SkiAdcock

Just noticed on Marriott website that a Residence Inn is opening end of this year/early next & that a Courtyard is opening in mid-2015, both in Sarajavo.

Both properties are Category 4.

Cheers.

escapefromphl

Looks like they have done a pretty good job cleaning things up since the war:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pict...s-changed.html

PetzLUX

I was in Sarajevo for a day last year spending the night at the Hotel Bristol (which is really nice btw).
I walked down the former "sniper alley" to the city center. Sarajevo has a nice old town.
You can still see a few bullet impacts on some houses, but most has been cleaned up.

SkiAdcock

Residence Inn opened today according to Marriott's website. Category 4.

"Ideally located just twenty minutes from the airport and near the old city, the Residence Inn Sarajevo provides convenient access to the city’s historical and cultural attractions as well as restaurants, cafes and shops. An attractive year-round destination, Sarajevo is known for its variety of summer festivals and skiing throughout the winter months."

Also noticed this when you click on rooms. Been a while since I booked a RI, so don't know if that's normal nomenclature or specific to this property.

"Please Note – 3 guests total in studios with 2 single beds / 4 guests -2 adults and 2 children- in studios and suites with 1 king bed"

Cheers.

SanDiego1K

Who has stayed in either property? What did you think?

AlicorporateUK

I will be staying at the Courtyard from tomorrow for 2 nights - I shall write a few lines after my stay.

G

SkiAdcock

Look forward to your trip report. Thx!

Looking at the website. Both properties are Cat 4. RI seems to run 50-70Euros higher than CY (checked a few dif dates).

Cheers.

AlicorporateUK

Live from the Courtyard in Sarajevo, where the temperature outside is rapidly reaching +40°C (not a nice feeling, having left England this morning with not even +15°C).

I had pre-booked the transfer from the airport for € 30 return, which is not bad, considering that [apparently] some taxi companies try to charge € 30 for a one way journey to the city centre Also, I'd rather bill everything on my Marriott Rewards credit card at the check-out [and earn a few extra points] rather than dealing with a taxi driver.

Brand new property, needless to say (open from Wednesday i.e. just 2 days ago). All smooth at check-in and I was also given a room upgrade. I've asked about the fitness centre, but the [nice] receptionist wasn't sure whether this is open to the public yet. My room is on the last floor and has a nice city view, with the hills in the background.

I shall check bar & restaurant later on (& the breakfast tomorrow morning) and will also post a couple of pictures.

Best for now,

Gus

SkiAdcock

Thanks so much - looking forward to rest of your trip report!

Cheers.

AlicorporateUK

@Sharon - enjoy (the quality of the pictures is rubbish, but you get the idea):

View from the room:


7th floor:


Bedroom:


Bathroom:


I should add: extremely helpful staff (always up for a chat), very nice bar area and in a second I'm going to try the fitness centre.

Gus

AlicorporateUK

Fitness centre not open yet as apparently they're having a few issues (for future visitors: it can be quite tricky to find and there are currently no signs on floor 6, where it is actually located; the entrance is through a standard room door).

Breakfast: delicious - proper fish on offer plus a huge variety of bread, pastries etc. which, as I was told from the [lovely] restaurant staff, are from a popular French bakery here in town.

The official opening is next Thursday and I was told that they're already nearly fully booked for next week.

Have a good weekend all.

G

TravelinSperry

Hey all - I have some business in Sarajevo and need a hotel with fast wifi. Do either of these hotels have decent wifi speeds?

On a less important note, are they free as a standard course or do I pay if booking through an OTA?

AlicorporateUK

The [free] wi-fi at the Courtyard worked really well and probably faster than other hotels - in my experience, of course.

P.S.: you get wi-fi free-of-charge as long as you're a MR member.

P.S. 2: according to one of the staff members at the Courtyard, alcohol is not served at the other Marriott property (which is 5 minutes walk from this one) - you may want to consider that, as well (in case!).

I hope this helps.

G

TravelinSperry

Thanks, good to confirm. I spoke with both hotels (although it took some doing, they are not overly responsive via their social media pages). In any event, it was confirmed that the Courtyard has much faster Internet than the Residence Inn although the RI is aware and is working to upgrade their Internet. So I went with the Courtyard.

PetzLUX

Does anyone have an email address of the Courtyard Sarajevo?
Thanks in advance.