Hotel Bristol Palace

Our room was spacious and very clean, and the landscaping and pool were lovely. The main promenade is only about a four-minute walk downhill. Breakfast had good coffee and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Parking was unusual, but it worked and cost 15 euros a night. I was impressed by how nice the hotel was for such an affordable price.

I wouldn’t recommend this place to couples. My wife and I stayed here in February after I booked a double room through Booking. They didn’t give us the room we’d paid for, and the staff responded very rudely. I showed them my booking confirmation for a double bed, but they insisted they couldn’t provide it and tried to send us to a much lower-grade hotel. They also said they couldn’t refund us, so we had to stay here. I can’t recommend it to any couple.

The massage therapists were friendly and spoke English, which was the only welcoming part of our stay at The Bristol Palace Hotel in Karlovy Vary. Everything else was disappointing. There was no concierge to help with luggage, and security wouldn’t let us stop briefly at the entrance to unload. Reception staff spoke very little English, making communication difficult for an international hotel. The rooms were dated and not very clean, service was poor, and breakfast was limited, repetitive, and not tasty enough, so we brought our own food. Getting to the pool meant a five-minute walk through an underground tunnel between buildings. We had booked Fango treatments, but when the time came, a letter said they were canceled because supplies were missing. No new appointment or alternative was offered. I can’t recommend the hotel if you expect good service, cleanliness, and a welcoming atmosphere.

I wouldn’t book here again. The price felt too high for what we got, and the staff’s poor English and lack of customer care shaped the whole stay. Check-in took nearly 30 minutes and ended with them telling us, “No parking, no.” I’d reserved parking with the room, but reception didn’t understand that, and there was a long argument about sending us to a public lot and having us bring our things back. Security eventually helped us park in the hotel area, but the discussion took about 20 minutes. Parking is 15 euros a day, and you need to have your reservation with you. Most staff spoke little or broken English, and one receptionist spoke broken German. They weren’t friendly or helpful with questions. At breakfast, staff pointed us to a seat and told us to hurry because we were eating slowly and planning our day. The buffet was okay for 5 euros, though the coffee machine was very slow. The hotel sits on a hill above Karlovy vary’s main attractions, so consider the walk if that’s difficult for you. The view is great. Rooms are okay, somewhat elegant, and the hotel has a classy look, but it’s visibly old. The spa included with the room was fine, nothing fancy, though the way there was confusing and long. Most other spa areas cost extra. The rooms and design don’t make up for the poor service, long route to the pool and spa, and parking problems. Two stars from me.