Imagine the very heart of Kvarner bay, surrounded by soaring mountains and nature parks of Učka and Risnjak, with cobalt-blue waters of the bay around it…
Imagine a piece of Earth right there, settled between the charming town of Opatija and the vibrant city of Rijeka.
Imagine the perfect spot where you can always count on the mild Mediterranean climate and enjoy the natural beauty and pristine coast everywhere you look.
In that heavenly spot you just pictured lies a Hotel Hilton Costabella beach & resort, Rijeka.
But, what’s a hotel without a story? Just a big building with lots of nice, luxurious, modern rooms, suites, bars …
We all love the story … and the story of how and why Hilton Costabella came into being is really cool.
The idea of One Man came true
Jaroslav Trešnak is a man whose life story is ‘the American dream’ but in the Czech Republic and Croatia.
Until his ’20s, the Czech schoolboy came to the Croatian coast with his parents for the summer holidays.
At that time, Czechs were allowed to go to Croatia with permission once in five years. They stayed in a camp in Preluk Bay, between Rijeka and Opatija.
Later, Jaroslav decided to travel to the same place again as a student. Instead of going to Rijeka, Jaroslav mistakenly got off the bus in Karlovac – 110 km away from Rijeka. He had to spend extra money to buy another bus ticket to get to his destination.
When he finally reached the shore, he made himself a tent. His misfortune continued when the fraudsters offered to wash his clothes for money. As he agreed – they left him alone, naked and without money.
Happiness had to come around the corner in the misfortune. So it did!
Jaroslav was sitting almost naked and absolutely alone on a beach when a father and son approached. They were Miljenko Brnčić from Kastav and his son Borjan, Jaroslav’s peer, who were just gone out to fish.
They comforted Jaroslav with a shot of rakija (strong Croatian grappa). After long persuasion, they talked him into going fishing with them. After a successful fishing session, they offered him to stay on vacation at their fisherman’s house.
Here begins the story of the friendship of Borjan and Jaroslav, still friends, and business partners. The story of Jaroslav’s love for Kvarner also starts here.
Jaroslav liked Kvarner so much that he continued to return for the holidays each year since. He even spent his honeymoon here with his wife Lenka – only 4 years after ‘the incident.’ The happy newlyweds came to the sea with an old Skoda. Their love for that part of the Adriatic coast was built 30 years later in their luxury hotel complex, covering 18,000 square meters.
And it is precisely because of the honeymoon that a statue dedicated to his life companion, Lenka, stands in the hotel’s lobby.
The rest is waiting for you to visit at Hilton Costabella Rijeka
The 5-star wonder comes with 194 sea-facing rooms, suites, and apartments – and most of them with balconies and terraces.
For those looking for more comfort and privacy, the resort offers 62 villas. Spacious suites and apartments in separate villas come with everything you need for a careless stay – living and dining rooms and apartments with dining areas and kitchen.
You will come for a meeting, and stay for everything else
Hilton resort has you covered if you plan to pass through Kvarner and prepare a meeting. With small to medium-sized meeting venues indoor and outdoor venues with spectacular sea views, it is perfect for an unforgettable meeting or a social event. As they say, you will come for a meeting, and stay for everything else 😉
And you will.
That’s exactly what happened to me. I came for some meetings.
I scheduled meetings to fit in one ‘entrepreneurial’ day.
And found myself looking with nostalgia at the blue around me, people in bathrobes walking around the hotel with expressions of total relaxation and wondering if they were in the sauna, pool, or had a beauty treatment or massage.
After dinner, having a glass of wine with my friends, I decided to stay!
And I did.
One of the best decisions this year.
The Wellness Escape
The resort offers a Wellness Escape; Eforea Spa & Health club.
Eforea is just that – an escape from real life in over 3,700 sqm of holistic wellness.
Moments of pure bliss and pampering you are dreaming of at numerous treatment rooms, a wellness bar, a resort’s yoga studio, and many relaxation rooms. This whole calming area stretches on 3 floors. It also includes a hydrothermal zone with saunas, pools, and steam rooms, a fitness zone with Technogym equipment, fitness instructors, and nutrition and wellness experts.
The list goes on, so we find you should explore it by your personal preference 😉
And it sure is just that – an escape from real life in over 3,700 sqm of holistic wellness. Moments of pure bliss and pampering you are dreaming of at numerous treatment rooms, a wellness bar, a resort’s yoga studio, and many relaxation rooms. This whole calming area stretches on 3 floors. It also includes a hydrothermal zone with saunas, pools, and steam rooms, a fitness zone with Technogym equipment, fitness instructors, and nutrition and wellness experts.
The list goes on, so we find you should explore it by your personal preference 😉
A Michelin star shines above the Kvarner Bay
To make it all come together perfectly for your STAYcation in Hilton Costabella comes the rooftop Michelin fine-dining experience. In restaurant Nebo (Croatian for A Sky), you’ll discover new heights in Croatian gastronomy guided by the youngest and the only Croatian two-starred Michelin Chef Deni Srdoč.
Delight your palate with dishes from carefully crafted tasting menus paired with exclusive regional wines. Enjoy a unique selection of spirits and cocktails at the lounge.
Besides, there are 6 restaurants & bars on the site.
And not to forget, beach-front location with 200m long beach rounds up this experience of luxurious hotel resort to relax and unwind.
What else do you need to know?
My enthusiasm is unforgettable..and I will definitely be back, and I believe, extend my stay again 🙂
And, if you do not have the number of your travel agent – feel free to use ours; Croatian Attractions
Stayed at Hilton Costabella; Andreja Pruša Horvatić
