Sofia Hotel Balkan, a Luxury Collection Hotel (was Sheraton) Bulgaria [Master Thread]
Nov 5, 2017, 11:38 pm
#92
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA AU (ex 10+ year 1k) 1.5MM, AS Newbie, HH ex Dia
Posts: 337
I booked an Executive Room to be able to have a light breakfast in the lounge. The hotel claims that Executive Room no longer gets access to the lounge - the hotel website and Starwood sites disagree on this.
Not that it matters though - the lounge is once again closed "for renovation".
Not that it matters though - the lounge is once again closed "for renovation".
Nov 11, 2017, 1:44 am
#93
Used to be 'flymanbeast'
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Delta silver/marriot platinum
Posts: 2,795
I am at the hotel now for some reason their coffee is amazing. The lounge is under renovation again for some reason, so all plats get free breakfast and 1 snack and drink a day ( I found they give you more if you ask). The coffee is really good! I got a welcome gift in the room of wine and some chocolates as well.
Nov 8, 2018, 3:23 am
#96
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,917
Had a little gathering with a bunch of FTers a few weeks ago in Sofia, and I’m a little embarrassed that I recommended this place to the group. The rooms we got (all Plats) were all over the map — some reasonably modern but tiny executive rooms (like Paris sized), one huge suite, and I found myself in this 1980s “deluxe” room that I can only imagine would have made some commissar from a friendly Warsaw Pact country very happy, back in the days the Warsaw Pact was a thing. The breakfast was a letdown, chaotic and pretty terrible quality. No lounge, and no lounge replacement benefit (drinks, whatever). The highlight was the fitness center in the basement, don’t miss it.
Some of our group stayed at the Hilton (decent for Gold+), and many at the IC (excellent for RA -club and suites- and even for Spire -suites-). Get a credit card status with HH or IHG and give the Sheraton a miss.
Some of our group stayed at the Hilton (decent for Gold+), and many at the IC (excellent for RA -club and suites- and even for Spire -suites-). Get a credit card status with HH or IHG and give the Sheraton a miss.
Aug 8, 2019, 7:08 pm
#98
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Oslo, Norway
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Skyteam E+, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,032
Breaking news out of Sofia!
They are renovating!
I am gonna do this really short as I am supertired. Finally they are renovating the hotel! The shops in i of the hotel is now replaced with a new and nice looking restaurant/bar. Way more inviting than before!
Reception is closed off for full renovation, so they have put up a temporary reception on the 2nd floor.
I was escorted to my room on the 3rd floor and I was surprised. The room has newly been renovated. No traces of the old Sheraton here.
Nice bathroom with rainfall shower with great pressure. Bath amenities from Byredo and Olive Tree. New thick towels. I think there is floor heating as well.
Control panels several control panels - lights, DND, curtains, etc.
Bed is more comfortable and luxurious than before. Great Nespresso machine. State of the art tv system, wifi, Chromecast and many other options.
I guess they are.doing this bit by bit. I am very pleased though, as this is my to go hotel in Sofia.
Their previously outrageous minibar prices has been slashed by more than half.
Good nighr.
I am gonna do this really short as I am supertired. Finally they are renovating the hotel! The shops in i of the hotel is now replaced with a new and nice looking restaurant/bar. Way more inviting than before!
Reception is closed off for full renovation, so they have put up a temporary reception on the 2nd floor.
I was escorted to my room on the 3rd floor and I was surprised. The room has newly been renovated. No traces of the old Sheraton here.
Nice bathroom with rainfall shower with great pressure. Bath amenities from Byredo and Olive Tree. New thick towels. I think there is floor heating as well.
Control panels several control panels - lights, DND, curtains, etc.
Bed is more comfortable and luxurious than before. Great Nespresso machine. State of the art tv system, wifi, Chromecast and many other options.
I guess they are.doing this bit by bit. I am very pleased though, as this is my to go hotel in Sofia.
Their previously outrageous minibar prices has been slashed by more than half.
Good nighr.
Last edited by skrosvik; Aug 9, 2019 at 3:05 am
Aug 9, 2019, 12:38 am
#101
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kuwait (KW)
Programs: Qatar Airways, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 2,712
I’m here too and can only reiterate @skrosvik’s comments. I can’t believe this is the same hotel I came to in 2016 - a total world of difference. I’ll post some photos later today, but they went from babushka to contemporary, complete with the finicky little touch panels for AC and lighting.
Amazing. Will report back.
khabah
Amazing. Will report back.
khabah
Aug 9, 2019, 3:07 am
#102
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Oslo, Norway
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Skyteam E+, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,032
I’m here too and can only reiterate @skrosvik’s comments. I can’t believe this is the same hotel I came to in 2016 - a total world of difference. I’ll post some photos later today, but they went from babushka to contemporary, complete with the finicky little touch panels for AC and lighting.
Amazing. Will report back.
khabah
Amazing. Will report back.
khabah
I wonder how many renovated rooms they have at this point. None of the images on their website shows any renovated rooms....
Aug 15, 2019, 8:30 am
#103
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kuwait (KW)
Programs: Qatar Airways, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 2,712
Sorry for the delay, but here are some photos of the renovated junior suite we were upgraded to; in true hotel parlance, this junior suite is a larger room with more space and a sitting area. The general feel across the hotel is that they're still figuring out what to do with all the space - i.e. the banquet chair in the room, empty walls, armchairs in the restaurant squeezed tightly together, etc. The ground floor reception and ballrooms are active renovation zones with drilling and construction-related noise, so there's a temporary setup on the second floor. The renovation of the main restaurant is already complete.
I return to the hotel tomorrow, so I'll check what the project timeframe is and what areas are currently under renovation.
khabah
***
I return to the hotel tomorrow, so I'll check what the project timeframe is and what areas are currently under renovation.
khabah
***
Nov 5, 2019, 4:43 pm
#105
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, IHG Spire, AMEX Plat
Posts: 608
Any more recent stays? How is the renovation going? Marriott still showing old pics so not sure if more rooms have changed. Any idea when renovations will finish?
is there an exec lounge or not?
between this and IC for a late Feb/early March stay.
is there an exec lounge or not?
between this and IC for a late Feb/early March stay.