Hotel Mepas, Kneza Višeslava, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, occupies the top two floors of Mepas Mall (a mega shopping center). It’s right in the center of the business area of the city, with great views across the valley that’s about 80 miles south and west of the capital, Sarajevo.
Its location atop an upscale mall offers lots of shopping without having to step outside (of course) but also an array of places to dine, from coffee shops to the elegant Restoran Prestige on the fourth floor of the mall.
Guest Rooms at the Hotel Mepas
Hotel Mepas has 16 “Classic” and 56 “Superior” rooms, two of which are fully adjusted to persons with disabilities (a rarity in the Balkans). There also are 14 “Superior” suites plus an over the top Presidential Suite.
The hotel floors are fully air-conditioned. Every room and suite is equipped with a bathrobe, house slippers, and “anti-allergy” pillows plus a flat-screen television, safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, and towel warmer — but no coffee maker. In the sleek bathroom there’s a large bathtub and a walk-in shower (with both a rainshower and a hand-held nozzle). The usual bathroom amenities included a shower cap.
WiFi Challenges at Hotel Mepas
Now, as for the WiFi, I had a bit of a problem with that. Inexplicably I could find the WiFi signal, but not connect to the internet. Finally someone from the front desk came up and plugged in a different modem which at least got me connected to the internet (most of the time). A breakfast buffet is included in the room cost, as is parking.
I was there just one night, so I didn’t have time to check out the indoor swimming pool, the wellness center, or the fitness center. If you plan to host meetings there, note that the Hotel Mepas has a large congress hall plus several smaller meeting rooms.
Mostar in the Bosnian War
Those of us who remember the Bosnian War in the early 1990s no doubt have an image in our minds: the iconic bridge — Stari Most — over the Neretva river. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the original — built during the time of the Ottoman Empire — was, upon its completion in 1566, said to be the widest man-made arch bridge in the world.
It was completely destroyed November 9, 1993, by shells fired by Croatian gunners. Academics have argued that the bridge held little strategic value, and that its shelling was an example of deliberate cultural property destruction. Given that mosques, synagogues, and churches in Mostar were nearby, the Stari Most (“Old Bridge”) was probably targeted for the symbolic significance it served in connecting diverse communities.
Outrage over the destruction sparked a multinational effort to rebuild the bridge, and massive fund-raising efforts were launched. Reconstruction began June 7, 2001, and the “new” bridge was inaugurated July 23, 2004. Total cost estimate: $15.5 million.
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If you go there
Room prices at the Hotel Mepas vary by season, starting from about $75. You can make a reservation on the hotel’s site or via one of the usual booking websites like Booking.com or Hotels.com.
If you’re going to Bosnia and Herzegovina, check out my review of the Hotel President in Sarajevo.
(Text and most photos by Susan McKee)
