Hotel Holiday

The location, close to the station and within walking distance of the centre, was fantastic. It was great to stay in a hotel with a bit of history (it was built for the Winter Olympics and was where journalists stayed during the Balkan Conflict. The swimming pool was pleasant, the wifi good, and the lifts fast. I loved the bold 1980's architecture. Beds were comfortable and views were wonderful.

The hotel was once a Holiday Inn, and it is clear that the new owner has not enhanced the facilities on offer. The ethos of the hotel is 'typical ex-intourist' rather than 'international quality' and this is reflected in the good, but not outstanding level of service. Public areas, although architecturally stunning, are looking tired and the impression is of a hotel that has seen better days. This is a shame, given its location and history. A particular disappointment was the breakfast, where the selection of hot items was poor (no bacon or equivalent), lots of staff seemed to be standing around, there was no fresh orange juice, and the coffee cups were chipped 'Nestle' promotional mugs! The restaurant also looked like its best times were in the past. While the swimming pool and spa area was good, we were not told it existed until we asked on our second day. It was unstaffed and the basement changing area was dark and some facilities were in a poor state of repair. The pool itself was, however, excellent. I hope that this hotel receives the management attention it deserves and regains its place as Sarejevo's premier hotel. However I can't see that happening soon.