Very pleased with our choice, booked transfers on Ryanair website from airport to hotel (approx 45 mins), transfer rep suggested if we tipped, driver would leave us to hotel and not bus station as stated. Driver left us right at door, we arrived approx 9.30pm, reception informed us because we were half board and late arrival, to leave luggage in room and go to dining room where we found plated meat, cheese & eggs with bread, fruit and orange juice, very welcome. Plenty of choice at breakfast and dinner, with free beer and wine on tap at dinner. Very clean, staff all lovely, location very pretty, about 30 min walk into Porec town. Only downside much older crowd, evening entertainment bit repetitive and very quiet, but this was probably due to time of year (middle/late September). Lot of water sports nearby and big into cycling, bike hire everywhere. Took day trip to Venice on catamaran, bit apprehensive as had read some horror stories on reviews, wasn't that bad, did have motion sickness for a few days, but would get that from flying anyway. Lovely country and people, would visit Croatia again, perhaps different area, would choose Valamar hotels again, great service and reasonable price

We have just enjoyed an excellent stay at the Varamar Crystal. The recent refurb has resulted in a very stylish, clean, comfortable hotel with all the amenites you can can ask for. The standards were high, equivalent to an english 4* at least. (Not so attractive from the outside though!)

We don't have children but there was plenty to keep all the chldren there occupied which resulted in peace and quiet! Lots of activities, sports, watersports, spa etc within a few mins walk. Plus lots of daytime and evening activities for children and adults onsite.

Its a lovely stroll into Porec through the woodland walk. Porec is very clean with a nice harbour and traditional shopping area with chic shops. The resort itself reminds me of a combination of 'centre parks' on the sea with an italian influence in terms of architecture and food but with eastern european culture. Very unique.

We also visited Lim Fyord and Rovinj which were very nice too. Will definately return to Croatia in the future.

This Hotel was excellent value for money,our first visit to Croatia and we loved it.The Hotel has been recently refurbished , very nice rooms with air-conditioning and comfortable beds.Whole complex was kept very clean.We stayed half-board,the dining room is huge and we always found a table easily,large choice of dishes,all self-service,ate too much at every meal! added bonus of free drinks,including wine and beer.Every evening there was entertainment and a variety of activities during the day as well.The adjoining Hotel Diamont has a nice gym and indoor pool which you could use for a small charge.There was also an excellent dentist,(had a filling done and she reconstructed my toooth ,I was well impressed!) .A short walk took you into Porec which is very pretty.We did a couple of boat trips just walk along the harbour and see which one you fancy,we went to Rovinj on one trip.We are already planning to re -visit Croatia.

We enjoyed our stay at this hotel which we thought was good value for money. The evening buffet was very nice with a large selection to choose from. We stayed five nights but ate out 2 of the 5 nights as the dining room is very large and noisy which gave it a bit of a butlins atmosphere I thought. Other drawbacks were bingo on the first night in the lounge which is not my cup of tea and also smoking in the lounge, but I would imagine that the other hotels would be the same. Apart from that I thought the rooms were a good size and there is a nice pool area. The weather was quite hot when we were there which was on 20 May 07, so sun bathing was not a problem if that's what you want to do. We had a hired car from Italy (we drove from Venice) so we toured the coast of Istria and I would say that Porec is the place to stay, it really is a lovely little town and so clean with lots of narrow pedestrian streets with shops and restaurants and has a very Italian feel to it. I have to say the Italian food in Croatia was better than in Venice. Take a boat trip to Rovinj which sets out at 10am from Porec and returns at 5pm, you can wander about Rovinj for 2 hours and then have lunch on the boat with wine, this all costs150 Kuna (£15) each. Well worth it and very relaxing.