Hotel Zagreb Was a disappointment on so many levels. If you check out the link, you''ll see a very nice-looking villa that appears to be in top-shape. We arrived at the hotel to find a run-down, shabby version of the photo we had seen on the internet. We were also misled regarding the proximity of Hotel Zagreb to the walled Old Town district. It is impossible to walk to Old Town from Lapad (where the Zagreb is located), and it isn''t so easy to get a taxi, either. Taxis must be called for ahead of time, and the trip can take 10-15 minutes or more depending on traffic. We didn''t stick around long enough to find out about the bus schedule. We took one look at our shabbily furnished room and dingy bathroom and ran back outside to catch a cab that we saw dropping off another hotel guest. We hightailed it into old town and got ourselves a room at the Hotel Argentina, just a short walk up Frana Supila hill from Old Town. We couldn''t get a room at the Argentina till the following day, so we spent one night at the Hotel Zagreb.
The Lapad Cove area isn''t so bad if you don''t mind being so far from the Old Town action. There were a lot of older German pensioners staying in some of the larger hotels at the end of the pedestrian promenade, and the car-free zone is lined with restaurants and a few bars (although not of the caliber found in Old Town). Upon arriving back from the city, we walked up and down the promenade a few times, and had dinner at a small Italian restaurant with a very friendly owner. There is a gravel beach at the end of the promenade.
Getting back to the Zagreb - it is a shame that the online photos don''t give a true depiction of the place. We were initially very excited to stay there, as you can see how lovely it looks in the online photos. All that changed the instant we actually saw the place. We spent a sleepless night in the tiny, worn-out bed and woke early to get ourselves out of there. The bathroom shower was tiny and dirty, so we decided to wait to bathe ''til we got to the Argentina. The Zagreb''s staff was friendly, and breakfast (served in the damp, basement dining room) was OK - rolls and jam, cereals and juices, was included in the room rate. Fortunately, it is very inexpensive - we paid around $35 USD for our one-night stay; so we can''t complain about the price. There are alternatives to being relegated to the boondocks, though, if you must visit Dubrovnik on a budget - see our Free Form section for other options. There is no need to stay at the Zagreb, financial or otherwise.