Vihren

Situated almost bang in the middle between the ski shops/gondola, and the old town of Bansko, the location couldn't be much better for those wanting quick access to the lifts up the mountain during the ski season, whilst also wanting to venture into the old parts of the city. The hotel was the cheapest we could find given the distance from the gondola (we didn't want to be beyond a comfortable walk). As such, it is hard to complain about the following points: We stayed in a 'large double bed room'. But the bed is actually two single beds placed inside a double bed frame. The bed was definitely the worst part of the stay, as they were not comfortable at all. To address this, we used spare blankets and placed them under the sheets. The sauna costs 10 lev each, and requires staff to be notified 2 hours before use... we didn't use the sauna. The shower facilities were basic, but do the job. We found that the hot water lasts for about 20 minutes of showering, then it gets cold quickly. Now for the good points: The breakfast provided is decent, and is served at approx 8am (we found it to be out a little earlier). There is a nice balcony area where you can sit and relax whilst playing cards or something of equal entertainment. The hotel staff were very accommodating and reasonable. If you needed anything, they would do their best to sort it. They extended our check out time to 4pm free of charge! I would highly recommend this a hotel for friends, but for couples and family, I would probably pay a little more to increase to comfort of your nights sleep.