This European hotel has a skyscraper spa with incredible views that costs just £30

The Grand Hotel River Park is one of just a handful of five-star hotels in Bratislava (Picture: Marriott)

A popular stag-do destination, Bratislava knows its audience, with budget-friendly hotels and cheap hostels aplenty.

But there’s one that’s not like the others.

Away from the buzz of the Old Town, on the other side of the Danube, lies Grand Hotel River Park.

Part of the Marriott’s Luxury Collection, it’s one of just a handful of five-star offerings in the Slovakian capital.

There’s a wine cellar, a helipad, a riverside terrace — and a spa with some of the best views in the city.

Plus, unlike a five-star hotel in London, which averages at £495 per night, it comes with a pretty decent price tag.

Metro flew to Bratislava to see what Slovakian luxury is all about.

First impressions

After long queues at border control thanks to the new EES system, the short journey to the hotel was welcome relief.

Just €11 and 17 minutes in an Uber later, I had arrived.

The entrance to the Grand Park isn’t much to write home about – sat on the side of what is basically a dual carriage way.

But while it’s business in the front, it’s party in the back, with a riverside promenade that takes you to the city centre in 15 minutes.

In the lobby, traffic noise is quietened by the hum of the bar that greets you as you walk in.

Check-in was quick and easy (Picture: Marriott)

The hotel is huge, with 11 floors and 231 rooms, and the high ceilings glisten with chandeliers.

At reception, the difference between an overly-apologetic Brit and a straight-talking Slovakian was stark.

‘Hi, erm, sorry, is it okay if I could maybe check in, erm, please?’

‘Yes,’ came the response, followed by what was surely a few years of us staring at each other, because of course I wasn’t going to hand over my passport without being asked.

Awkwardness aside, the check-in process was smooth and I was soon opening the door to my room.

What are the rooms like?

Grand Hotel River Park offers seven room types:

Castle Hill View, Guest Room: from £162 Riverside, Guestroom: from £180 Executive Room, Grand Living Room: from £209 Junior Suite, Grand Living Room: from £291 Executive Suite, Grand Living Room: from £409 Danube Suite, Grand Living Room: from £882 Presidential Suite, Grand Living Room: from £3,627 Rooms are chic and clean (Picture: Marriott)

I was in an Executive Room, which has a seating area, two TVs and walk-in wardrobe.

You can pay extra to have a room with a Danube view — although you won’t be deprived of the vistas if you go up to the spa (more on that later).

The room itself was pretty standard, with chic (albeit forgettable) interiors, but the bathroom genuinely shone.

The beds are ginormous (Picture: Marriott)

It has an enormous tub, two sinks and a shower, plus a separate toilet room which means that there can be not one, but two, closed doors between you and your +1 when nature calls.

Given bathroom doors are a rarity in high-end hotels these days, this was a welcome relief.

The bathrooms are huge (Picture: Marriott)

Both the bath and rainfall shower have electronic temperature controls, so you can pick exactly how warm you want the water, right down to the single celsius.

The marbled room was also home to fluffy bath matts, robes and more towels than you’d need for a week.

I’m also a huge fan of a hotel that provides toiletries (the height of luxury in my opinion), so was pleasantly surprised to find a dental kit, cotton wool and the like.

Food and drink

First up, the breakfast has it all: from pastries and fruit, to a full English (including those ever-important hash browns). There’s champagne on ice if you want to start your day off the right way.

You can also order off a menu, which offers dishes like omelettes and eggs Benedict.

Dinner and breakfast are served in the Riverbank Restaurant (Picture: Marriott)

For drinks, there’s the large bar in the lobby, the Lobby Lounge, with its own wine cellar, as well as an outdoor riverside terrace.

Dinner is served at the Riverbank Restaurant – where you can also enjoy food on the outdoor terrace, overlooking the Danube.

You wouldn’t make a particular effort to eat here if you weren’t staying in the hotel, but the food is decent nonetheless, with dishes including baked cod and venison. Be warned, though, for Bratislava it is pricey, with main courses starting at €18.

If you don’t want to leave your bed, there’s also 24-hour room service.

A particularly hungover morning called for a club sandwich and chips, which acted as the cure I needed (and, mercifully, arrived quickly). 

Anything else?

On the 11th floor of the hotel you’ll find the ZION spa, accessible if you’re staying in a suite, or for a discounted guest fee of €35 (£30).

While there’s whirlpools, sauna and steam rooms, the views out-shine them all. You can admire the Danube while you’re floating in the pool from the floor to ceiling windows.

A dreamy time at the spa (Picture: Marriott)

There are loungers and chairs aplenty, as well as rather decedent four-poster day-bed.

It’s a quiet, relaxing vibe, and as it’s open until 10pm, I’d recommend heading up there in the evening to wind down before you head to bed.

Be warned though, you’re in central Europe and as is custom, you’ve got to leave your swimwear at the door if you want to head into the sauna.

Rules specifically state: ‘Please wear only towel or cotton sheet.’ Many guests choose to go in with nothing at all.

How much does it cost?

If you’re used to travelling to major European cities, and forking out for the privilege, a room for £162 in a capital will seem like a pretty sweet deal.

And, given the spa facilities, it really is.

However, it’s worth noting that this is still well above the average in Bratislava, which for April, average at £80 per night.

Honest verdict

The Grand Hotel River Park, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bratislava is a quiet oasis, a perfect place to get a good night’s sleep before a day of sightseeing — or to soothe that hangover after accidentally getting caught up with a stag do.

While you’ll be sacrificing the more authentic Old Town atmosphere, you do a get modern luxury, at a relatively affordable price.

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