Thanks to Jet2holidays I found the perfect hotel for a stress-free, stylish holiday in Croatia.
Situated 8km south of Split, Hotel Le Meridien Lav which can be found on Jet2holidays boasts 2 gorgeous beaches with views of the Dalmatian Coastline, plus numerous waterfront bars and restaurants, an infinity pool, indoor pool and spa, and a discreet kid’s club and playground.
It staddles perfectly the fine line between being a hotel that feels sophisticated and chic but in tune with its surroundings. And bonus, it’s great for kids too.
At Le Meridien Lav Split you’re close enough to Split Old Town to hop in a taxi and soak up the electric atmosphere (I highly recommend drinks amongst the majestic ruins of Diocletian’s Palace at least once) but there’s lots of choice at the hotel for scenic meals at non-eye-watering prices too.
So, whether you’re a family looking for a resort-based holiday or couples who want do their own thing, I think you’ll love this stylish stay in Croatia.
(Disclosure: I travelled to Croatia as a guest of Jet2holidays and Central Dalmatia Tourist Board. All opinions are my own.)
Review of Le Meridien Lav Split
Location
Hotel Le Meridien Lav is on a beautiful stretch of coastline approximately 40 minutes drive from Split Airport. The hotel has two beach areas, either side of a swish marina, and many, many sunbeds (free) and cabanas (extra) so you shouldn’t have a problem finding somewhere to recline on a lemon and white striped towel. (I LOVE this branding!)
There are small little swimming spots and beach bars you can walk to along the coast if you fancy a change of scenery, and a handy supermarket less than 10 mins walk away to stock up on supplies like snacks and water.
It’s about a 20-minute drive into Split from the hotel’s location in Podstrana. We did find traffic along the route during rush hour so that’s something to bear in mind if you plan to hop on a ferry to one of the islands. (Which you totally should! More on that in my next post.)
The roads are much quieter of an evening though so it’s easy to hop in an Uber for dinner in Split’s vibey centre. Put Fig and Zoi on your restaurant wish-list.
Dining
The dining options at the hotel are also excellent. On our first day we fell into La Vue Bar, the hotel’s trendy first floor lobby bar overlooking the marina, and I had the most delicious goat’s cheese salad. We later discovered all the eateries along the marina, directly below the lobby, and enjoyed wood-fired pizzas at Conlemani and street food and sushi at Gooshter Beach Club.
Gooshter Beach Club was my favourite corner of the hotel. They’ve absolutely nailed the relaxed luxury vibe of a Med beach club and everything from the nibbles (think: fat duck pancakes, tempura and nachos) to cocktails served at the sun loungers was perfect. It’s a great place to catch sunset with a beer and light bites after a day of island-hopping, in my experience anyway!
Breakfast is served buffet style in Spalatum Restaurant, which has a huge outdoor terrace overlooking the infinity pool and beach. There’s a really great choice of breakfast foods, from fresh honey for your pancakes to personalised omelettes. I loved tucking into poached eggs on freshly baked bread every morning, while enjoying views of Split in the distance.
Interiors
The hotel was renovated in 2021 and I loved that the interiors were modern but not flashy. You could tell that every corner of the hotel had been thoughtfully updated – from the comfy rattan chairs & velvet couches in the lobby to the upholstered headboards with built in lights and plug sockets.
The overall vibe is neutral, relaxed luxury and it works, especially in the rooms where the view can really sing.
Watch this reel for a quick tour of the hotel.
Bedrooms
I stayed in an Elegant Room with Sea View which felt generous and cosy. All rooms come with extra-long balconies and Malin & Goetz toiletries.
There are a couple of different room options for families – Premium Rooms sleep up to 4 with a sofa bed or you can book a Family Suite if you’d prefer 2 separate bedrooms.
Just be aware that some of the rooms sold as ‘inland view’ may mean you face into other parts of the resort itself. If you’re parents who spend a lot of time on the balcony during nap time, I think it’s worth paying a little more for the guaranteed sea view and extra privacy.
For kids
I travelled child-free for this trip but did check out the kid’s club programme, which had an excellent variety of free (mini golf, talent shows, LEGO creativity, drone flying) and paid-for (kayak, SUP, tennis lessons) for all ages.
You’re also welcome to drop in and use the toys and crafts in Family Club with your little one during opening hours.
The corridor leading to the Family Club was lined with the colourful handprints and signatures of happy little visitors. I thought that was a lovely touch.
There is also a games room for older kids with games consoles, bean bags and table tennis. There are a huge number of tennis courts and a playground at the resort too. Both of these didn’t have much in the way of shade but would be great for letting off steam after dinner.
Extra info
I found the service and attentiveness from hotel staff great throughout my stay.
Check in and check out times (below) are generous and line up well with flights to Split with Jet2.
Check in: 2:00pm
Check out: 12.00pm
How to book
Hotel Le Meridien Lav Split is part of Jet2holidays Luxe Collection. Head to the Jet2 website to search and book package holidays to Croatia which include family-friendly flight times, free transfers, free child places and bags included.
Read next: Travel guide to Split & Central Dalmatia
