RotasaR — Hotel in Sofia City

Main reason for visiting Sofia was a concert at the arena, so I stayed at that end of town, like I did last time I visited. Last time (2014), I stayed at the Park Hotel Moskva, but I didn't know if they'd fixed the lift that made me think the cable was going to give out every time I used it and I couldn't face that again, so I looked for somewhere else. The RotasaR was cheap and small (so unlikely to have a dysfunctional lift), so I booked it. It also had a 24 hour reception, which I needed after a chronically delayed flight, and was easy to get to as it was on a main bus route between the airport and city centre and Joliot-Curie metro station isn't far either. ||||Initial impressions were good. The rooms are spacious, with nice old-fashioned furniture. There is no lift, dysfunctional or otherwise, but with a room on the first floor, that didn't matter. The bedroom windows have mosquito nets, much-needed in Sofia, although not the bathroom windows for some reason, so I couldn't open the bathroom window to let the humidity out. There was also a fridge in the room, which was useful. ||||However, the problems soon became apparent. Firstly, I thought the point of having a drain in the middle of the bathroom floor was to let water drain out? Whereas in this one, a pool of water slowly expanded around the drain after showering: easy enough to avoid after a normal shower, but it backed up horrendously after washing my hair or shaving my legs. The shower itself was powerful, the way I like it, but the wall bracket couldn't cope with it. On the first morning, I did my usual trick of pointing the shower at the tiles and fiddling with the taps to avoid getting scalded or frozen while searching for the optimum temperature. However, the bracket couldn't hold the shower in place: it spun round 90 degrees. Because the shower curtain didn't stretch the full length of the bath (even though the rail did), this resulted in a large section of the wall and floor and all the dry clothes I'd put out to wear after showering getting soaked. ||||Then there was the odd state of affairs whereby the room had a kettle, but no tea, coffee or cups. Mystified, I went down to reception to ask what was going on. The receptionist seemed put out and told me that it was a 2 star hotel, not a 3 star hotel. So then I had to go out and buy some tea and a mug, just to use the kettle. ||||Those weren't the only fails, either. I heard someone complaining at reception that the battery for the safe in his room was flat and could he have another battery? Not sure if the safe battery in my room was flat, because in order to set a code on the safe, you had to press a red button inside the safe at hinge height and I couldn't find a button of any colour where the instructions said it was, so I couldn't use it either. The wifi cut out one evening when I had work to do. When I went down to reception to ask what was wrong with the wifi, another woman was in reception because her room apparently had no hot water. I don't know if she ever got that problem fixed, but my hot water cut out the following morning while I was showering. Seemingly no one capable of dealing with any of these glitches is ever on the premises, because reception's default response is to phone somebody else. ||||Oh well, the search goes on. I noticed two other hotels near this one, so if I ever return to Sofia for a gig, I'll try one or other of...

I stayed in this hotel twice. Overall, it is worth the money you pay for it and not too much different from other hotels on the same street, like hotel Rai 90 and Gatisha (or something like this). I don't know about hotel Europe, ( Best Western chain) - which is just opposite - it is more pricey and I haven't stayed in it, so can't comment on it. ||||Hotel RotasaR, offers standard double rooms (50leva) and 'luxury' double rooms (70 leva) - BE AWARE if you book so called 'luxury' room you might be actually put in a 'standard' room. (There are no pictures on their website where the difference is shown). On reservation I asked about the difference and was told 'luxury' rooms have balconies and are just 'better'. During my first stay when I booked a 'luxury' room I was placed in a room with no balcony, (though the room next door which I was told on reservation I should be in - did have one). Apart from this the room was Ok - a bit worn out but clean.||||For my second stay I booked a 'standard room' and ended up in an identical room (to my previously 'luxury' room). I had an alarming experience during this stay - in that in the bathroom there was a very badly connected light, hanging out of its pocket over the tap which was placed immediately by the shower - I noticed it half way through having a shower and got scared of being electrocuted! Next time I showered with the lights off and the bathroom door opened for some light...||||So again, my advice is before you pay for the room - do have a good look at it when you get to the hotel ...Otherwise - it's clean, staff are largely very nice, it is near cafes & restaurants, quiet location, near by a main transport road (lots of busses & taxis to anywhere), near by a supermarket, near to...

Stayed for 2 nights here. Stayed in room 6 which was comfortable with lovely air conditioning welcome in the 40 deg heat! The staff spoke fair English and were always helpful. I would recommend this hotel as a good base to visit Sofia as only 10 mins by bus to centre. I did not have any meals in the hotel so can't comment, but the local bars and restaurants were pleasant with good food. Overall a good, comfortable hotel in a quiet area and I will certainly...