A great driving tour is defined by more than just the roads. After exhilarating days behind the wheel, the right hotel stay provides somewhere to slow down, recharge and take in the destination through one-of-a-kind experiences, from Michelin-starred dining to fancy-dress parties.

For The Long Way Round tour, Club GT’s journey from the Adriatic to the Alps, every stop along the way has been selected with the same attention to detail as the route itself. Across six days, guests will travel through Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Austria, staying at four exceptional 5-star properties, all ideally positioned near each of the four regions’ best roads.

Le Méridien Lav Split, Croatia

The journey begins on the Croatian coast at Le Méridien Lav, set directly on the Adriatic in Podstrana, just outside Split.

With views across the sea and the mountains of Dalmatia, the resort offers a fitting introduction to The Long Way Round. Guests can make the most of its private beach, pools and RE:CUPERA Spa, with a range of world-class facilities and treatments designed to unwind before the driving begins.

Food is equally central to the experience. The resort offers a selection of restaurants and bars, with Club GT guests beginning the tour with welcome drinks by the marina before dinner at Port 74. Overlooking the Adriatic, the restaurant brings together fresh Mediterranean ingredients and Croatian influences, with dishes centred around locally sourced seafood and seasonal produce.

This is the ideal beginning to an epic six-day driving tour across some of Europe’s most thrilling roads, following the endless shades of blue from the Adriatic to the Austrian Alps.

Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera, Croatia

From Split, the route continues north through the Dalmatian hinterland and Krka National Park, before arriving at Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera, on the Punta Skala peninsula, where we’ll spend two nights.

Set at the tip of the peninsula, the 5-star resort combines coastal settings with outstanding wellness facilities, making it an ideal place to unwind after a day behind the wheel. The centrepiece is the 6,000m² Acquapura SPA, with indoor and outdoor saltwater pools, an outdoor infinity pool, Finnish sauna, Turkish hamam, steam bath and panoramic relaxation areas.

It is the kind of setting where the pace naturally changes. After a day exploring Croatia’s best roads, guests can take time to enjoy the spa, the surrounding coastline and enjoy dinner at the waterfront steak restaurant before another day of epic driving.

Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa, Croatia

After a day of exhilarating driving down the iconic Adriatic Highway, our next stop brings guests to the Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa.

With views over the Adriatic and a 200-metre beach, each accommodation is sea-facing, while the property offers two pools, six restaurants and an extensive Spa and Health Club. For Club GT guests, this is another opportunity to combine the rhythm of the road with some time away from it. The resort’s three-storey, 3,500m² spa includes a hydrothermal zone, fitness facilities and treatment areas, alongside a 255m² indoor heated pool and hot tub.

The highlight of our stay is a Michelin-starred dinner at Nebo Restaurant. Led by Chef Gabriela Filca, Croatia’s youngest female Michelin-starred chef and recipient of the MICHELIN Young Chef Award 2025, the restaurant has quickly established itself as one of Croatia’s leading dining destinations. Its menus celebrate the country’s rich culinary heritage, showcasing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from both the Adriatic coast and Croatia’s inland regions, all served with panoramic views across Kvarner Bay.

Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden, Austria

The final stop on the tour is one we return to time and again, and one of the firm favourites among members: Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden, set directly on the shores of Lake Wörthersee. After climbing Croatia’s highest ski resort, weaving through the twists and turns of the Julian Alps and tackling an epic Slovenian loop, we will be staying at this iconic hotel for two nights.

Its position as the meeting point between lake and mountains makes it an appropriate setting for the conclusion of a route that has travelled from the Adriatic coastline into the Austrian Alps. The property, with its distinctive yellow facade, is part of Leading Hotels of the World and offers 105 rooms and suites, many with views towards Lake Wörthersee or the castle gardens. For those looking to unwind after the final driving day, its 3,600m² Acquapura Lake SPA offers indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, relaxation spaces and direct access to the lake.

This is also the setting of our tour’s grand finale. As the evening draws near, Club GT guests will leave the hotel behind and take to the water, with private speedboats transporting the group across Lake Wörthersee to Sol Beach Club. There, the final evening will unfold over dinner and a fancy dress party, a memorable way to bring six days of driving, four countries and countless miles of road to a close.

More Than a Place to Stay

On The Long Way Round, each hotel has been chosen to complement its surroundings and the experience of the road.

Le Méridien Lav sets the tone on the Adriatic, with its marina and coastal setting. Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera introduces a slower pace, centred around its world-class spa and secluded peninsula. Hilton Rijeka Costabella combines the Croatian coastline with Michelin-starred cuisine, while Schlosshotel Velden brings the journey to its conclusion with a memorable night beside an Alpine lake.

Together, they form an important part of the experience. They’re not simply places to sleep between driving days, but destinations that add something unique to the trip themselves.

Because on The Long Way Round, the journey doesn’t stop when the engines are switched off.

The Long Way Round takes place from 13th-18th September, travelling from the Adriatic through Croatia, Slovenia and Italy before finishing in Austria. Six days, three countries and a carefully selected collection of roads, experiences and hotels, all designed around the Club GT’s commitment to beyond-extraordinary adventures.

To find out more, click here: https://clubgtevents.com/events/2026-the-long-way-around/