^ Appreciate the nice reports. It really helps to know what to expect.

I had several choices in Sofia...just made reservations at the Hilton for late April.

I am at the Sofia Hilton now. I am on a 3 night award stay and have been treated very, very well.^
Upgraded to the executive floor. A bottle of wine and plate of goodies was waiting and then the next day another bottle and snack plate.^
The lounge is closed...but executive floor guests are invited to go to the hotel bar and order...all free.
This is a very good property with an outstanding staff at all levels.
Free airport shuttle for diamond members and free internet in the business for diamons.
The location is really not bad. It is a easy walk along the main shopping street to the center. A taxi to the Cathedral was about $3.00 including tip.
I have nothing but good things to say about this property.

Hilton Sofia
 

Hello,

Anybody stayed at the Hilton Sofia recently?

Thanx

I stayed there over New Years Eve for three nights and I have to say, it is a wonderful hotel with a great service offered to diamond members. Even though the lounge did not serve any snacks they had a special menu available in the bar with some nice items on it.

I can definitely recommend choosing this hotel!

I have been several times in this property and my last stay was for 2 nights back in August 2009(HH Gold at that time).

I still like the property but the rooms are already a bit tired and at least the carpet needs renovation.

The lounge was only serving coffee/tea in the mornings but they offered complimentary full breakfast in the restaurant for Gold and Diamond Members. In the afternoons there were 2 hot snacks + few cold items & alcoholic beverages.

There was no computer/free wi-fi in the lounge but they allowed me to use the computers in the Biz center at no charge.

Thank you for your feedback
 

Dear Guest,

Thank you very much for your kind feedback and nice comments. We are very happy to learn that you enjoyed the Hilton Sofia experience over New Year's Eve and remained highly satisfied with the service of our team members! It will be a pleasure to welcome you back on your next trip to Sofia.

Sincerely,

Jacques Brune
General Manager

I have to say that Hilton Sofia is one of the best properties in Sofia right now. I haven't stayed there myself but it did get a lot of hype when they were building it, I lived in Sofia at the time.

Good stay but...
 

Was there this week, on generally an excellent stay, but:

no probs w checkin, upgraded to exec room on 9th floor, nice lounge (although I thought quite small for size of hotel, never very busy) - good food options in afternoon/evening and breakfast, including excellent freshly squeezed OJ, good choice of drinks (beer/wine/spirits, etc). Gym small with no Concept 2 rower and sauna a bit cool for me. Staff all friendly.

But:
power in room was off when I woke up at 0645 - couldn't work out why the little alarm clock wouldn't play my ipod, but then realised that the tv/lights/AC were also out. Called down to reception who were surprised but offered to send an engineer up. Five minutes later (and obviously just before the engineer knocked on the door) power came back. Very curious.

Also, booked a corp rate which clearly said 'tax included', but was charged 20% VAT at checkout. FD member confirmed what I thought, that the res was wrong on HH website, and that the rate is ex tax, but didn't propose charging the ex tax rate. Said that he'd check with the back office and they would come back to me. Waiting...

Hilton Sofia trip report
 

Stayed at the Hilton Sofia few days ago and I must admit this is one of the best Hilton in eastern Europe. The hotel is at the beginning of Bulgaria blvd, just in front of the National Palace of Culture, and is surrounded by a huge park. The hotel is not centrally located, but the distance is not a problem because you can reach the city center with an easy 15 minutes walk, unless you prefer the public transportation: many buses and a tram line stops nearby and the single ride is still priced 1 lev (about 0,50 EUR or $ 0,60). There are some restaurants in the area (ask the concierge for suggestions), a McDonald’s just in front of the hotel and a large shopping center with some food outlet in the vicinity.

As a Diamond I received a complimentary transportation from the airport. I emailed them the day before my flight number and arrival time and I met the Hilton driver waiting for me at the exit of the arrival area (my flight was 1 hour late) and reached the hotel in about 20 minutes. This is IMO one of the best benefit provided by the hotel, offered also if you book an executive room or a suite: you don’t have the hassle of changing money at the airport and look for a taxi (even if the taxi fare is quite unexpensive, about 15-20 leva, the most part of taxi drivers don’t speak a single word of english ). If you prefer public transportation there is the express bus 284 from the terminal 2 and the bus 84 from the terminal 1 (be aware that due to road construction in the vicinity of the airport the journey with the bus 84 requires more than 40 minutes, compared to the 20 minutes with the bus 284). To reach the Hilton get off on the Evlogi Georgiev boulevard in front of the National stadium Vasil Levski and take the bus 94.

I was upgraded to an executive room on the 8th floor with a view towards Vitosha mountain. Nice room with CD player, radio and an old CRT TV with a large selection of satellite channels. Large bathroom with tub and separate shower. In the room two bottles of mineral water, a bottle of red Bulgarian wine, belgian Leonidas fine chocolate, a cake and a welcome letter from the FD manager. Turndown service in the evening. Internet cable in the room and 6 PC working stations in the business center, with webcam, fax, scanner, photocopying and secretarial services. In the business center free internet for executive room guests: you have to ask the business center attendant to enter the password to use PC, but you don’t have time limits due to high number of PCs. Prints or photocopies are free. The lounge is located on the 1st floor just in front of the business center. Large selection of coffee, teas and soft drinks. In the afternoon from 2.30pm selection of sandwiches, snacks, fruit, sweets and cakes. From 6pm also hot selection with soups, pasta, fish or meat (usually 2-3 items to choose every day), desserts and free alcoholic drinks. Business center attendant usually manage lounge admittance. During my stay on saturday and sunday the lounge was closed and executive floors guests were invited to go to the hotel bar and order from a special menu: soups, salads, hot sandwiches, snacks, tarts and cakes, and alcoholic drinks from 2pm...all free and served at the table. During weekdays breakfast is served in the lounge, during weekend in the main restaurant, with wider choice and eggs, omlettes and pancakes made to order. Gym entrance on the ground floor close to the front desk, quite small, and also a small pool; nice sauna and steam room.

I fully agree with the OP: Hilton Sofia have the most friendly and accomodating staff I have ever met in a Hilton hotel. FD agents were wonderful during all the 3 days of my stay (I must praise here Vanya and Yasen for their superb job, going above and beyond with my many requests). Also housekeeping, business center, lounge and bar staff did a great job.

Sofia is a quite small city and for a leisure stay two days are enough. You can easily visit the main monuments and museums in one day and if the weather is good the second day go to Vitosha mountain (you can reach it from Hilton with bus 9TM to Hladilnika bus station and then you have two options: go to the top of the mountain with bus 66 or take the bus 122 to the cableway station). If you plan to stay one more day you can’t miss a visit to the wonderful Rila monastery about 100 km south of Sofia: you can book a group tour or take the much cheaper bus departing 10.20am from Ovcha Kupel Bus Station (west bus station) arriving at Rila at 1pm, and departing from Rila at 3 pm (one way fare 10 leva).

Any recent Hilton experience reports? Are Golds still allowed access to executive lounge? Any problems with new free international internet access from guest room? Planning a trip in November. Any comments on the weather during that period?

Thanks

Is the only way to secure the airport shuttle by emailing them in advance? Or is there a Hilton desk at the airport?

No desk at the airport. I suggest you to send them an email with flight number and estimated time of arrival. The Hilton driver will meet you at the right terminal (there are two terminals) even if your flight is late.

Exec lounge back up?
 

One of the last posts that I have seen said that the Exec. Lounge was closed but Diamonds could go to the bar for free. Has anyone been there int eh last year or so since that was posted to see if it is back up and running? I figured it was a temporary closure.

Woudl anyone advise on how much time to spend in Sofia if just for fun?

Stayed last april and the lounge was closed only on weekends. Normal operation on other days. During the days of closure every guest staying at the executive floors, not only Diamond members, had access to the main restaurant for breakfast, with better selection of food, and to the hotel bar during other times with a special food menu and free drinks.

For a visit to Sofia I think two days are enough, maybe you can stay one more day if you plan to visit the Rila monastery or Vitosha Mountain.

I stayed at the Hilton Sofia last month. The Executive Lounge is modest, but certainly acceptable. It was very quiet. On Saturday morning, when I was departing, it was closed for breakfast, so I was offered b/f in the main restaurant, which as Aldebaran points out, has a better selection of food.

I agree that two days is adequate. I visited several museums, art galleries and the Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church.