Are you considering booking a stay at the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel in Makarska? Find out what to expect in this in-depth hotel review.
Captivating Croatia was the destination for our 2022 summer holiday. Instead of opting for one of the established European family resorts, we took a different approach by looking for family-friendly luxury beach hotels in Croatia that were set to open soon. It didn’t take long before the 5* Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel in Makarska caught our eye.
Our week-long stay at the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel took place in the second half of July which is the peak summer season. Since the hotel had only opened its doors two weeks before our stay, we didn’t expect it to be super busy yet. And since hotel openings tend to come with opening deals, we paid a pretty fair price. That’s right: This review is not based on a sponsored stay.
The 5* Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel in Makarska is the most recent addition to the Aminess Hotels collection. It’s also the group’s new flagship property since most of its other hotels fall in the 4* category.
Because this beachfront property was brand new, we couldn’t fall back on any Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel reviews. Then again, this hotel looked so picture-perfect that we didn’t anticipate any difficulties other than some minor teething problems. All that was left for us to do, was to whip out our beach vacation packing list.
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Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel location
The Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel is located between the Biokovo mountain and the Adriatic sea in sunny Makarska. It’s a bit of an under-the-radar destination but home to some of the most amazing beaches in Croatia.
The Makarska Riviera is located just over an hour south of Split with its international airport. Airport transfers are available on request. Another option, one that allows you to see so much more of the wider area, is to rent a car.
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The Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel is the only 5* hotel in Makarska and directly overlooks the island of Brač. The enchanting Makarska town center is located just 2 km from the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel and can be reached from the coastal promenade. There’s a wide variety of souvenir shops and restaurants all along the boardwalk. It’s all a bit too touristy to our taste and not at all in line with the standing of the hotel.
Makarska itself is an enchanting Croatian town. There’s a tourist train that runs the entire length of the busy promenade, allowing you to reach Makarska a bit quicker.
There are plenty of things to do in Makarska and beyond. Our favorite attraction was the Biokovo Nature Park with its dazzling Biokovo Skywalk. Our Croatia itinerary also included visits to Krka National Park, a boat trip from Makarska to Hvar, Brač and the Pakleni islands, a day trip to Split, Trogir and Šibenik as well as a visit of Plitvice Lakes National Park.
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Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel property
Let us take you on a tour of the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel.
With its 299 rooms and suites divided over 8 floors. Rooms have either an Atrium view, mountain view, or sea view and some come with a balcony. The Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel is designed with families in mind since the majority of hotel rooms are equipped to accommodate a family of four. Connecting rooms are available for larger families.
For an even more luxurious experience, opt for the Khalani Executive rooms and suites that come with a private whirlpool.
Extra beds and baby cots are available on request.
Our Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel experience
Here’s a comprehensive overview of our stay that includes all pros and cons that we encountered during our stay at the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel.
Arrival
Upon arrival at the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel, we were greeted by the friendly valet staff. The luggage was taken care of and our car was parked in the indoor parking lot.
The lobby is spacious and looks truly sophisticated. There’s a front desk and a concierge desk on the right and a lobby bar with its patio on the left. When you continue your way to the front desk, the atrium opens up. There’s an inviting mezzanine with a seating area and a piano as well as an eye-catching light feature.
Rooms
We stayed in a Luxury Double Room with Balcony and Sea View. The room was spacious, clean, and well-appointed. We loved how the neutral tones made the panoramic view stand out even more.
There was a king-sized bed for the adults and a sleeping sofa for the kids which was comfy enough, according to our girls. The room was equipped with a desk and chair, a television, a wall bench, a spacious closet with enough hangers, and a safety deposit box.
Our room came with a balcony overlooking the pool area and coast. It was equipped with a table and two chairs.
The air conditioning was easy to figure out and hardly made a sound. We didn’t experience any noise coming from the hallway or the pool area either. The only noise problem we had was with the dog in the room next door. During our first night at the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel, the neighboring guests seemed to have gone out for drinks, leaving their pet unattended. The dog was barking non-stop and kept us up for over an hour. I called reception twice but, much to our frustration, they didn’t seem to take action. I even bounced on the neighbors’ door but it wasn’t until they returned that the dog went quiet. The day after, I passed by reception to complain about it and the young lady at the front desk promised she’d get in touch with the owners. Much to our relief, we didn’t hear the dog for the rest of our stay.
I must admit that we feel that dogs should never be allowed in a hotel. Not only for hygienic reasons but also to guarantee the rest of all other guests. This situation proved our point once again.
The bathroom had a shower with a sliding door, one sink with some extra space to put a toiletry bag, a toilet, enough towels, and a couple of hooks to hang them. Everything was sparkling clean. Five different Rituals bathroom amenities were provided as well.
The welcome amenity comprised a bottle of Croatian wine and a local olive oil.
Food
The Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel proposes two meal plans: bed and breakfast and half board. We went with the half board option. These meals are served in the ground floor restaurant which offers an interior area as well as al fresco dining. The restaurant’s design is elegant and inviting. Especially indoors, the tables are far enough apart.
All meals in the main restaurant are buffet-style. While we usually prefer à la carte dining, we must say that we were blown away by the variety of meals.
For breakfast, there are fresh fruits, sliced fruits, smoothies, vitamin shots, freshly squeezed orange juice, nuts, seeds, cereals, raw vegetables, and a variety of bread, cheese, charcuterie, and jam. In addition, there’s a hot breakfast and a sweet corner with mouth-watering treats. Gluten-free options are available as well.
For dinner, there are healthy options, local dishes, international cuisine, and a corner for kids. You can choose between several appetizers, entrees, main courses, and desserts.
The presentation of the buffet is meticulous and everything looks – and tastes – outstanding.
One thing that came as a bit of a surprise, was that, at dinner, the water was paying. For a country where fresh water is plentiful and water quality is excellent, that came across as money-grubbing.
Service was slow. You could tell that the staff was inexperienced and probably a bit overwhelmed by the summer crowds. The hotel had only been open for two weeks, so we expected this might happen and it didn’t bother us too much.
In addition to the main restaurant, there are also 2 à la carte restaurants by the promenade and a scenic rooftop restaurant. We had looked forward to enjoying an à la carte meal on the top floor patio but unfortunately, this restaurant wasn’t open yet during our stay and we were only able to sneak a peak from behind the closed door.
Pool area
The Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel pool area comprises two heated outdoor swimming pools and one heated outdoor plunge pool for children. There’s a swim-up bar at both swimming pools.
The sundeck is equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas. Guests receive a towel card at check-in allowing them to get free towels. The towel service is located between the pool and the beach and is a bit hidden from sight. This could have been better indicated. On the further end of the sundeck, overlooking the Dalmatian coast, you’ll find some freely available cabanas.
What we didn’t expect at a hotel of this standard, is the morning towel run. On our first morning, after breakfast, there were no sun loungers left by the pool that weren’t reserved by means of a towel. It was peak season, that’s true, but still… There were signs up in the elevator informing guests that this practice is not allowed and that towels would be removed but there really wasn’t supervision. At one point, a family was sitting on their towels on the floor of the sundeck. More than one staff member passed by but none of them addressed the issue. This might be due to inexperience but this is certainly not 5* service.
The pool area of the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel is a beautiful space… until guests arrive. Unfortunately, during the day, it looks and feels rather chaotic and cramped, especially in the area between the two pools. But hey, that’s inevitable for a hotel of this size.
Beach area
The beach is a true stunner. The pine trees, fine pebbles, and crystal-clear waters create the most picturesque setting. It’s rather narrow, though, and could get very crowded. We warmly recommend arriving early so that you can secure front-row loungers.
The only bummer is that the beach is public, which is not what you’d expect from a 5* beach hotel. With the loud, heavy-drinking, and can-crushing guests behind us two days in a row, it wasn’t the most relaxing experience. The best place to be was in the water. It’s so clean, so clear and so warm. What a wonderful escape.
As far as we could tell, there was no lifeguard on duty at the beach. So, keep an eye out for your kids at all times. And under the scorching sun, we’d recommend letting them wear a rashguard and a hat in addition to reef-safe sunscreen.
Wellness area
When it comes to me-time, I often retreat to the indoor pool. Doing laps in an outdoor pool during peak season isn’t realistic. That’s what indoor pools are for. So, every day, I headed to the amazing wellness area for some tranquility. The indoor pool is generous and gorgeous. From the comfy lounge chairs, you can get a glimpse of the gym which is located right above the wellness area.
There’s also a jacuzzi and, hidden behind the dressing rooms, a spa corner. Unfortunately, the hamam and sauna weren’t operational yet during our stay.
Entertainment
At the front desk, you’ll find the weekly activity schedule. A variety of activities is available for little ones and adults alike.
The cheerful kids club is located close to the children’s pool. Movie nights are held in the Congress Hall on the first floor. Right next door, you’ll find a multimedia room where teens are welcome to hang out. It’s open all day.
Right after dinner, guests can enjoy live music sessions on the outdoor patio. The singer who performed there on 18th July was amazing. And indoor, at the atrium, there are nightly piano sessions as well.
Internet
The Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel provides free WiFi. The network is not secure so we strongly advise you to enable your VPN. Our go-to choices are NordVPN and Surfshark.
Message to the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel’s manager and staff
We loved our stay at the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel. We felt welcome from the moment we arrived and the decor and facilities were first-class. The staff was caring and lovely but too inexperienced to meet guests’ expectations. We hope that, with extra training and experience, they’ll deliver a better service by the time the new season starts.
That being noted, we do have some minor recommendations to make an amazing stay at the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel even more fabulous:
- When guests bring their dog, why not ask for their cellphone number so that they can be reached when their pet is barking in the room?
- More supervision would be welcome when it comes to the morning towel run. We could see from our balcony how all too many guests reserved their sun loungers and didn’t return until hours later. It was frustrating that there were no more sun loungers left by the pool by the time we finished breakfast. Staff should also be trained to intervene when clients end up sitting on the floor.
- Provide restaurant guests with a complimentary bottle of water as soon as they are seated. It would relieve the staff and guests wouldn’t have to wait as long to quench their first thirst.
- Too many unaccompanied children came to play in the indoor pool and the jacuzzi. It would be much appreciated if there would be some form of supervision.
All in all, we had a great stay and we would like to thank you all for making that happen.
Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel rates
The Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel is the most luxurious of all hotels in Makarska. Prices at this 5* hotel range from €141 ($149) to €495 ($523) per night for a couple and from €487 ($515) to €1.3k ($1.37k) per night for a family of four in an Atrium Double Room. This price is inclusive of breakfast and taxes.
Halfboard packages are available and, as previously mentioned, the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel offers a variety of room options.
Like many beach hotels in Croatia, the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel is closed in the winter season (from November until the end of March).
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Conclusion
And our final rating on the boo tot wow scale is… drum roll…
The luxurious Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel is a wonderful family-friendly hotel. The postcard setting, the gorgeous beach, the swim-up pool bars, the delicious food, the fabulous decor, and the well-appointed rooms are top-notch. But with these steep prices, the hotel staff will need to step up their game to meet guests’ expectations.
We’d probably stay at the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel again… but not during peak season. The summer crowds kind of detracted from the experience, especially at the pool and at the beach. We can only imagine how amazing this place must be in the shoulder season.
Then again, the same goes for all Mediterranean beach hotels. It’s just such a popular summer destination in Europe that crowds tend to take over, no matter how hard management and staff work to keep up standards. So, if you’re familiar with Mediterranean summer vibes and the lively atmosphere doesn’t bother you, then the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel in Makarska makes for a top choice!
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For reference, the address of the Aminess Khalani Beach Hotel is Ul. Ivana Gorana Kovačića 14, 21300, Makarska, Croatia.