Hotel Vlaho

The room was huge, the kind of size you’d expect in a communist-era building, and we slept well in a comfortable bed. Downstairs, breakfast was self-service in a spacious restaurant; the waiter service was discreet and effective. Check-in was quick and the staff were very helpful. We paid £50 for three of us, though it was out of season, so I can’t say what peak holiday prices are like. I’ll admit I didn’t take photos, but other reviews have plenty. I think the hotel dates from the years just after Tito’s death. It feels like a real hotel from that period, with generous rooms, crafted interiors, solid construction, and a good restaurant. If location matters, don’t hesitate to stay here. I’d love to see hotels of this vintage thrive instead of dull plastic brands, so bring your custom, money, and patronage to this amazing place. To me, it shows respect for Skopje, a city disfigured by the absurd 1994 “makeover” under the appalling government of the time. That’s a whole story in itself, see my other reviews.

There’s a spa and a proper fitness gym here, which I rarely come across in other hotels. The rooms are fine and inexpensive for a five-star place, but by the standards of other European hotels I’d put it at only three stars. Breakfast feels industrialized: coffee and juice come from instant machines, and even the yogurt isn’t fresh.

TCC Grand Plaza Hotel sits in a pleasant part of Skopje, about 3 km from the city center and 1 km from the main bus station. It works well for families. The rooms are large and very clean, with great beds, a spacious bathroom, and a mini bar. Staff are polite and available all the time. Guests can use the swimming pool and park for free, and the Wi-Fi is very fast. There’s also a fitness center with modern equipment, a bar and lounge, bus service, meeting rooms, a hot tub, an indoor pool, a restaurant with a lovely terrace, a spa, and laundry service. I’d recommend this hotel 100 percent. If you stay here, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

The spa was the only part I thought was okay, and the restaurant was so-so. The hotel felt below standard, more like two stars, or three at most. When we asked reception to arrange a taxi to the airport, the receptionist called a friend who arrived in an old private car.