mk | hotel tirana

Being close to the airport is handy if you have an early flight or arrive late. But the rest of the experience was poor. The spa area was really just three pools: a swimming pool, a shallow one for kids, and one with bubbles that only came on every 30 minutes. It was noisy with kids screaming, so it wasn’t relaxing. There’s a huge, nice playground nearby, and I think a kids’ shallow pool would fit better there, leaving a separate spa space for adults. The restaurant was supposed to have good meat, but our cured Angus beef was overcooked instead of medium, too chewy, and still had tendons in it. There were plenty of waiters, yet nobody noticed when our wine was empty, when we’d finished and wanted to pay, or whether we wanted more drinks, dessert or coffee. Staff also seemed stiff and not very relaxed or friendly, probably because of poor management. Fancy hotel restaurants often seem to have this problem. They need to pay more for great chefs and give staff time to learn good service. That doesn’t happen by itself.

The pool is nice, and the gym is really good. The rooms are decent too, and most of the restaurant food was delicious, apart from one awful burger. It’s also convenient being right by the airport. Service was the big problem. Only one person at reception and one in the restaurant were exceptional. The rest seemed not to care. I had to try several times to get waiters’ attention while they stood around, and food and drinks could take a long time. For a hotel restaurant calling itself five star, that was the worst customer service I’ve come across. The shift manager, who had worked at the Hilton Hotel, was the only restaurant staff member who went out of his way to help me. The spa wasn’t worth paying for. The therapist’s service shocked me, and the massage was awful. I stayed two nights and regret it. I wish I’d spent longer at the Hilton hotel instead of this three-star hotel.

We felt supported when a situation came up, thanks to the hotel director, a gracious and professional lady who helped sort it out with real understanding and elegance. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, the pool was great, and the whole place was spotless. Its modern, fresh design made it a pleasant place to stay. It’s a convenient and welcoming choice when starting a trip in Tirana or flying out, especially after a late arrival. Five stars for the hotel and for the service. Thank you for making our visit such a positive one.

For what I paid for nine nights, it was a horrible stay. There wasn’t hot water, and my wife was expecting to leave with a chance to take a hot shower at home. The hotel said the temperature was regulated for our safety and everyone else’s. Breakfast wasn’t special or particularly traditional. The pool and sauna were okay. Room service was another issue: they took bathrobes or towels to clean and didn’t bring replacements, so we had to ask each time. Sometimes a day or two would pass without new ones. After nine nights, I feel I can comment on the price and quality of service. I’d skip it and try somewhere else.