Hotels and Accommodation Services in Bulgaria
Classification system
In Bulgaria there is a national compulsory hotel classification system (if the accommodation is defined as 1 or 2 stars, the category is defined by the Mayor of the Municipality).
Responsible authority
State Agency of Tourism, which is subordinate at the Ministry of
Economy, Sofia 1, Sveta Nedelia sq., Tel. 003592 9335858, Fax. 003592 9896939.
Categories
Hotels (1 to 5 stars), Motels (1 to 3 stars), Holiday settlements (3 to 5 stars), Family hotels (1 to 3 stars), Boarding houses (1 to 3 stars), Bungalows and camping sites (1 to 2 stars), separate rooms, country houses and houses (1 to 3 stars).
Classes
There is a 1 to 5 stars system.
Facilities
5 star hotel:
spa, gym, centre, indoor/outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, cafe, bar, shops, parking, TV, Internet, telephone, 24 hours room service, conference hall and hairdresser’s centre.
4 star hotel:
indoor/outdoor swimming pool, Internet connection, dry cleaning, washing, ironing, conference hall, sport centre and parking.
3 star hotel:
space for kids, postal and business services, rent a car, trips with guide, room service, mini-bar, TV and parking.
2 star hotel:
mini-bar, TV, dry cleaning, washing, ironing, parking and keeping the valuable.
1 star hotel:
post services, phone service, keeping the valuables and parking.
Basic classification criteria
This is determined according to their geographic location such as sea, mountain and town. Other classification is spa, wellness, Balneotherapy, business and apartments. Spa and business hotels could have a conference room and satellite. These are only 4 and 5 star hotels. The category is determined according to the requirements regarding: building construction, furnishing, professional and language qualification of staff.
Compulsory information at check in:
The traders are obliged to display the price of the stay per one night and all other services provided near the reception and in each room. All prices should be in the local currency and easily understandable.
Useful information:
- When a hotel booking is made, breakfast is normally not included in the hotel rate.
- As a matter of rule, all other taxes are incorporated in the hotel rates.
- Each hotel, as a public building, is obliged to provide facilities for the disabled. The consumers could receive more information from tourist agencies, tourist departments and Internet sites
- One can submit a complaint or request information from the Commission for Consumers’ Protection (about national cases-traders based in Bulgaria) or the European Consumer Centre Bulgaria (about cross-border cases) and also from various non-governmental organisations.
