competitors had the opportunity to further convince the jury that they were the best startups. This was followed by 8 minutes of questions from the jury and 5 minutes of questions from the audience. The six finalists competing in the 1-on1 fights were Stiža Rezic from startup Mashroom Cups, Tomas Pinusic from startup GoToBot, Josip Marasović from Saliboat RC, Andrea Grisogono from startup Reel, Antonijo Perić Mažar from the Litto Agency and Slaven Damjanović from the startup eAgrar.

Choosing the winner, however, was anything but easy. After every fight and by the jury decision, in true boxing fashion, program manager and ringmaster Michael Freer would raise his hand to declare the winner. The jury trio then explained why they chose the winner of the fight, pointing out the key reasons, both in terms of scaling current business and in terms of long-term sustainability. Thus, the winners of the 1-on-1 fight were Stipe Režić (Mushroom Cups), Andrea Grisogono (Reel) and Slaven Damjanović (eAgrar).

The next stage of the competition saw the winners hold a five-minute Q&A session to convince the jury that they were the best startups at Get in the Ring Split in 2019. The jury named the winner Slaven Damjanović from eAgrar, who received HRK 100,000 and will compete at the Get in the Ring Global Competition 2020. Andrea Grisogono (Reel) won second place and HRK 70,000 and Stipe Režić (Mushroom Cups) won third place and HRK 50,000. The remaining finalists received a prize of HRK 10,000 each.

The jury included Tamas Bekasi (EIT Health RIS Region), Karina Lapina (Startup Wise Guys) and Krešimir Budiša (City of Split). The six finalists, out of the 20 competitors, were chosen by Iva Rakočević (NX3 Ventures London), Ivana Čuljak (Invento Capital Partners), Renata Brkić (Feelsgood Social Impact Investment Fund), Vanja Perić (Wealth Management Canada), Vedran Blagus (South Central Ventures) and Gergo Gulyas (Startup Campus London) after extensive evaluations and discussions with the candidates.

Get in the Ring Split 2019 was open to all businesses up to 5 years old, and entries were officially open from November 4 to December 4 until 11:59 pm. Twenty-nine entries were received. Thereafter, on December 6, the pre-selection committee issued a list of 20 selected project ideas. The chosen companies underwent two days of preparation to become more familiar with the Get in the Ring concept. On Tuesday, December 10th, Emanuele di Francesco of the Get in the Ring Foundation hosted the Get in the Ring Bootcamp Pitch Training, while on December 11th, the training was held by Dario Boras of Parklio, as the only Croatian representative so far at the global Get in the Ring competition.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

June 15th marks a couple of things in Croatia: school is out for the summer, the country observes the Feast of Corpus Christi, and the summer tourist season officially begins. And with the tourist season come problems with parking in Split. And for a carefree and affordable vacation in Split there is Split City Parking.