Grand Afon

We stayed at the Grand Afon and were really happy with that choice. The views are unbelievably beautiful, and the waterfall beside the hotel is especially gorgeous. The sea is about 10-15 minutes away, with the hotel's own beach and loungers. Our rate included breakfast and dinner, both tasty and filling. The rooms were very clean, water was left in bottles every day, and Wi-Fi was available. There are lots of little shops and cafes nearby, with reasonable prices. You could easily spend your time walking around and looking at everything without going anywhere else.

The best thing here is the setting. The hotel sits in the heart of New Athos, with the main sights close enough to walk to, and we were lucky with the weather. The pool is clean and pleasant, with water heated to 20 degrees, which felt fine in the warm weather. Robes are provided, too. Our room was comfortable and practical, though it needed some cosmetic repairs. During the first five days nobody cleaned it, probably because it was the off-season and the staff had a relaxed attitude. Still, they were responsive whenever we asked for help. Breakfast was tasty and filling but repetitive, with porridge, scrambled eggs, sausages, cottage cheese with raisins, and vegetable salad. The sweets changed between rolls, pancakes, and syrniki. Instant coffee and 3-in-1 breakfasts were the only disappointing parts, though that may just be a matter of taste.

The hotel is right in the center of the resort, so stepping outside already feels like going on an excursion. New Athos Cave, Athos Monastery, the cell and grotto of one of the 12 apostles, and Stalin's dacha are all within walking distance. It is quiet and fresh at night. The rooms are clean and everything works. Staff are friendly, and they change, bring, or clean things every day, including laundry, and deliver items when requested. Robes and towels are available. The hotel beach has clean sea water, warm water, loungers, and umbrellas. Breakfast and dinner are buffet-style, home-style, tasty, varied, and good quality.

This was our fourth trip to Abkhazia, after first coming in 2006 when we were students. The changes since then have been pleasant and noticeable. Abkhazia has its own nature, pace, and atmosphere, so comparing it directly with Turkey, Thailand, or Egypt doesn't really make sense. It is still a small country without the resources to provide everything at the level people may be used to. I had noticed this hotel in 2017, before it opened, and promised myself I would stay here next time. The location works perfectly for me, since walking in any direction is enjoyable. We had breakfast and dinner with some buffet elements, and the food was delicious, although a little fatty for my stomach. By the end of the week I simply stopped overeating. Our standard room suited us well. A suite we saw was larger and had a bathroom. We had soap, shampoo, towels, robes, a hairdryer, and smart TVs that could connect to YouTube, Netflix, Kinopoisk, and other services. Wi-Fi worked, though not perfectly in every room. Towels were changed every three days and bed linen every four. Because of the humidity, the towels didn't always dry in the room, so more frequent changes would have been nicer. Bottled water was brought according to the number of guests, 0.5 volume. The staff were always responsive and tried to help. We love Abkhazia and are glad to see it gradually changing for the better. The people are kind and hospitable.