The Sofia Balkan Palace
After clearing immigration and collecting our suitcases, we went out of the airport terminal and headed for the Metro station a few steps away. Luckily for us, even though we had no local currency yet we were able to board the local train for downtown Sofia by paying with our credit cards. We boarded the train's Obelya line. The travel from the airport to the city center was direct. We didn't have to change trains nor transfer anwhere. After approximately 40 minutes, we reached Serdika station and went straight for our hotel, the Sofia Balkan Palace which served us our home away home the entire time we were in Bulgaria.
The afternoon we checked in we were warmly welcomed by Georgios, Denis as well as by a management trainee. We stayed in two different rooms in this hotel. We were first assigned a room on the first floor which we didn't like. It looked drab and seemed like a room from a hundred years ago. It was that outdated. What's worse, the airconditioning unit blew little cold air. To think, we even bragged to our families that we splurged for our accomodations on this leg of this trip.
The following morning, we complained and asked for a different room. Fortunately, a female employee by the name of Anastacha was on duty and she told us that she was going to try her best to move us. She also told us that the room we got was in the state that it was in due to the fact that it had yet to be renovated and refurnished. She added that all rooms on the first floor were like so. Another male employee informed us that the hotel was fully booked that day but they were willing to give us another room for our third night stay onwards. We went out sightseeing and by mid morning, we were promised a different room, a room that was two categories higher. Sure enough the second room we were given on the fifth floor was ten times better. It was elegant, modern, and the airconditioning unit blasted real cold air.
Overall, we were very happy with the Sofia Balkan Palace. Its location couldn't be beat. It was actually the main reason why we chose it. Our research on the internet showed that it was easily accessible by subway from the airport and it truly was right in the heart of the city. Minus the first floor which had yet to be updated, the hotel was grand.
The main facade of the Sofia Balkan Palace
The very grand Sofia Balkan Palace
The lobby where everyone congregated throughout the day.
The dining room. It was here where all hotel guests ate breakfast and where some spent the afternoons away relaxing and chatting with friends.
Inside one bar in the hotel
Another side of the hotel bar
This was a partial view of the second room we were given on the fifth floor. I have to a say, the pictures don't reflect the real elegance of the room. We really liked it. It had a blue and gold theme and the bathroom was all in marble.
The small rest chair and table next to one side of our bed.
The small table next to the TV across our bed.
There was a mini bar where we could make tea and coffee. If I recall correctly, there was likewise a small fridge in the room.
The small fridge and bar
The bathroom mirror and sink
Th sink
The toilet
Here's how the hallway looked on the fifth floor.