Last weekend, my boyfriend and I were invited by Luxury Collection by Marriott to stay in Bratislava at their Grand Hotel River Park. During my travels, I have stayed in a lot of different types of accommodations from bunk beds in several hostels’ dorm rooms to guest houses and luxury resorts by the sea. On my blog, however, I have always written about the destinations and not the accommodations. I want to change this because I believe that the place you stay at also becomes part of your travel experience. So in this article, let me share my experience of staying at the Grand Hotel River Park!
Disclaimer: I was invited by the hotel for this stay but all opinions stated in this article are my own.
Location
A major reason for me to chose a hotel is always where it is located. The Grand Hotel River Park boasts an incredible location right on the banks of the Danube, offering gorgeous views over the river and the city. Even if it isn’t in the Old Town of Bratislava, the city is small enough that you can reach the center from the hotel in a 15-minute walk, which I highly recommend because the walking path along the Danube is very pretty. If you don’t want to walk, you can find a tram stop right next to the hotel that will take you to the center in no time.
The Suite
For our romantic weekend getaway, we stayed at the beautiful Danube Suite. The accommodation, which is 95sqm (1022sqft), comes with a spacious living area, a king-size bedroom, a large bathroom, a walk-in closet (my dream!) and even a terrace offering panoramic views of the Danube. The bedroom, with its king-size bed and smooth all-cotton sheets, is very comfortable and quiet. One of the best rooms at the Grand Hotel River Park!
The marble bathroom, which is incredibly spacious, has both a bathtub and a shower. It comes with twin sinks and excellent spa-quality cosmetics. The only inconvenient we found during our stay was that the water pressure in the shower was too low. But other than this the bathroom was lovely!
The living room is the biggest room of the suite and has a living and a dining area. There is even a table with seating for 6! The suite also has several large windows which allow plenty of natural light. Modern and elegant, it was the perfect place to spend our weekend in Bratislava!
Service
From the outside, the hotel doesn’t look appealing and more like a business center. However, once you step inside, you feel very comfortable and cozy thanks to the tasteful decoration and the friendly staff! When we arrived, it was really late because our train was delayed and the weather was cold and gloomy so we weren’t in the best state of mind but the staff made us feel so welcome and well taken care of. When we got to our room, a complimentary fruit basket and bottle of wine were already waiting for us. This was a lovely attention because the hotel has the biggest hotel wine cellar in Slovakia, offering more than 300 fine Slovak and international wines. No wonder why it was awarded the 2019 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice!
If you go to the Lobby Lounge Bar, order their house cocktail, it is delicious!
The Spa
At the top floor of the Grand Hotel River Park is located the Zion Spa Luxury which is 1,500 square meters. It contains both wellness and fitness areas, including a swimming pool, two jacuzzis, and three saunas. If you book a suite, you get complimentary access to the spa area. If not, you need to pay extra to get in.
We went to the spa twice when we were there, in the morning and in the evening and both times were great! In the morning, it was almost empty and it was very relaxing to swim in the pool while checking out the killer views of the Danube from the massive windows. In the evening, the entire area is lit up with dim light, and the pool changes color because of the fun colored lights that are inside!
Breakfast
We didn’t have time to check out their new Riverbank restaurant but we enjoyed breakfast both days we were there. On the first day, we had the breakfast buffet which was fresh, regional, varied and absolutely delicious. On the second day, we decided to get in-room breakfast and it was so good! You can just check the pictures below and you will get hungry right away!
All in all, despite its austere outside look from outside, the Grand Hotel River Park is a charming, luxury hotel with delicious food and impeccable service. The rooms are very spacious and comfortable and the spa is incredible. It is the perfect place to stay at if you have a business trip in Bratislava or even if you want to have a romantic getaway with your loved one!
What to do in Bratislava?
Bratislava may be a small city, but it is full of charm and history. Because it is not too touristy, it is perfect for taking photos without people in them. Here you can find my top 10 Instagrammable places in Bratislava!
Have you been to Bratislava before? Would you like to go? Let me know in the comments below!
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