Located in the smaller, quieter, village on the island this apartment is ideal for a relaxing break but close enough to Dubrovnik and the other islands for day trips if you want more. There is a small beach, great for kids, in the harbour and bigger kids, and adults, can jump from the harbour wall into crystal clear water. The apartment itself was ideal for our family of 4 and the hosts are so welcoming that you feel at home right away. My children were genuinely sad when we had to leave and we came back for a day trip to see the hosts family before we left Croatia.

It is very dificult to explain the place we wer accomodated and warmh of the host (family from now).Fabulous

We stayed at Apartment Chiara in September 14. We needed a rest, it looked perfect and it was. Walks on the island enchanted me, the wildflowers are beautiful, the air is clean and there are no cars. What more could you want. Well you get the wonderful Maria, who was so kind to us that we were truly sad to leave. The whole family made us feel more like friends than anything. Add to this the beauty of the island. The ease of getting there and of getting to the very crowded and stunning Dubrovnik old City by ferry and bus made it a truly memorable holiday.

We stayed at Apartment Chiara of Villa Sea Dream for ten days in June, a family of four with children aged 3 and 13. We had opted for Kolocep looking for an unconventional active holiday and our expectations came true in full. We were charmed by the place and the hosts from the moment we arrived there. The island is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of modern life, and yet all the basic amenities are available. Because there are no cars, it is generally very quiet, the stillness being just occasionally interrupted by motorbikes swooshing along the narrow island roads. The air is exceptionally clean as is the water in the sea. The food was delicious and abundant, and as we had arranged for two meals a day only, we did not miss out on local specialities eating out. We enjoyed the freedom we had in planning all our activities. Apart from the beaches, the island has plenty of ground to explore. We hiked through the woods far and wide, hopped over the jagged rocks on the coast, and pushed through the rugged terrain aiming to reach the island’s topmost point. That was great fun, sometimes mixed with ultimate sensations. Whenever and wherever we went on our outings, it was good to know we had a home to return to and feel safe and snug. The apartment is very clean and cosy, with virtually everything a family on holiday may need. The only thing we lacked was the Wi-Fi internet access which was not available for most of our stay. But that problem affected the entire island and nothing could be done about it until the provider company fixed it. And last, but not least, we surely would not have enjoyed our holiday so much if it weren’t for a truly warm welcome that we received from our hosts, the Musladin family, who were very thoughtful and always ready to help.

Dubrovnik is so popular and crowded that to stay on one of the Elaphite Islands is good advice and Kolocep is the closest (a few £ nice return trip on ferry with the locals to Dub or other islands), with NO CARS, everywhere walkable. Little secluded bays to swim in off the rocks and nature trails to get there…. literally, "paradise island" in many ways. The Musladin family gave us a great welcome into their home and helped us enjoy the walks, kayaking, visit to blue cave, local food etc. Practicalities: there are two apartments with kitchen and one room-only/shared bathroom but you can pay the family for lovely breakfasts or dinners (ALL ingredients from the garden!).

After a tiring year, my young family (two young children aged 3 and 4,plus wife and I) badly needed a proper break. We couldn't have wished for better. The appartment is perfectly situated very close to the tranquil beach and harbour of Gornje Celo (which is definitely a better place to stay than the island's other village, Dornje Celo). The appartment itself - one of two side by side - is nice, quiet and impeccably clean, with air con and with its own outside terrace space for eating and lazing on. But what makes it special is the owner's family, whose charm and hospitality really made our holiday. Little gifts of home-grown fruit and veg, freshly cooked fish, and great conversation over glasses of wine made us feel very welcome. We will certainly be returning. In terms of things to do, we spent two weeks: building sand castles on the (tiny but big enough) sand beach; learning to swim, catch a ball and jump from their pier; hunting crabs and dead sear urchins in the crystal clear waters; having the odd day trip to Dubrovnik, exploring the island on foot or going around it by boat; getting to know some of the locals and other vacationers; and eating way too much ice cream / enjoying afternoon beers in the afternoon sun. Just perfect.

We spent one week in Chiara's appartment and we really enjoyed it. Everything was clean and confortable. We reaaly appreciated being close to beaches and our sons (7 and 11) had a great time there ! Luksa and his family are very helpful : he helped me when I once needed to see a doctor, his mother offered us some fish, some fruits... She is very nice. She also sells products from her garden (delicious tomatoes, potatoes...). It's very convenient because the shop is about 20 mn walking, at the other village in the island and is rather small. You can easily buy fruits, bread, beverages, yogurts but it's not that easy to buy meat. We didn't use internet nor the washing machine (the charge is not included in the price of the appartment) but it was possible. We chose to be picked up by boat by Luksa's father in Dubrovnik and it was very convenient. We didn't use the nice terrace with the view on the sea because it's not completly private (Luksa's family use it and some other guests as well). We were allowed to go but we finally stayed on a other small terrace, just for us.

Our stay in Kolocep was wonderful. To be able to walk from one end of the island to the other in half an hour or so, and where there are no cars, was such a different experience to what we are used to in the UK. The low-key, simple life at a slow pace suited us just fine, and even our teenage daughters loved it - they really enjoyed swimming in the warm sea from the tiny beach just a few dozen metres away. But what really set the experience apart was the kindness of our hosts. They treated our daughters as though they were their own family. One evening, we had mistimed our trip out for supper and had resigned ourselves to canned tuna sandwiches from our fridge, but as we came up the path, our hosts were grilling their own supper of freshly-caught sardines. A huge pan of sizzling hot sardines was offered to us and we feasted heartily on them.

We were after a bit of sun in the October half term holiday (which was actually mostly in November) and Dubrovnik was one of the places we could fly to from our local airport for a reasonable price. I was attracted to this place because of the description, the previous ratings and finally convinced by exchanging e-mails with the owner. Although we realised that we were arriving after the season had finished, it sounded like the sort of place we would enjoy. Luckily, we were right about that, but it has turned out to be so much more with the sort of welcome that we have had from Luksa and his family, especially his mother Maria. Our two boys (5 and 9) are big fans of Maria! Because the restaurants had already closed, Maria cooked us dinner most nghts we were there, and she is a wonderful cook, and the price for the meals was more than reasonable given the quality and all the extras that were pressed upon us. We feel like we are leaving old friends now and look forward to returning next year at a better time for enjoying the wonderful-looking sea that surround the island (we tried but it was a bit chilly at this time of year).

We visited Kolocep for a week in July 2012 and could not have wished for a better experience than living in Apartment Chiara owned by the charming and extremely hospitable Musladin family. Located on the quiet - and absolutely most beautiful - side of the island a couple of miles from the tourist area on the other side of the island, the apartment offers a breathtaking view of the bay between Kolocep and Dubrovnik. Only a very short distance (less than 100 meters) from the apartment there is a picturesque small bay with a sand beach, beautiful clear water and a small restaurant. We enjoyed very much taking various smaller or longer hikes (no cars are allowed, luckily!) around the island, whose nature is very fertile and colourful. It is also possible to sail around the island in rented kayaks - a trip we never had time to try, so we will definitely have to come back. When relaxing at home, one can enjoy the sun or shade on two different terraces, a small one, and a very big one. When we stayed at the place, we had these to ourselves, but as there is one other 2-person apartment in the house (Apartment Maria), guests must be ready to share with other guests. Staying in Villa Chiara means staying close to the Musladin family, consisting of more generations. Maria - the matron of the wonderful family - spoiled us completely with home-cooked surprise snacks, dinners, breakfast and fresh home-grown vegetables, and every time we left or came home, we were always greeted with warm smiles! Villa Chiara is in our opinion the absolutely ideal setting for a quiet holiday in a stunning area. We can warmly recommend the place - and especially our wonderful host family - to anyone looking for relaxation, beautiful nature, contact with local Croatians, peace from tourism, but with easy access to the astonishing old city of Dubrovnik. Actuallly, we already have!!! Thank you so much, Musladin family, for making our holiday one to remember - and repeat :)