Known as one of the most affordable and off-the-beaten-track destinations in Europe, Bulgaria is a fairly cheap country to travel around. You can get a decent hotel deal for less than 20 USD around the country, even in the most touristic cities. Let’s take a virtual tour around the National Hotel in the North of Bulgaria. The premise is located in the city of Ruse, lying only few miles, or kilometers, away the border of Bulgaria and Romania.
Superb location
National Hostel is located within about a 15 minute walk from the central railway station and bus station. The area is popular for cycling and hiking enthusiasts. Ruse is not very far from the historical city Veliko Tarnovo and the famous Kaya Bunar Waterfall in Hotnitsa Village. In order to get here you need to transfer via Veliko Tarnovo, or go by car for few hours drive. From Ruse there are frequent bus connections to Bucharest every day.
Awesome service
I arrived in the early evening, and was exhausted after over 5 hours by bus from Sofia. The receptionist was very welcoming, and they usually allow a late check-in before 12AM. The next morning, she showed me the dining room and served breakfast with coffee/tea, bread with jam, butter, ham, and cucumber. There’s also a bar inside, where you can order both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Parking and taking pets along are allowed for free. Also, feel free to ask the reception for luggage storage, laundry and ironing services, fax or copy, exchanging money, or transfers to/from the airport. They also offer to call a taxi for you to go to the bus station.
Quality facilities
All rooms are equipped with cable televisions, private bathrooms, queen-size beds, and there’s even a balcony in some units. There’s free Wi-fi connection and air-conditioning inside each room. I was very satisfied with the facilities offered by the hostel, considering the small amount of money I paid: 16 EUR or 32 LEV (roughly 17.60 USD) per night. As mentioned on the booking site, credit cards are not accepted, so make sure you withdraw enough cash. There are plenty of cash machines around the bus station and the hotel’s area.
Excellent atmosphere
The atmosphere was very calm and quiet, so you can relax for a while after rushing from one destination to another. The check-out time is 12PM, so you can enjoy breakfast and a cup of coffee with no hustle. In general, I like passing by Ruse a lot as people are nice and curious towards foreigners. Despite language difficulties, they try to communicate and help you, which is what will make you want to travel back here again.
Enjoy your stay!
All in all, the short stay at the National Hotel was worth the money. If you want to travel from Sofia to Bucharest, I highly recommend staying here for one night because the exhausting bus journey from Sofia to Bucharest may take more than 7 hours. The train ride is even slower, and night trains are suspended during this time of the year.
History
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