Hotel Pine

For a budget stay in Skopje, hotel Pine was a great find. Rates were affordable, yet the place was clean, comfortable, and had the essentials. It was also easy to explore from there, with a great location near the city center and free parking. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for good value without giving up quality.

There wasn't anyone available when we went to check out, either at reception or in the offices. The website says the staff speak good English, but their English didn't come close to that standard. The website also claims every room has a balcony, which simply isn't true. And for 8 EUR, the breakfast fell well short of expectations.

The owner was very friendly, and the wifi was fast at 90mbit/s. I also loved the window shades, since they made it possible to darken the room completely at night. The room was comfortable and big enough for me. My only complaint was that there was no hair dryer in the bathroom. I stayed two nights while visiting the city and was really happy. The location worked well too, about 20 minutes to the center on foot or five minutes by bus. The stop is around the corner, and buses run every 10 minutes. A really good price for what you get.

Our first stay was nice enough that we booked the same apartment again on our next trip to Skopje, two years later. This time, though, the kitchenette had no pots or cutlery at all, so there was nothing to cook with or eat from. The fridge was switched off and warm, which meant we couldn't store the frozen food we'd brought. The owner was very friendly. Her English was limited, but she lent us a pot for boiling something and let us use her refrigerator. The price was still good, but I expected more, and we'll probably find somewhere else next time.