Sveta Sofia Hotel

We spent one night here with our dog, and I'd happily return. It's a great budget-friendly option in Sofia, with a location close to everything on foot. The hotel looks dated and isn't modern, but that old-fashioned look has a bit of charm, and everything worked as it should. Our room was warm, the bed was comfortable, and it was quiet inside. The shower was warm with good pressure, and they even left a complimentary vanity kit, something some more luxurious hotels have stopped providing. Email communication before arrival was easy, and the two women we met at reception were lovely. I recommend it.

The staff were nice, and the central location was good. There were drinks at reception that you could buy. The hotel looked better from outside than it did inside, though. It was very awkward to use the key in the dark because it has a card you need to insert for the lights to work. There was too much unnecessary furniture in the room, and I'd like to see the whole place repaired instead of just bits of it. Still, for Bulgaria it's pretty good, especially with so little outside the city, so I'd visit again for the staff and location.

Central location is the hotel's biggest advantage, and the reception quickly moved us when we reported the terrible sewage smell in our first room, 106. The replacement room had no smell. The food, however, was unacceptable and below standard. During the first few days, the dining room staff didn't bring even basic vegetables when we asked. They eventually brought some the next day, but they were poor quality: mushy tomatoes and cucumbers that looked inedible. There wasn't much choice overall. The hotel needs urgent renovation. We could hear between rooms because there was no sound insulation, and the doors were awkward to use, with old locks that were hard to open and close.

I've never had a stay this miserable. The sheets were unclean, there were used condoms under the bed, and the toilet was dirty and had been used. When I raised it with the staff, they behaved terribly. I would never go back.