Rabac – Holiday at Camping Oliva
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In week 28 we had arranged to meet, with my wife’s brother and his family, for a joined holiday at the camp site Oliva in Rabac, reason for picking camp Oliva, was that my wife and here brother had spend most of the childhood holidays here, so they wanted to see how the camp looked now days.
As this was our first tour in a tent, we had to shop camping equipment prior to the trip, we managed to find a four person tent, chairs and rest of equipment for around 1000 kuna which I believed was a barging, well it was a barging but, the sleeping cabins was very small only 125cm wide, I of course did not pay any attention to that when I bought the tent I only looked at number of persons, so after first night where the kids slept in the sleep cabins and we spend the night on the ground in middle of the tent, we decided to buy a second tent – I guess that was you call lack of camping experience!!
Camping Oliva Rabac:
Camping Oliva is situated in the bottom of the Rabac bay, in a holiday complex which also includes the 3 hotels, Narcis, Hedera and Mimosa.
The *** camp site host up to 1.725 people, the main part of the 80-100m2 large pitches has olive trees providing shadow during the day, for each square of four pitches there is power, so you need only about 10 meter extension court.
Some of the facilities offered at the campsite:
Washing machine, handicap toilet, possibility to empty chemical toilet, sports facilities, restaurant and mobile homes for rent.
The five toilet building where generally in a good condition; plenty of hot water and frequent cleaning buy the nice staff.
What we liked:
As a camping guest, you can buy access to the excellent hotel swimming pool for only 25 kuna a week, sun chairs included! (at the beach prices for sun chair was 20 kuna/day).
Staff at the reception was very helpful and always ready to help a camping novice.
What we disliked:
The beach – to big rocks, Istria I simply not a beach place.
Internet access – 1.725 people in the camp 1000 people in the 3 hotels, only internet available was two computers in hotel Narcis. – We have year 2009!!
Rabac city
The city of Rabac is basically a string of house following the coast along the bay; in the winter the population of the city is around 1000 people, during summer month up to 10.000 tourists are hosted in hotels, private accommodation and at camp Oliva.
What to see and do in Rabac:
- A most do, is taking a walk along the water, starting from camp Oliva, there is a 20-30 minutes walk to the “centre” of the Riviera, here you find numerous restaurants, coffee bars and is cafés.
- Several companies offer trips with glass boats, the boat sails in the area north of Cres, where you could be lucky to spot a dolphin. We took trip with the company explorer, they are bit more expensive – but as you can see on the pictures they have real glass boat.
- Other activities which are offered in the bay, Rent a boat, jet ski. For kids there is an entertainment area at the beach, which I although found quite expensive.
- Visit the old town in Labin (5 km).
Eating in Rabac:
Well well well, In Rabac I had a knock out experience in terms of food, after having eaten standard food on the restaurant at the camp and on some of the restaurant at the Riviera, I was recommend to try the beefsteak with mushroom sauce at the restaurant Capitano (Situated above the big Riviera parking lot), THIS was the recommendation of the year, I can not remember when I last time got food as good as this, simply amazing. The fish dished by the way also look excellent, but I don’t think anything can beet the mushroom sauce!
So If you go to Rabac, make sure to reserve a table at Restaurant Capitano, Obala Maršala Tita 69, 52221 Rabac, Tel. +385 (0)52/872193
Our holiday conclusion:
Our first camping holiday was a big success especially for the kids, we all agreed that is not going to be the last time where we go living in a tent, the campsite Oliva is an excellent place for families and the prices are fair, we paid 1700 kuna (235 Euro) for 6 night including power, tourist tax and access to the hotel swimming pool.
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That looks very nice indeed. Unfortunately my wife would have a fit if I suggested a camping holiday. As far as she’s concerned it’s a hotel or it’s nothing.
Just as a matter of interest, how much does 25 kuna translate to in dollars?
Hi Sire
Initially I was also not to fond of the camping idea, when my wife suggested it, but I must admit it is great fun, an for the kids it beats any hotel. 25 Kuna should be around 5 dollars.
That is very reasonable, and my wife would never suggest camping. I think she’s scared of bugs or something. I mean, I’m scared of spiders but I’m still willing to give camping a go.