TUI BLUE MAKARSKA REVIEW: A GREAT BEACHFRONT HOTEL ON MAKARSKA RIVIERA YOU’LL LOVE!

If you’re looking for an amazing beachfront hotel on the Croatian coast, you have to read this TUI BLUE Makarska review!

While travelling through Croatia in April, we decided to stay at TUI BLUE Adriatic Beach. After sharing how much we enjoyed our stay there, the team kindly invited us to experience their other nearby property, TUI BLUE Makarska. The two hotels are only a few minutes apart and have a lot in common. The biggest difference is that Adriatic Beach is all-inclusive, while TUI BLUE Makarska is not. They’re also both adults-only hotels, so that’s something to keep in mind when planning your stay.

In this review, I’ll share everything I thought about the hotel, from the rooms and facilities to the food and overall experience. As always, all opinions are completely honest and my own.

HOTEL OVERVIEW AND AMENITIES

TUI BLUE Makarska is an adults-only beachfront hotel located in the charming village of Igrane, right on Croatia’s beautiful Makarska Riviera. It offers modern rooms, stunning Adriatic Sea views, and a peaceful atmosphere that’s perfect for couples and friends looking to relax.

When it comes to amenities, you can spend your days by one of the two beautiful pools, enjoy direct access to the pebble beach, or relax in the spa and wellness centre. The hotel also features a fitness centre, daily activities, and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. There are two restaurants, several bars, and even live music in the evenings.

Overall, if you’re looking for a place where you can truly switch off and have everything you need in one spot, this hotel is a fantastic choice. Honestly, the only sounds we heard during our stay were the waves, cicadas, and birds, and I can’t wait to experience it all again.

CHECK-IN

Our check-in at TUI BLUE Makarska went really smoothly. The staff were very friendly and while we had our welcome drink, everything was handled in less than 5 minutes. They then took us to our room and made sure we knew they were available 24/7 if we needed anything. Check-out took a bit longer since their POS machines had some issues accepting our credit cards, but it was all resolved within about 10 minutes in the end.

THE ROOM

Our room at TUI BLUE Makarska was absolutely stunning. We stayed in a Superior Double Room with Balcony and Sea View, and it really was incredible. The room was clean, spacious, and super comfortable, and we genuinely loved spending time there.

The bed was very comfy, there was a big TV (although no streaming services), plenty of space to unpack, and a nice layout where the washbasin is in the room, while the toilet and shower are separated. My favourite parts were the work desk, since I could easily get some work done without staying in bed, and the amazing balcony with the prettiest sea view. It had lounge chairs as well as a table and chairs, which I also used as a little outdoor office because the view was just unbeatable.

The only small issue we had was the wardrobe placement right as you enter the room, which meant you could easily bump into it if you’re not paying attention. But honestly, that’s such a minor thing compared to how great the rest of the room was.

THE RESTAURANTS

TUI BLUE Makarska has two restaurants. The main one is in the hotel and is where you go for breakfast and dinner. It’s a really beautiful space with lots of different seating areas, including some stunning spots with sea views. We really enjoyed our dinners here, especially because they always include a few traditional Croatian dishes, which were definitely our favourite. But even if you prefer something more international, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Breakfast wasn’t as varied as dinner, but you could still find plenty of great things to try. The savoury selection is great, but the sweet options are a bit limited. That said, there are plenty of healthy choices, which is great if that’s what you’re looking for.

There’s also a smaller restaurant called Culinarium near the pool area. It’s in a beautiful location with amazing views and works as an à la carte spot for lunch or dinner. Each pool also has its own bar where you can grab drinks and ice cream when you want a little treat.

SPA AND WELLNESS

To be honest, I can’t say much about the spa because it was so hot during our stay at TUI BLUE Makarska that we spent most of our time on the beach or by the outdoor pools, so we didn’t actually use it.

From what I saw online, they do offer spa treatments, but that’s about all I can share from experience. What I can say is that we absolutely loved the outdoor pool areas, both the larger main pool and the smaller one where we could relax on a Bali bed. There’s also a smaller gym on-site if you want to stay active while you’re on holiday.

BEACH ACCESS

Beach access is the absolute best part of TUI BLUE Makarska. The Makarska Riviera is known for having some of the best beaches in Croatia, but many of them can also get really, really crowded.

While the hotel beach isn’t private and other visitors can still access it, it’s much less crowded than the typical Riviera beaches. We absolutely loved the beach right in front of the hotel. The sea was crystal clear, and the hotel also offers sunbeds and parasols for rent, which makes it perfect for a relaxed beach day. Honestly, I’d recommend this hotel just for the beach access alone.

WHAT TO DO THERE

While I can’t say there’s loads to do inside TUI BLUE Makarska itself, there’s still enough to keep you entertained, and the surrounding area has plenty to explore. The hotel also organises excursions if you feel like getting out and about.

On-site, you’ve got the beach and two pools, plus a game room with ping pong, billiards, and a few other games. You can also visit their sister hotel just a few minutes away (you can even walk there along the beach), where you can play padel. Around the area, if you have a car you can easily visit Makarska, the Biokovo Skywalk, or even take a day trip to Hvar Island since the ferry from Drvenik is only about 15 minutes away. If you prefer organised trips, the hotel can also arrange excursions to places like Split, Dubrovnik, Krka National Park, Brac, Hvar, Biokovo Skywalk, and more.

MY HONEST FINAL TUI BLUE MAKARSKA REVIEW

I do have to say I found TUI BLUE Adriatic Beach a bit more impressive, however we still absolutely loved TUI BLUE Makarska and would definitely come back. Our room was spacious and super comfortable, and we really felt at home there. The restaurant was great, the staff were extremely friendly, and we really enjoyed both pools and the incredible beach.

Overall, I’d highly recommend staying here (or at Adriatic Beach) if you want a holiday where the beach is just steps away, but you can still easily make it more active with day trips. We’ll definitely be back, and a big thank you to the TUI BLUE team for a beautiful few days on the coast!