Villa Solo is a fantastic place to base your holiday in Croatia and the photos and reviews just can't do it justice. Even when we booked, we were a little unsure whether it would be right for us and our two children aged 4 and 8. Any doubts were soon dispelled. Pero and his parents are just the most genuine warm and friendly people you could hope to meet. Never intrusive, but always around to give spot on help and tourism advice for anywhere you might want to explore in the whole country and intimate info on where to find hidden local spots. And always brightening your day with an endless stream of surprise gifts - a carafe of wine; a slice of watermelon by the pool; a piece of homebaked cake; a couple of mojitos on a hot day; a punnet of fresh figs, grown on site . . . all very kind and just out of the blue as you are relaxing. The highlight is the barbecue/dinner night which the hosts cook for all the guests once per week - a great social occasion, great food and plenty of wine too! They have a couple of kayaks you can use for free to explore the lakes which are just a short walk away, and Pero can even tell you the interesting things to find there too. There is a great 10km running circuit around the lakes if you like to keep fit. Villa Solo itself is very clean and newly refurbished, though you won't spend much time in your apartment. Most likely you will eat outside in a communal area with the other guests and enjoy the great views and relaxing vibe whilst the kids all play together in a safe environment. It was fortunate for us that the three other families there at the same time as us were all British with kids of similar age as it worked really well, but I think it would still have been fine with mixed nationalities. The grounds immediately around the villa have fig, pomegranate, orange, kiwi and olive trees and are very peaceful. Beaches of the Makarska Riviera are within easy reach (just 15 mins), as is Dubrovnik (easy 2 hour drive). You may think the location is slightly out of the way, but it really isn't, plus the great surroundings and your friendly hosts far outbalance being on the coast, plus Pero can point you to little known local places you won't find in any guide book. If you are wondering whether or not Villa Solo is for you, seriously, take the chance and book it - you won't regret it and I'm pretty convinced that you too will only have good things to say about the place when you return!
