Lion Hotel Borovets

The restaurant buffet had plenty of variety and good food, with beer and wine included while you're dining. The bar area is comfortable too. Our room was reasonable and slept three adults fine. There was a mini fridge, but no kettle or cups. You can get paper cups from the restaurant.

The rooms were lovely and very clean, with great woodland views from the balcony. After a long day skiing, we enjoyed the spa area, jacuzzi and sauna. The receptionist welcomed us warmly, and the rest of the staff were polite and ready to help. We loved every minute of the stay and wish we'd had longer. Already looking forward to coming back!

The best parts for me were the saunas, the outdoor jacuzzi and the half-board food, especially dinner. The jacuzzi was always crowded, though. Our room was cleaned almost every day, and the ski shuttle was fine, just a bit small. Robes cost extra. Some of the staff came across as a little rude, and as a couple we were given a twin room, which I didn't like. The pool felt a bit cold after a full day skiing, though it'd be fine on a summer day. There's a lobby area to sit with friends or family, but it has only a few seats and it's hard to find a free table. You have to order from their bar there, so you can't just bring your own food and drinks to play cards or chat. It's the only place to hang out. The hotel is okay, but not great. We also celebrated New Year's Eve here, and I wouldn't really recommend it. Prices were almost double, about 90% more than in another period in January or February. There was a limited number of drinks. The food wasn't enough or very good in my opinion, and the half-board dinner was better. To start, there were a few fruits, breads, nuts, cured meats and cheeses on the table for everyone, but the portions were pretty small. Then they brought us a salad, a small but good piece of fish, a pork steak that was raw inside and inedible, and cake topped with frozen berries that made it really hard to eat. The music was okay, nothing special. The fireworks were amazing.

The forest surroundings are gorgeous, and compared with the other Borovets hotels we looked at, this one seems the most modern, with recent refurbishments. Inside it feels like a four-star hotel, the spa has loads of facilities, and every staff member we met was lovely and helpful. The buffet always hit the spot, with something for everyone. It's a bit of a distance from the slopes, but I think it's worth it: the shuttle runs every 20 minutes and we never found it too busy to board, though we visited off peak. We walked some days too, which took just 10-15 minutes. We'd definitely return.