+ Review by Shawn Briscoe
10.11.2009 03:50

I would recommend to a friend

Date of stay: Nov 2009
Type of traveller: a couple on a holiday

Hotel rating: | 4 out of 5
Value for money: | 4 out of 5
Location: | 4 out of 5
Staff/service: | 4 out of 5
Rooms/accommodation: | 5 out of 5

We stayed two nights at the HI Sofia. The Hotel is a modern, top of the line for Holiday Inn. The service was very good -- they called for taxis, made restaurant reservations, and made travel suggestions. There was always someone who spoke English readily available.
Overall, the hotel was very helpful, and the room was clean, modern, and had a proper bathroom. The location out of the center may dissuade some non-business travellers, but the trade off is that the facilities are brand new. The breakfast was outrageously priced (who can eat $25 worth of breakfast buffet?), but there is a Starbucks-style coffee shop directly across the street where you can get Cappucino and a pastry for regular prices. The wi-fi access was also rather high priced. This was high for Bulgaria, where other hotels provided complimentary wi-fi.

The location is not central -- about a ten minute cab ride to the old center, depending on traffic. We typically paid about 10 Lev (approx. $8) to cab to the city. A word on the taxis in Bulgaria -- you must check the decal in the window before getting in the cab. The prices are listed, and vary significantly -- get in the wrong cab and you will pay 10 times as much as the average rate. The minimum fee should be no more than about 1 Lev, and then about 0.60 per km. Some cabs charge as much as 5 Lev to get in, and 5 Lev per km -- ouch! This is not just the case in Sofia -- we saw this even in small towns. The decal is the only indication, not the name of the cab company.

+ Review by Colin Cater
23.09.2008 04:04

I would recommend to a friend

Date of stay: Sep 2008
Type of traveller: business traveller

Hotel rating: | 5 out of 5
Value for money: | 5 out of 5
Location: | 5 out of 5
Staff/service: | 4 out of 5
Rooms/accommodation: | 4 out of 5

This is a great hotel in the fast developing business district (still a little quiet when we were there) the quality of the hotel was excellent, the swimming pool has panoramic views and you can relax whilst looking up at the mountains.

+ Review by Issah Yaakov
12.03.2008 09:42

Date of stay: Mar 2008
Type of traveller: business traveller

Hotel rating: | 5 out of 5
Value for money: | 5 out of 5
Location: | 4 out of 5
Staff/service: | 5 out of 5
Rooms/accommodation: | 4 out of 5

This is a modern hotel situated in a new Business Park area at the edge of the city.
The staff were all exceptionally helpful and friendly at all times.
The rooms are well equipped and comfortable. There is a very good selection at breakfast to cater for anybody's taste - from the simple croissant to the full English breakfast.
We ate three meals in the hotel restaurant and were not disappointed by any of the dishes - and we enjoyed all 3 bottles of Bulgarian wine as well.
I took advantage of the hotel shuttle bus both from and to the airport - being greeted by the driver holding a sign with my name on arrival - well worth 10 Bulgarian Leva (~5 EUR).

+ Review by Anne Bear
10.12.2007 09:29

I would recommend to a friend

Date of stay: Dec 2007
Type of traveller: business traveller

Hotel rating: | 5 out of 5
Value for money: | 5 out of 5
Location: | 4 out of 5
Staff/service: | 4 out of 5
Rooms/accommodation: | 5 out of 5

Holiday Inn in Sofia is a clean and new hotel, which is comparable to a 4 star hotel (measured with Northern European standards).
The room was very clean, as was the bathroom. There was a fruit basket and complimentary mineral water available.
I ate two evenings at the hotel, a three-course dinner. The food was okay, but both evenings, main ingredients were missing from the different courses, which were not told about when you ordered the food - you noticed it when you received it and started eating it. When you asked, then they told you that they were out of those certain ingredients. The fish and pork main courses, were missing the fish and the pork... ;)
Still, going to Bulgaria, I didn't have high expectations, so the stay in the hotel met my expectations. It is also located in the business park, so if you are visiting those parts of the city, it is most likely within walking distance from your office.
Note, however, that if you take a taxi... beware which company you choose! When I took the taxi from the hotel to the Sofia Mall, the taxi was ordered from the hotel (their partner), and the price was 14 Bulgarian Lev (~7 €), but when I was coming back, and had to get a taxi off the street, the price was 46 Lev (~23 €). In other words, I got swindled, but there wasn't much to do afterwards anymore...

+ Review by Amy
08.11.2007 06:40

Hotel rating: | 5 out of 5
Value for money: | 4 out of 5
Location: | 5 out of 5
Staff/service: | 4 out of 5
Rooms/accommodation: | 5 out of 5

The Holiday Inn Sofia is conveniently located within Sofia on the South side in the Business Park Sofia overlooking the famous Vitosha Mountain. The hotel is 10 minutes from Sofia International Airport and the Sofia City Centre. Impeccable hotel service, great amentinies..suits for business people and tourists. All in all-an exquisite hotel

+ Review by Heather Glow
12.09.2007 12:24

I would recommend to a friend

Date of stay: Sep 2007

Hotel rating: | 5 out of 5
Value for money: | 5 out of 5
Location: | 5 out of 5
Staff/service: | 5 out of 5
Rooms/accommodation: | 5 out of 5

We stayed at this hotel the night before we left Bulgaria. It is close to the airport. I dont know if I would recomend this hotel to a tourist wanting to explore Sofia .It is in a business area. They provide service to the airport, the restaurant on site is wonderful, the rooms are great-contemporary, and the staff is wonderful and helpful!

+ Review by Mikel
12.01.2007 04:29

Hotel rating: | 1 out of 5
Value for money: | 5 out of 5
Location: | 1 out of 5
Staff/service: | 1 out of 5
Rooms/accommodation: | 1 out of 5

Das Hotel hat einen nicht gesicherten Wellness und Spa Bereich.

+ Review by Mikel
07.01.2007 06:19

Hotel rating: | 1 out of 5
Value for money: | 5 out of 5
Location: | 1 out of 5
Staff/service: | 1 out of 5
Rooms/accommodation: | 1 out of 5

Nach dem Aufenthalt im Spa und Wellness bereich mußten wir feststellen, daß unsere Save aufgebrochen wurde, und das Geld sowie materelle Gegenstände entwendet wurden, DIEBSTAHL, nach Vorsprechen beim Hotelpersonal wurde der Manager informiert, dieser sagte es sei leicer nichts versichert, jammerschade.
Nach verlassen des Spa und Wellnessbereiches wurden wir nochmals zum Hotel gebeten, um alles zu Protokoll zu geben, dies wurde nicht an die diensthabende Polizei weitergeleitet.
Am Tag darauf wurden wir informiert, daß der Spa und Wellnessbereich nicht zum Hotel dazu gehört, und wir wurden aufgefordert sofort 50,00 Lv. zu bezahlen, sonst würden wir angezeigt.
Der Spa und Wellnessbereich ist zwar schön, jedoch unter diesen Umtänden werden wir dieses Hotel und vorallem den Wellness Bereich für immer meiden.
Wenn man nicht mal die Kulanz vom Manager bekommt und man wurde bestohlen, und den Eintrittspreis dann doch bezahlen muß finde ich das nicht nur schlecht sondern eine FRECHHEIT, der mir entstande Schaden betrug ca. 5.000,00 €.
Es ist wirklich schade für dieses Hotel, hier nicht einmal den Eintrittspreis zu erlassen.
WIR KOMMEN NIE NIE WIEDER !!!!!!!!!