Rilets Resort & Spa

The location worked really well, close to Rila monastery and the mountain trail, and the hotel staff were lovely and friendly. That earns the two stars, though my stay was a letdown. After a long hike I was looking forward to the spa, only to find it wasn't working. Reviews suggest it's been out of service for nearly four years. I should've checked before booking, but other places were too far from the trail and hard to reach without a car. Breakfast was disappointing too. I ordered a cheese omelet, something I usually enjoy in mountain huts, but this one had hair in it and was so over-salted I couldn't eat it. For such a high price, I expected more. The room price was supposed to cover a spa and a good breakfast, and if it weren't so exorbitant I might have let these things go. The first impression was great, but it didn't last.

The hotel was spotless, with new rooms, friendly staff, a decent breakfast and mountain views. You can walk to the monastery, and there's a mountain stream nearby. The pool, sauna, casino and nightclub were closed during our stay, though we hadn't expected to use any of them. Those one-star reviewers looking for somewhere to sit could try the monastery, the only reason to come to this part of the mountain.

The hotel itself is beautiful, with nice architecture, easy parking, and a spacious, comfortable room. Getting there was a pain, though. Google Maps doesn't show it when you search for “Rilets & Spa,” and the hotel should have its name in English too. The route is poorly marked: go past the monastery, out of the village, turn right at the “camping” sign, then right after the bridge. The road is wrecked, but it does lead there. Our room had no air conditioning, which didn't bother us. The pool was definitely cold, and only one spa room was open, with the others closed or out of order. We avoided the restaurant for dinner because of the bad Google reviews, but tried breakfast there. Better to eat elsewhere, it wasn't worth it. It's not a terrible place, but the room price suggests a high-end level of service that just wasn't there.

The spa was very nice, with a choice of steam room, hammam and dry sauna, and the hotel was extremely clean. Staff were helpful and kind. Most spoke English, though a few didn't. We got a good deal for the quality in the off season, when the hotel was nearly empty. Breakfast was included, quite typical and filling, with plenty of meat and cheese. A couple of things were inconvenient: they warned us the power would be cut the next morning, although that was the city's fault, so we had to hurry a bit. There were also no massages or hairdryer available.