Hotel Samokov

The hotel could use fresh towels for guests paying for the spa, and it was much too hot in the lobby, restaurant and bowling area. It felt like you needed a T-shirt just to breathe comfortably, so turning the temperature down would help. Apart from that, we had a lovely stay. The food was delicious, the rooms were comfortable and everything was very clean. The hotel is well looked after and has a pleasant atmosphere.

The hotel’s a practical, good-value choice for a ski trip. It isn’t luxury and the facilities look dated, but they’re functional and have what you need before and after a day on the slopes. We found the half-board package worthwhile, and it was nice that parking and the pool were included. The location makes getting around easy: the ski lifts and Borovets centre are both nearby, so we didn’t need transport. Our room was spacious and had a lovely view of the slopes from the balcony. There are four lifts in the building, though they move slowly, especially when it’s busy. For a comfortable stay at a fair price, I’d recommend it to budget-conscious travellers.

The British and Irish bar was a real plus, with lots of screens for sport and a comfortable atmosphere for families. The pool was warm and big enough for a swim. We didn’t try the spa. Towels were replaced regularly, as you’d expect. There’s no tea or coffee setup in the room, and reception didn’t have anything when we asked, though there are plenty of nearby places to get a decent coffee. The hotel feels very tired, but the price reflects that. The rooms are a good size, though dated. The toilet is in its own tiny cupboard, so if you’re over six feet tall, good luck with the space. The bathroom is old too, but the hot water was great. The restaurant is large and the food basic, which again seems in line with the price. The beds felt very hard, and I didn’t find the small memory foam pillows comfortable. The lifts seemed to have a mind of their own. Our group made a sort of roulette game out of them during the week. There’s a rumour the place will be refurbished soon, and it definitely needs it. Judging by the decor, it must have been grand and upmarket when it first opened, but times have changed and the hotel hasn’t. This is just an honest review, not meant to be harsh. If you need a cheap room while skiing, it’ll do, as long as you don’t expect much.

There’s loads to do here: bowling, shooting, pool, ping pong and swimming were all great. The bar beside the bowling with Consintine was brilliant, and the Sports bar area had friendly staff. The location is great too. Breakfast was limited but fine. They had gluten-free bread and toasted it in the kitchen for us. The rooms were clean, but really dated. The beds looked like two mattresses on the floor because there were no legs. There was a hole in the bath, and it wasn’t sealed against the wall, so water flooded the bathroom floor. Other than that, it was fine.