From a Spur-Of-The-Moment Entry to a Lifetime of Luxury – Meet Krešimir, the Winner of a Lifetime Holiday at the Pical Resort 5*

To mark the opening of Pical Resort 5* in Poreč in March 2026, Valamar organised a spectacular prize draw with a truly unique reward: a lifetime holiday at the luxury resort – a total of 120 nights for two people. This unique concept was designed to promote the new resort while symbolically connecting guests to the destination and to an investment that marks a new phase in the development of luxury tourism.

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection in Poreč – pools surrounded by Mediterranean greenery with a panoramic sea view.

With the prize draw coming to a close after attracting more than 100,000 entries from Croatia and abroad, the most exciting moment arrived – the announcement of the winner. The honour went to 33-year-old footballer Krešimir Matovina from Zagreb, who will share this unique prize with his wife and two children.

In addition to the main prize, other valuable awards were also presented – ranging from five-night stays at Pical Resort during 2026 to gourmet experiences such as the Parenzana Epicurean Journey, including dinners at the restaurants Spinnaker, Harry’s Piccolo Poreč and JAZ by Ana Roš Poreč, as well as the Purobeach Poreč Experience and a dinner for two at Harry’s Piccolo restaurant.

First Impressions of the Winner of a Lifetime Holiday at Pical Resort 5*

“I’m 33 years old, and I come from Zagreb. I’m happily married and the father of two young children. Until my daughter was born, I actively played football, and even today, I still play alongside work. I’m a sporty person, I have lots of friends, and I enjoy spending time with them. When it comes to travel, everything revolves around family and the children. Still, whenever the opportunity to travel comes up, we’re happy to take it,” says Krešimir.

When the phone rang from an unknown number, Krešimir assumed it was the postman calling about a parcel delivery. He had entered the prize draw quite some time ago and, amid everyday responsibilities, had almost forgotten about it.

His first reaction to being told he had won a lifetime holiday at the new Pical Resort 5* was disbelief, followed by silence. Only after his wife double-checked the draw date and the time he had received the winning phone call did Krešimir call Valamar back and fully realise that he now had at least 30 years of luxury holidays in Poreč secured. Krešimir admits that, even now, there are moments when the family still can’t quite grasp how big the prize is, though the emotions are strong. Each year, they will be able to escape everyday life together and enjoy a well-deserved luxury holiday.

“Of course, this prize means a great deal to our family. Having the opportunity over the next 30 years to go somewhere and relax with my wife and children is something truly special. We’re already joking about it — one year with the kids, the next maybe on our own. A holiday with children isn’t the same as one without them, especially while they’re still little. Those are sweet worries, and I’m sure everything will fall into place after our first visit. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Poreč as an Ideal Destination for an Active Holiday in Istria

Although he has not yet had the opportunity to visit Valamar’s hotels or Poreč as a destination, our winner points out that he finds Croatia’s towns and coastline the most beautiful and always enjoys travelling around the country. So far, Rovinj and Pula have been on his list, and he is confident that their experiences in Poreč will be the best yet.

Given that Pical Resort 5* offers a wide range of sports facilities, particularly for children, it will not be difficult to find activities for the whole family. He is especially looking forward to exploring the Parenzana, the well-known trail that follows the route of the former narrow-gauge railway between Poreč and Trieste, now ideal for walking and cycling.

Parenzana – a popular walking and cycling trail in Istria that follows the route of a former narrow-gauge railway, ideal for an active holiday in nature.

“That will certainly be one of the first things we go to see. We’ll still decide whether to explore it on foot or by bike, as the children are still young, but we definitely enjoy an active holiday –  easy family bike rides, walks along the coast and exploring the nature around the resort, step by step,” Krešimir says with a smile.

Balance for the Whole Family: Facilities That Make a Difference

Our winner points out that they are especially delighted with the prize because the resort is tailored to families, with a large entertainment and educational centre as well as extensive sports facilities. He says they never imagined they would have the opportunity to holiday at a resort with so many high-quality amenities, as when travelling with young children, the most important thing is that they are never bored – that they have activities, entertainment and the chance to learn something new.

For parents, this brings priceless relief: the chance to take an hour or two to rest and truly relax. Alongside the sports facilities, which he particularly values due to his active lifestyle, he believes this balance is ideal for a family holiday.

Of course, the gastronomy at Pical Resort with its seven restaurants, nine bars and Beach club, as well as the premium ESPA at Pical Spa & Wellness, has also made a strong impression on Krešimir. Exactly how they will combine all these benefits will depend on the type of holiday they choose in any given year.

Pical Resort 5* as a Place They’ll Always Be Happy to Return To

“I’m 33 years old – that’s practically an entire life chapter. After just two or three years, you start to feel at home somewhere; after 30, it’s on a whole different level. I wouldn’t say it will be a second home in the traditional sense, but it will certainly be a place we return to with real emotion. I believe it will become a lovely tradition and something truly special in our lives,” Krešimir points out.

For the Matovina family, a lifetime holiday at Pical Resort 5*  is not just a prize that brings luxury family adventures and the joy of future travel. It marks the beginning of a story about unforgettable holidays, shared family experiences and memories yet to be made. A place you always return to with a smile –  for one more experience, one more memory, and the comforting feeling that at Pical Resort 5*, you have your own place for a truly premium holiday.

If you’re interested in the whole interview, watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnj5TxvH0QA&feature=youtu.be