Wellness Hotel Borovica

“Number one choice in the region”

Inconspicuous oasis of relaxation in High Tatras. Offering great rooms, food, wellness and personnel. Fifteen-minute walk from Strbske pleso. We come back to this hotel almost every year since 2012, choosing it for both our summer and winter vacation in Tatra Mountains. Having experienced staying … more

Inconspicuous oasis of relaxation in High Tatras. Offering great rooms, food, wellness and personnel. Fifteen-minute walk from Strbske pleso. We come back to this hotel almost every year since 2012, choosing it for both our summer and winter vacation in Tatra Mountains. Having experienced staying at Kempinski and Patria on multiple occasions, I still prefer Borovica despite a couple of shortcomings. The most obvious one is its distance from Strbske pleso, which is not that much of a problem during the day, but since taking a walk around the lake in the late evening, with lamps lit up, is so beautiful, you are making a compromise. Once you had your delicious dinner at Borovica, you would probably think twice about dragging your full belly up the road for that hint of romantic. Especially if you have little children. There are rooms at Borovica from which you get a very nice view at the mountains, but if you are accommodated on the other side of the hotel, you have to make do with pine trees at best. In this respect, both Kempinski and Patria do have the upper hand. As they do in offering parking space in a garage, extra paid but very handy in winter time. Being slightly hidden, Borovica’s location scores in calmness. The hotel is considerably smaller than its counterparts at Strbske pleso, which also means it is cosier in almost every aspect. Rooms are quite nice and very well equipped. Bathrooms offer ample space and quality cosmetics. Being a four-star hotel, it is not fair to compare it with the Grand Hotel Kempinski, but personally I hardly sense any difference in comfort between the two, notwithstanding Kempinski’s superior location. I am convinced that you will be very satisfied with the dinner service, the menu always offers three choices and I can’t remember a time I would have any complaint about a meal. In the summer, you get to enjoy some courses prepared on a charcoal grill. During the day, the a la carte menu is absolutely perfect, though we rather tend to grab something for lunch on the hikes or in the chalet at Strbske pleso. As for breakfast, the buffet selection helps with a pleasant start for the day. The restaurant and other hotel staff have always been very kind and professional, which can’t/couldn’t be said about every other hotel mentioned here, unfortunately. You can also indulge in tobacco and brandy savouring in the splendid cigar lounge designed in the typical English style. In winter, a wood crackling in the fireplace enhances the atmosphere. The lobby bar offers a great selection of drinks as well, and a few years ago it was extended to the exterior in the form of a couple of tables, which is highly convenient. The wellness is a strong asset. The pool area offers a beautiful view of the neighbouring pine woods, and I just love to have a swim and then read the magazines while resting on a lounge chair and soaking up the beauty of the surrounding nature. The selection of saunas is excellent, complemented by a hammam. You can also have a jacuzzi on the rooftop prepared for you and observe the mountain peaks from within, regardless of year season. I particularly like the fact that there are rarely more than just a couple of hotel guests in the wellness at the same time. Very often you may have the entire wellness area for yourself, if you choose time outside of typical peak hours. The hotel also offers a variety of spa and cosmetic procedures, so you know where to look for your better-half when she is not around. We have had a pleasure of meeting many remarkable therapists over the years here, very skilful and incredibly kind. The spa rooms are very nice too. My favourite is the cigar lounge. If the weather does not allow for any activity outside, the fitness studio offers you a possibility to toil yourself in every position imaginable. The equipment is of high quality and the room has an outside view, and it is just a few steps away from the showers and the pool. There is even an artificial climbing wall of considerable height on the hotel’s south facade ready for you, and the hotel provides an experienced instructor for supervision. During the ski season, you can rely on hotel's excellent shuttle service driving you to and from the ski areal. The shortcoming considering the distance of Strbske pleso is probably the only true weak point of this hotel. Although I know it is only my own laziness that prohibits me from taking those wonderful summer evening walks around the lake after dinner. But let’s not put that on the record. Otherwise I am having a hard time to think of something else. Hmm, yes, the wording on the lift’s wall designating the amenities on each particular floor could get a renovation, since some letters were missing. And hopefully some day soon there will be digital bracelet keys introduced, so that you do not have to think of a key card when going to the wellness. This summer (2020) we were not able to get a room at Borovica, since we decided for a trip to Tatras at the last minute and all had already been booked out. Staying at another hotel, in a very nice suite with a magnificent lake view, we only got reassured that Borovica stays our first choice in the region.

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“+wellness / - service”

A comfortable stay with a clean room, spacious bathroom, and great wellness facilities, including a large pool. However, the experience was let down by unfriendly reception service, a disorganized interior (baby cots stored near our door), and disappointing restaurant service—despite paying €350 fo… more

A comfortable stay with a clean room, spacious bathroom, and great wellness facilities, including a large pool. However, the experience was let down by unfriendly reception service, a disorganized interior (baby cots stored near our door), and disappointing restaurant service—despite paying €350 for two nights, they refused to make fried eggs for breakfast.

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“Wellness for weekend”

Pool - clean and 20 m long, sauna area is large, clean and quiet. Rooms - 3*quality, meals are very good. Staff is so kind. Hotel is not near the Pleso, no pavement to ski area. Prices are so high fo accommodation.