Guest House Delfin

The real charm of this place is the peace and the feeling of spiritual rest, not polished service. We stayed in a separate little house with low ceilings, wooden floors, an old refrigerator, cosmetic renovations, a bathroom, and air conditioning. For such a ridiculous price, it felt like a real find. It was a hardworking family caring for a huge farm. The host's first impression was poor because of his unfriendly expression and manner of speaking, though he later proved kind. The hostess was wonderful, her daughters well-behaved, and her son humble. They even arranged a nighttime transfer for my friend and me during our short August 2024 holiday. The yard grows tangerines, persimmons, lemons, pomegranates, grapes, and much more. Around Gagra there are tall eucalyptus trees, bananas, and bamboo, while low barred gates and separate wickets between neighbors create a surprising feeling of trust. People greet one another and the local police happily. The mountains, clean rivers, waterfalls, and places such as Lake Ritsa are beautiful, and the sparsely populated beach with its azure water feels like paradise. The next day we found a tiny place nearby with one owner and only 3-4 tables. Dishes cost 250-650 rubles, and the portions were huge and delicious: Abkhazian mamaliga with cheese, khachapuri, Abkhazian meat, and more. I have never had food so filling and tasty in a cafe or restaurant. There are also outdoor breakfasts and dinners, jeep tours, museums, evening cafes with dancing, homemade wine, and chacha. The untidy surroundings and sluggish infrastructure don't erase Abkhazia's appeal. We enjoyed it, though we didn't have time to see much and will need to return. Come to guest house "Dolphin" for quiet and a break from city noise. Ignore the small flaws if you can and enjoy the bigger picture. With gratitude and respect, Alina!)

The only real advantage was the local buses, which ran close to the house. The sea was 20-30 minutes away on foot, and the city center was also far enough that we used them. We stayed in August 2022, arriving at 1:00 a.m. with our 5-year-old child after traveling by car, plane, and bus. Although I had booked a room with private bathrooms through a travel agency two weeks earlier, they told us there was no room. The hosts' daughter eventually sorted it out, and after our son cried loudly, they asked us to wait 15 minutes while they cleaned. The room was very small, with just one working outlet, already occupied by the refrigerator. The outdoor kitchen had one hotplate for everybody. The hosts lived on the same property and constantly asked where people had gone, what they had bought, and where they had been. During the last three days, we also caught rotavirus. I don't recommend this place. The website information and reviews misled me.

The sea was at least a 20-25-minute walk away, and almost as soon as we arrived the owner began offering us excursions. The bigger problem started before the trip. In August 2021, I booked through Booking.com at a confirmed price that suited us. The night before departure, the "owner" wrote to me on WhatsApp saying the price had gone up. Her explanation was simply that the owner had decided it. I spent the day dealing with Booking.com support, and thankfully they resolved the matter. They still checked us in with the comment, "Well, if they don't have the money to pay extra." But why should we pay more when we booked a month in advance?

This is a very basic guest house. The room is only 5-7 sq. m., and the bathroom is 2-2.5 sq. m. Not every room has a bathroom. Inside there is a creaky double bed, refrigerator, nightstand, wardrobe, windows without curtains, and an air conditioner. The bathroom has a sink, mirror, toilet, and shower, though the shower is extremely cramped. Soundproofing is poor, and the neighbor's rooster crows constantly at any time of day. The walk to the sea takes 20-25 minutes. Go toward the train station, cross the railway tracks, follow Lakrba Street, cross the road, and turn right toward the dining room. Before the metal fence, turn left and continue straight to the sea.