Le Méridien Lav

Set 11km away at Podstrana, Le Méridien is Split’s top-of-the-range five-star. You can take a dip in the infinity pool with a view along the sun-drenched coast towards Split, luxuriate in the wine or truffle therapies of the top-notch Diocletian spa, or gaze longingly at the superyachts in the marina from the large terrace. The rooms are spacious and stylish, service standards are high, as you would expect, and there are conference facilities – yet the atmosphere is pleasantly relaxed. The main restaurant, Spalatum Galerija, does superb sea bass and steak. To follow, there’s a fab, sunken champagne bar, as well as an old-style pivnica pub left deliberately unmodernised; a casino and nightclub provide more mischievous entertainment if you feel like staying up until the early hours. There are shuttle services into town several times a day and regular water taxis from the airport.