I visited this medical Spa without a hotel reservation, in order to get some relaxation, treatment and other possible activates that may be beneficial for the body and health. it was June 2023 after I found the castle Spa closed. I spoke to the reception who told me that they don't have any medical offers like the castle spa, but they only treat the patients that staying at the hotel depending on the condition they came for. Anyway, they allowed me to enter the medical spa and see what possible procedure I can have. They choose for me 6 procedures as per the availability and don't need a doctor consultation. I remember 3 of them which were… Thai massage – Oxygen therapy – Bubbly Magnesium bath.. In additional to use the Sauna, steam and swimming pool. Anyway, they allowed me to enter the medical spa and see what possible procedures I could have. They chose 6 procedures based on availability and don't require a doctor's consultation. I remember 3 of them were... Thai massage - oxygen therapy - magnesium bath.. in addition to using the sauna, steam and swimming pool. My impression after I finished: »it's really doesn't worth it« The place is very cool, clean and amazing like a palace. The staff was very very helpful, polite and nice talking. I really thank you all. Treatment, or let's say procedures – activities. Etc. - the ones I got were very ordinary and neither I nor my body needed them. I regretted not getting the two-hour Thai massage session available in the designated Thai shops within the town, along with all the other services attached to it. it will be better, comfortable and satisfaction.
The building is impressive, enthroned up on the east hillside of Karlovy Vary. Habsburgian vibes reminiscent of ancient days. Imperial is in good condition and nicely renovated. The scale of the building is huge and dimensioned for thousands of guests. Walking around takes quite a bit of time but with lesser amount of guests than the mentioned thousand, it feels quite lonely to stroll the corridors... The public areas are mostly beautiful, but the five official stars... no, unfortunately not. What is lacking? Well, the scale of the property demands to keep it running. To keep it running you have to have a lot of guests. Thus, you have to attract people who not usually are in the ”five star category”. And so they (try to) do. Many things turn to ”cantina” standard in respect of both the reception and ”handling” of the guests and the dining options. Very tired staff at check in. One example: in the main lobby there are only two elevators, whereof one at our visit was out of order. Another elevator in another part of the hotel did not serve all the floors. Nah.... Rooms are renovated and just fine. All amenities and a good night's sleep in comfy beds. Nice with a small balcony. For those having some sort of boarding agreement, dinner is served as a buffet dinner in the magnificent ”Prague restaurant” with lavish decoration. A buffet is hardly a concept in a real five star hotel and we consequently had dinner in the more intimate ”Restaurant Paris” - see my separate review. In ”Prague” breakfast is also served, which proved to be a great gathering of all the hotel guests at the same time. More like a school cantina than a five star hotel. Everything in place though, and most thing you would want is there to find. Queues to the coffee machines... Parking was ”doen the hill” and we ended up parking on a tennis court (!). OK - no problem, but not in the ballpark of attending staff helping you with the parking facilities. Staff correct and polite. But very stiff. And tired. Many steps behind service of a true 5-star. It's about price/performance. We had the opportunity to stay at three different hotels at Karlovy Vary during our stay. And one of those was the Grandhotel Pupp, which we considered to be much more lika a true five star. AND they are/were cheaper! So, you may well stay at Imperial, just for the sake of the building's eminent history and athmosphere. But be aware that days gone by since the turn of the century does not apply in the respecto of ”grand” anymore.