Stradzite Hotel

5 readers found this review helpful

If you are booking the Strazhite or like us were cancelled from another hotel due to a double booking, in our case the Tamplier Apartments, then have no fear. Other than the Kempinsky Grand Arena (5*) this is probably the best hotel you will find in Bansko.
First the good bits: very well located and easily walkable to the Gondola (5-10 mins), though they do offer a shuttle service, every half hour
Top tips: this runs from the side of the hotel, not the front. At the side entrance you will also find excellent ski and boot storage courtesy of the hotel.
Rooms are spacious, and if a family booking consider taking the excellent split level apartments as we did. Staff very courteous.
Rooms and communal areas kept very clean and warm. Drinks were reasonably priced and even the hotel room mini-bar was affordable (a first anywhere!)
Now the not so perfect bits:
Top of the list food: it’s plentiful but lacking in flavour and the buffet mass-catering approach delivers a significantly less than 4* experience.
We prefer to eat local food and were pleased that the dinner menu features Bansko typical dishes rather than the dreaded "international cuisine”.
However, you will find better cooked and flavoursome food in some of the local eateries (which you should venture out to anyway!).
Second: the swimming pool-it's a good size but not warm enough. Coupled with the fact that there isn't a spa/Jacuzzi (nor a bath in our room) it was difficult to warm away the aches and pains of skiing. Sorely missed facilities!
But a half hour massage was good value my wife informs me.
Finally, like everywhere in Bulgaria, there are not enough concessions to non-smokers.
Smoking is permitted in each of the bars and restaurant, which is a great shame for asthma sufferers and unwilling passive smokers such as ourselves.
We can only hope that attitudes change and will vote with our feet where the opportunity arises - hotels/bars wake up please!
In summary: Better than we expected, and with the obvious improvements, could be perfect. Recommended.