Hotel Helvetia Garni

I was very happy here and can wholeheartedly recommend this little hotel. It's beautifully done in a vintage style, spotlessly clean, and the owners are incredibly friendly. The spa park is right nearby, and the town center is only a 5-7 minute walk. My room was spacious and so quiet it felt like a cemetery during quiet hours. I slept well even with the windows open. Parking is included, and the guest card also gives you free parking throughout the designated parking-meter area. I took off one star because there was no breakfast, my only small complaint. Looking at the other reviews, though, I wonder if they were actually about another hotel, probably the one next door.

It's a relaxed, pleasant place to spend time. I often stop by in the evening for a drink or dinner, and the pinsa is delicious.

If the thermal baths weren't right next door, who would choose this hotel? Nobody, I think. Most of the guests are older, there are hardly any children, and you can feel it in the atmosphere. The reception staff came across as unfriendly and irritable.

The friendly staff and the breakfast were highlights, as was being able to get straight into the thermal baths for free. The rest of the hotel feels like it hasn't moved on from its early days. Our room had no air conditioning, so sleeping was uncomfortable, and the beds didn't meet a 4-inch standard. The bathroom fan was just for show and didn't work, which meant unpleasant smells in hot weather. There was no fridge for cold water, and the furniture was old and worn. The bathroom tiles looked ancient too. The entrance is partly exposed, and the balconies still have their original concrete slabs. The 2021 certificate says the hotel received four stars, but the place felt far from that standard. The staff were very kind, though, and can't be blamed for the hotel's age.