LAKE BLED - Croatia and Slovenia - page 908

€79, 20 percent extra for fewer than 3 nights, includes tax, no breakfast, cash only, free Wi-
Fi, laundry service-€10, free parking, Želeška cesta 3, tel. [phone], susnik@bled-hol-
iday.com ) . It's just toward the lake from the bigger pensions, with a big crucifix out front.
Her sister Ivanka also rents apartments, but they're farther from the lake.
$ Vila Gorenka is your non-hostel, low-budget option. The Žerovec family's old-fash-
ioned house has 10 basic, faded, musty rooms; three of them have their own bathrooms,
while the rest share two other bathrooms. Room #10 has a grand-view balcony (S-€17-25,
Sb-€30, D-€34-40, Db-€50, cash only, price depends on season, no extra charge for 1-night
stays, self-service continental breakfast-€2, free guest computer and Wi-Fi, closed Nov-
Easter, just below the bigger pensions at Želeška cesta 9, mobile [phone], ht-
tp://freeweb.siol.net/mz2 , [e-mail] , Janez).
On or Near the Lake
You'll pay a premium to be closer to the lake—but it's hard to argue with the convenience.
$$$ Hotel Lovec (LOH-vets),aBestWesternPremier,sitsinaconvenient(butnon-lake-
front) location just above the commercial center. Gorgeously renovated inside and out, and
run by a helpful and friendly staff, it's a welcoming and cheery alternative to Bled's many
old, dreary communist hotels. Its 60 plush rooms come with all the comforts (Sb-€128, Db-
€151,€20moreforalake-viewbalcony,verysoftratesfluctuatewithdemand—emailtoask
for best price, cheaper Nov-Feb, family and “executive” suites available, delicious break-
fast,elevator,freeguestcomputerandWi-Fi,indoorpool,freeparking,Ljubljanskacesta6,
tel. [phone], www.lovechotel.com , [e-mail] ) .
$$$ Vila Istra is your elegant lakeside splurge, housed inside a prominent and gor-
geously restored Art Nouveau villa from 1887. The remarkably spacious rooms include one
doubleandfivesprawlingsuites.Roomfurnishingsgildthelilyabit,butrespectthehistory
of the building. It's a scenic 10-minute walk outside of the town center, halfway to the vil-
lage of Mlino (Db-€110-130, suite-€190-250, price based on demand, air-con, free Wi-Fi,
Cesta Svobode 35, mobile [phone], www.vila-istra.info , [e-mail] ) .
$$$ Grand Hotel Toplice (TOHP-leet-seh) is the grande dame of Bled, with 87 high-
ceilinged rooms, parquet floors, a genteel lakeview café/lounge, posh decor, all the amenit-
ies, and a long list of high-profile guests—from Madeleine Albright to Jordan's King Hus-
sein to Slovene-by-marriage Donald Trump (ask to see their “wall of fame”). Once elegant,
this place is a bit faded these days, but it's still a classic. Rooms in the back are cheap-
er, but have no lake views and overlook a noisy street—try to get one as high up as pos-
sible (I've listed the official rates followed by what you'll likely pay in slower times—non-
view: Sb-€150/€110, Db-€170/€140; lake view: Sb-€180/€160, Db-€230/€200; suites with
lake views-€280; 15-20 percent less Nov-April, very flexible rates—check online, air-con,
elevator, free guest computer and Wi-Fi, free one-hour boat rental for guests, free parking,