Hotel Rai

I really love this hotel. It's located super conveniently on the way to the airport in a quiet neighbourhood, very cheap and yet, despite its age, it seems very well maintained, rooms are sparklingly clean, the staff is super friendly and what strikes me the most is complete absence of cigarette odour at the reception and in the rooms I've been to so far. Having spent some time travelling in Bulgaria, I can genuinely smell cigarettes merely by looking at a photograph of a cheap hotel but somehow, this place is a rare exception and overall my money/value champion and first pick if I need to catch a plane early in the morning. Please keep up the great work!

Rooms dated but very clean , excellent shower . Reception helpful and friendly . Location was great for us bus ride into the centre and in walking distance to the stadium . Breakfast experience a little weird, it's served until 9.30 am which means at 9.30 on the dot the lady removed everything from the dining room and stood over us while we finished eating , even taking my saucer as I lifted my cup to drink ..... hilarious

We had a booking reservation, paid online. When we arrived at the hotel, while I was parking my car, the hotel employee told my wife that the stay wasn't paid and he demanded that she pay. After some hesitation, she did, and when I arrived it was too late. I showed them that I paid online already, which they didn't believe me and I had to convince them that I've paid, showing bank transactions. Lastly, they played the "It's not us, it's the booking platform fault", by saying that they weren't informed that the payment has been completed. They told me that they would issue a refund, but so far nothing.

I've been on this hostel for almost two weeks. I highly recommend it : the boss and all the staff were really nice with me, English is perfect, very welcoming and ready to help you whatever is your need. We even shared some times together by drinking a coffee; and the food is quality one, adapted on what you ask for. If you go to Sofia, you should be there: rooms are nice, well located for public transport... Hope to come back soon and thanks for the nice experience that I had there!

Old style room, chairs are full of dust, the air condition is central so the owner decided to turn off at the end of september... When i inquired about it, the lady on the reception just answered questio but is your room hot instead of doing something about it. Not worthy for the price, there are hotels that cost the same or close with much better conditions in the area, hotel Kibella for example. In Hotel Rai, The carpets in the room are full of dust. Room smells dust, and as they dont have an air condition working i need to keep windows open listening everyone on the street.... For sure will never come back to this hotel. Attitude of the lady on the reception the worst ever. UPDATE: ITS IMOISSIBLE TO SLEEP WITH THE NOISE FROM THE STREET. PEOPLE CARS, EVEN SOME OHONE RINGING THAT NO ONE PICKS.

Well managed and maintained hotel, comfy and clean. Calm area and close to transports, supermarkets, shops, and restaurants. The academia gym and swimming pool are very close to the hotel.

The non-smoking room stunk so much of cigarettes that we had to open windows all the time. Included breakfast was poor and cold. Can't say anything bad about the service, tho. Also, location is fine, close to the city transport and the concert hall Arena Armeec.

This was a last minute booking as our favourite hotel was fully booked.||Rooms fine, clean and tidy, beds comfortable. Nice big bathroom with lots of towels.||Hotel reception staff on arrival seemed to be offended that I had asked to see the room before confirming our booking but the rooms were ok.||I wouldn't recommend dining in the restaurant. It was 8.30pm and we were the only ones in there. Menu choice seemed fine, prices higher than elsewhere though, but my pork dish (which I have eaten elsewhere) smelled like the meat was off and when cut open it was raw inside. They offered to cook it again but by then I had lost my appetite so we left the restaurant and went to our room.||The meal was still on my bill when I checked out and as my Bulgarian was limited it was easier just to pay it.||Breakfast was limited buffet but fine.||Double room was 82 lev, so good price for the room including breakfast.