Top Sea-View Stays in Dubrovnik

La Dolce Villa 1 is a five-star aparthotel in Dubrovnik that I would recommend to couples and families who want an apartment close to Banje Beach. Elegant air-conditioned units have sea views, a private balcony, a kitchenette and a washing machine. Free Wi-Fi and private on-site parking are included. The guest rating is near perfect, though based on 42 reviews, so it is a small sample. Expect self-catering comfort, not hotel service.

Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik stands on a cliff above Miramare Bay with its own pebbly beach below, and I would recommend it to families with older children who swim well. The indoor pool looks out to sea, useful on a windy day, and the Nevera beach restaurant makes lunch easy without climbing back up. The Old Town is 1.2 km away, and a shuttle helps with small legs. A guest score of 9.5 is among the strongest in the city.

Hotel Excelsior is a landmark five-star hotel on the Dubrovnik waterfront, five minutes' walk from the Old Town, and I would recommend it to families and couples who want a refined stay with the sea outside. Most rooms have sea views and original Croatian artwork. The 850 square metre spa has an indoor pool, two hot tubs and saunas, and there are three restaurants. The guest rating is excellent.

Rixos works for families who want resort facilities within reach of the Old Town. There is a children's pool, a seasonal outdoor pool with a panoramic terrace and an indoor pool open all year, so swimming does not depend on the sea or the weather. The Old Town is about 20 minutes on foot, short enough for an evening walk with older children. The catch is the cliff site: the beach is around 220 metres below down a flight of stairs, hard work with a pushchair or toddlers. With 310 rooms, the hotel is large and busy in summer.

For a family, the Berkeley Hotel is a family-owned address on Dubrovnik's Gruž harbour, with modern rooms and apartments, and the apartments give a family more space to spread out. Some rooms have sea views, and an on-site spa offers treatments for the adults. The Old Town is 2 km away and reached easily by bus. I would choose an apartment for a longer stay, and a sea-view room for a short one.

Royal Princess Hotel is a beachfront suite hotel in Lapad, set in a pine forest about 5 km from Dubrovnik's Old Town. For families, suites with balconies give more space than a standard room, and two pools mean children can swim even when the sea is choppy. The steam bath and spa are there for parents. The restaurant terrace looks over the Adriatic. I would book it for families who want a quieter base than the Old Town, with buses or taxis for sightseeing.

For a family, Royal Palm Hotel is a luxury beachfront property with indoor and outdoor pools and a beach club, so children have water in any weather. Rooms look to the sea, and the restaurants have panoramic sea views. A comprehensive spa and wellness centre is on site. It is close to the Old Town but quieter and more resort-like, so I would see it as a place to stay put and enjoy, not a base for packed sightseeing.

Dubrovnik Palace works for families as a resort rather than a city hotel. There are two pools, one of them indoors in the spa, rocky swimming platforms below the hotel, and four restaurants including a beach restaurant and a pool bar, so nobody needs to leave for meals. Every room has a sea view and most have balconies. The diving centre can introduce older children to the sea. The weaknesses are the rocks, which mean water shoes and care with small children, and the distance to the Old Town: bus 4 takes about 20 minutes, which suits teenagers more than toddlers at the end of a hot day.

Royal Ariston Hotel is part of the Royal Resort in Dubrovnik and has its own private beach, and I would recommend it to families who want sand, pool and sea in one place. The seaside pool has wide views, and many rooms have large balconies facing the water, handy for a quiet evening once children are asleep. The Beach & Lounge Bar serves snacks through the day, and parents can use the spa. A guest score of 9.1 from almost 2,000 reviews supports the choice.

For a family, Hotel More is a five-star boutique stay on the Lapad Peninsula with an outdoor pool and a beachfront setting, plus a spa. Rooms have sea or garden views, two restaurants cover meals, and the Cave Bar is a distinctive spot for an evening drink. It is 3.5 km from the Old Town. The sophisticated, boutique feel suits calm stays, so I would think twice with very young children.