Holiday Inn Skopje

Hotel was a very short walk from the central bus station, check in was very quick and friendly. Hotel is right on the river with lots of the major sites within a very short walk from the hotel. There is a major supermarket right around the corner as well. Room was very clean and comfortable and I enjoyed my stay.

The staff at the Holiday Inn are very helpful. The hotel has been recently refurbished and provides comfortable and modern accommodation. The hotel is also very well located near several restaurants and the old town that offers a wide range of specialist traditional food vendors. The location of the hotel offers the visitor an opportunity to experience the city centre in a very efficient way.

1 of the 2 elevators (max capacity 5 persons) was not working (and this since 2 weeks already!). The breakfast was terrible. Not only it was not tasty but it was also poor and at 7:45 am the buffet recipients were already empty. Moreover, the waiters always gave us the constant feeling that we were disturbing them. They did not even reply to « our » greetings – let alone a smile or « good morning » upon arrival. They didn’t even say « have a nice day » when guests leave the breakfast area. They just ignored guests. They didn’t do much, and they never asked whether we would like some coffee, for example. Once or twice they were even chatting quite loudly in a group of 4-5 next to the food displays, without even caring of the disturbance they made. I received one small bottle of drinkable water in the room upon arrival, then during an entire week nothing. Are guests supposed to purchase drinking water themselves? The water in the shower was lukewarm at best (after 2-3 minutes of letting it flow). Impossible to take a genuine hot shower. I asked for an umbrella at the reception one evening when it was raining heavily. I was told that « we had one somewhere, but probably someone else took it already ». Never again.

A hotel at this level should have the same fundamental elements in all the same kind of rooms but they said they're out of slippers and waiting from the UK. Sheets and pillow were not clean enough for this standart hotel. Although some same kind of rooms have bathrobe or coffee machine some of them don't. They don't serve just one bottle of water for the guests and they overcharge. 1 bottle of water is 0,50 euro on the streets, 1,60 at the bar and 2,70 in the room. They don't provide fundamentals but they're so confident to overcharge for just one bottle of water without any hesitation. 2 elevators but one is out of use for a long time, you have to walk the stairs for 7-8 floors when it's rush. Reception is so slow to organize the guests. Note: only plus is location.

The hotel is renovated and situated in the center of Skopje conveniently nearby major institutions, old town or landmark areas. Big minus from my point of view is that smoking is still allowed in some parts of the hotel or there are smoking rooms. No specific amenities were available in the room (which is strange for a 5* hotel). The breakfast buffet is not clearly marked so you either guess what are the ingredients or you have to ask each time (e.g. pork, vegan, vegetarian, allergens etc). All in all, the hotel is ok if you have all above in mind.

Staff were so professional and helpful. Room is like new, everything is fresh and clean. Located next to river and shopping center. I gave it 4 out of five because of room size as it was not that specious, and bathroom as no teeth brush or other product provided.