Stip Hotel Tips by Pijlmans

Monastery of St Petka: Spiritual stay

This is a working monastery, so you can spend the night here.

There are several sources with holy water in the monastery.

We just passed here on our way top the Mountain Hut Vrteska, so I cannot comment on the quality of the accommodation.

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: This Monastery is located outside of Stip, along the same road to the archeological site Bargala and Vrteska. It is located between Bargala and Vrteska.

Phone: +389 (0)32 800 233

Theme: Other

Kezovica Spa: at least there's always hot water!

Close to the settlement Novo Selo, there is the Kezovica Spa. Now, don't get excited when you hear "Spa", because this is not your standard luxurious beauty and relaxation center.

The Spa gets its hot water from a hot water spring. The baths are separated for men and women, and you're supposed to go in there naked. They appear to be recently renovated.

The showers, which also use the hot water from the spring, are mixed, but you have your own spacious shower cabin. At a first glance, the showers look pretty shabby. At a second glance, they still look shabby ;-)

The water is supposed to cure disorders ranging from infertility to rheumatism, it has a temperature of about 60 degrees and smells like sulfur. There is a whole medical facility at the complex, and many people come here to be cured. The accommodation for the people that come here for medical reasons is separated from the guest houses.

We didn't come here for the healing water, but because they also offer rather cheap accommodation: 360 MKD (about 6 euros) per person per night. For that money you get e.g. a room with two beds and a table, a toilet shared with three other rooms, and unlimited access to the baths and showers.

Access to the baths or showers is about 60 MKD (1 euro) if you are not staying there.

In the evening, many people are sitting outside watching TV or having a drink. You can buy drinks at the reception, and there is a little shop at the premises that sells some snacks and coffee.

Don't expect to sleep late in the morning, because life starts here around 06.00 and the people there rather shout than whisper...

I may sound a bit negative, but i don't want you to think you'll enter a luxurious "spa". You get what you pay for, and we actually really enjoyed the place and the interaction with the locals at the spa. We stayed here for four nights and explored Stip and the surrounding area.

Comparison: least expensive

Phone: +389 (0)32 308560

Price: less than US$20

Theme: Other

Mountain Hut Vrteska: Beats any hotel!

Mountain hut Vrteska is about 40 km from Stip, near the village Vrteska on the Plackovica mountain.

About 50 people can stay here, it has 6 rooms with 2, 4, 6 or 14 beds.

There is a kitchen, where you can prepare the food that you have to take yourself if you stay here.

We stayed in this hut after a hike to the Kup Cave and Ajducka Cave. It was the best hut we've been to until now!

The stars were wonderful at night, and we could clearly see the Milky Way...

We paid 250 MKD per person, just over 4 euros.

Unique Qualities: Located outside of Stip, along the same road to the archeological site Bargala and Vrteska.

Comparison: least expensive

Other Contact: http://www.hiking.netfirms.com/

Price: less than US$20

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.mkdguide.tk/