Rating
4 out of 5
Ballan Apartment
The Russells Southampton
Review
Submitted: February 18, 2008 Date
of Stay: July 2007
My husband and I had the pleasure of staying in the Ballan apartment last
year.
We were met at the airport and taken straight to the apartment, being shown a
few of the sights on the way. We only paid around 20 euro's for this and was
certainly worth it to save the hassle of making our own way there.
The apartment was exactly how it was described so we were not disappointed. The
view from the balcony (although it is a side view) was beautiful and very
relaxing. Although the balcony is on the side of the building, this is actually
a blessing as it means you have the sun for the majority of the day which is
great.
It was extremely hot whilst we were there (nearly 40 degrees a couple of days)
so the fantastic air conditioning was very welcoming indeed! The apartment has
all the facilities you need, and the black-out blinds in the bedroom means you
could get a nice lay in in the mornings. The area where the apartment is
located is fairly quiet so you do not hear any traffic noise in the apartment.
There is a great market in Trogir where all the locals go to get their fresh
fruit, vegetables and bread. This is only a 10 minute walk from the apartment,
just across the bridge, and well worth a visit. There is also a fresh fish
market just opposite which is also great but you need to get their early (8.30
am) - otherwise you will be left with Sharpes which are not great! There is a
supermarket about a 5 minute walk away (by the seafront) or there is a bigger
one by the market.
The apartment is located at the top of a fairly steep hill so it would not be
suitable for very young children, or if your mobility is restricted.
There are plenty of nice places to eat/drink in Ciavo and Trogir. You can
easily spend an evening sat on the marina waterfront watching the world go by.
There is also evening entertainment in the square. The shops are all open late
and were nice to walk around in the evening when the weather was not quite so
hot.
We hired a moped for a few days so we could travel around the island and this was
well worth it. We also went to Split for a day which again was lovely.
The local beaches are stoney so I suggest hiring the sunbeds available which
are only a few euro's.
The best thing about our stay was that although there were plenty of tourists
there, they were definately out numbered by the locals which is nice as you get
to experience the true croatia.
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4/4
Rating
5 out of 5
Ballan Apartment July
2009
Marian and Pete Bath, Somerset, UK
Review
Submitted: August 1, 2009 Date of Stay: July
2009
This lovely apartment is an ideal base for staying in this beautiful part
of Croatia. We thoroughly enjoyed our week's holiday, sightseeing in the local area
and relaxing on the Riva in Trogir. We took the local bus into Split, went on a
boat trip to nearby islands and a day's visit to the Krka National Park with a
local travel company. The restaurants in Trogir are particularly good for fish
or pizza, which seem to be very popular. The weather during our stay was very
hot, so it was nice to sit at the pavement cafes with a beer or a cocktail and
watch the world go by or admire the beautiful boats on the Riva quayside. We
would thoroughly recommend the apartment. It is clean, comfortable and well
equipped and we especially appreciated the air conditioning and sitting on the
balcony looking out to sea. We soon got used to the walk into Trogir and found
several local supermarkets to stock up on provisions. Being met at the airport
and taken to the apartment was a great advantage and we cannot speak too highly
of the excellent customer service provided by the owner of this property !
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Rating
5 out of 5
Ballan Apartment
Chocko Brisbane, Australia
Review
Submitted: October 30, 2008 Date of Stay: October
2008
We had a wonderful stay in the Ballan apartment. Firstly, we were met at
the airport and taken to the apartment. It was what we had hoped for. It had
all the facilities we would want for our stay there and it was very clean and
comfortable. The view from the balcony was great and we made the most of it in
the afternoons. The location of the apartment was only a 10 minute walk into
Trogir. After the first day or two you get used to walking the hill or going
along the road. There are many restaurants in Trogir and we tried quite a few,
all very nice. It was also a base for us to travel to Dubrovnik for a night,
visit the Krka falls and the Plitvice Lakes. The weather was lovely for
sightseeing and not as many tourists around at this time of year. We had a
wonderful time. We hope to return one day to see more of Croatia and we would
recommend this apartment to our friends.
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helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 1/1
Rating
5 out of 5
We had a wonderful
stay at your Ballan apartment.
Mary1234 usa
Review
Submitted: August 6, 2008 Date of Stay: July
2008
Thanks for the wonderful stay at your Ballan apartment. We
thoroughlyenjoyed ourselves.
The days were even hotter than we expected, and in
retrospect, I think we would have rented a vespa to go to/from Trogir and the
beach - the mid-day sun was just too much for us. Evenings on the patio were
restful and we
loved having a glass of Gravesina on the terrace as the sun set.
The folder with other people's restaruarnt recommendations resulted in our
having dinner in Fontana, where we had an excellet fish and we enjoyed the
after-hours scene at Padre. We found a little pizzeria - Katerina? - near
Alko and Jamo that we went to twice - I think it's the best pizza I've had
outside of Paris!
The apartment was comfortable and the air conditioning unit made it possible
for us to enjoy our stay - without it we would have been miserable.
The little beach and the Bar/Restaurant Mediterranean was our favorite - we
would go in the late afternoon to sun and swim and then walk up to the bar for
white wine and sometimes end up staying for dinner. The staff was
incredibly friendly and we felt like it was our "hang-out!" And Nb
was VERY EXCITED when he realized you had a raft... he never got off it again.
Thank you for a wonderful vacation memory in your lovely Ballan apartment. And
thanks to Ivo and Dg for taking us to/from the aiport and being so charming.
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helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 2/2
Rating
4 out of 5
May 2008
Kerina/Derek Bristol
Review
Submitted: July 29, 2008 Date of Stay: May
2008
We stayed in May 2008 and had mixed weather. The description of the apartment
is accurate and it is a clean, well equipped, comfortable apartment. It was a
short walk to Trogir and achievable for anyone of reasonable fitness but the
roads can be busy and the paths, tracks not well maintained. We hired a car
which we would recommend to travel around. The junction into Trogir and onto
Ciovo was still a nightmare and I would think even worse in the height of the
season! Very beautiful coastline but the beaches are very rocky even into the
water. We did not venture in but would suggest that aqua shoes are a necessity!
Trogir very pretty with lots of nice restaurants with a good welcome. We found
the development/building a bit off-putting, although not bad in the immediate
area of the apartment. All in all, a pleasant stay and we would recommend the
area as a base to visit the coast as a whole but not for a beach holiday.
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helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 1/1
Rating
4 out of 5
Apartment Ballan
Robin of Sherwood Dorset
Review
Submitted: July 28, 2008 Date of Stay: June
2008
We found our overall stay in Croatia delightful having sailed around the
islands for 7 days before staying at the apartment. This gives a wonderful opportunity
to see places you would not be able to access by road.
The apartment was very clean and tidy and not lacking in any facilities.
Although we were unable to get the DVD or CD player to work.
However, we were slightly surprised that collecting the key from Caroline cost
us over £20 in a taxi as we did not have our own transport. There are
instructions on where to collect the key but having enjoyed a weeks sailing and
therefore just enjoying the last few days of our holiday in Trogir then this taxi
journey was an unexpected extra.
The walk into Trogir was lovely and worth the trek as there were no local pubs
or restaurants to explore and the man made beach was sorely disappointing.
The varied choice of restaurants in Trogir gave plenty of options to enjoy the
Italian/Dalmation cuisine.
A trip to KRKA national park is a must and we were able to see the waterfalls
at their best.
Visiting local islands by ferry is very realxing but you do need a good days
sunshine for this.
Tourism has certainly taken off in Croatia so is no longer the economical
destination it use to be.
Owner's Response: Thank you for letting us know that the dvd player has been broken. I have
organized a replacement with immediate effect.
The cost of the taxi to collect the key has not arisen before. Normally our
guests are collected form the airport or have their own transport.
There are three restaurants and four bars within a five minute walk of the
apartment in the opposite direction to Trogir and more than 20 within 15
minutes walk.
The local beach is lively with the beach side bars playing music, which is not
to everyone’s taste. However, there are beaches within 30 minutes walk that
will be completely deserted.
We agree that Croatia has taken off as a tourist destination and that prices
have risen. However it remains the best value on the Mediterranean.
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Rating
5 out of 5
HOLIDAY IN TROGIR
leaf Hautes Pyrenees, France
Review
Submitted: May 24, 2008 Date of Stay: May
2008
WE HAD A FANTASTIC HOLIDAY in the BALLAN apartment in May 2008. The
apartment, in a luxury block overlooking the bay, was clean, well-equipped and tastefully
furnished. There were many small touches which showed the care and
thoughtfulness of the owners in thinking about the welfare of their guests. Who
remembers to bring an umbrella on holiday? You won't need one at Ballan,
because it's been provided. There are lots of leaflets about the local sights
and amenities. DVDs and books - good ones as well as airport novels - tea and
coffee and basics in the cupboards - all in all lots of effort has gone into
making you feel at home.
The apartment is a good place to hang out if you feel like a lazy day and a
good base from which to explore the extraordinary island of Trogir - just a few
minutes walk away. Here you can find shops and restaurants to supply all your
immediate needs. For adventures further afield you really need to have a car or
to go with one of the many agencies who run excursions to Croatia's different
attractions.
A most unexpected and pleasant feature of staying at Ballan was the welcome and
support given by Dragica and Ivica, the friendly and helpful caretakers of the
apartment, who are happy to do everything in their power to help you have a
great stay.
One of the things that differentiates an OK holiday from a great one is the
question of whether you'd want to return. We'll happily go back to Ballan
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Rating
4 out of 5
Ballan Apartment -
Sept 07
rhys london
Review
Submitted: February 12, 2008 Date
of Stay: September 2007
My partner and I stayed at Ballan apartment last year (Sept 07) and I can
confirm all of the descriptions are 100% accurate.
In fact I dont think the pictures and descriptions really do the place justice.
It was a really lovely flat - clean, tidy and all the mod cons. The views from
the balcony are stunning and only a 10min walk over the hill into Trogir.
I would recommend hiring a car to get around (its not actually essential) and
its worth driving over to the beaches right on the other side of Ciovo (facing
mainland). You just follow the road around and then the dirt track at the end -
keep going until you reach the Its really quiet and beautiful but take water
and shade because not much in the way of facilities.
The traffic getting on/off Ciovo and though Trogir can be a nightmare becuase
of the restricted access (two small bridges) and dont be surprised by queues of
over 45mins at peak times. My advise would be to get up early (aim to leave by
9.30am) and make sure you pack for the day becuase driving back and forth is
not fun. We have friends from Croatia and according to them the traffic has
always been a bit of a problem around Trogier but with a bit of planning its
not really a big deal.
Walking from the flat is a little hazardous becuase of the lack of pavements
and volume of traffic - especially at night. However you can walk into Trogir
from the back of the flat and avoid the main roads. Its really easy to find
your way and only takes about 10 mins. Shops of Ciovo are only a short walk
away and again you dont need a car but personally I would recommend it.
In summary a really beautiful flat with great amenities and stunning views from
the balcony. The traffic in the area is busy but with a bit of planning it will
not cause you too many problems and to be honest same with most places on the
coast in Croatia during peak season.
Owner's Response: The local government of Trogir have well advanced plans to build another
bridge to the mainland further towards Split. This should make a huge difference.
They are also in the process of building a footpath beside the road to Trogir.
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find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes:
6/6