"Eko-Papa" Hotel

The staff were excellent, polite, and helpful, and the meals were modest but very good. We were well-fed and satisfied. There was also entertainment and activities for children, while the pool was clean and nicely maintained under a tarp. The rooms, however, need cosmetic renovation. The carpeting is old, mattresses aren't comfortable, sound carries strongly between rooms, and there was a slight sewer smell around the grounds. Mosquitoes came at night, the windows had no screens, and cleaning was poor, with dusty air-conditioner filters and cornices, smeared insect marks on the ceiling, and shower stalls covered in a white water film. The sea is 300-500 meters away, but the rough asphalt road takes about 15 minutes in the heat. The grounds also need better maintenance, and the septic tank should be repaired. The resort is in a somewhat dirty village with abandoned buildings and a minimally developed beach, while entertainment requires a taxi. This season, people said rotavirus infections were common because of the warm sea, with 100% of people getting sick, so be prepared since it could seriously spoil the holiday. We stayed from August 22, 2023 to September 31, 2023. The photographs look better than the reality. With improved rooms, cleaning, grounds, and sewage, it might deserve four stars.

We stayed from September 5 to 22, 2023, choosing Eco Papa because we wanted somewhere small, quiet, and not crowded. The grounds were clean and fairly well kept. Claims that it was dirty seemed unfair to us. We saw only two harmless wasps, no insects on the ceilings, and no toilet smell. Towels and vacuuming were handled every two days, shampoo and gel were replenished, and toilet paper was always available. The dining room served homemade food. It wasn't always tasty and was often repetitive, but there was enough, we didn't go hungry, and we didn't gain weight. The sea was clean, and the beach was reasonably tidy, although there were no rubbish bins, so some guests left trash behind. The pool was cleaned every morning during our stay and had a children's section that they enjoyed. Cows, chickens, and harmless dogs added to the rural atmosphere. We liked the hotel's peacefulness and escaped the city's noise and crowds. We'd come again, and I recommend it to anyone wanting a quiet break.

The grounds were clean, green, and well maintained, with plum trees, a bar, and a large clean pool divided into children's and adults' areas. Our room for two adults and one child had clean, slightly worn linens, air conditioning, a local-channel TV, hairdryer, refrigerator, and wardrobe. Room towels were white, while the brown pool and beach towels were not changed during the stay. The food was FB and tasty enough that we were never hungry. The beach took 5-7 minutes to reach, with shops, cafes, baked goods, SUPs, jet skis, boats, and banana boats nearby. There is also a good hotel travel agency, and a taxi app like Yandex. We took one excursion, then drove ourselves because the rushed format wasn't for us. The main problem was comfort. The mattresses were worn out and the springs hurt my back. Soundproofing was practically nonexistent, so footsteps, vibrations, toilet sounds, flushing, and even karaoke from the outside bar came straight into the room. Repeated music by the pool and in the dining room became irritating, especially the same small selection of songs and frequent Anna Asti tracks. Some guests also brought huge speakers and played their own music. Blackout curtains would have helped because the sun woke me around 5 or 6 a.m., and I couldn't find a sleep mask. Gudauta itself is a lovely place, but we probably won't return to this hotel because I want comfort for both body and soul. I also wouldn't recommend buying draft wine from locals. I bought some the day before leaving and spent the next day with stomach trouble. If you arrive in Sochi, buy water and use a restroom there, since the journey to the hotel offers neither. We arrived at 8:00 PM and reached the hotel at 2:00 AM.

The staff are very kind and helpful, and the hotel is about 300 meters from the sea. The pool is clean, though cold. It is a rural location, and the beach is basic, with large pebbles followed by sand, no loungers, and no equipment. The rooms are only minimally equipped. Floor-to-ceiling windows stay covered because of the shared balcony and the large number of guests. Meals are filling but bland, with a choice of two dishes. There are no pastries, and hot drinks are offered only in the morning and evening. I don't want to return.