OUR STAY: GRAND HOTEL UNION- LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

Grand Hotel Union
Address: Miklošičeva cesta 1, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Phone: +386 1 308 12 70
Web: http://www.union-hotels.eu/en/grand-hotel-union/

Ljubljana: A fairytale city, formally of Yugoslavia, is an exceptional travel destination that flies just slightly under the radar for most Americans visiting Europe. This won’t be the case for long.

Just a two and a half hour drive from Venice, Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, is a colorful place with beautiful buildings, museums and canals lined with fabulous restaurants and cafes. There is a lot of greenery and some great places to walk, including a hilly hike up to Ljubljana Castle.

We chose to stay the Grand Hotel Union which is perfectly placed right in the center of town, on a quiet city street made up of a mix of residences and businesses. Zorica, one of the wonderful employees whom we met with, gave us a tour of the two adjoining hotels (Grand Hotel Union and the Grand Hotel Union Business) and she pointed out all of the events that once took place- and still take place- in the popular grand ballroom. She mentioned how ironically, she even attended social events there when she was in high school, as it is a well-known and special location for local events to be held.

With restaurants, a casual bar and one incredible spa, the Grand Hotel Union’s amenities provide something for everyone. The kids particularly loved the outdoor gelateria that offered them a wide variety of delicious fresh and frozen European treats as well as freshly-squeezed fruit juices, and Ryan and I enjoyed hot Turkish-style espresso just a few steps away at the hotel’s street-side cafe. Everything was phenomenal.

In our room, we were surprised with an assortment of fresh fruit and chocolates, wine, and different flavors of some of the best jams we had ever tried. We also got to take home a bag of rich Slovenian coffee which we enjoyed for weeks after leaving the hotel. The view from our balcony could not have been better! We overlooked Ljubliana and could see colorful Prešeren Square as well as the Ljubliana Castle which was illuminated with neon green lighting at night.

All recommendations from hotel staff for things to do in town were spot on, including a dinner at Atelje, a delightfully upscale and child-friendly restaurant, only a minute from our room. There we enjoyed local Slovenian food and wine and at that moment we knew that the buzz about Ljubliana as a culinary destination was all very accurate and well worth the trip.

This was our first time to Slovenia, and I know it won’t be our last. Fortunately for us, our introduction to the country was extra special thanks to those that we met at the Grand Hotel Union. We can recommend that everyone looking for beautiful sites, rich history and great food visit Ljubljana- and that you stay at the Grand Hotel Union.

A traveler since childhood, Juliana Fraioli Wilson has always had a love for exploring. She is a published writer and an accomplished business owner with a background in music and art. Join Juliana, her husband Ryan, and their two kids in Wanderland! Follow along as they share tips, tricks, recipes and reviews from some of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world.