Villa Bella

The lake and city view was lovely, and I found the stay very peaceful. The room was cozy and warm, a bit like being at a parent's or grandparent's home, and the bed was very comfortable. Coffee and tea were provided, and laundry was available in-house for a flat €10. I would've liked a few more cooking basics, such as a microwave, dishes and utensils, or perhaps breakfast for purchase. Driving through the narrow, hilly streets can be challenging, but it's manageable, and I found street parking.

Eighty euros a night and no breakfast? I only took the room because there was nowhere else available across Makedonija and at least Eastern Albania. It was neatly designed and okay, but rooms for twenty or thirty euros can be better, with a kitchen or a bigger bathroom. At that crazy price I expected more. Seeing “4 star hotel” as the OFFICIAL Google Maps definition made me think there'd be a good breakfast. There was nothing. When I asked, this ivan person mumbled something about people standing in bars on New Year's morning, or something like that, and New Year's lasting two days, so there'd only be breakfast in April. Whatever. If you don't serve breakfast and the room is barely worth thirty euros, don't charge eighty or pretend to be “a 4 star Hotel.” The truth is, you're one star at best. Riga is more expensive than Ohrid. Last Winter I stayed in a four star Hotel in Riga for seventy six euros a night, breakfast included, and WHAT a Glorious Breakfast it was: eggs, breads, cereals, yogurts, cheeses, fruits, and milks, including a Vegan one. Here, despite a nice price-list for the “mini bar,” the fridge was ABSOLUTELY EMPTY. There were two coffee-capsules that made THE WORST, completely undrinkable “coffee” ever, and standard Tea bags. Sometimes there was sugar and sometimes not, and there were no spoons, so use your finger or tooth-brush to mix it. The linens weren't changed during my four-nights-stay. There was no soap or shower-gel, and the only shampoo was a miniscule amount, though luckily I had my own shampoo and soap. The towels barely got changed, and the step between bathroom and bedroom is an accident waiting to happen. This was worth eighteen euros AT THE MOST, surely NOT eighty. Just avoid this scammer.

Once we found it, the host was fantastic: he helped with our luggage and car and suggested things to do. Breakfast was good and served on the rear verandah. The place is close to the center, in the old part of town on a narrow, steep street. It wasn't easy to find, with signs few and far between. Sadly, it's not suitable for people with disabilities.

A helpful Manager/Owner (Ivan) runs this basic, no-frills bed and breakfast near the City Centre and lakeside. Be careful not to confuse it with Villa Bella, which is about 10km beside the lake beyond Sveti Stefan and appears on GPS.