Pension Vilo

The modest, family-run Pension Vilo resides in a quiet neighborhood above the Bratislava Castle. Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to spend a few nights with a Slovak family? Wonder no longer. The Gavornik family—the proprietors of Pension Vilo—lives in the pension itself.

The pension's seven rooms are modest, low-key affairs, though they are by no means without charm. Blue wall-to-wall carpets and white walls set the tone. Loud duvets and pillow-cases (coordinated, natch) lend a bit of color and flash to otherwise fairly undecorated rooms. All rooms have either en suite or private external bathrooms. Amenities are limited, but rooms are clean and comfortable.

Our favorite touches are in the unintentionally retro stylistic ones, such as the orange overstuffed chairs flanking a coffee table accented by a vase of plastic flowers. We also love the light wood wall paneling in some rooms, and the neatly organized glasses on a little tray on coffee tables.

Beware the long and arduous walk up the hill from Bratislava's Staré Mesto, which is great exercise but certainly not for the physically timid. There's a bus connection to Vilo as well, but it's not direct and as such also necessitates a bit of a hillside walk. Overall, the Vilo is a good value for the surprisingly expensive Bratislava hotel scene.

Wi-Fi is available for an additional fee.