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The Carlton was founded in 1837 as the Inn at the Three Green Trees. Its modern history began with its 2001 renovation after years of dereliction under Communism. Now Bratislava’s premier business accommodation, it has become a focal point of social events as well, from conferences and political cocktails to diplomatic retreats. Eight meeting rooms range from a dozen seats around a table to a 380-seat theatre-style auditorium. The Opera Brasserie restaurant, open all day, serves a la carte and buffet-style meals, while the Mirror Hall bar immediately to the left of the reception area is a smoky haven for entrepreneurs looking for pampered privacy.
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Castle Club is run by a husband and wife journalist team and offers affordable, long-term B&B-style accommodation. It is perched on the steps up to the Bratislava castle, overlooking the Old Town and the Danube river. Internet connection and fax are available in the common kitchen/ living room area, while the upstairs room can sleep five. Owner Ian Brodie is a treasure trove of good stories and insider information—when he isn’t preparing an issue for the printer or babysitting his small children.
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The Chez David establishment is better known for its kosher restaurant, but it also offers a few relatively cheap rooms close to the downtown core. The single suite can be rented at a discount for longer periods, while the beds in the smaller rooms can be put together for a more comfortable sleep. Free parking on the restaurant grounds and the pick of Old Town haunts just outside the door. An offbeat accommodation choice, but great for people tired of impersonal luxury.
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This rather forbidding hotel is actually a bargain for business travellers on a budget. Hotel Bratislava is in the Ruzinov suburb of Bratislava, between the airport and the downtown core, meaning that business meetings and downtown nightlife will tend to involve a 10-minute taxi ride. Meeting and conference facilities can collectively hold up to 600 people, while business-class rooms have internet but no wi-fi. A strip club (the Paradise), sauna and solarium, whirlpool and weight room are as much as you’ll find in the way of in-house diversion.
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The biggest hotel news in Bratislava in 2005 was the August re-opening of the former Forum Hotel under the Crowne Plaza brand. Following its £12 million renovation, the Crowne now offers 14 meeting rooms, many of which can be merged into a combined space for 300 people, and guestrooms with special orthopaedically designed beds. A casino, nightclub, cigar lounge and well-equipped sports centre make the Crowne almost a destination in itself, but given its proximity to the centre of town, across from the Presidential Palace, guests are advised to at least stroll around the block before retreating to the lap of luxury.
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