Ivo’s garden prostran stan u blizini starog grada

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be straight with you – when I first saw “Ivo’s garden prostran stan u blizini starog grada” pop up in my search results, I almost scrolled past it because, honestly, the name’s a bit of a mouthful. But I’m so glad I didn’t, because this place turned out to be exactly what I was looking for without even knowing it.

The apartment sits on Ulica uz Posat, which – and here’s something most tourists don’t realize – is actually one of those quiet residential streets that locals use to avoid the Old Town crowds. You’re literally a five-minute walk from Pile Gate, but you know what? You can’t hear any of that tourist chaos from Ivo’s place. The morning I woke up there, the first thing I noticed was birds chirping instead of cruise ship announcements, which was honestly refreshing after staying in some of the more central spots on previous trips. The garden space (and yeah, it really is spacious like the name suggests) has this lovely Mediterranean vibe with olive trees and lavender – I mean, you can actually smell the herbs when you’re having your morning coffee out there, which beats staring at another hotel courtyard any day.

What really impressed me was how thoughtfully everything was set up. Ivo clearly gets that travelers need more than just a bed – the kitchen actually has proper cooking equipment (not those sad hotel kitchenettes), and there’s enough space to spread out your stuff without living out of a suitcase. The Wi-Fi worked perfectly for my work calls, and the air conditioning was a godsend during those hot July afternoons. Parking was surprisingly easy too, which anyone who’s driven in Dubrovnik will tell you is basically a miracle. I found street parking right around the corner most days, though Ivo also gave me tips on the nearby garage if needed.

The whole experience felt more like staying at a friend’s place than a typical accommodation. Ivo met me personally for check-in and actually drew me a little map showing the best route to avoid the main tourist streams when walking to the Old Town – you go down through the residential area and pop out near the Franciscan Monastery, totally bypassing those bottlenecks at Pile Gate. He also pointed out the local konoba where his neighbors eat (amazing black risotto, by the way) and the little shop that stocks proper Croatian olive oil, not the tourist stuff. These are the kinds of details that make a trip memorable, you know?

I stayed here in shoulder season, and it was perfect – close enough to explore everything on foot, but far enough removed that you can actually relax in the evenings. The three-star rating might seem modest, but honestly, I’d take this thoughtful, authentic setup over some sterile four-star hotel any day. If you’re the type who wants to experience Dubrovnik like someone who actually lives there rather than just checking attractions off a list, this is your spot.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $285. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities