Falkensteiner Club Funimation Borik

Rooms and decor

Picture a seaside resort built specifically for families: walk out of the lobby and you hear kids laughing and running around the pool while parents sip coffee by the beach. That's Falkensteiner Club Funimation Borik, a 4-star family resort from Austria's Falkensteiner group, set in the Borik resort area on a Borik beach that runs about 1.7 km. The name "Funimation" tells you the most about it: fun + animation, full-on fun aimed at kids and families. All 258 rooms and suites come in bright, modern seaside tones, practical and easy on the eye, and many are family rooms set up so parents and kids sleep comfortably together. There are balconies catching the sea breeze, and some rooms face the blue Borik bay. Plenty of family reviews say the rooms are roomy enough for kids, clean, and clearly laid out by people who understand travelling with children. Open the curtains in the morning to the sea, walk a few steps with the kids and you're at the beach and pool.

Food and amenities

What sets Funimation Borik apart is the kids' world and the activity spaces, the most fully kitted-out part of the resort for families. Start with the kids' club, split by age group, with carers on hand and activities most of the day, from crafts and games to shows and an evening mini-disco. The kids stay so busy that parents genuinely get their own time. Then there's the pool and a children's water zone separate from the adults, plus the clear swimming bay off Borik beach, so you get sea and pool in one place. In summer there's the All Inclusive Plus package covering buffet meals and drinks; many reviews call it good value and a relief, since you're not tracking daily costs or hauling kids out for every meal, and the buffet has a kids' corner and plenty of variety. To balance things for the adults, the Acquapura Spa runs about 2,500 sqm, with a sauna zone, quiet lounging space and a choice of massage treatments, a corner parents can slip off to while the kids are at the club.

Location and getting there

The location is an edge a lot of families won't overlook. The resort sits in the Borik area on Borik beach, Zadar's seaside resort zone, open and relaxed with pines and a shoreline path. The clincher is that it's only about 3 km from Zadar's Old Town, a casual walk along the coast or a few minutes by car, unlike many family resorts stranded outside town, so taking the kids into the old centre is easy. In town you'll find Roman city walls, old stone lanes, and most famously the Sea Organ, which plays sounds from the waves, and Greeting to the Sun, a circle of lights by the water that's lovely at sunset. Kids tend to love both. Zadar airport is only about 15 minutes away, handy for families flying in direct who don't want a long onward trip. Drivers park easily, and non-drivers can reach town by public transport or taxi over the short distance.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, the atmosphere: the charm here is that it's a full-on family resort, which means lots of children and energy around the pool and common areas almost all the time. If you're a couple or after a quiet, romantic break, this may not be what you're chasing, and a calm spa resort on the peninsula might fit better. Second, the seasonal opening and high-season pricing: it opens only around March to October, and high summer gets very crowded with prices clearly climbing. Rooms and All Inclusive packages fill fast, so book well ahead and set a clear budget. Third, understand from the start that this is a big club-style family resort; some reviews feel certain rooms and facilities read more like standard package fittings than polished luxury, and on busy days you may queue for the buffet restaurant or popular activities. Go in with that in mind and you'll enjoy the trip more.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real reviews, Falkensteiner Club Funimation Borik nails "full-on kids' fun + good-value, convenient All Inclusive Plus + a beachfront close to Zadar's Old Town" for families. If your mental picture is bringing the kids to Zadar and letting them go all-in on the kids' club and water zone while parents take turns at the Acquapura Spa or sunbathing on the beach, with the Old Town and Sea Organ waiting just about 3 km away when you want to head out, this is close to a perfect family pick. But if you're a couple after quiet romance, or planning to visit off-season when the resort is closed, this may not be your answer. Overall we give it 8.3/10, best for families bringing kids to Zadar who want one beachfront resort where the kids have a blast and parents still get to rest.