Want a true, authentic, Bosnian experience? Then Guest House Halvat is the place for you. At the forefront is owner and manager Valida, who I can only describe as being the true star of the show. She is a real force to be reckoned with and, having given 25+ years of exemplary service to the people of BiH and, indeed, the world, it is by far no surprise that Guest House Halvat continues to stand tall. The amount of positive reviews really do speak for themselves. For me, what is most noticable is how her kindness, empathatic nature, dedication to service and experience all shine through in abundance. As a first time visitor to BiH, I myself was feeling quite overwhelmed by everything. But Valida really put me at ease. Every single waking moment was spent making sure that I had everything that I needed (whether that was in person or over Whatsapp). She treated me as a human first and a customer second and even offered to help me out with a taxi, on the day of my holiday, when i returned to Sarajevo to go to the airport. We had long conversations about our lives. The key thing for me is being able to provide that personal touch. Valida, for me, went above and beyond. I spent several nights in room 24, which is their double room. The cost of having the room, per day, was very reasonable (in my opnion she should charge more..). For the price you very large and comfortable double-bed (you have to climb up onto it) which has ample storage space and pillows, a large living space to sit in, a tv, a mini fridge and a nice little balcony (great during the evening). It is very beautifully decorated in traditional Bosnian wears. Despite the room being near the street it was very peaceful and I slept well. I didn't have breakfast (next time) but Valida did make me coffee, which was very nice, and offered to make me food throughout the day. I sat in the breakfast room, which is downstairs. It felt like I was sitting in someone's own home. Again, all beautifully decorated with the added touch of photos and things from Valida's life. A real cosy place to relax in after a long day seeing all that Sarajevo has to offer. The hotel is located within 2-3 minutes of the a chemist, bakeries, supermarkets and a tram stop, along with the Old Town, where one can find numerous restuarants and bars. I, for one, had a fantastic time in Sarajevo , which, i'm in no doubt, was greatly enhanced by my stay at Guest House Halvat. I will be recommending Guest House Halvat to all of my friends and family. I will be back!
