Mini

Tiny, family owned, hotel with just 4 rooms. Reception and café on ground floor, one bedroom on 1st, another on 2nd and two rooms on the roof. The staff spoke English and German. The owner showed us up to the room and explained the features, and gave us the wifi code. The décor is very hard to explain in a good way. There was some minor night street noise and morning glass collecting noise (note I had the double glazed windows open). My room was on 2nd floor. It was of a reasonable size with two single beds, air con, cabinets, cupboards, shower wet room, spare pillows and blankets, mini fridge, insect window screen, feature wall print, feature curtain and blinds. I was not a fan of the rock chic red and black room décor but loved that it had the owners’ personality and taste incorporated. It was a refreshing change from bland chain hotels. The hotel location was at the edge of the old town, near the end of pedestrianised street full of hipster cafes, bars, shops and restaurants, in the trendy “arty” district. Easy walk to main shopping street and squares of the new towns and easy access to the steps leading to the old town. 30-ish minutes’ walk to railway station but our taxi was only 4:12 Bulg or 2 UK pounds (Sept 18). Also close to the main road where 99 bus takes you to bus station - north (for long distance buses to Burgas, etc.) Good points: Value for money, location, big personality, insect window screen, staff. Bad points: Restricted reception time opening hours could be a problem for initial key collection. Tip for the Guest: Mosquito spray; there are many old trees nearby. Maybe ask for top front room as it had a balcony facing the street but probably smaller room. If using taxi, write both Bulgarian and English spelling for the street; as a couple of taxis did not have sat nav/know the location and some mobiles loose signal. Tip for the Hotel: Maybe replace the singe duvet covers with double covers, or bedsheets at the next refurbishment; as the single duvet covers kept slipping off. Local tip: For breakfast, ignore the hipster, soya milk turmeric latte, coffee joints and turn 180 degrees back to the main ring road. Turn left, past the bakers, past the cheap lunchetta, past the bus stop and you come to a communist era square/flats. There a lady runs a hole in the wall café operation. She sells super strength, bargain coffee and local breakfast “faves”, to a selection of locals and bus stop commuters. Just look for the tables and umbrellas in front. Also pop into the tourist office for a list of the weekly private and city gallery opening and events. Would I stay again? Yes, great value for money and good location.