I was a little jubious about the location of this hotel when I booked *before* reading these reviews - normally not recommended!

However, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Hotel Grand if you are planning a trip to Sarajevo. As mentioned previously, it really is only round the corner from the Holiday Inn - and much cheaper, with the same facilities. You can get to all the main sights very easily.

Its about a 15 minute walk to town - downhill on the way there, and a slight uphill on the way back. Taxis are about 4-5KM oneway, and so are a cheap option if you can't face the walk back! The "old town" areas are probably about 25 minutes walk, but if like me, you just like to walk to town and stroll around all day at your leisure, this hotel is in a great location. Its far enough away to be quiet enough at night.

One point worth mentioning is that it is right behind the train station. With a lot of the local residents cutting across the railway as a shortcut to town, the shunting trains often sound their horns. My room overlooked the city, and this was rather intrusive, going on until 10.30pm one night. If you have a room on the back I can't see this being a big problem.

The rooms are large, well fitted-out and clean, though the decor is not modern. I've read reviews that the Holiday Inn rooms are much the same, so I took this to be a feature of Sarajevo, which is only now starting to cater for visitors on a wider scale.

The service was excellent, and most of the room rates include breakfast, which had a good selection, and was in a buffet style - they would also bring this to your room for 5KM.

They offer room service, laundry, internet access, and all the features you would expect from a business-class hotel, though I didn't make use of them so can't comment.

The area the hotel is in is safe, and has been mentioned, is in a residential area. I wouldn't go as far to say as it looks dangerous (As one reviewer has done) - after extensively exploring Sarajevo, there are far worse areas! Given the history of the city, it would be a little unrealistic to expect a hotel in paradise.

If I ever return to this area of Bosnia (and I hope I do) - I would only consider the Hotel Grand for my stay.

As to the hotel, the reviewer from Australia (below) did a pretty complete job. The hotel itself functions efficiently. The evening and weekend desk clerk was charming and helpful. Our suite was spacious, consisting of a bedroom, separate sitting room, and 2 bathrooms. Breakfast was good. It was clean and quiet. The grounds were well-maintained and recently landscaped, and parking was free. We had a lovely view of the hills across the river. This was all for an extremely reasonable price.

The location of the hotel, however, is problematic. It is off the main road into town (not far from the famous and much more expensive Holiday Inn), nestled below a hill of moderate-income housing, along railroad tracks, and beside a large field of ruins that was a pre-WW II brick factory. It gives an initial impression of all the aspects of Sarajevo that the locals probably do not wish to convey. The area, at least during the day, is safe. There were well-worn paths from the housing on the hill across the tracks toward the train station and the tram, and people walked them constantly. I did not see much foot traffic at night. My point is not that the area IS dangerous--it's that it LOOKS dangerous.

This is a great hotel for those with cars, on bus tours, or who enjoy taxi rides (which are inexpensive in Sarajevo). I would not recommend it to those reliant on public transportation and squeamish about walking through abandoned industrial areas.

Just back from Sarajevo on business, having stayed in the Hotel Grand for two nights (26th & 27th April 2006). Very efficient check-in. Not the largest hotel bedroom I have ever stayed in - however, very clean. Reception staff very friendly & arranged a tourist guide, who was excellent. Business was good in the hotel with many business people staying. Good value with B&B for €66 per night - breakfast was excellent - buffet with plenty of choice. No need to buy local currency in Sarajevo as the € is accepted everywhere at the fixed rate of KM2 per €. Sarajevo is well worth a visit - the people are very friendly and very proud of the fantastic progress made in rebuilding the city since the end of the war in 1995. I would recommend this hotel to both business travellers & also to tourists. I will be staying at the Grand on my next visit to Sarajevo later in the year.