Ξενοδοχεία με Sofia Airport (SOF), Σόφια

We stayed at Crowne Plaza Sofia for one night on 13 June after receiving recommendations from friends who regularly stay at this hotel. Unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. We booked two rooms for three adults and two children and specifically asked for rooms close to each other. This request was completely ignored. Not only were the rooms not adjacent, they were located on different floors. Since the elevator access cards only work for your own floor, we could not even easily visit each other. Check-in was incredibly slow. Two receptionists spent around 20 minutes checking us in, which is something I have never experienced before. Before going to the pool, we called reception and asked for children’s bathrobes. The receptionist, whose name I believe was Tsvetomira, first insisted that the bathrobes were already in the room and then abruptly ended the phone conversation. The level of customer service was unacceptable. The children’s bathrobes finally arrived about an hour later, after we had already gone to the pool and no longer needed them. The swimming pool experience was by far the worst part of our stay. I strongly advise families with children to think twice before using it. The pool is apparently shared with external visitors who come specifically for training sessions. In a relatively small pool with no physical lane dividers, they expected hotel guests, including young children, to stay out of “their area”. My four-year-old daughter was hit in the head by one of the swimmers. He later claimed that she was on “his side” of the pool. Instead of apologizing, some people present suggested that I was “probably not European” and therefore did not understand “European Union rules”. Such comments were completely unacceptable and felt openly discriminatory. When the pool manager was called, nothing meaningful was done because these swimmers were apparently regular users of the facility. I then spoke with a receptionist, again I believe her name was Tsvetomira, who tried to explain that invisible lines marked on the bottom of the pool should have been respected by our children, despite there being no actual lane dividers. Rather than showing concern for a four-year-old child who had just been hurt and was crying, the staff chose to defend regular pool users. This was easily one of the worst hotel experiences I have had in the last ten years. What shocked me the most was not the accident itself, but the complete lack of empathy, accountability and professionalism afterwards. Families with children should be extremely careful. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this hotel.

The Junior Suite was wonderful, essentially a studio apartment with a well-equipped kitchen and dining area, large windows, a private balcony seating area and extensive shelf space. The bathroom was very modern with a very nice tall shower. The beds were very comfortable and the room was large, with a couch. Definitely a great place for both short and long stays. There were a few small inconveniences in the room, but nothing that affected our stay (water seemed to leak over the door of the shower onto the shower mat; toilet seat was very stiff and loud to open/close; closets were very wide but oddly short to accommodate extra drawers, so too small to hang dresses in full length; the automatic lighting inside the closets did not turn off correctly; and our key card stopped working in the middle of our stay and had to be fixed at the reception). The hotel is very close to a tram stop, so it's easy to get into the city center, and it's also very close to the Cultural Center. It is a bit more of a trek to walk into the city, but still possible in 20 minutes or so. The hotel is located on a small street off the main road and the sidewalk leading up to it is very narrow and in disrepair. You would not guess that the inside of the hotel is so sleek and modern based on the older surrounding area.

The hotel was clean and tidy, everything was great, the only minor issue was the difficulty in adjusting the air conditioning in the room.

Hotel was nice, glad that I’ve found it online, it’s hard to find a good hotel to book online due to tons of negative feedbacks, but this one has a great feedback so I booked it. And it did not disappoint me. Hotel is clean with good fragrance that you can smell the moment that you’ll enter the lobby / reception. Service is great, friendly and accommodating staff. The room is spacious, seems like a 4 star room for me. They serve breakfast, with tons of seats where you can relax after check in while waiting for your next trip or flight. I forgot my bag in their lounge area / lobby before I went to their restaurant to take coffee. Then was in a hurry to go to the car service I booked outside when it was already time to go to the bus station going to Romania. After arriving at the bus station, I noticed that my bag is not in my possession, when I was about to get my other phone. Because I have other luggages to carry and was in hurry. I was worried sick that it will be lost, my bag, glad that it was there. The staff handed it over, they kept it, and nothing was missing. After getting it, I got an email from the booking app where I booked the hotel, telling me that Amar Design Hotel contacted them saying that I left my bag at the hotel. And they were asking for my contact number to reach me, they were to kind to do that right immediately. But I already got the bag. Still thankful and grateful to their staff. I would definitely check in here again when I get back to Sofia, and will recommend it to friends who are traveling here. Thank you. It was a nice stay, and their service made it even great!

Very Disappointing Service – Not Worth the Price I recently stayed at Hotel COOP Sofia and had an unpleasant experience with one of the receptionists, Mariana. When I called the reception to request some ice for my room, she informed me ,in a rather rude tone ! That the hotel does not deliver ice to rooms and that I had to come downstairs to collect it myself. As I tried to explain that I had received ice in my room the previous evening, she abruptly hung up the phone. When I went down to the lobby to clarify the situation, I told her that her behavior was unacceptable and that an apology would be appropriate. Instead of apologizing, she claimed she was “too busy” and that there were “too many guests,” although the lobby was completely empty at the time. She then asked, again in a dismissive way, whether I still wanted the ice. I requested to speak with her supervisor, but she pretended not to understand what I meant. Eventually, she brought me a small amount of ice in a paper cup. Only after I insisted did she return with an ice bucket and tongs. This level of service is far below what one would expect from a four starts hotel of this category. The experience left a very negative impression, and I will certainly not stay here again. Aside from this, the hotel’s facilities are average at best and do not justify the price. The only real advantage is the availability of parking, which also comes with an additional charge of €12 per day.

Very Good Value for Money. Room is clean and cozy. Self check-in is available for those coming past 7pm. I contacted them via WhatsApp. Bed is comfortable. The comforter could be bigger tho. My room is on the first floor on the other house at the back. Kettle is available if you want to make your early morning coffee or tea. There is also a mini fridge. A/C is also available and iron for clothes. Location is perfect, just outside is a tram station and also very close to the airport line station just one transfer or you could just walk. The neighborhood feels safe and a lot of different establishments. There are many restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. My only complaint really is the no separation of toilet and shower as others have pointed out. But the hot/cold shower is very nice. I loved showering here.

The attitude of the receptionist was unprofessional, rude and unacceptable. For one hour, the whole hotel didn’t know how to charge my credit card, as their credit card machine doesn’t follow EU rules for 3D security, thus jeopardising clients’ private data. I wasted a full hour on the phone with my bank, only to find out that the hotel doesn’t follow rules on how to securely handle credit card data. The management kept telling me that it’s my fault, despite the fact I never before have had problems with card payments before. Breakfast food was decent, with a choice between a couple of set menus. The hotel was clean, rooms were quiet, and it was situated and in a convenient location, within 3-4 minutes from the nearest metro station. Some of the photos on their site are dated, as the interior is different now.

Having stayed in many 5 star hotels across the world, I had high hopes for the Sofia Balkan Palace, that unfortunately were only partially met. First let’s cover the good points! It feels historic without being old, and you feel like you’re really in Sofia. The best thing about the property is easily the location; it’s close to all the main tourist attractions, and there are good transport links right by the hotel, as well as access to some fantastic restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. The hotel rooms are modern and relatively clean, with the usual amenities. However, I was disappointed that housekeeping kept forgetting to replenish the complimentary daily water, as well as pay attention to the ‘Do Not Disturb’ light that I had selected for my room on a few days during my visit. I would say that one of the downsides is the customer service; although staff aren’t rude, I wouldn’t say they’re polite or overly helpful. The hotel has average soundproofing, and I was far too aware of the music outside, my neighbouring guests talking or listening to music in their rooms, as well as guests in the hallway (which is in part due to the layout of my room, which did not have an additional door between the bedroom and front door into the room). The noise outside does lessen and stop by about 11:00 PM, and sometimes by 10:00 PM (depending on the day). Overall, I’d still say it’s a good choice for your stay in Sofia. Especially if your priority is staying in a historical boutique hotel in a good location.

Extremely impressive for how cheap it is. I’m sure you can get nicer but for an adventurous traveller, I’m not spending time in the hotel only to sleep! I could walk into town so I was very happy indeed with this!

📍 Location & Pricing • Location: Sofia, Bulgaria. Strategically located near the main transport hubs. • The metro station (coming from the airport) is very close.  • Tram stops are on the corner, and the main bus/train station is just a couple of blocks away.  • The city center is about 1.5 km away.  • Price Range: 79€/d. 🛏️ The Room Experience • Room Type: Twin room on the 11th floor.  • Size & Cleanliness: Adequate size and clean.  • Bed: 110cm firm mattress, reported to be very comfortable, with two soft pillows.  • Amenities: Flat-screen TV, coffee maker, fridge, and hairdryer included.  • Drawbacks: No major issues mentioned. 🚽 Bathroom Details • Cleanliness & Setup: The bathroom was clean.  • Shower/Bath: High and slippery bathtub. Water pressure was very good.  • Products & Towels: Basic amenities were provided. Some towels showed signs of wear with frayed edges.  🍳 Food & Beverage • Included: Yes, breakfast was included.  • Variety & Quality: A very complete breakfast buffet, offering both hot and cold, sweet and savory options, including some local specialties.  • Negative Point: The only drawback was the juice, which tasted artificial, like a powdered mix.  🏊 Common Areas & Facilities • Facilities: The hotel features a spa, sauna, indoor pool, a restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a casino.  👨💼 Service Evaluation • Reception: Morning staff was serious. Evening staff seemed bothered by questions regarding the spa.  • Cocktail Bar: Staff here was very kind and friendly.  • Spa Staff: Described as serious, speaking only the bare minimum of words.  • Daily Housekeeping: Room cleaning was minimal; they only straightened the duvet, leaving the pillows as they were. Coffee and tea amenities were not replenished.  🚗 Transport & Access • Public Transport: Excellent connection. Very close to the metro line from the airport, with tram stops nearby and the main stations within walking distance.  🔐 Security • Access Control: Access is managed via a key card.  • Safe: There is no safe deposit box in the room.  Final Verdict: ✔ Top Strength: The super comfortable bed combined with the excellent location near major transport links (metro, bus, train). ❌ Main Drawback: The service was inconsistent, particularly the minimal housekeeping (no coffee/tea refill) and the unenthusiastic staff at reception and the spa.