Grand Hotel Union Eurostars — Hotel in Upravna Enota Ljubljana

The breakfast they serve is the reason to stay at this hotel above all others. It's seriously good and it's so popular that getting a seat can take a few minutes, at least until they start opening up adjacent rooms. Seriously, it's a lively experience. They have a full spread for breakfast, including sausage and eggs, pastries, fruit juices, coffee and cereal. Almost any breakfast food you can think of actually, and then for good measure a few that aren't your typical breakfast foods. The location is very central to Ljubljana, with the castle a 20-25 minute walk away (although be careful as it is significantly uphill. If you're not in decent shape it's probably a better idea to drive up the hill and park at the castle.) There are a handful of cafes nearby, if you exit the hotel and take a right. Once you get to the river, if you go left before crossing the bridge, that puts you at a place named cacao which is highly recommended. That entire district is exciting, even when I was there in January. Everyone speaks English but they do appreciate it if you learn a few basic phrases beforehand. Google translate is your friend here. The hotel is kept up well, but as is typical of the area, the fit and the finish of everything is a bit worn down. The shower bucks this trend at the expense of having an unusual configuration - the hardware is on the side of the tub facing towards a glass panel that runs about 2/3 the length of the tub with a swivel door. Don't make my mistake and open the door to turn on the shower and you won't get water all over the floor like I did. Also, it's a lot easier to pull the shower head out than to try and contort yourself to stand under the shower head. One of my favourite features was they put light switches for everything right next to your bed so you don't have to get up if you forget to turn off the bathroom light, or you can turn on the lights for yourself without having to fumble through the dark. Really wish more hotels would do this because it made my stay a lot better. Also, there's an Avis / Budget rent a car office in the hotel so if you rent a car at the airport from them you can just leave it in the parking deck (remember to fill up with petrol though) which is extremely convenient if you're going to the bus station nearby. Even if you're going back to the airport parking is complimentary and there's usually a space or two even at peak times even if the parking deck is a bit tight (entrance / exit is only one lane so you have to proceed with caution). Overall this is a really solid contender if you're staying in Ljubljana. I would say the benefits of the location and the conveniences well outweigh any trepidations you might have about the age of the carpet or configuration...

While the staff were wonderful at this hotel, it felt as if one thing after another went wrong during my stay. A great hotel should feel like a luxury, and this hotel experience left me tired. When I arrived, I was assigned a room that was not the room I paid for. I wasn’t told this at the desk. When I called down to the front desk to clarify why I had a room with two small beds instead of a suite with a queen, I was told it was an unannounced upgrade as there were no rooms of my desired type available. When I went to try to order food from the room, I found no menu and the phone number for room service on the phone was incorrect. I checked the hotel website and no menu is listed there either. When I came down, they offered me a paper menu that was only partially filled out. I ordered dinner and dessert and the dessert arrived with pistachios, which wasn’t listed on the menu (I have an allergy). They graciously sent me up another when I called down to ask about this; however, it was once again more work I had to do. That night, I went to the pool and saw many people walking around with robes and slippers. I called down to the front desk the next day asking if I could have some and was told they should be in my room (they were not). I was sent up a robe and disposable slippers that were very difficult to walk in (while others had actual slippers). Furthermore, some of the shades didn’t close all the way in my room, making it difficult to sleep. The outlet in the bathroom didn’t work and when I called down to request it fixed, it was fixed the next day, but broke again the following day. The bathroom sink wouldn’t drain when I arrived. I called down for this as well and it was ultimately resolved. The theme here is that things were fixed upon complaint… but often broken until that point. Lastly, the room cleaners moved my things, perhaps in an effort to help me be more organized… but in this case I found it very frustrating that my dirty clothes were handled and placed inside my suitcase on top my my clean clothes. Some things (slippers) were moved into the closet which made them hard to locate later. This led me to leave a Do Not Disturb sign on my room for the remainder of my stay, as I didn’t want my dirty clothing mixed with my clean clothing or to have things left where I might not be able to find them. All in all, the experience left me frustrated rather than refreshed and I will not stay at this...

Absolutely Disappointing. A Waste of €1,000 — Never Again.

I stayed here for two nights, booking a corner suite and hoping to support a non-chain, independent hotel. What I received instead was a frustrating and overpriced experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

The Parking Is a Lie. The hotel proudly claims it offers parking. In reality, this refers to the sister hotel’s parking lot, which is already full by 5 PM. The area around the hotel is so poorly organized that even turning your car around or exiting becomes a nightmare. They recommend public parking lots 500–700 meters away, advertising a daily rate of €25. The real price? €35. That’s outright deceit.

The Rooms Are Soulless. Yes, they’re technically renovated — but utterly characterless. There’s no décor, no charm, no atmosphere. It feels more like a sterile Yugoslavian dorm room than a luxury suite costing €500 per night.

Unmotivated Front Desk Staff. Reception staff seemed disengaged and indifferent. Every interaction felt like an inconvenience for them. There was zero warmth or effort to create a welcoming environment.

The Breakfast Was a Joke. First, I spent 3 minutes arguing with the staff who insisted that two people were already having breakfast under my room number (264). After finally being let in, I grabbed a plate, picked up some basic eggs and sausages from a cafeteria-style buffet with no real options, and went to sit — only to discover there were no free tables. Another guest was also awkwardly wandering around with a tray, trying to find a spot. When I raised the issue with the staff, I was told I could “ask someone if I can share their table.” This is a 4-star hotel that markets itself as luxury? I lost my patience, gave the plate back to the staff, and walked out.

Duty Manager Didn’t Care. I explained everything to the duty manager and saw nothing but indifference in his eyes. No apology, no solution, no empathy. Just blank silence.

I genuinely wanted to support an independent hotel and paid €1,000 for what I thought would be a premium experience. It turned out to be a colossal mistake. Avoid this place at all costs. Don’t repeat my error. Protect your time,...