Hotel Breza — Hotel in Samokov

We were able squeeze in a last minute ski trip right before we leave Bulgaria in December. The hotel was everything we were looking for- - starting with the location - right next to the Yastrebetz lift. It’s a small cozy hotel, we loved the interior design - yes, the rooms are small - but we didn’t need anything bigger - after a long day skiing I just want to pass out in my bed, nothing more! The restaurant is charming, and the food was just great , we were eating there three times a day and everything we tried was just amazing. Yes, the fact that people are smoking in a restaurant left a bitter aftertaste but the ventilation was good so we were able to enjoy our food regardless. I think it’s a national thing and I really hope that next time we come back I’ll see less people smoking everywhere in general. What we loved the most was the service - the personnel is kind and attentive, and there wasn’t a wish we had that wasn’t accounted for - they just know how to make you feel comfortable, as if you’re home. I needed a firmer pillow, it’s coming right away; the first day we didn’t know that the spa was closing at 8 pm so we missed it because we were having dinner - they started the sauna just for us so we can end up a ski day the right way. I really feel that with all that extra effort they put, they deserve a rating way more than 3.8 overall. Thank you for a wonderful time! All your efforts and hard work is seen and appreciated! We wish you a good and prosperous season and we can’t wait...

Check in was slow and the describing the receptionist as rude and surly doesn’t quite do justice to her. Other receptionists during our stay weren’t any better.

The room was fine, small but clean enough and reasonably comfortable beds.

Breakfast was terrible.

We stayed for 3 nights but didn’t get as much sleep as we would have liked for two reasons.

Firstly, a dog was barking on and off throughout the night, every night. It was on the hotel grounds but the staff couldn’t care less.

Secondly, I was woken on my second morning by reception calling my room to tell me I must go down to reception ‘immediately’ to pay our massage bill. Pointing out that we hadn’t had any massages didn’t help. Nor asking that I sort it out once I’ve actually woken up. The receptionist also didn’t agree with me that it didn’t make sense that the dates of the massages were before we had even checked in to the hotel! I hung up after five minutes and tried unsuccessfully to get back to sleep. Upon heading out to ski an hour later, the receptionist again tried to get me to pay for two massages. We had exactly the same conversation, confirming that one of the massages happened the day before I had checked in and the next one on the morning of the day I checked in (at 2.30pm). In the end I had to walk away as all she could say was that I ‘must pay...

This hotel has a 3 star rating and was offering half board for the week. The advertisement listed, free wi-fi in lobby, Sauna, Steam Room, Shower, Fridge, Sat TV and telephone, all of which were present and the ad appeared to suggest included in the price. The Sauna and Steam Room proved to be chargeable but were not working.||Our shower tray leaked into the shower room and the hotel thought this was fine?Three carpet rods on the stair were loose until Wednesday.||The food was cold and we had to heat it ourselves with one small microwave between all guests. Toast had to be made with one, two piece domestic toaster. Fruit flavoured drink was atrocious. Main evening meal was spaghetti Bolognese three nights running. Many electric sockets were loose in the walls including a loose blanking plate in the shower room exposing electrics. We were initially provided with only one thin pillow each and no hair dryer until we asked for one. Room service consisted of emptying the rubbish bin and one towel change when our small towels were swapped for face cloths. When we ran out of toilet paper we had to get this from reception and fit it ourselves. Less than one Star rating in our opinion. Balkan holiday reps could hardly have been less interested. The hotel had a nice bar but it...