I am staying at the Vitosha Park Hotel at the moment, I am one week into a three week business trip.

The hotel was booked for me by my clients and I have only just read the only revue so far. So I thought I would redress the balance.

The Hotel looks very new, so maybe it is not the same alhougth there are several similarities in the other revue.

OK the TVs are small, but I dont consider that a problem, I do appreciate the opportunity of finding quite a few English language channels in addition to BBC World and CNN.

The quality of the double room I am in is excellent, modern furniture, a decent size desk and plenty of cupcoard space. The bathroom is well fitted and can be closed and locked ??? It does not have a bath, but has a good sized shower cubicle.

I have found no problems with the restaurant, the food is very good and good value compared with western Europe, it was nice to be recommended a very good local wine at a good price rather than one of the more expensive imported wines available.

It was very cold when I arrived here but, in fact I had to turn the heating off as it was too warm in the room.

I would agree that the hotel is not best situated at the moment, but a taxi to the centre of Sofia costs between 6 and 10 Lev depending on traffic, or the bus stop is about 250 metres from the hotel.

I would also add the the staff are very friendly and efficient. The internet connection in my room is LAN and not wireless, but cables are available and the connection is a reasonable speed and consistent.

I have been in this hotel for several times (don't ask me why). I had there single rooms, double rooms and apartment. I have for you only one tip: AVOID IT! Why? I will try to give you a brief description.....

Location: Sofia, in the middle of nowhere! No restaurants or clubs around. If you want to go to the city you need a taxi.

The hotel:
Single room: has 2 beds, each bed is created for one the the 7 dwarfs. Snow White must take a double room or an apartment. The TV set is smaller than the laptop screen, so better take some books with you or DVDs. The bathroom's door cannot be closed. The same functionality is available for double rooms and apartments. In the bathroom do not expect to see any bathtub, you simply take a shower somewhere in. In the room you have a mini kitchen?!?

Double room: the bed is large enough for a normal person. The TV set is the same size as
the one in the single room. No bathtub, but minikitchen with microwave oven. Who on Earth is supposed to cook in the hotel's room? Something more: for the TV set - you might have a remote control for it (lucky you!), or not (this can be solved if you tip the bellboy to steal one for you from another room). If your luck is really big you may have also batteries in the remote control for the TV.

Apartmets: wach out! There are different types: do not take any apartment that finish with 07. Those are worse that the double rooms. Advantage for the other apartments: normal TV set and bathtub. Of course, the bathroom's door cannot be closed, but you ask too much already.

Heating in the rooms works only when is really cold outside. You can use the air conditioning but you need a training before.

Restaurant: if you are lucky enough you can get your food in 20 minutes if in the restaurant are not more than 6 people. Otherwise, go somewhere in the city.

Bar: OK for beer and spirits. They have coctails also but they look and taste completely different than you expect.

Sports and recreation: the pool is very good, big, clean. Massage also!