Our stay at Falkensteiner Zadar was disappointing and far from what you'd expect from a 5-star hotel. I had to call the reception at least five times within an hour before anyone answered. After requesting some basic items, it took another hour for them to arrive. Bathrobes for kids were missing, and since no one picked up the phone, I had to go to the reception myself—something that could’ve been avoided if the room was properly prepared based on the reservation.
The hotel charges €13/day for parking, which feels unreasonable given the location on the outskirts and the fact that the garage was only 25% full during pre-season. Ice cream is only served at dinner, and the kindergarten for kids under 3 is free for just 2 hours, staffed by only one person. Despite being half full, the service was slow and inconsistent. I can't imagine the situation when it's at full capacity.
To top it off, they include a €10/day “voluntary” tip by default, which is unacceptable.
On the plus side, the rooms are spacious and the food was mostly good (aside from the beef soup). Still, compared to similar family hotels like Amarin or Lišanj, this one does not justify its high price or 5-star label.