#2
We started our stay at the Carlsbad Plaza the day the hotel reopened following and 18-month closure on the back of Covid-19 and I was wary of how rusty things would be. There was no need for the wariness though; the hotel was spotless and service was immaculate, from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Everyone did their best to make us feel relaxed the entire time. We had researched the hotels in Karlovy Vary extensively and ultimately landed on the Carlsbad Plaza because most of the other 5* hotels had reviews criticizing the apparent lucky dip when it comes to room allocation, particularly in hotels that have a modern section and original section. From what we saw during our stay, the Carlsbad Plaza doesn't struggle in this regard, with the rooms in the modern section meeting the same standards as those in the original section of the building (and other reviews seem to back that up). Our own room was in the original section and was very comfortable and generous in size. Some upholstery did feel a little dated (not worn or low quality) but I guess was in-keeping era of the hotel. The bathrooms could do with a revamp to really elevate the experience but they were perfectly adequate. At around 660kr per person (it memory serves me right), the buffet breakfast was overpriced and mediocre. Bottles of prosecco and a chef ready to cook fresh eggs were it's saving grace, but I found you could get much better options and value for money in one of the many restaurants just a stone's throw away from the hotel's entrance. We visited the spa twice and on both occasions found it quiet. However, with the number of jacuzzis, steam rooms and saunas, you'll likely easily find your own quiet area even on the busiest days. On the second visit we arrived early in the morning and found most of the rooms were quite cool, so my advice to management would be to switch on everything a little earlier, ahead of the spa opening for the day!