[size=75:2qaee9z2]novinite 12 March 2010

Perfect Yamna

This is not a recommendation !! just thought you might want to check it out?

Getting to hotel Perfect is not easy. First, you have to find it on the map and then overcome the old, narrow road leading to it from Hemus highway into the Stara Planina ridge, 100km east of Sofia.

I admit I only heard about the hotel near Yamna village by chance. One Thursday afternoon, we were investigating a weekend destination close to Sofia, but not in one of the well-advertised and crowded tourism destinations we know all too well. The name appeared in a search engine about hotels in Bulgaria.

The first noteworthy feature was the name of the village the hotel is in. Yamna is not a common name in Bulgaria and certainly makes one curious for more information. It was advertised as a village tourism destination in the mountains, among beautiful scenery and privacy. I’ve never been a great fan of village tourism or guest houses but the 100km drive and the privacy, as well as the beautiful nature, made me look for more.

A pleasant surprise was that the hotel actually has a [url=http:
//www.
hotelperfect.
eu/Eng_ver/eng_index.
html:2qaee9z2]Website[/url:2qaee9z2] in both Bulgarian and English with detailed visual information about rooms, the hotel and its services. After some clicking, we chose it because the price for a double room was an affordable 60 leva a night. The neat look of the hotel and its rooms also appealed as did the prospect of exploring new territory because the region is popular with mountaineers, not run-of-the-mill weekend tourists like us in search of spa luxury.

There are two ways to get to Yamna from Hemus highway. One is the detour from the town of Pravets and the other is 20 kilometres up the highway at the village of Djourovo.

We took the second route. It is indeed a different Bulgaria. Just a few kilometres from the highway you find yourself in quiet villages where time seems to have stood still and old routines continue undisturbed. The absence of traffic adds to the feeling of seclusion in the wilderness. The first few kilometres are fine but, after the village of Lopyan, the road narrows. The surface is of tarmac, not asphalt, slowing you down but adding to the feeling that you are driving along a road that was probably built 60 years ago.

When Yamna is reached, the first thing you realise is that this is not a typical village but rather several boroughs here and there united as one village. Fortunately, a sign points towards the hotel, but asking locals for directions could be wise.

Unlike other small hotels advertised online, hotel Perfect matches its description. It is an old building, probably a former communist-era guest house, which has been completely renovated together with the wide green yard. The place is advertised as a three-star resort complex with its own mini football field. It also offers riding facilities, mountain bikes and table tennis.

The parking area is also wide enough for dozens of vehicles. Before entering the hotel you pass an open swimming pool, not Olympic size, but still large and clean enough to enjoy a splash. It is obvious that the owners - a young couple - have put some thought and money into restoring the facility and providing quality to clients. This is noteworthy because the region is not among Bulgaria’s wealthiest. The owners have kept the interior of the building practically intact, only renovating it with new materials. That’s why rooms are a bit small, mostly without balconies, with the bed occupying most of the space. If you are lucky to get a room facing the swimming pool, you will enjoy a great view.

However, if you are given a back room, then, besides the great scenery, you will see some of the neighbours’ backyards together with piles of refuse. Fortunately, rooms are clean and well furnished as are the bathrooms, which is what you need when visiting a small hotel in the mountains. Because of the remoteness of the place, food is provided in the hotel’s restaurant. This offers another pleasant surprise on account of its affordable prices and tasty dishes.

Dining outside, however, is recommended, because of the nice view and also because the inside has problems with ventilation. The glass tables and iron chairs on the veranda, together with the nice exterior, make for a great alfresco evening. This, of course, is impossible during winter when the whole area is covered with snow.

Overall, on account of its good service, affordable prices and picturesque scenery, the hotel wins as an all-year-round weekend destination.

Was excited for a minute then, I read it as 'Perfect Yamaha'