March 31 - Easter is just around the corner, a magical time on Hvar, as Hotel Adriana opens its doors for the season.
And just like that, here we go again.
Having lived on Hvar for 13 years, I got used to the subtle changes not only in the seasons, but in the mindset towards the tourist season. The winters were longggg. Initially, locals were tending to their olives and relaxing after the stress of another good season. But by January, many were itching to get started again, to see more signs of life.
And then came the run-up to Easter, the opening of hotels and businesses, and the first sizable numbers of tourists, predominantly for the UNESCO-protected Holy Week procession called Za Krizen (Behind the Cross), which has taken place every year for more than 500 years, including in a refugee camp in the Sinai Desert during the Second World War, so that the cycle would not be broken.
As a local, after a long winter with many businesses shut, the sight of a new season beginning with the opening of restaurants and hotels in the Spring sunshine is a heartwarming thing. It makes one long for lazy summer days at the beach even more.
April is one of my favourite months of the year to visit Hvar. It still has that local, pre-season feel, where the locals have time to chat, and where the businesses that are open are welcoming and reasonably priced. It feels at times that tourists and hosts are sharing a guilty secret - off-season Hvar is really pretty cool, just don't tell anyone.
So it is nice to see Suncani Hvar announcing the opening of Hotel Adriana on Saturday. The 4-star wellness hotel is a popular venue, with its spectacular waterfront views overlooking the fortress, main square, fabled Hvar riva and the Pakleni Islands. The views from the Top Bar are among the best there are on the island, a delightful spot for a coffee or something stronger.
Hotel management must be a very stressful business in these trying times, but it seems that the Hvar hoteliers are confident of a good season, with all its flagship hotels scheduled for opening this summer. Hotel Amfora and 5-star Palace Elizabeth hvar heritage hotel will open at the beginning of May, and Hotel Riva at the beginning of June.
One of the big advantages of visiting, apart from the lack of crowds, is of course the price. A Spring offer from Hotel Adriana looks a real bargain for those looking to explore Croatia's premier island at this time of year:
INCLUDED:
✓ Price from 59 EUR per person with breakfast included ✓ Bottle of house wine ✓ 10% discount in restaurants and bars
TERMS:
✓ Stay period April ✓ Min stay 2 nights ✓ Free Upgrade upon availability.
The winter cobwebs are being slowly brushed away, and another season in Paradise awaits.
To learn more about the Hvar hotel opportunities, visit the Suncani Hvar website.
To learn more about this magical town, check out the Total Croatia Hvar guide.
