Bosnia & Herzegovina is a country with vastly underrated beauty. Near its northwestern border with Croatia you will find Park Una: equally as impressive as Plitvice, and preferred by some, with far fewer tourists. We had booked Hotel Emporium in Bihac, near the Croatian border for its convenient location to both parks. Parking at the hotel will not be an issue, as they have their own spacious lot right outside. Unfortunately, we were unable to visit Park Una as a result of the unusually bad weather we encountered (heavy rains plus dirt roads, and a rental car, is a recipe for disaster)! Dirt roads and lack of tourist influx have not allowed for developed roads to the area, which will slow you down.
Location is of prime importance when you are traveling, and Hotel Emporium is twenty-two minutes (19 kilometers) from Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia and about one-hour and forty-minutes from the heart of National Park Una. Though in fairness, River Una starts much closer (less than thirty minutes) to Bihac.
The front doors open to a rather nice looking lobby situated next to a welcoming and well-appointed bar and lounge area.
Our dinner in the restaurant upstairs was delicious, and provided many options (both national and international dishes); we chose spicy Thai food for a nice change of pace.
Each room is climate controlled, clean, comfortable, and spacious. The somewhat unique decor includes a tree branch as the coat rack hanger, and a famous inspirational quote can be found on one of the walls.
The bathrooms were very clean, and rather large; which is uncommon for most of Europe.
Should you have the time or desire, Hotel Emporium offers a wellness and spa area that includes a sauna and elaborate massage room.
Before heading out the door to begin your day, don't forget to to take advantage of the complimentary breakfast. They provided: eggs, bacon, sausages, cereals, cheeses, breads, granola, yogurt, croissants, fruits, and of course, coffee.
Hotel Emporium in Bihac is not a place to be missed for reasonably priced accommodation for great standards.
**Special thanks to Hotel Emporium for kindly offering me a complimentary stay. As always, all opinions are my own.
It’s a real joy to welcome people like you, willing to share their impressions of the undiscovered pearl of Bosnia, so close to famous Plitvice Lakes NP in Croatia.
I would just like to correct a part of your quotation: The heart of the Una National park, magnificent waterfall called Strbacki buk is only 30 km away and it takes no more than 1 hour to get there. Only a minor part of the road is unpaved (8,5 km), but it’s possible to notify the need for a jeep or a minibus transfer to the Una NP branch office in the Emporium Hotel, or in the central office in the very center of the city.
The Una NP is a large area of about 20000 square km; as it is possible to visit the main attractions within 4-5 hrs, so it’s worthwhile contacting the offices prior to arrival and seek a professional assistance to plan one’s tour, as there are, aside of the water attractions, plenty viewpoints, cultural, historical, recreational, gastronomic and other alluring spots one should not avoid, once when here.
Furthermore, the very center of the city itself, which is only 10 min walking away from the Emporium Hotel, lays on the Una river, with hundreds of meters of walking paths along.
Thank you once again on sharing your impressions, as well as link to the Una National park official website: http://www.nationalpark-una.ba/eng