Maistra Select Family Hotel Amarin

Rooms and decor

If you are planning a beach holiday in Croatia with young kids and you're worried about ending up at a resort where the adults have fun but the kids get bored, Maistra Select Family Hotel Amarin is the answer a lot of families land on. This is not a generic resort that bolted on a kids' pool for the brochure. It was built from the start for families with young kids. The resort sits on the Amarin peninsula north of Rovinj old town, wrapped in thick green pine forest with wide open outdoor space where kids can run free, so the overall feel is airy, easygoing and full of family energy. The decor leans bright and easy on the eyes, designed to be practical and to take a beating from kids rather than to be so polished you have to keep an eye on it. Walk in and you can feel right away that this is a place that lets kids be kids. Plenty of parents say the same thing: once their children spot the water park and the pools on day one, they barely want to go anywhere else.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here is the water park, with several slides, shallow kids' pools that are safe for little ones, and several levels of water play so older and younger kids can have fun at the same time. It is the thing family reviews mention and praise the most, because it lets kids burn off energy all day while parents relax poolside. Next comes the kids' club, with staff running activities all day, from crafts and painting to games to evening shows and entertainment. That is the real hero that gives parents a chance to breathe, sip a coffee or read by the pool while the kids are happily looked after. On the rooms side, there are several types built for families, both rooms that sleep a group and suites with room for kids to move around. Many have a balcony facing the green garden or the sea. For meals, the resort has restaurants and buffets with menus that cater to kids, so family dining is easy and you don't have to wonder whether your child will find something to eat. The whole setup is complete enough that you barely need to look elsewhere for fun.

Location and getting there

Family Hotel Amarin sits on the Amarin peninsula north of Rovinj old town, a spot that feels like a quiet corner by the sea surrounded by nature, ringed by green pine forest and a long stretch of rocky coast. The detail families love most is that the resort is right by the Adriatic, only about 50 meters away, a few steps from your room to the water's edge, so you can switch between the water park and the sea easily in a single day. Around the peninsula there are walking and cycling paths along the coast for families to head out and explore the little coves and the nature. To reach Rovinj old town, the gorgeous pastel waterfront with the landmark bell tower of St. Euphemia church, you can take a car or shuttle boat in just a few minutes. A location like this suits a family that wants a quiet seaside base with everything ready for the kids, then drops into the old town now and then for a walk or an evening meal, rather than touring the town every day.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First is the location, on the Amarin peninsula north of town, not in the old town itself. Getting into Rovinj old town means a few minutes by car or shuttle boat, so anyone set on walking the old town every day will need to budget some round-trip time, though if your focus is relaxing at the resort it barely matters. Second is the crowds, because this is a popular family resort and the summer high season gets very busy at the water park, pools and common areas. The mood is lively and there is plenty of noise from kids running around, which is normal and fun for families but not the answer for a couple after private quiet. Third, because it is a large resort, at peak times you may wait for a table or a popular activity, and some extra services cost more. Before you book, check exactly what your chosen package and room type cover, especially if you are traveling as a group, so you can plan the budget cleanly.

Our take

From reading through thousands of real family reviews, Maistra Select Family Hotel Amarin delivers on "all-round fun for families with young kids plus a quiet sea-and-pine location" with confidence. If the trip in your head is bringing the kids on a long beach holiday, letting them play the water park and slides all day, switching to the sea that is only a few steps away, then handing them off to the kids' club while you catch your breath, this is about as good a fit as it gets. The 9.5 score from more than 3,400 guests is solid proof that most families leave genuinely happy. But if you are a couple after private quiet, or you want to stay in the heart of the old town with everything a few steps away, the kid-filled energy and peninsula location here may not be your best answer. Overall we give it 9.5/10, best suited to families with young kids who want a resort where the children can have fun all day while the parents get to relax too.