Lucky Bansko Spa & Relax Hotel

Staying in a hotel usually means having a comfortable room to relax and sleep in but with Lucky Bansko Spa & Relax Hotel you’ll be inspired to spend a lot more time indoors lapping up the calm space and wide-ranging amenities that it offers. Walking into the hotel’s lobby you quickly feel that you’ve left any stresses behind, and having been met and checked in by warm and friendly staff who are happy to give me all the information I need to enjoy my stay, I settle very easily to my spacious room which has pretty much the whole package I’d expect from five star accommodation.

Bansko is increasingly gaining popularity as an all year resort with ski and snow sports during the winter and there are plenty of things to do during the summer months too. Despite the town’s over-building of apartment blocks and new hotels, mostly at the top end, it makes a refreshing change to stay close to the river at the entrance of Bansko which is where Lucky Spa is located. This does mean you miss some of the mountain views but there’s an abundance of activities to keep you busy inside the hotel and you’ll still be close enough to walk to the historical Old Town.

Rooms at Lucky Bansko Spa & Relax Hotel

I stayed in one of their Studio Lux rooms which was fully equipped with everything you could possibly want to make your stay a restful one and even included a range of bathroom products from L’Occitane. The neutral brown colours might not be to everyone’s tastes but the room has a very contemporary feel that is clean with a polished finish. Along with satellite TV, excellent WiFi, the kitchenette also had a Lavazza coffee machine, microwave oven and all the little extras needed to make yourself a bite to eat if you didn’t fancy leaving the comfort of your own room while lounging in one of their cosy bathrobes.

All rooms are sound-proofed and the price of your chosen accommodation includes use of many of the spa facilities such as the swimming pools, sauna and steam, the ice room and fitness centre. You’ll also be provided with an extensive breakfast buffet menu and, during the winter season, a heated ski room and free shuttles to the gondola which is great value for money when staying in one of the better hotels in Bansko.

Spa and Swim at Lucky Bansko

One of the best things about Lucky Bansko Spa & Relax Hotel is their amazing spa and swimming facilities which rank it high in comparison to many other Bansko hotels I’ve previously visited who offer similar experiences to guests. It’s rare to find swimming pools in Bulgaria without chlorine but this hotel has a bio pool where the water is purified and even has underwater music! In addition to the big pool which was busy in the evening but very quiet the next morning, there’s also a pool which uses salts from the Dead Sea to help improve your skin. Kids are not forgotten about and that makes up the third pool all laid out within the stylish walls of the building.

The spa centre has too many facilities to mention! Take your pick from two Finnish saunas, one of which is herbal; two different steam baths, and a personal favourite: the halo-therapy salt hall which is made from bricks of 100% natural Himalayan salt accompanied by background music to. For extra payments try out their Hammam, a Garr a Rufa fish massage or have a Therapeutic bath. Although I didn’t use all the spa facilities, each one I peeped in to have a look appeared clean, slick and gave the impression of a totally modern feel.

Eating at Lucky Bansko Spa & Relax Hotel

Lucky Bansko boasts three restaurants: firstly, Le Bistro which is a large, comfortable area where attentive staff serve traditional Bulgarian and international food with great choices for meat, fish and vegetarian palettes. Despite being tempted by their spinach-nettle soup and Porcini mushroom risotto, I opted to eat at their relatively new eatery, Alpine Fondue Restaurant. I was, however, impressed by the extensive breakfast buffet in Le Bistro the next morning with it’s huge spread of fresh fruit, breads, pastries, hot and cold meat or vegetarian options.

Although much smaller than Le Bistro, the atmosphere inside the Fondue Restaurant is inspired by traditional Swiss and French Alpine interior design. Having decided on the salmon fondue from an extensive menu which contains Gruyere, Vacherin and Raclette cheese; meat from Angus Beef, deer or veal and selections of seafood, I watch the chef at work behind the open plan kitchen. Without waiting too long, my fondue equipment is brought to the table along with chunks of salmon, a plate of fresh vegetables and I’m all set to dip in and prepare it exactly how I want. My dinner turns out to be delicious but unfortunately left me no room to try one of their chocolate fondue desserts! The novelty of making my own fish fondue is a fun way to eat food and has become a popular addition to the hotel’s facilities although it is only open during the winter season.

The third restaurant which I didn’t have the chance to visit but is situated across the road from the hotel, is the Leonardo, serving up authentic Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. They also host live cooking shows and tasty barbecues prepared with eco-friendly ingredients. And, if you’re visiting Bansko in the summer months, you can enjoy one of the two outdoor swimming pools that are adjacent to the restaurant.

Health at Lucky Bansko Spa & Relax Hotel

One of the most unique and appealing attractions at Lucky Bansko is their commitment to health programs for guests. Choose a course from their Ayurvedic clinic where therapies are undertaken by Indian therapists to help improve your health and consciousness simultaneously while being advised how to keep yourself healthy in mind, body and spirit. For yoga enthusiasts, try their yoga courses, also with Indian instructors and are combined with mountain walks, horse riding and specially prepared food to maximise the health benefits of such an experience. Finally, if you’re considering losing weight the hotel’s Lucky Fit program is aimed at cleansing your body while balancing your spiritual side through yoga, exercise and relaxation. For more information on their health and holistic programs read my article here

Kids at Lucky Bansko Spa & Relax Hotel

Despite not having any children with me on my visit, I couldn’t help but notice that Lucky Bansko caters for children very well. In addition to a supervised play area, there’s also free computer games, animation events and an outside playground. Parents will be happy to learn that children up to the age of 15 are free when booking accommodation in the Studio Lux or Lux Apartments and a free babysitter is available when mum and dad want a break. For family activities, you can have yourself some fun at the Escape Rooms during the winter season, even when you’re not a guest at the hotel.

Whether you’re travelling as family, group of friends, on a work trip or wanting a romantic getaway, then you’ll be suitably impressed with the hospitality and facilities at Lucky Bansko. The only downside to my stay was that I didn’t have long enough to make the most of my time enjoying everything that the hotel offered. But then this means I’ll still have plenty to do on my return visit!

(Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay at Lucky Bansko Spa & Relax Hotel in exchange for posting my honest review. All opinions are my own and reflect my personal experience.)