Not Split over taking a trip back to Brac

The island near Croatia's second-largest city, not to mention a world-class hotel, provided a haven for CAROLE MALONE and her Bosnian husband of 28 years, Nino

- 

BREATHE IN A narrow alleyway in Split

It began as a kind of homecoming. Thirty-six years ago, my husband Nino, who is from Bosnia, had been commander of the Yugoslav Navy diving team based in Split, Croatia.

But the story started years before even that when as a child he and his family, who are from Sarajevo in Bosnia, would often holiday in Dubrovnik or the islands around Split - Hvar, Korcula, Mljet and Brac. A lot has happened in the years in between - not least a devastating war. But thankfully time has helped heal some of its scars and normal life has been resumed.

Having listened to Nino talk about these incredible islands for so long, we decided to visit the Croatian island of Brac, and it was one of the best decisions we've ever made.

We stayed at the spectacular Hotel Lemongarden in the village of Sutivan.

Brac is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbour Hvar, but this hotel nestled on Sutivan's stunning seafront has all the glamour and pzazz Nino and I would ever need.

I'd never heard of the place until last year on holiday in Italy when we met a couple who'd been there and were raving about it.

It's beyond beautiful. Literally perfection. The hotel itself is spread across three 300-year-old houses. It's situated in the middle of the village but weirdly it feels like it IS the village - its heart.

It has thick stone honey-coloured walls which keep the rooms cool. Every room, every suite is deserving of an individual interior design award as a reward for its bold, bright courageous designs.

Obviously, the Lemon rooms are bright yellow with a host of other colours thrown in, the Coral suites all have red accents, and Marina suites feature Mediterranean patterns. All of the rooms - many of which have original works of art on the walls - are designed to inject vibrancy and a feelgood factor into your holiday, and they do.