HIDDEN GUEST: Mövenpick Resort and Spa Fruske Terme

Fruška gora rises above the Syrmian plains like an island, its highest hilltops protruding from the flatness of the vast plains. A part of the area was protected as a national park because of the diverse animal and plant life and favourable climate. In the centre of Fruška gora lies Vrdnik, a mining town long considered home to the oldest coal mine in this part of Serbia. Due to extensive mining, they struck upon thermal springs, which now facilitate the tourist development of Vrdnik. The thermal water’s proven health benefits have fostered the inception of a thermal health resort, which soon became a regional centre for healing heart and rheumatic diseases. Thermal water, this abundant natural resource, is now the heart of the development behind the thermal resort in Vrdnik. The resort gradually developed, first with the opening of Premier Aqua, the first adult-only hotel in Serbia. Later, a slew of adjoining tourist facilities were erected and later complemented by enticing programmes that now form the core of Fruške terme. The location is ideal for uncovering natural and cultural landmarks in the region. Exploring the Fruška gora national park, one of the 17 surrounding monasteries, untrodden hiking paths or the exceptional wine cellars near the resort is a must.

To reach Vrdnik from Belgrade, you will need about an hour by car (74 kilometres). Novi Sad is even closer, only 24 kilometres away. After taking the exit for Fruška gora, you will be captivated by picturesque roads meandering along barley and corn fields and bountiful vineyards and orchards. Mövenpick Resort and Spa Fruske Terme offers organised transfers to the hotel. Likewise, taxi service is relatively affordable. Guests arriving by car need not worry about vacant parking lots. A spacious garage with 385 parking spots awaits in the vicinity while parking directly in front of the hotel is payable. As expected, the hotel offers a charging station for electric vehicles. Within the garage complex, guests can also rent electric bikes, helping them conquer the nearby hilltops of Fruška gora. The regional airport in Surčin is not too far either, some 64 kilometres away, following the motorway route. Thus, guests arriving by plane can reach the hotel in under an hour. Public transport is less praiseworthy. Although some bus lines operate between Belgrade and Vrdnik, they are considered unreliable. We recommend that the hotel sets up signs for reaching the hotel, as one can quickly drive up the wrong hill in a relatively small town.

Fruške Terme is a story of Vrdnik’s transformation and the vision of Milinko Cicmil, the owner of Promont Group. It is remarkable what came about from the ambitious idea of the owner of Fruške Terme. His dreams came true with the first hotel Premier Aqua in 2012, the opening of the ethnic village Vrdnička Kula in 2015 and the inauguration of the latest resort, Fruške terme, in 2019. In an urbanist sense, the fascinating thermal resort is unmatched in the region. We can only compare it with the story of Terme Olimia in Podčetrtek in Slovenia. Guests can thus expect a holistic offer that enables cosy prolonged stays. As per the architectural design, the exterior is monolithic, featuring two distinct facilities surrounding the imposing thermal complex. The eight-storey hotel has a refined facade that blends seamlessly with the surrounding hills. The architects created a functional design dotted with quality-made pieces inside the hotel. Calming colour combinations dominate the corridors and public spaces. As one may expect of a spa hotel, all paths lead to the spa centre. The architects deserve praise for making access as straightforward as possible. Guests can thus go from their room to the spa without problems, and regardless of the immense number of rooms, it never feels overcrowded. The spa centre exudes a feeling of limitless space.

According to reviews on Booking, Mövenpick Resort and Spa Fruske Terme is one of the most impressive hotels in Serbia. Our expectations were high but met entirely. It seems unbelievable that every single staff member is so kind and hospitable. Similarly, the apprentices showcased tremendous professionality. We tried the cuisine in the hotel restaurant and were left amazed by the diverse and rich breakfast, a staple of Mövenpick hotels. The breakfast experience is among the best in the category of regional four-star hotels, with desserts standing out in particular. All dishes were tasteful and suitably labelled. The only aspect of the breakfast that needs improvement is coffee. In any case, we recommend visiting Vrdnička kula, famed for local dishes and excellent grilled meat. Do not miss out on the hotel’s Premier beer, produced in the brewery owned by the hotel’s owners. The hotel also offers catering in outdoor locations in the hotel surroundings.

Hotel rooms

We stayed in the hotel’s spacious and elegant superior room (27 square metres). What caught our eye upon stepping foot in the room was the laminate flooring and pleasant pastel colours on the walls. The hotel balcony, boasting a skilfully-made railing, complements the room. Guests will find everything they expect in a standard hotel room in the bathroom. We found the bed, paired with super soft bed lining, perfect for a good night’s sleep. When guests wish to visit the phenomenal spa centre, they can open the closet and slip into the cosy spa robe. We must laud the possibility of turning off the air conditioning and enjoying the natural climate instead. In addition, the hotel’s decision to make alcohol-free drinks in the minibar free is admirable (included in the price of the stay). One of the drawbacks of the room was the lack of information regarding the resort’s diverse offers. With a bit of digitalisation, the hotel could sell even more services. Also, the rooms are not optimally isolated. Guests thus may hear unwanted noise from the corridors.

Meetings centre

The conference centre occupies the fourth and fifth floors of the hotel, complementing the grand hall in Vrdnička kula, which can be divided into three parts. Altogether, 11 halls are found in the resort, making Mövenpick Resort and Spa Fruske Terme one of the largest meeting hotels in Serbia. With the addition of the hall in Vrdnička kula, the meetings centre is imposing. Most halls boast plenty of daylight, and the foyers are spacious. The technical equipment is standard, with LED screens adorning the walls. A host of outdoor venues are suitable for events and receptions, too. For instance, the terrace in front of the Vrdniča kula evokes inspiration. The meetings centre is one of the largest, most holistic conference centres in Serbia, enabling countless options for event organising. From this aspect, the resort is a modern one-stop-shop where guests can flawlessly organise a wedding or demanding corporate event. Exceptional!

DESSERT – The extras

The original thermal offer evolved into Thermal Riviera Fruške Terme last year. Encompassing 2,500 square metres of water surfaces, the monumental thermal complex now comprises 12 pools (seven outdoor and five indoor pools). A part of the complex is also home to the largest sauna world in Serbia, where guests can choose from a rich selection of treatments. We recommend including this part of the offer in the programme of your events. Your attendees will thank you.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES

The first remark we made during our stay pertained to the location of the garage and the ambiguous price for parking a vehicle. As the garage is not so close to the hotel, we had to make a long yet beneficial walk. Our second remark concerns the hotel corridors, where walls appear dented from the housekeeping carts. Although a hairsplitting observation, the dents smear the overall look and fall far from the promise of Swiss precision.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES

When visiting the hotel, we full-heartedly recommend spicing up your stay with a visit to the local wine cellars, considering this part of Fruška gora is the epicentre of modern Serbian winemaking. Some of the most renowned names are just a stone’s throw away from the hotel (Kovačević, Deurić, Mačkov podrum).

SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS

The hotel does not actively advocate sustainable activities or certificates. Still, we can place their care for local tradition and cuisine (Vrdnička kula) on the list of sustainable initiatives. The hotel owners brew their own beer and rakia and store them in a dedicated storage room. We also noticed the solar panels on the roof of the garage. We recommend that the hotel acquires one of the internationally-acclaimed certificates for sustainability as they tick many sustainability boxes. According to Green Globe, the Mövenpick hotel chain is famed as a sustainably oriented one, and the hotel should follow suit.

Hotel Fruške Terme was renamed last year. The hotel chain undoubtedly brought new knowledge and imbued the hotel with the Mövenpick mentality. Regardless, we were most impressed by the ambition, vision and boldness of the resort’s owners, the Cicmil family. They created a superb resort with a design unparalleled in Serbia. As they emphasise, the resort is a bleisure area. We can confirm that. Attendees will surely cherish the holistic offer of the resort. I firmly believe many event participants will return as tourists.

The hotel’s exterior does not evoke sentiments of joy as the ethno-complex Vrdnička kula does. Yet, the offer and hotel service convince even the most demanding event organisers to host their event here. Those who seek a holistic, harmonious offer in one place will find it here. Based on what we experienced, we can say with certainty that the resort will regularly host events, ranging from corporate teambuilding programmes to governmental summits and weddings. It is crystal clear why event organisers flock here. The Kingdom of Bleisure in Fruška gora hides proficient talents.

FINAL GRADE: 4.89 GOLD Spa Meeting Hotel 

GOLD final score from 4.81 to 5.00
SILVER final score from 4.61 to 4.80
BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60