Hello again, dear readers. This morning I woke up and I don’t know why the first thing that came to my mind were these words I once read somewhere, it goes something like this “ If in the morning we didn’t wake up ready for new adventures, if the evening did not leave any hope for the next day, why wake up and get dressed at all ?”

The words belong to Goethe, and they make me smile every time I remember them because they remind me that good things happen all time. I hope they make you smile too.

Now let’s get back to the point. As you know, every week we present to you a beautiful place where you can spend the weekend in a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

This week I have chosen a place in my beloved Rhodope Mounatins again (I can’t help it). The hotel is in the splendid town of Smolyan and is called Makarelov Hotel.

I don’t know if you have visited Smolyan before, but if you haven’t, you should definitely do it. This charming town is situated in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains, and once you see it, I’m sure you will fall in love with it and visit it again. I remember going for a walk along the Main Street, I walked by the city shops and cafes, with the forest and the hills embracing the city on both sides – a splendid view.

The Makaralov Hotel opened doors in 1993 and is the first private family hotel in the Rhodope region. Over the years it became the most popular place for holidays, and business meetings in the Smolyan region. In 1997 the hotel created the first summer garden in Smolyan.

In 2006 construction of additional buildings began. The project was implemented with the support of the SAPARD program, and today the hotel is an ensemble, which meets all requirements of the modern businessman or traveler.

These were the historical facts, now let me tell what you can expect to find there.

The hotel has 23 double rooms (three of them have a double bed and 19 of them also have a sofa that stretches to a bed), 1 suite, and 1 VIP suite. All rooms have Internet access, cable TV, separate bathrooms equipped with shower cabins and hair dryers, telephone, and panic alarm systems. The terraces offer a magnificent view of the mountains.

In short, there is something for everybody. You can enjoy а drink in the lobby bar, or go for a meal in the classic two-level restaurant which seats up to 60 people. The restaurant has a spacious summer garden, and live music.

It is also perfect for business meetings, or special occasion parties. It offers traditional Bulgarian meals, special dishes of the Rhodope region, as well as European cuisine, the service is great and the restaurant band Phenomenon will try to make your stay unforgettable.

The hotel also offers a conference hall with 50 seats and Internet connection, suitable for seminars, team building and others. Soon a Sport Center will open doors. It will comprise a gym, sauna, massage center, and a table tennis room.

The hotel organizes trips to the local attractions, and in winter there is transportation to the ski runs in the famous Pamporovo resort.

The owners like to say: “People come here as our guests and leave as our friends!”

So, for those of you who would like to make new friends in the Rhodopes the destination is clear – the Makarelov Hotel in Smolyan.

Oh, there’s just one thing I haven’t mentioned so far – the rates. A single room is 30 leva a night, and a double is 40 leva. The suit costs 60 leva a night and if you would like to indulge yourself this weekend and book the VIP suite you will need 80 leva. If you are part of a large company, you can book a room for three people - that would cost you 50 leva.

Are you still reading? I thought you were off to the Rhodopes by now…

By Zornitsa Rizova