Villa Jovan

In the old town

Nothing it was great

The location is excellent in the heart of the old town close to the lake The price was great The bed was comfortable The shower water pressure and temperature were fantastic

The rooms get incredibly hot, even with the floor standing AC unit on full power (but this is expected with the age and location of the building). When I arrived in the early afternoon the hotel was locked up and the owner of the cafe nextdoor had to phone the owner to come and let me in

Beautiful villa, lovingly cared for. The wooden beams, the feel of the property, the location in the heart of the old town, are all perfect. Piping hot showers Kindly got me a kettle on request. Both air cooler and heater available. Just a sliver of lake visible from the 3rd floor. Very responsive to needs when available. Emphasis is on peace and quiet. Windows open to rooftop views and you get some direct sunlight early morning. Housekeeping is diligent.

Does not have an elevator, and getting to the highest floors via a narrow wooden staircase is a challenge with a heavy bag. There is no one on duty, booking.com messages go unanswered during stay, and no dedicated WhatsApp number. Hence unable to reach reception when wifi router needed resetting. Have to hope a housekeeper is on the rounds and ask them. This absence also affects ability ro ask questions, like about a day trip to the mountain Mavrovo. Also in a backpackers place you usually get a minimum number of other travellers for a shared taxi. But here that is not possible. No common area. One of the window panes lacks drapes so sleep with an eye mask for early light in summer.

The price was good and the location is ideal. And, yes, it’s in an interesting historic building.

I had made arrangements to drop off my luggage early but when I arrived, the door was locked. I waited and then luckily remembered I had read the owners also owned a restaurant nearby. I went there and the wait staff let me leave my luggage there. I went back later and didn’t even get an apology or anything. So that didn’t feel very welcoming. My room was fine for the price but the bathroom light wasn’t working and the fridge kept falling out of its little cupboard. Easy fixes and the small details make the difference.