Hotel Victoria

The food was really nice, mostly Bulgarian style. They had chips or hash browns every evening, plus tomatoes, cucumber and other everyday British vegetables. The staff were lovely, and it’s a great hotel, but it smelled a bit of cigarettes and was a bit of a walk from the slopes. Still, a really nice experience.

We’re 61 and 75, and the stairs made this place feel unsuitable for us. There were 32 steps to get to the restaurant, and nobody helped us. Outside, the steps were left icy and uncleared, which made us feel vulnerable and anxious. Staff barely interacted with us; when we entered a room, they’d look at us and then look away. The food was always lukewarm or cold. We didn’t get a single warm meal in seven days. We asked about the advertised sauna and were told it would cost €50 to use. This felt more like a hostel than a hotel. Do not go there!

We had a family room on the top floor and were surprised by how much space there was. The living room had a big double sofa bed for the kids, and the bedroom had a large king bed. There were two showers, though one was oddly placed in the WC room, as well as a bath and loads of storage for bags and shoes. The staff were lovely, friendly and helpful, and the buffet food was nice. Just so you know, the ski resort is a 5-10 minute walk away, where you can hire and store your gear.

We spent four days at Hotel Victoria in mid-March and found it clean and tidy, with great value for the price. The staff were very friendly, and the food was very good. It’s ideally placed for the ski lifts, and there are some fabulous walks nearby too, including the ascent of Musala. I’d thoroughly recommend it.