Vila Imperial

The location made it easy to find and put us close to the city’s main attractions. Our room was huge, very clean, and supplied with all the essentials. The staff were incredibly kind and always willing to help. For a first visit to Elbasan, we couldn’t have had a better experience.

The beds and pillows were comfortable enough, and I slept well, but the stay had many problems. When I arrived in February, the room was terribly cold, around 17 degrees or less. It eventually heated up, but the bathroom had no heating and remained very cold. There was also water on the bathroom floor, apparently because of a shower problem. The new hotel has very large rooms, yet they lacked enough lights and sockets. The floors were dusty, and there were hairs in the bathroom. The service was not especially friendly, and the staff spoke only a few words of English. Paying with a Maestro card wasn’t possible either. Breakfast was included and paid for, but it was only a croissant and an espresso, with a second espresso costing extra. That’s not suitable for anyone wanting a proper breakfast. We were able to cancel it the next day and have a proper breakfast at the hotel next door. The view from my window wasn’t very pleasant.

The front-facing balcony was a great feature, and the location is very convenient, just one street from Elbasan Castle and the main street. The rooms feel spacious and airy, with simple decoration and large modern bathrooms. English may be difficult for the staff, but they’re friendly and make a real effort to help. Card payments might not work, although there’s an ATM directly opposite.

The excellent WLAN was the main highlight for me. The hotel is new and the rooms are huge, but several basic standards were missing, including a light at the desk, racks for soap or shampoo, and a breakfast buffet. I got the impression I was among the first guests because everything felt difficult, from communicating with staff in English to paying by card and ordering breakfast.