Introduction

The first time I stayed at the Marriott Skopje was nine years ago, in 2016. At the time, the hotel had been brand new, having only opened two weeks previously. So, I’m curious to see how the hotel has aged.

Location

The Marriott Skopje’s location is unbeatable, right in the centre of the city and just around the corner from the monumental monument of Alexander the Great.

Behind the monument is the stone bridge which takes you into the Albanian quarters which are, for some Macedonians at least, a bit of a no go zone. I unknowingly walked through the Albanian quarters one evening and didn’t notice anything that seemed particularly unsavory.

Check-In

By the time I reach the hotel it’s past one in the morning. The lights in the lobby are turned down low and the place is deserted. However, just as I reach the counter in search of a bell, the receptionist appears from the back office to check me in. Fortunately, the guy knows a tired traveller when he sees one, so he spares me the usual spiel and just hands me the room key and wishes me a nice stay and good rest.

Service & Staff

The staff at the hotel are all fairly young. They‘re friendly and accommodating. On my day of departure, for example, my flight isn‘t until the late afternoon, so the day before, I request a late check out which reception agrees to straight away. The waiters in the restaurant are the same – chatty and friendly. My only complaint is that the breakfast crew seem a bit uncoordinated, in that they don‘t have designated tasks. As a result, getting hold of a cup of coffee can be a bit of a challenge.

Deluxe Room

I’ve booked a Deluxe Room on the seventh floor. There are rooms that have a direct view of Macedonia Square, but honestly, I would think twice about taking one of those rooms – at least in the summer. When the weather is nice, there are concerts and events out on the square, so it tends to get rather noisy.

The room is a good size. As you enter, there is a separate toilet on the left. The bed is a King and it’s very comfortable. The lighting in the room is a bit confusing. There’s the master switch to turn all lights on and off. What is a bit odd, though, is that with the master switch off, none of the other lights will work. Not even the reading lamp.

Opposite the bed is a good sized desk. The only problem is that the chair at the desk is just a bit too low and the height cannot be adjusted. But that is easily remedied by using one of the four pillows on the bed for some extra height.

The bathroom is nicely appointed. Generally speaking, the room is very clean and there are hardly any signs of wear and tear. The faucets in the bathroom are all shiny and in perfect working order, just like all the other appliances in the room. I rather like that the shower is kind of hidden away behind the wall on which the bathroom mirror is mounted. As for the Knight of Malta shower test, it’s a mixed review. The pressure and volume are only moderate. However, that is compensated by the fact that there is zero spillage and no flooding at all, even after a long shower. I approve. The cosmetics in the bathroom are somewhat generic, but they smell quite nice.

Amenities

In terms of amenities, there is a kettle to make tea or instant coffee. The hotel also provides two bottles of still water, which are replenished daily. Alternatively, there’s also a minibar. In addition, the hotel provides slippers and bathrobes in the deluxe category rooms.

Dining

The restaurant and bar are located on the ground floor. The breakfast is included in my room rate and features a rather substantial buffet with many local dishes and produce – the infamous borek, which are omnipresent on the Balkans, and the lovely and flavourful Ajvar, which is a paste made mainly of grilled bell peppers. And it’s just so, so good! As previously mentioned, the staff in the restaurant are lovely, but just a bit uncoordinated. For someone like me, who takes his morning coffee seriously, having to chase the staff for a cup of coffee is cause for serious concern!

I also have dinner at the hotel, mainly because it’s simply too hot to go outside. The evening menu is nice and quite extensive. There’s a lot of meat, but there are still enough other dishes to get by if you’re vegetarian. It’s also good value for money. I have a very large šopska salad, a plate of pasta, a large bottle of water and a coffee for all of EUR23. At least by Swiss standards that’s not a lot.

Conclusion

I rather like Skopje, it’s a comfortable city. It’s not exactly pretty, and the current heatwave has me thinking twice about going outside unless I have to. But I like it and its people. The Marriott is a nice hotel in a good location, right in the centre of town. And it’s nice to see that the hotel has been properly taken care of over the years – it’s aging well.