Vihren Royal Palace

The staff were friendly and attentive, and when we checked out early before breakfast on our last day, they gave us a lovely picnic of sandwiches, fruit, cake, and water. Breakfast itself was fantastic, with English and continental options, pancakes, made-to-order omelets, juices, hot drinks, fruit, cake, toast, and more. The hotel seemed busy at breakfast, but you wouldn't have known it the rest of the time. It's brilliantly convenient for a family ski break: the gondola is a five-minute walk away, and the hotel has ski storage and is close to rental shops and restaurants. Our room was clean, spacious, and well equipped, with a balcony, good heating, a hot shower and bath, and big, comfortable beds. The decor felt traditional and a bit dated, but it suited the vibe. There's also a nice spa with a pool, sauna, jacuzzi, and relaxation area, plus treatments for an extra charge. We had four nights here, and I'd recommend it for a break in Bansko. It has what you need without being in your face.

The room was too small for two people, and the shower booth was cramped enough that we had to struggle inside it. It also seemed like some standard rooms might have been divided into two, because we could hear everything from the room next door. Apart from that, the hotel had excellent facilities, including a spa, sauna, swimming pool, and fitness area. The gondola station is a 4-5 minute walk away, and Tsakiris, the nearest ski rental shop, is a minute away. Breakfast was very good, with omelets cooked on the spot and a range of delicious food. The staff were kind and responsive. I booked in November 2025 for 90 EUR per night, and for that price I'd give it 99/100 apart from the tiny room. Anyway, I'll be back next winter.

The convenient parking and a sweet treat waiting for us were a lovely surprise and made us feel welcome. From the moment we arrived, the service was excellent. We asked to switch to a room with four single beds, and the staff helped right away with kindness and professionalism. Everyone was available and ready to help with anything we needed. Thanks for the warm hospitality and great first impression.

The worst part was how indifferent the staff seemed. Nobody apologized or tried to make things right, and there was no compensation, upgrade, or even basic courtesy. It felt as if this sort of thing was normal for them. Our room flooded because of technical problems with the hotel's system, which were clearly its responsibility and not our fault. Rather than properly resolving it, they moved us to a much worse room with less comfort and poorer conditions. The replacement had a broken toilet and no hot water, which is unacceptable. Very poor service. I don't recommend this hotel and definitely won't return.