The Olymp Park Hotel & Spa is outside of downtown Sofia, but we chose it specifically because we have children and we wanted a hotel that had a nice pool. We stayed in the apartment which turned out to be 2 adjoining rooms, and they worked out great for the four of us. They were large and comfortable.

There were multiple pools, both indoor and outdoor. None of them were heated, but the weather was so hot that it turned out to be absolutely refreshing. It was beautiful, with plenty of choice chairs and hammocks to lounge around in. Locals could also pay a hefty price to use the pool, so on the weekends it was more crowded with families.

The hotel offered a varied and tasty breakfast as part of the price of the room, which both adults and kids enjoyed. The restaurant next to the hotel was good but not great. The service was not terribly friendly, but not offensive either. Bulgaria is known for its outrageously delicious cuisine, so I recommend going out rather than continually eating in if you stay here.

Taxi rides were not expensive to the center of Sofia, so we took them often. There isn't much surrounding the Olymp hotel to walk around and explore... most of your exploration will likely occur in the center of Sofia, or further up the mountain. I was surprised as we approached the hotel for the first time that it was in a not-so-pretty part of town, but after the initial disappointing impression it was no big deal.

Both my husband and I got a massage at the spa, and it was heavenly, especially after our long flight from Seattle.

I can heartily recommend the Olymp Hotel and Spa if staying in the center of Sofia is not your first priority. The staff made us feel right at home and were very welcoming, and the pool and large rooms made our stay in Sofia very family-friendly.