Travel review: Reaching crazy new heights in beautiful Dubrovnik

Two speakers crackled to life as he spoke, before upbeat house music starting pumping. All the guests cheered and took out their phones to film, waving them round with huge smiles of nervous excitement, as a huge crane whirred into action behind us.

This was going to be no ordinary dinner.

I was a guest on board the Dinner in the Sky experience – a new craze popping up across the world which sees guests sit round a table with the chef and his kitchen in the middle, which is then lifted 50 metres into the air by a crane and slowly turned round.

It’s a new take on panoramic dining – and while already popular in places such as London where there’s waiting list of months despite the British weather – taking part in the Dinner in the Sky experience in Dubrovnik, where the sea in an unbelievable shade of blue and the sunsets are amazing, is a once in a lifetime experience.

LaCroma Hotel (Image: Valamar Hotels) The music played, the sun set, shimmering a beautiful glowing red, while a soft breeze took the edge off the sun-filled hot day.

The views stretched out over the Adriatic Sea for miles, surrounded by sweeping hills, glittering ocean stretching out into the horizon. And the food – all top class – was served by the talented and hospitable chefs, who explained each dish – succulent veal or locally-caught sea bass, with delicious almond cake for pudding.

The wine flowed, songs were sung, legs swung freely underneath and napkins were waved enthusiastically above heads, and the dinner was one of the most enjoyable and least stuffy ways to experience fine dining I have ever taken part in.

The Dinner in the Sky experience is parked up near to Valamar’s LaCroma Hotel, itself a beacon of top-quality service. The hotel, which has 400 rooms, has recently been renovated and is one of five Valamar hotels in the immediate vicinity, approximately 15 minutes from the tourist mecca of Dubrovnik’s Old City.

Coral Beach Club (Image: Valamar Hotels) Take a shuttle bus around the hotels, including pinnacle of perfection the five star President Hotel, or walk through the beautifully pine-scented park, to find everything you need for a relaxing holiday.

Huge blue swimming pools, indoors and outdoors, are surrounded by loungers, and prove useful when the temperatures reach 30 degrees or more.

A short skip over to Maro World – one of the largest children’s play areas in Croatia and potentially that part of Europe – keeps younger guests occupied, leaving the rest of the hotel free for adults to rest and relax in peace.

Whether relaxing on one of Valamar’s many immaculate terraces, with stunning views across the sea, or on one of the three nearby beaches – one thing’s for sure, the Croatian way of life of ‘take it easy, slow it down’ – explained to us by tour guide Ivona – is in abundance at Valamar’s hotels.

Kimberley Barber in the Old City (Image: Kimberley Barber) A short taxi ride or bus journey from the hotel takes us into the Old City, where Ivona leads us expertly around the city’s tiny streets.

Once inside the city walls and among its red roofed tightly packed stone houses, built to withstand war and earthquakes, all streets lead down to the Stradun, an immaculately clean and shiny limestone street lined with tiny shops, restaurants and bars.

She points out the historic monuments, churches, drinking fountains, palaces, ramparts and more, which go all the way back to the 7th Century.

Dubrovnik has been here a long time, and despite wars – the last the Croatian War of Independence in 1991 - and natural disasters – the biggest earthquake wiping out half the city’s population in 1667, it has continued to rise again – stronger and more attractive than ever.

Today, the streets are packed with tourists, who flock to bask in its history. Its UNESCO World Heritage Centre status attracting people from across the world. Brits are the biggest tourists here, with Americans in close second, so English is widely spoken and understood.

Cable car in Dubrovnik (Image: Valamar Hotels) Dodging the crowds – and the heat (Dubrovnik’s summer temperatures can regularly reach 30+ degrees) we pass through a portal and pop out at a bar on the rocks leading down to the sea. Locals sunbathe, people swim, dogs chase balls into the cool water and back again, while we admire the view and cool off with a drink.

After taking in the city’s heritage and tackling just a small portion of its 5,000+ steps, we head up to catch some fresh air on the Dubrovnik Cable Car. In just four minutes, we are at the top of the Srd Mountain with spectacular views - made even better by a frozen cocktail and lunch from Panorama Restaurant.

If crowds of tourists are not your thing, but you still want to take in some of the city’s heritage and culture, hire a kayak and go on a tour to get a different perspective.

X-Adventure Tours organise trips multiple times a day from the old port and can cater for any size group. Our guide Marco takes us along the city, pointing out the landmarks, millionaire villas, abandoned hotels and secret beaches, before stopping for a refreshing dip – and encouraging us all to jump off one of the many huge rocks that make up the rocky Dalmatia coastline.

Kayaking in Dubrovnik (Image: Kimberley Barber) As we paddle across the tranquil and incredibly clear sea, past the stunning Baroque architecture and anchored tall ship, the sun sets on another perfect day in Dubrovnik.

With its Mediterranean sun, crystal-clear waters, blue skies and welcoming nature, it’s clear to see how it has earnt its Pearl of the Adriatic moniker.

And with regular easyJet flights into Rudjer Boskovic Airport – just a 30-minute transfer from the exceptional LaCroma Hotel, getting to Dubrovnik has never been easier.

Whether its heritage and history, good food or wine, or simply sun and relaxing by the pool, with great weather from May until October, Dubrovnik is fast becoming a popular holiday destination. And its beauty is sure to etch itself on your memory forever.

Fact box

4* Valamar Lacroma Dubrovnik Hotel, Iva Dulčića 34, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Room for 2 + 1 from £100 per night. Go to valamar.com/en/hotels-dubrovnik/valamar-lacroma-dubrovnik-hotel 

Dinner in the Sky: €220 per person. Go to dinnerinthesky.hr 

Dubrovnik Cable Car: Adult round-trip ticket 27€, go to dubrovnikcablecar.com/ 

X-Adventure Sea Kayaking: A half day tour lasts four three hours and costs €40 per person. The tour provides stunning views of the Old Town of Dubrovnik from the sea and includes interesting stops along the coast, including snorkelling in Bettina Cave.

A sunset tour lasts four three hours and costs €45 per person. The tour provides stunning views of the Old Town of Dubrovnik from the sea and includes interesting stops along the coast as the sun sets in the distance. Once you have arrived back to shore, each person is given a glass of wine. 

Go to kayak-dubrovnik.com/