In Europe tips are not mandatory and are at your own discretion. For eastern Europe you can tip not more than 3-5 dollars at the restaurant because the service is already included (obviously the equivalent in local currency) if you are satisfied, otherwise absolutely no tip.
At the bar 1 dollar is enough. Usually the hotel shuttle bus is a private car. The hotel already pay for it. If the driver helps you with the bags you can give him one dollar, for the bellman if you wish one dollar per large bags.
They have not expectations, unless they see an american...

If you wish to visit Sofia 2 days are more than enough. To combine the vacation with another location I would like to suggest you a trip to Istambul.
From the central bus station (near the main railway station) you can take a night bus to Istambul. If I remember the schedule they leave around 10pm and arrive at Istambul the following morning at 8am. Fares should be around 90 USD, but I am not sure. Is an easy trip. Trains are not suggested because nobody speaks english.

Thanks, that's helpful. Although, strictly speaking, the first sentence is true in the US as well. Although you won't make any friends if you don't tip, particularly in a restaurant.

As I have not traveled much outside the US, I also have a naive question. Should I tip only in the local currency, or are dollars appreciated as well? I won't have any local currency until I can get to an ATM, so can I just tip in dollars when I arrive?

Thanks,
AGS

Local currency is the lev, � is widely accepted, and hotel prices are often quoted in euros. If you can try to tip in euros. They don't see many americans, so probably your tip in USD would not be helpful for many of them: the rate to exchange USD to lev, for a small amount of money, is extremely unfavourable.
My suggestion: no need to tip the bus or car driver, a thank you and a smile are enough. You can give some USDs to the bellman, working in a large hotel is not a problem for him to exchange dollars. Hotel bar: charge the tip on the bill. I suppose that when you will go to the restaurant you will have your leva available: many restaurants accept only cash.

Six nights stay at the Hilton Sofia:

Location: at the border of the city centre, not really nice walk (busy streets; about 15-20 minutes), but taxis are extremely cheap in Sofia. Taxis are waiting outside of the front entrance.

Hotel lobby area looks quite grand. Executive lounge and business centre on the first floor. Executive lounge has a small selection from the full breakfast, cold food items and cake during the day and some warm food items in the evening.

I was upgraded to executive floor as a gold, but strangely no recognition of status (in fact, I was told that I booked an executive floor room which is certainly not the case). Also, they keep telling me that my "room rate includes internet" which is also not true.

Full breakfast is quite impressive: eggs made to order, fruit, jams, cheeses, meat, cereals etc. in many varieties.

I did not get the impression that the hotel is tired (as some other poster commented).

Great hotel, great staff, great breakfast, great facilities, great recognition of status.

Yes, the hotel is not directly in the center. I liked the walk around the palace of culture and the park in front of it, and once you've walked through there, it's a 5-8 minute walk to the center restaurant/cafe zone. There is a bus stop/tram stop right next to the hotel, however, and a metro line is being constructed as well.

I also liked the location because if you get a room that faces the city, the view is amazing...especially with a thunderstorm at night. The other side faces the mountain, which I imagine also provides nice views.

Just finished a stay in this property.

The rooms, IMHO, a bit tired in my last stay, have recently been renovated and look great again.

Great HHD recognition with free shuttle to and from the airport.

Lounge was closed for breakfast and they offered the full buffet in the restaurant.

I asked for a late check out, 4pm, and they allowed me to keep the room up to 2pm, and wait in the lounge until my departure.
At 2pm in the lounge there was a good selection of sandwiches, cakes,...

Great stay. ^

I just posted a review of this hotel on my blog
http://upgrd.com/blogs/damian/servic...ton-style.html

The Service is the best!

When in Sofia the Hilton is the way to go!

little_dc,

Great review! I have been looking at a number of Hiltons around the world to go visit that I have not been to yet and you made a very compelling case for the Sofia Hilton. I would be interested to know if you have any other reviews or details about the city itself and what you did or what you would suggest for a visit. How many days would you recommend.

Thanks again for a great review, great pictures and great details on this hotel.

I think Sofia has a lot going for it, but it is not yet the tourist hot spot. The city has some cool places to see but it is small and can knock that out in a day. There is also a military museum in the city. I would tell anyone to do some day trips outside the city. It is not bad to "rent" a taxi for the day. Last time I was there It was spring and did a day out for 80 Euro and stopped at some small towns. Here some photos from both trips.

Hi All,

Sofia Hilton is a hidding jem in all respect in regards of rooms and hg honors but one thing is missing since we last stayed and that is VICTOR the Bar staff does anybody know where he went

Thanks

Basset

Hi Basset,

I agree the Hilton Sofia is a great property with very nice perks for HHD, as the airport transfer.
Nevertheless I consider that your post should be in the Hilton Sofia thread. Doing some search I am sure you will find it.
Mods can you please merge it?

Unfortunately I cannot help with Victor.

You have quite a memory!

Very funny BrlDsguise but there must be another thread about this property somewhere.

I only heart about FT in Dec. 2006 and the last post on this thread is from 2005.

I've noticed that long-time GM Jacques Brune has moved on to Ankara to be replaced by Stephan Reiter from Vienna Danube. Given how tight Danube was with HHonors benefits under his reign, like no breakfast in the restaurant. I hope he doesn't start those kind of policies at the excellent Hilton Sofia. I always found this hotel to be so good, you didn't even realise it was a Hilton!