Hotel Jelena

The service was good, and the women at reception were nice. The experience was average overall, though: there was no hot water from the sink, and noise from the parking lot in the morning.

A decent place to crash for one night, but nothing special. It’s in a busy shopping mall about 15 minutes from town, and parking there is chaotic and hard to find. The rooms are basic, with an uncomfortable bed and a small, dated bathroom. There aren’t many nice amenities, no good soap or room service, and services are limited. Check-in took ages. There was also someone walking around the hotel with a gun. The elevator was extremely slow and smelled. Based on the location, rooms, and lack of amenities, I’d give it three stars at best, definitely not four.

The staff were friendly and very helpful, and the food was tasty. The restaurant is especially striking, with its high, beautifully decorated ceiling. The rooms are finely decorated too, though the corridors are unusually long. It’s a few blocks from the centre of Banja Luka. The Jelena building looks like part of an old industrial complex, which you can tell if you look closely, but the conversion has been done very nicely. There’s also a modern mini shopping mall you can reach easily from the hotel.

The restaurant and food are perfect, and the rooms are very clean. It’s part of Emporium shopping centre, so shops are close by, while the city centre is just a five-minute walk. A beautiful hotel and a perfect choice for business travelers.