I am a fan of the Kempinski Hotel brand. There. I said it. Although, if you are a regular reader of my blog, this will come as no surprise. Even as a budget traveler, I love Kempinski, even if I don’t get the chance to stay there very often. So, whilst in Bansko, Bulgaria recently, I took the opportunity to check out the Kempinski Bansko, and was blown away by this incredible addition to the Kempinski chain.
This article may contain affiliate links. If you click on those links and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you I will get a small commission. This will go a long way toward keeping this website running. As always, thank you for your support! Click HERE for more information.
Before I start, I would like to say that I was paid nothing to write this review. In fact, it was me that contacted them and organised to swing by and check them out. They went out of their way to accommodate me, however I got absolutely nothing out of the visit, other than the chance to check out what they have to offer, make a LOT of notes, and come back with enough information to write this article. I hope that it helps if you are thinking of staying at the Kempinski Bansko on your next trip to Bulgaria.
UPDATE OCTOBER 2023 – The Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko recently received the award as Bulgaria’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel 2023 from the World Travel Awards.
Table of Contents
- Where is Kempinski Bansko?
- Why the Kempinski?
- On Arrival
- Rooms and Suites
- Restaurants
- Facilities
- Summary
Where is Kempinski Bansko?
The Kempinski Bansko is, as you may have guessed, in the town of Bansko, Bulgaria. The official name of the hotel is the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko, and can be found at the top end of the town, right alongside the Gondola to the top of the mountain.
Bansko itself is located in Southwestern Bulgaria at the foot of the Pirin Mountains. It is the premier ski resort in Bulgaria, seeing hordes of winter sports lovers flocking there every winter. In the Summer, Bansko is awash with hikers and Summer sports enthusiasts that descend upon the town, with the world famous Pirin glacial lakes becoming the center of attention.
Why the Kempinski?
Location location location. Plus amazing luxury, style and service. Oh, did I mention location?
The Kempinski Bansko is in the most amazing location in Bansko. Especially if you are in town to ski or hike – but why else WOULD you be there? Sitting right alongside the main Gondola, you basically have Ski in and Ski out access. Or at least as close as you can get to it! As a skier myself, I know how frustrating those line ups can be to get onto a lift or Gondola. At the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena there is no problem. I mean, you only have to take a look out the window to see how big the line up is!
The Kempinski Bansko also take care of this by offering their guests “fast passes” to bypass the Gondola lines anyway. Now THAT’S service that you WANT on a Winter holiday!
Other than being close to the Gondola, the Kempinski is also in the ideal location for enjoying all that the town offers. Just a short stroll down the main street is the very center of town. The majority of the best restaurants and cafes are close by, and if you are visiting in Summer for the hiking season, the Pirin National Park Tourist Information is only a few doors up the road.
Location aside, the Kempinski Bansko offers the same level of service and luxury that you would expect from the Kempinski brand. Let’s take a look.
On Arrival
When you arrive at the Kempinski Bansko, you will immediately be impressed. The hotel’s style reminded me of a cozy log cabin that you might find tucked away in some snowy, remote fir forest. Albeit on a MUCH larger scale.
Upon entry to the lobby area, the same style continues. A large fireplace and pile of wood take center stage, immediately creating the alpine ski lodge atmosphere. Leather clad chairs and lounges placed around the large open lobby beckon, as does the nearby lobby bar. Along one wall are mounted several large deer heads, and visions of old men in tweed jackets smoking long pipes on cold evenings spring to mind.
Behind you, off to one side is the check in counter, something that most first time visitors find after standing transfixed in the lobby for several long seconds upon first entering. Staff wait patiently, before launching into a well practiced and professional check in process that will have you on the way to your room before you know it.
One thing that impressed me at the Kempinski is the way that they combine their luxurious style with a homely feel, creating a family environment that almost seems as if it should be out of place. At the Kempinski Bansko, they blend it so perfectly that you would almost expect it. The first encounter with this strange phenomena is at check in, where they have a small set of steps at the check in counter. Here, you children can do their very own “check in”. Now THAT’S how to make the kids feel like part of the experience!
Rooms and Suites
When it comes to rooms and suites at the Kempinski Bansko, they really pull out all of the stops. I have been in many Kempinski Hotels, and I was still impressed.
Whether this was because of the styling, spaciousness or the tastefully understated luxury, I couldn’t tell you.
The rooms are large, with beautiful wooden boards behind the beds that match the wood bedside tables and furniture. Carpets are deep maroons or purples, and the entire ambience is a seamless transition from that which greeted you upon entering the lobby.
All rooms have beautiful views off large balconies. Suites are well designed, offering sitting areas and coffee nooks, with extra balconies overlooking not only the pool areas, but also the lower ski slopes and the Gondola Station. In the summer, this view turns into rich green fields, hiking trails stretching away up the slopes, and pools that beckon at the end of a long day of adventuring.
Rooms and suites have everything that you would expect from the Kempinski brand, with bar fridges, deep bathtubs (some doubling as Jacuzzi’s) 27 inch flat screen tv’s, and just about every appliance or added extra that you could ask for.
Restaurants
Most visitors to the Kempinski Bansko will be there for the outdoor activities. However, within the hotel itself are so many amazing facilities that you may well be tempted to stay indoors! In this regard, the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena sort of reminded me of a cruise ship, yet on a much more luxurious scale.
The Kempinski Bansko has 3 restaurants, each of them award winning, and offering different selections of delicious cuisine. Come Prima is a Mediterranean restaurant with a distinctive Italian flair. The wine collection includes selections from all over world, boasting labels from France to Australia. As is the style in the Kempinski, all cooking is done in an open kitchen in front of guests, creating an incredible and immersive dining experience.
In the Gallery Restaurant, enjoy buffet style breakfast and dinner, with live cooking stations and over 100 components to add to your meal. Meals are themed each evening to keep your dining experience fresh and exciting. For something different, try the Sushi Bar and Teppanyaki Grill. Witness the incredible skills of the Teppanyaki chefs as they whip up your meal in front of you in a whirl of fire, spinning, tossing and creating magic only mere feet from where you are sitting.
Facilities
The other facilities at the Kempinski Bansko continue the high standards that the rest of the hotel sets. Enjoy 3 pools, one large indoor pool and two outdoor pools. The fitness center is open 24 hours for guests, and offers state of the art facilities and equipment.
Spa experiences at the Kempinski Bansko are an incredibly welcome addition, and are the perfect way to unwind at the end of a day on the slopes, or hiking the beautiful Pirin Lakes. Thai massages are also available, and are a favorite amongst nearly every visitor to the Kempinski.
As mentioned earlier, the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena is very much a family hotel, and as such they also offer some great facilities for the kids. Available to guests are kid’s playgrounds, as well as kid’s clubs and free childcare for all guests, allowing you to hit the slopes during the day worry free!
Summary
The Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena is an amazing hotel, and the best choice of place to stay in Bansko, Bulgaria. It’s seamless blend of luxury, style, family oriented facilities and award winning restaurants makes it impossible to bypass if you are searching for luxurious and welcoming accommodation in Bansko.
All images are a mixture of my own, and those supplied to me by the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena.
The locations seem straight out of a story, it’s really beautiful, thanks for sharing
You’re very welcome.