Hayat Hotel

The only good things here were the morning staff and the location right next to the famous yellow fortress. The rest made it hard to get a good rest. The hotel’s electricity shuts off often, so the stay can be full of surprises. The walls are paper thin. You can hear people talking next door or in the hallway. In Room 105, I could clearly hear a staff member playing a video on his phone at reception at 2:30am. The whole hotel was full of students, and once it finally got quiet for a while, I went down and told him to keep it down. He talked back and said it wasn’t loud, even though I could hear the audio clearly from my room. Stay somewhere else if you want a peaceful night.

My mother and I stayed here in August last year, when it was very hot. A staff member was kind and attentive, making sure we had access to a fan and the other amenities we needed. Our room was nice and clean, and the Bazaar is just a short walk away.

The staff were friendly, and the Wi-Fi worked well. The location was peaceful and close to the city center. The room quality was poor, with creaky, hard beds and problems with the doors, locks, and shower. The walls were thin, so we could hear noise from neighboring rooms. There were no large towels, but we got one after asking. Breakfast was disappointing. The eggs were overcooked every day and hard to peel, and the toast was cold.

The staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and helpful, which is the main reason I’m giving four stars. It’s reasonably priced and good value, with the basics needed for a short stay in Sarajevo. If you just need somewhere to sleep between exploring the city, it works well. The hotel sits on top of a hill, a very short walk from the main centre. There’s a tram station nearby, and the hotel is a short trip from the airport and train station by taxi, bus, or tram. The rooms are basic and small, and can get quite hot. There’s no shower door, so the room can get wet if you’re not careful.