Name: Penzión Grand
Address: 32 Horná Ulica, Banska Bystrica, Banska Bystrica, Banska Bystrica, 974 01, Slovakia
Rating: 7

Smoke-free property

Heating

General

Non-smoking rooms

Shower/Bathtub

Shower

Wardrobe/Closet

Rooms

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

German

Russian

English

Languages Spoken

Free parking

Parking

Fax and copy machine

Business

Pets allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Penzión Grand

Banska Bystrica

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

Basic accommodation in old building near town square.  A lot a stairs to climb which may  turn some people off, and not the most comfortable beds, but I liked staying here.  Quaint, quirky and convenient for restaurants and bars, in a beautiful town.  No breakfast served so we went to the Steak House just up the road in the morning.

Basic accommodation near town square

The penzion´s location is really excellent. It is within a short walking distance from the main square, train station Banska Bystrica Mesto and it also provides secure parking. Our main purpose of the travel was a visit to the Museum of Slovak Uprising. The penzion was only 2-3 minute walk which was very convenient and exciting for our 2 small boys. 
To access the penzion you have to go through a hall and upstairs which is shared with other businesses. It is a bit of a strange set up and might be a problem if you have mobilty problem. It was not a problem for us. The receptionist who checked us in was absolutely lovely. She was friendly and informative. We had 2 bedrooms - a triple family room on the 3rd floor and an apartment on the second floor. Both rooms were furnished in the same way - traditional old fashion Slovak charm. It was not generic and we really welcomed it. Even the boys liked it because it was different from what they are used to. The rooms were reasonably clean,however, the bathroom shower cubicle was showing some small signs of age and neglect. The rooms were well aired when we came. We were allowed to use the fridge in a small kitchen (it also had a microwave which we didn´t use). This is where most positives end. 
Everything else was done on a small budget or saving money. The mattresses were really thin and uncomfortable. The sheet was thin and had a small hole.  Pillows and duvets were of lower quality. You get a towel and a small soap. That is the end of toletries. Pillow and duvet covers look cheap and old. They were clean but were orange and not white and did not make impression.
The wifi was good in my single room on the second floor but hardly working on the third floor. The wi-fi is secured and the code is left  for you on the table - you get printed number with several digits without the explanation what it means. We tried it and it was working as a wifi code. TVs in our rooms were  old and small. I do not require massive screens but these were far too old. I had quite a few kid´s channels in my single room, yet kids in a triple room had hardly any. Luckily they were OK to watch them in my room. 
Breakfast is not served in the penzion but can be arranged in a nearby restaurant for the price of 4 Euros. The menu we saw was not worth the money, especially with two young picky eaters. The breakfast is not served as a buffet but made to order serving things such as omelette, cold cheeses and hams platter. I had popped out before the kids got up and got us all a great selection of fresh bread rolls, pastries and organic juices from the health shop close to the penzion. 
There is a bit of confusion with regards to the chek in/out times. Our booking website said check in at 2 pm and out at 10,30am when in reality it was 12 pm for checking in and 10 am for checking out. 
It really pains me to write a negative review for this penzion. I think it has a huge potential but it needs financial injection to bring it to the standard required by modern travellers. I loved the charm of it and its decor but a comfortable bed is one of my basic requirements and unfortunately this penzion did not provide it. It is a budget accommodation with a character and providing they invest into better mattresses and bedding I would be delighted to return. 

It has potential but it needs investment

This is located on the top 3 floors of a commercial building which is a little disconcerting, and there is no lift so you have to carry your luggage up a LOT of stairs. My room had a sloping roof and tiny window which made it very dark, and the heavy old fashioned wooden furniture didn't help. The bed had a stretchy towelling sheet which looked like a mattress cover, and a cushion for a pillow.  The plug sockets were difficult to find behind the heavy furniture, and the minute bedside lamps were no where near the end of the bed where you would need them.  My friend had a mouse in his room and was moved to another room when he complained.

The hotel does not offer breakfast so you have to go out to a café to eat in the morning.  Its a short walk from the town square, which is its best feature, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Very old fashioned with dark rooms and no lift

Place is old & not very tidy. Check-out is at 10:30 & already at 10:28 the owners were knocking on the door & asking us to get out not in a nice manner. Only cash, no propper receipt. Agressive owners who do not welcome foreigners at all. The worst think are the bed bugs (see the pictures). 


Very unfriendly owners

After booking the whole room with kingsize bed, Penzion Grand still charged about 60% over the price for the second person (!!!) - they say this is usual in this town.
But was much worse is the fact that we woke up into no running water, they said they don't know what's wrong.
The internet in the room was really slow, I could barely work with emails.
Overally it was a big mistake to sleep in this place.

Penzión Grand

Main amenities of the hotel

Available rooms

Location

Description of the hotel

What other amenities are there?

General

Rooms

Services and amenities

Internet

Languages Spoken

Parking

Business

Pets

Policies

Check-in terms and conditions

Additional information

Payment