Info
Address:
Mountain Dream Hotel
Kosherina quarter, Bansko
Tel: 0749/ 95 097,
mountaindreambg.com

The Mountain Dream complex has found an ideal location for a holiday resort - 15 minutes from the centre of Bansko, in the Kosherina area of the town, near the base of the ski slopes. Built in a style inspired by local traditional architecture, the hotel is warm and welcoming. Add to that the good service and modern comforts of the 44 guest rooms, four suites and 12 apartments - all of which are spacious, luxuriously furnished and, in the case of the apartments, equipped with large terraces - and the hotel's attractions become legion. Think business trips, weekends away from the city, a family holiday or just a spa getaway.

Of course, a view to the mountains is essential. All the apartments, thanks to the terraces, offer breathtaking views to Pirin Mountain and the ski pistes covering it. From the balconies, this view is best taken in starting from the valley floor upwards, with the mountains embracing the hotel in a comforting lock that beckons you to plan your adventure to the summit.

The services and comforts offered by the hotel, along with the professionalism of the staff, made my stay memorable. The on-site restaurant had such a variety of tasty offerings (including health-orientated and vegetarian items, and special children's food available if pre-ordered) that I did not use the 24-hour room service. Nor did I use the personal safe in my room - but it was nice to see it there.

Breakfast is included in the room's price, all of which have free internet access.

Hotel Mountain Dream's spa centre is an oasis of rejuvenation and relaxation amid the exquisite mountain conditions. The hotel's day spa has a sauna, a heated bath, a large jacuzzi, a fitness room and individual massage rooms. The covered swimming pool is interestingly illuminated with light reflected off the overhanging glass roof. The deep end of the pool allows for snorkeling, while the cordoned-off shallow end is ideal for children.

When I received my invitation to visit from the hotel complex, in addition to being really happy at the prospect of pampering myself for two days, I was also very impressed by a promise from the hotel management. The notice, labelled as a "green brochure", stated that Mountain Dream was "committed to better interact with the environment", with the goal of encouraging people to act responsibly towards nature. Hence the hotel aims for energy efficiency; it uses recycled products, it has a towel/linen re-use programme and it uses environmentally friendly products where possible.

And at Mountain Dream Hotel, these standards are truly upheld - something rarely encountered in Bulgarian hotels.

On departing, they sent me some promotional brochures from an ornithological organisation that works to research, catalogue and protect birds in Bulgaria. It's a partner of BirdLife International, the oldest organisation in the world for bird protection, which unites ornithological organisations from 106 countries. Now thatÕs what I call commitment!