TIME TO LEVEL UP
LOCATION
Aleksandar Palace Hotel lies in the suburbs of Skopje, in a green city area, surrounded by sports facilities and parks. In the immediate vicinity, the vast Boris Trajkovski Sports Centre welcomes thousands of sports enthusiasts, while the adjoining complex of tennis courts, owned by the hotel, greets tennis aficionados. The city centre is only 3 kilometres away from the hotel. Aleksandar Palace Hotel was built by one of Macedonia’s most successful entrepreneurs, Šterjo Nakov, the owner of Feršped, a logistical company with 4000 employees. Skovin Winery is part of his company’s portfolio, and the wines beautifully enrich the hotel’s offer. Although the hotel does not boast a central location, guests who cherish views of green parks, tranquillity and plentiful opportunities for recreation will love the location.
ACCESSIBILITY
The hotel is only three kilometres from the city centre, and you can opt to stroll through one of the tidiest city parks in the Balkans whilst admiring the newly-constructed Skopje stadium on the way. The easiest way to reach the hotel is by taxi or shuttle bus. Still, we recommend the taxi service as it is among the cheapest modes of transportation in this part of Europe. Most guests opt to arrive at the hotel by car and are awaited by a secure, tip-top parking lot on-site. Skopje Airport is not far, about forty minutes from the hotel (28 km). Public transport is in stark contrast to air accessibility and flight connections. We hope it improves in the future. Aleksandar Palace Hotel seems a perfect starting point for cycling, but the needed infrastructure is still missing. Once Skopje improves in this segment, it will become an ideal cycling destination with a favourable position.
COLD STARTER - Architecture and aesthetics
The eye-catching monolithic architecture of the hotel features a sandy facade and large glass surfaces. A spacious lobby with a panoramic lift is even more impressive, stretching all the way to the fifth floor. Imposing frescos tell stories of important historical milestones in North Macedonia’s history. The frescos, coupled with stylish furniture in the interior, could be named neo-antique architecture. Perhaps the hotel was the first to erect statues in Skopje, as an antique statue greets guests in the centre of the hotel foyer. We had mixed impressions, and the styles intertwining within the hotel were just as contrasting. Still, we must praise the tidy horticultural arrangement of the gardens and the hotel surroundings. They exude a feeling of meticulousness.
WARM ENTRÉE - The staff and the culinary experience
The beautifully and carefully arranged hotel surroundings are the first sights that turn heads. In the interior, the same story follows. Although not the newest hotel in Skopje, Aleksandar Palace Hotel is still exquisitely maintained. The personnel is professional and, apart from rare exceptions, similarly great as other city hotels in Skopje. However, guests may have to wait up to ten minutes for a single espresso.
If we were to judge by the breakfast, the hotel has much to improve. Although similar to the city competition, the hotel breakfast is not up to international standards. The restaurant offer is similar – traditional for Skopje. The catering makes up for the “classic gastronomical offer”, as it includes quality finger food and a variety of dishes. Impressive.
MAIN COURSE – The meetings offering at the hotel
Hotel rooms
The rooms were designed in a neoclassic hotel style, defined by bright sandy colours. What caught our eye was the tapestry on the wall behind the bed and its intriguing illumination. Both ooze prestige. The scaled-down lounger proved great for sitting and placing down miscellaneous objects. The room’s colourful carpet was pleasant to walk on. Considering the size of the room, we did imagine a bit larger writing desk. Nonetheless, the one in the room will serve the needs of business guests who have to work remotely during travelling or a prolonged stay in Skopje. The bathroom was charming too. Altogether, the hotel rooms are one of the hotel’s greatest assets.
Meetings centre
At present, the hotel conference centre is still the biggest in Skopje. The main hall can capacitate up to 1500 attendees in a classroom setting or 750 attendees in a banquet setting. Smaller conference rooms enrich the offer. The conference centre’s trump card is the ceiling height, which enables the execution of the most demanding events. The experienced hotel team can easily manage even the most unusual client demands. We have to highlight the catering service for events.
DESSERT – The extras
After attending an event, participants can relax in a superb spa that stands out because of its phenomenal hammam.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
The personnel flopped because some were unfriendly, and some seemed tired of welcoming guests. Luckily, there were exceptions.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
We were astounded by the tidiness and cleanliness of all facilities. Despite its age, the hotel runs like a well-oiled machine because of its excellent maintenance.
SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS
We did not encounter any praiseworthy sustainable endeavours within the hotel.
FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
Numerous references prove the all-around functionality of Aleksandar Palace Hotel for hosting events. The hotel has hosted everything from the most important protocolary events and corporate meetings to weddings in Skopje. Thus, the hotel team easily tackles even the most demanding challenges. Still, the hotel is slowly ageing, and the conference centre is in dire need of renovation. The conference halls seem generic and do not follow the latest trends. However, the hotel and its enticing offer deserve praise because the establishment was the only meeting hotel in Skopje for a long time. Considering the competition is on the rise, Aleksandar Palace Hotel has some work to do.
FINAL GRADE: 4.82 GOLD City Meeting Hotel
GOLD final score from 4.81 to 5.00
SILVER final score from 4.61 to 4.80
BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60
