HIDDEN GUEST: Spirit Hotel Thermal Spa Sárvar

Sárvár, a quaint spa town, has become synonymous with world-class spa tourism, predominantly thanks to the Spirit Hotel.

When we first evaluated the hotel, we jotted down: the flavours of business guests are changing. Female guests prefer a combination of business events and pampering. For such revelling, Hungary seems a fairytale land, with the country’s abundant thermal springs considered one of its greatest natural treasures. Western Hungary is, in fact, a true thermal paradise, where numerous modern water parks and spa resorts have mushroomed in recent years. Today, their numbers continue to swell. Sárvár, a quaint spa town, has become synonymous with world-class spa tourism, predominantly thanks to the Spirit Hotel. It may be this factor that earned the city the title Royal Spa City. With its unique offerings and high-quality hotels, the town quickly began earning esteemed accolades. Today, it is hailed as one of the most sought-after hotels in this part of Europe. Its architecture, design and thoughtful renovation have enabled it to stay competitive even today. All of the above make Sarvar worth detouring for if you are travelling from nearby cities, including Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest or Graz. Here, you can pamper in one of Hungary’s most authentic thermal regions.

Sárvár is set south of Vienna, east of Graz and west of Budapest. Like many spa destinations, the city is remote from large metropolitan areas and motorway connections, but still surprisingly accessible. Vienna Airport is 130 kilometres away; guests can reach it in two hours by car. Budapest, on the other hand, is 200 kilometres away from Sárvár or less than three hours away. Thanks to excellent connections with Vienna, Sárvár is also easily accessible to international guests. Most guests arrive by car and are greeted by a spacious, guarded parking space. Although hotel parking is not free, it only costs 9 EUR per night. The hotel also installed eight electric charging stations for guests arriving with EVs. Not least, guests can rent bicycles and explore the surroundings in a sustainable and relaxing way. Warmly recommended!

When envisaging the hotel, the architects had the liberty to create the most modern thermal spa resort in all of Hungary.

The exterior of the hotel blends in with the green, lush surroundings, tidy hotel park and scenic lakes, which gives the entire property a convincing look. Despite its age, the interior retains a touch of luxury, albeit at times, it appears too lavishly bedecked and somewhat overwhelming. Still, it remains refined and balanced. The materials used are extraordinary, with sophisticated details, while the ambience always caters to the guests’ comfort. Only a few areas in the hotel reveal that the Spirit Hotel has been well-frequented ever since opening. The real architectural story is revealed in the wellness centre – a space that impresses with its warmth, spaciousness and uncompromisable luxury. The rooms that have been recently renovated also keep in step with the times. Those renovated in 2024 are incredibly popular among guests, who sing the praises of the facilities.

All services meet the five-star level and will satisfy even the most demanding gourmets.

One of the hotel’s peculiarities is that the price of the stay includes both breakfast and dinner. In other words, you will be in touch with the staff throughout your stay. Most of the staff (roughly 90%) exudes near-perfect professionalism. Still, some individuals mar the otherwise excellent impression. Breakfast and dinner are served buffet style and feature a broad and diverse array of dishes that chefs often prepare right in front of the guests. All services meet the five-star level and will satisfy even the most demanding gourmets.

The part of the restaurant adjoining the vast glass surfaces is impressive. Overlooking the lush nearby forest, the space adds a romantic touch to any meal. The ambience of Onyx Restaurant thrilled us with its diversity and countless aesthetic details. To boot, the selection of dishes, local wines and Hungarian pálinkas, offered both in the restaurant and the hotel bars, is inspiring. Should the hotel be fully occupied, as it was during our stay, the breakfast area can feel crowded. Our tip: Have breakfast or dinner early.

Hotel rooms

We stayed in the revamped Premium Passion room. It is a modern interpretation of luxury that does not need to vie for attention, but convinces the guest with quiet refinement and attention to detail. We must also praise the thoughtfully selected furniture pieces that imbue the space with charm. The logic of the design is simple: spaciousness, an abundance of daylight and functional elegance. The palette of warm tones calms the guests, while the motif of an amorous couple painted on the blue canvas wall brings a subtle visual contrast to the room.

The spacious king-size bed and roomy living area, replete with a sofa, convey a relaxed, yet refined ambience.

Comfort is discreet but omnipresent: from the Nespresso machine to the intelligent illumination and tiny solutions that guests only notice when they need them. Even the bathroom, featuring a modern shower cabin, follows a minimalist design. The balcony offers guests what they require at the end of the day: stunning views, serenity, silence and a space to take in the fresh air. Premium Passion is more than a room – it is an experience. Indeed, the renovation was well worth the wait.

Meetings centre

As much as Spirit Hotel is, by far and large, synonymous with splendid wellness facilities, its modern conference centre is just as essential to its guests. The central hall can accommodate up to 500 attendees. Event organisers will be delighted to learn that the halls are flexible and can be divided into five smaller rooms, encircling the spacious, central foyer. This flexibility renders organising events and parallel sessions easy. The technical equipment is reliable and modern, while the ambience is warm, with the furniture and walls decked out in earth tones. Although the conference halls are still architecturally bold, they offer everything a business guest needs: functionality, flexibility and professional support. The conference centre embodies the spirit of the entire hotel: it meets expectations with its refined, upscale design.

DESSERT – The extras

The splendidly tidy garden represents a superb venue for welcoming event attendees in the summer months. Nature, well-tended horticulture, and proximity to water surfaces create a relaxed, yet elegant ambience for networking, cocktail parties or informal openings. On cold winter days, the hotel offers a compelling alternative: the area surrounding the pool, next to the Oxygen bar, can transform into an unrivalled venue for evening receptions and pool parties.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES

Guests have high expectations for a hotel with numerous accolades and a steep price. That is why the dichotomy between what is promised and what is delivered is even more noticeable. Although the hotel meets the five-star standard in many aspects, the level of service is not always consistent. This, in particular, refers to the cuisine, where the experience is often underwhelming, partially because of the ambivalent personnel. This divide might be the hotel’s greatest painpoint. If the hotel were more consistent, the service could be flawless.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES

All bookings include a self-service breakfast and dinner. That partially justifies the higher price for staying here.

SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS

We could not find any information about the hotel’s sustainable operations. The shampoo bottles in the rooms were plastic and lacked ecological certificates. Likewise, waste management and water saving were not highlighted. There is tremendous room for improvement, especially in terms of transparent and consistent communication of sustainable practices.

the hotel is one of the most complete and holistic spa hotels in the region, and a property that is ageing like fine wine – acquiring character and quality over the years.

When we last visited, we wrote: Spirit Hotel Thermal Spa – Sárvar is an alluring and lavish hotel with an all-rounded, convincing offering. It may have some drawbacks, such as the oscillating professionalism or a few unpleasant flaws in its otherwise commendably diverse restaurant. Regardless, the hotel is one of the most complete and holistic spa hotels in the region, and a property that is ageing like fine wine – acquiring character and quality over the years. It also caters to demanding incentive guests. What sets it apart from the competition is its unique identity. All this comes at a price, but we are convinced that the price is worth the experience. Spirit Hotel Thermal Spa – Sárvar is doubtless one of the most reliable and quality hotels in this part of Hungary.

FINAL GRADE: 4.90 THREE MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ Spa Meeting Hotel 

3 MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ final score from 4.81 to 5.00
2 MEETING STARS⭐⭐ final score from 4.61 to 4.80
1 MEETING STAR⭐ final score from 4.41 to 4.60