Runo Guest House

My husband and I really liked the Runo Hotel. Its location is excellent, close to the sea, Ferris wheel, shops, pharmacies, and a very beautiful embankment lined with cafes. Our room was excellent too. Elena, the hostess, was friendly, kind, understanding, and always helpful. She explained everything clearly and even took us on excursions. If we return, we’ll stay at this hotel again. Thank you for everything, Elena. ♥️♥️♥️

The Runo Hotel worked well for our September 2023 stay in Gagra. It’s near the sea, promenade, and Ferris wheel, with a small but well-kept property. We booked two months ahead and were satisfied with the result. Our third-floor room had wood paneling and twin beds, plus a comfortable folding bed with a mattress for our child. After days at the sea and long walks, we slept very well, and I can’t agree with the complaints about hard, uncomfortable mattresses. Elena, the administrator, handled any issues helpfully. The room hadn’t been checked with white gloves, but there was no rubbish left by previous guests when we arrived. The gazebos were pleasant for an evening Sukhumi beer or a glass of wine. The shared kitchen was dark and not very suitable for cooking, perhaps it needs newer dishes and better lighting, although I didn’t really want to cook anyway. The one practical suggestion for the owners is to buy a dozen corkscrews, since the only one keeps disappearing. Everything else was a B+, and I definitely recommend the Runo Hotel. Greetings from Altai to our neighbors from Tyumen!

Being close to the sea and having two cozy gazebos were the main positives. Unfortunately, we won’t return or recommend the place. The mattress was hard, with springs pressing into my back, and I woke up aching all over. Although the room had supposedly been cleaned, there was dust everywhere and the bathroom was dirty. The closet had only a few hangers and no shelves. Smoking wasn’t allowed in the downstairs smoking area or on the balcony, and food wasn’t allowed in the room either. Both Wi-Fi connections were weak. The small TV worked inconsistently. There was a shared kitchen, but the stove was ancient, so we didn’t use it. The room looked bigger in the photos, and the curtains had to stay closed because neighbors were constantly walking past. We were given two separate beds, and apparently a proper bed requires paying for a triple room. We arranged a transfer through the guesthouse owner. To Psou, it was a minibus ride with several stops, and from the border to the train station we were put in another minibus that went to the airport first. The guesthouse may once have been comfortable, but something has clearly gone wrong.

The location was good, and our third-floor room looked toward the Ferris wheel, but the rest of the stay was disappointing. We chose this guesthouse because it advertised a playground. There wasn’t one, only an unsecured swing set on gravel. The kitchen was dark and dirty, so I ate at the cafe instead. During all four nights there was no cleaning. Dead red ants stayed on the windowsill until checkout, while live ones crawled over the walls, floor, and bedding. The room had no real toilet paper supply, just the half-roll already hanging when we arrived. The toothbrush holder was dirty, and there was hair in the sink. Wi-Fi was weak and completely absent in the room. Laundry cost 250 rubles per load, and each guest received only one towel, with no hand or foot towels. We barely saw the administrative staff because we left in the morning and returned at night. Reception was rarely staffed, so finding the administrator took effort. The excursion brochures offered tours at inflated prices.