Hotel Zvárač, Bratislava, Slovakia

Location:

Hotel Zvárač is the former site of the Welding Research Institute and is located in the city district of Bratislava, Nové Mesto at Pionierska street, in a quiet environment less than 15-minutes by tram from the the historical centre. The hotel is conveniently located near public transport into the centre, to the main railway station and main bus station. Other areas of interest that are located close to the hotel include the shopping centre 'Polus City Center', the National Tennis Centre, 'Tehelne Pole' stadium (where the Slovak national football team as well as local clubs Inter and Slovan play), natural outdoor swimming pool 'Kuchajda', the Small Carpathians (where you can mountain bike, hike, etc.), as well as other cultural monuments and sporting premises.

Room Comfort:

We stayed in the newly renovated rooms on the 3rd floor and found the rooms to be comfortable, clean and bright. The dwelling units consist of 2 rooms with a communal hall, toilet and a separate shower room. If you prefer privacy, you can rent both rooms and have the shower and toilet all to yourself. It may seem strange to some that the toilet and shower are in separate rooms, but this is typical in the Slovak Republic and we found it advantageous since you can still use the toilet when a person is in the shower. The bedrooms have either one single bed or two twin beds. The furniture in the rooms was simple but new. Each rooms had a desk, a table and chairs, along with a wardrobe and night table. The bedding provided was soft and comfortable. Each room also had large windows that could be opened which we really liked. Although we didn't have a room with a television, some rooms do have radios and television sets or alternatively you can rent them for your room. Internet connections can also be added to the rooms at an extra cost. Although the rooms weren't large, they were big enough to host a few people comfortably. We found the rooms to be comfortable and the hotel exceeded our expectations for the price.

Cleanliness:

The rooms were very clean. The rooms and bathrooms are cleaned once a day, even during extended stays.

Service:

The service was good. We did not require much during our stay but when we did, the reception staff was friendly and helpful. Although some staff didn't speak English that well, they did their best to communicate with us and it was enough for us to understand each other. Parking is available at the hotel free of charge.

Food:

Breakfast was included with the booking. Breakfast was served in the large cafeteria next to the reception and was buffet style consisting of breads, cheese, ham, eggs, cereal and fruit. The buffet was limited but had enough variety to get you going for the day. The one unfortunate part was the breakfast period was very narrow with only 1.5 hours from the time it began to the time services ended. The staff was also very punctual, so you really had to be there during that time to take full advantage. If you want to get the most of what's available then show up as early as possible since the staff did not always replenish the items that ran out close to their ending time. We really enjoyed the fresh bread and cheese.

Overall Value:

This is a great budget accommodation in Bratislava. The location is close to public transportation making it easy to get around the city. The rooms were also very clean and comfortable. If you are traveling on a budget and don't require the frills of a 5-star hotel then this is a great place. It's not a luxurious hotel, but it is really clean and comfortable. If you are looking for a luxurious place, you should book elsewhere. The rooms are a good value for a city that's becoming increasingly more expensive. The staff was also always friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed our stay.

Other Notes:

Bus and tram tickets are not purchased onboard, but rather at the magazine stands or machines along the road near certain bus stops. Tickets are also purchased according to the time intervals and must be validated once you get on the vehicle. A 15-minute ticket is sufficient to get you from Hotel Zvarac to the city center, just make sure you get on the right tram. The public transportation vehicles are clean, convenient and efficient.

Our Rating: 4/5   Year Reviewed: 2009

For the most choices and best prices of hotels in Bratislava, please visit Expedia.ca. For this hotel, please visit the hotel's website at: www.vuz.sk.

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