Doubletree by Hilton Zagreb Hotel Review
Pros: Clean and new facilities, friendly and helpful staff, great cookies
Cons: Location
3NT’s Conclusion: Excellent option for Zagreb if you don’t mind a short ride into town.
We arrived at the Doubletree by Hilton in Zagreb by taxi from the airport. The hotel is located in a new development in the business district of Zagreb. There are a decent number of good cafes, restaurants, and clubs all very close to the hotel, but the historic center of Zagreb is a short tram ride away. The facilities at the hotel were very nice, but not without flaws. It was really the smiling employees of the Doubletree that won us over. As long as a short tram ride or a 30-minute walk into town doesn’t scare you off, the Doubletree is an excellent option for Zagreb accommodations.
Check-in with Marina at the front desk was flawless, and her warm welcome included the signature warm Doubletree Chocolate Chip and Walnut Cookie, which was delicious. Marina was sure to recognize my Hilton Honors Silver Status and thanked me for my business. It didn’t take long at all to have keys in hand and be pointed towards the elevators.
The room itself was on the 9th floor with a nice view over the city. It was a pleasant size, and the design was modern without being cold. It featured lots of dark wood with white and green accents. There was a complimentary fresh fruit plate and bottle of water waiting for us on arrival. A plain bottle of water is the simple kind of amenity more hotels should offer to make a guest feel welcome. The room included free Wi-Fi as well.
The bathroom was quite large and featured both a bathtub and walk-in shower. It had speakers wired to the TV in the room for listening enjoyment. Our only complaint about the bathroom was that the shower was poorly designed in that water easily escaped through the door and flooded the bathroom floor. The tiles were also a little slippery. The hotel also features a very nice gym and pool facility on the 10th floor that we did not have the opportunity to use.
Before heading into town in the evening, we asked the front desk for the best way into town. Marina advised that it was a 30-minute walk, a 30-40 Kuna cab ride (approx. $5), or a short tram ride with a stop directly across the street. We asked about tickets for the tram, and another one of her helpful colleagues stepped in to help. He had both single ride tickets and 24-hour Zagreb cards available. We went with the Zagreb card for 60 Kuna (approx. $10). He explained the simple route (option of two different tram lines) and provided us with a map.
On our last day in Croatia, we opted to have lunch at the hotel restaurant before heading to the airport. Marina helped us again at check-out, and another colleague happily stored our bags for us so that we could have a walk around town before lunch. We both enjoyed a salad and burger at the restaurant. The service was good and the burger was tasty. The house-made ketchup was a nice surprise. The coffee was also excellent.
The hotel offers a pre-negotiated flat rate taxi to the airport for 110 Kuna (approx. $19), which is considerably cheaper than the normal meter rate. Overall, our stay at the Doubletree Zagreb was very enjoyable, and we can’t say enough good things about all of the front desk and bell staff that were always smiling, always friendly, and always helpful. One last note about the property: as Hilton is a more recognized international brand and there is no Hilton in Zagreb, the locals often refer to the Doubletree as simply “the Hilton.” This can be useful to know for any taxi rides or asking directions.