SPA Resort St. Ivan Rilski

We paid for four nights at Hotel Ivan’s and had a very poor experience. Breakfast prices at the restaurant changed from day to day without explanation, which felt confusing and unprofessional. Around the pool, every towel came with an extra charge that hadn’t been clearly explained. During our whole week, nobody came to clean the room or change the towels, and we had to buy toilet paper ourselves. The room wasn’t very clean, either, and the radiator kept leaking. When we told the staff, they just shrugged and left it as it was. The value for money is very poor. We won’t be back and can’t recommend this hotel.

We’re already thinking about stay number four at St. Ivan Rilski, after three visits. The staff are always lovely and attentive, and deal with problems quickly. Rooms are good value, and the Spa is a welcome place to unwind after skiing. The Spa team is especially accommodating. We also enjoy the food, apart from one small letdown this time, and the shuttle to the gondola is reliably convenient. One change did bother us: guests now have to ask for and buy coffee pods in advance for the in-room machines. It feels a bit cheap for this kind of hotel, and the hassle of tracking down pods takes away from the premium feel. It’s not the price itself. Otherwise, we had another lovely stay. I saw someone say the Spa is small, but that hasn’t been our experience. We’ve stayed at several other Bansko hotels, including Kempinski, and this Spa seems about normal for the resort. There’s room to relax, heated beds, two saunas and two steam baths. It’s never felt crowded to us, and we really enjoy it.

We’re planning another visit soon. The staff worked together so smoothly, with smiles and everything under control without a lot of talking. The pools were beautiful, the rooms clean, and there was a great choice of excellent food. For my little boy’s ninth birthday, they left wine and cookies in our room, then surprised him with a cake at dinner. He was so happy. One of the best places for my family to visit again. Thanks ❤️

The hotel upgraded us for free to a three-room suite because we were a big family, and also changed our meals to all-inclusive. Such a thoughtful surprise. We have three kids, aged 4, 4 and 8, and stayed at the end of August. The playroom was a hit with them, and even they got ice cream every day. The dining terrace looks out over the mountains and is a peaceful spot. Everything, from the dining rooms and shared areas to the guest rooms and housekeeping, was spotless. We loved the spa, with its pools, jacuzzis and what seemed like more than ten kinds of sauna. The staff were warm, friendly and always ready to help. Every dish we tried was delicious, and there wasn’t one we didn’t want to try. I put on 3 kilos because it was hard to resist. The Whiskey Sour, Aperol Spritz and Margarita were great too. I can’t figure out why it’s rated 4 stars. It felt like a 5-star hotel, with an even warmer, more welcoming atmosphere. We left happy and can’t wait to return. Probably the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in!