We attended a scientific conference held at Hotel Aurora in Mali Losinj. The entire time we were there we felt as though we were under siege, that the hotel staff saw the guests as either enemies to be "taken captive" and shown how to act, or as children who were incapable of making decisions for themselves.

The rooms were small, the doors thin, hollow core and the hallways amplified everything so that there was absolutely no quiet or privacy. The terraces were not separated or the least bit private. A guest on the terrace on either side of us could easily look into our room and certainly, when they were outside talking, even in a moderate voice, it was as though they were right inside our room with us.

The food was plentiful but generally awful. It is served buffet style and there was a significant lack of salads which we prefer, and heavy on the fried foods, greasy foods, potatoes and other starchy foods. The wine is free with meals, but bottled water must be paid for.

The only really good thing about the hotel is the location and the swimming lagoon. It is situated in a beautiful place and could be a first class hotel with some architectural modifications, a new chef, and a different attitude.