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Originally Posted by NoY
(Post 36491516)
There were 2 beers, Heineken & a Bulgarian lager
I had a reward stay there recently, booked a standard King Room. Auto-upgraded by the system 3 days out to King Deluxe. Arrived on the day to see my upgrade showing as "from" a King Executive Room to a King Penthouse Room on the 10th floor (which has a balcony) - very nice! Agree on the quality of the refurbishment of the hotel. |
Stay report - December 2024
Booked an entry level king room for 4 nights at 148€ per night mid-December. Upgraded to Park Executive Suite 3 days before arrival.
Being a solo traveller I’m not bothered about suites but I quite liked photos of a King Executive Room on the Penthouse (top) floor with a bathtub with a view. The hotel’s website showed that a King Executive Room on the top floor was available for the 4 nights of my stay and was actually cheaper than the Park Executive Suite. I arrived late (after 11:30pm) and two women at the reception were adamant that no room on the top floor was available. So I reluctantly accepted a Park Executive Suite on the 8th floor. Location: Because of my late arrival I took an “official” airport taxi (Yellow Taxi) to the hotel which cost about 12€. The hotel is 3 minutes walk from the European Union metro station. Metro is very cheap and easy to use with contactless credit or debit cards. The trip back to the airport was by metro changing from line 2 to line 4 at Serdika. Make sure to get on a train to the airport at Serdika as lines 1 and 4 share the same platform. It’s a nice walk from the hotel over a pedestrian bridge towards the National Palace of Culture (NDK) and beyond. External view from south. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...aca0281ec.jpeg Christmas decoration in the entrance lobby. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e857dedf8.jpeg Room: Snce this was my first stay at the hotel I have no idea what it was like before refurbishment but they seem to have done a very good job. Plenty of plugs and USB ports throughout the room. However, I couldn’t figure out how light switches worked. It didn’t seem possible to switch on the bedside light without switching on ceiling lights by the wardrobe as well. I also didn’t know how to switch on the coffee maker or the kettle in the alcove without switching on lights in other parts of the suite. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2ee8af0f7.jpeg Sitting / dining room https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6b32af817.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7e39da816.jpeg The bedroom seen from the sitting/dining room https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...919a163b8.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6556600d3.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d1a125c4c.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d792c0a71.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...64d1a20c2.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4b39ee7ab.jpeg Bathroom https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e6463d20a.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0b1f40c0f.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1ea923753.jpeg There was CNN in the executive lounge but not in the guest room. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7670b3e80.jpeg Floor plan (west half of the 8th floor). I was in Room 831. If given a choice Park Executive Suite x01s on the other side of the elevator hall should have better views. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4f4d481ea.jpeg 8th floor elevator hall https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f8afeaba2.jpeg Breakfast: Breakfast was disappointing. I’ve had better breakfasts at many Doubletrees in Europe. The hotel was very empty when I was there with not many people at breakfast. I wonder how they cope when the hotel is more full. Cooked food was not kept warm and got cold very quickly. Smoked salmon on the first morning was not very fresh and I didn’t touch any on subsequent mornings. There was no breakfast in the lounge. Oxbo Restaurant- breakfast room https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6f737fc6a.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e601885d8.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...aad0bf14e.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e6f22f393.jpeg Banista (Bulgarian cheese pie) the best part of breakfast. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0396f174d.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1ee8fa1a8.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6e07ea616.jpeg Table decorations in Oxbo Restaurant https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d04d3a09a.jpeg Executive Lounge: The Executive Lounge is on the ground floor and has outdoor seating area during warmer months. Cocktail hour is between 5:30 and 7:30pm. Selection of drinks is limited: local red, white and rosé wine, Heineken, non-alcoholic Heineken, a local beer (Zagorka), Johnny Walker Red Label, Absolut Vodka, and soft drinks. I was very happy with the selection of food on the first two evenings (I arrived too late on the first day): Asparagus & pumpkin salad, deep-fried shrimps, vegetable spring rolls. Spinach ravioli, more deep-fried shrimp, aubergine purée. Although I didn’t touch them there was some creamy, yoghurty thing (Tzaziki?). Selections of cheeses and charcuterie. Two or three types of desserts which were very nice, and nuts, crackers, etc. Lounge entrance seems to have changed since March. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a64d4f4a5.jpeg Lounge food on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ca55f024b.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5d6b5d520.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3d4697f2e.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1e8050e97.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7d987d90f.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0cd2a1c24.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ece356d99.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b0a29e331.jpeg There were only 6 or 7 people in the lounge during the cocktail hour on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday evening when the selection of food was less attractive there was no one left in the lounge by 6:30pm. Lounge food on Friday evening - not as good as on other days. Bulgarian Shopska Salad. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7d173beff.jpeg Broccoli and Brussels sprouts! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2e0c5afec.jpeg Not sure what this was as I didn’t try. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d26632be0.jpeg Desserts looked ok. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d44564282.jpeg I had to have one of these! https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7f16424cb.jpeg Executive Lounge from outside. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ae4832679.jpeg It’s a nice hotel but their service does not seem consistent. |
Has anyone stayed here recently?
I emailed to ask if they offered airport transfers, the answer came back yes via a 3rd party for €51 per person each way. Suffice to say I've booked via Holiday Extras for £52 return! |
Per person is egregious.
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£52 return is still an absurd price, taking a taxi - from the official taxi stand - would have cost you max €15 each way, and BG has replaced its local currency with € as of 1.1
Additionally, in case you do not have a lot of luggage to drag, the metro stop is on the back side of the hotel, takes longer from the airport, but costs peanuts |
Originally Posted by S_W_S
(Post 37513607)
Has anyone stayed here recently?
I emailed to ask if they offered airport transfers, the answer came back yes via a 3rd party for €51 per person each way. Suffice to say I've booked via Holiday Extras for £52 return! |
Originally Posted by tobegold
(Post 37513955)
Post 152 paid €12 using official airport taxi, that was a year ago but a return should still be less than holiday extras. The metro is easy and cheap.
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Thanks all.
I missed the post with the taxi cost, a friend said to me ages ago to make sure a transfer was pre-booked rather than using the airport taxis, I can't remember their reasoning to be honest. The official taxis cost makes the hotels pricing even more absurd! I was aware of the metro, and will take it back to the airport, but I'm travelling with my parents who have a lot of luggage for their onward trip, and an early flight back. So something pre-booked was preferred by them. |
Originally Posted by tobegold
(Post 37513955)
Post 152 paid €12 using official airport taxi, that was a year ago but a return should still be less than holiday extras. The metro is easy and cheap.
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Yellow Taxi has a stand inside the terminal but if you go there they’ll just tell you to go outside and look for one of their taxis.
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Originally Posted by sigma421
(Post 37515024)
I was a very similar price in September. No issue just getting a taxi outside the terminal. The official taxi apps were a right pain but I eventually got one of them to work for booking our return.
If you don't mind me asking, was anything different at the hotel to the previous reports in 2024? Thanks! |
I stayed there for 3 nights just after Christmas. I was upgraded to a Park suite which was very spacious. Breakfast is good with the normal choices & eggs done as you wish. The spa is small with a sauna & steam room, but was fine for me. The gym is a decent size & as I only ever use a treadmill was ok. The executive lounge is large, the food offerings in the evening are reasonable with beer, wine & some spirits. All in all a good hotel & I'm sure I'll be back.
Agree with everyone get a yellow taxi. |
Originally Posted by S_W_S
(Post 37515422)
Thank you, I've downloaded the Yellow Taxi app for if I don't fancy taking the metro when it's my time to head to the airport.
If you don't mind me asking, was anything different at the hotel to the previous reports in 2024? Thanks! |
I am staying there this weekend. The pictures of the gym on the website shows mostly cardio and hints that there are machines for resistance training. But another photo shows a completely different room with a smith machine. Could someone comment on what is available for resistance training ?
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