The apartment itself was on the top (third) floor of a villa. The views across the water to the Croatian mainland were beautiful, as were those to the harbour and town of Trpanj itself. The villa is set back into the hillside and surrounded by greenery and flora. A short hop across the road (very quiet, no concerns about traffic here) takes you to the bathing platform, and the town is a two-minute walk at most.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the owner, who exclaimed that we were probably the youngest people she’d ever had stay with her (we weren’t sure how to take this but I’m sure there was no malice intended!). She’d left us a welcome basket containing bread, cheese, wine, etc. which was basic but nice to have anyway and kept us going until we could find a supermarket.

The decor of the apartment itself was basic but clean and tidy, and much roomier than we’d expected. There were two balconies – one off the kitchen/dining area, and another off our bedroom, which meant we could catch a bit of sun at different times of the day. We didn’t really see much of the owner apart from when she was sitting on the terrace on the lower floor of the villa (which you have to pass to get out) – she always seemed pleasant and friendly however and we were made to feel very welcome. There was a BBQ on the lower terrace, which I believe we were welcome to use, although we never got around to it as we ate in the little restaurants in town most nights.

Trpanj is very much a quiet town, not suited to anyone after a busy nightlife, but this suited us down to the ground. There are a couple of supermarkets, and a handful of tavernas and bars which are low key but fantastic for fresh fish, brought in every day via the little harbour. It’s a pleasant drive up the peninsula through similarly small villages towards the mainland – it’s roughly 1h 45m to Dubrovnic this direction. Further up the peninsula, you can catch a ferry over to Korcula and other little islands which make for nice day trips. Most of the peninsula seemed to be dedicated to agriculture and in particular vineyards – some of which are open to the public which we took advantage of.

I’d recommend Maestral Villa to anyone looking for a peaceful break away from the hustle and bustle, but with plenty of options for day trips.