Hotel Grand Rodina

Our small double room faced the river, with beautiful greenery all around that made the view feel almost like a jungle. The shower and bathroom were cramped, which was the one real drawback. Cleaning happened every day, linens were changed every five days, and towels every other day. The pool stayed open until 10:00 PM. The hotel is well placed, about a seven-minute walk from the beach, seaside park, waterfall, caves, cafes, and other sights. The beach had umbrellas and sun loungers, with free places always available, plus a bar serving tasty cocktails and shashlik. Food choices were limited, though we had what we needed. The reception team, especially Margarita, were friendly and helpful. We also received free tickets to the Ferris wheel and observation deck at check-in.

New Athos itself is beautiful, with kind people, wonderful nature, and a lovely sea. The hotel guide was also helpful, arranging excursions and airport transfers. The rest of our experience in Building 1 in October was much less positive. There was a construction site across from the balcony, the pool wasn’t heated, and guests from Building 1 couldn’t use the heated pool in Building 2. Our room wasn’t cleaned for a week, apart from the restroom being emptied. The linen was never changed, and the towels were replaced only once. Room 1 had just one dim ceiling bulb, with no other lighting. There was no shampoo or shower gel, only a soap dispenser. A thin sheet was provided in case the hotel’s so-called "snow-white" towels got dirty. The dining room was another issue. Guests clear their own dishes, the cuts are all made by hand, and the plates are hand-washed. The food is minimal, though you supposedly won’t go hungry. Nothing may be taken out, and this is monitored. Because sanitation seemed completely lacking, rotavirus was rampant, while staff advised drinking chacha every day. The paper bracelet also had to be carried around and shown in the dining room and on the beach. I don’t understand why people return here. There is a hairdryer, refrigerator, kettle, and safe, but that wasn’t enough for us.

We stayed in the second building on May 16, 2025, and enjoyed the delicious breakfasts and dinners. The mountain views were gorgeous, and the room could be cleaned daily, with towel changes too, if requested. There was no washing machine, though. Maxim, the administrator, deserves special mention for being so attentive and wonderful. We had a great stay and highly recommend the hotel.

Building 2 has a heated pool, a trampoline, and a small children’s play area. The grounds also have an elevator and stairs, with an iron and ironing board in every hallway. Psyrtskha station is closer than Novy Afon station, and our windows looked toward the church, which was especially beautiful at sunrise. We could also hear the river running nearby. We booked two rooms, whose bathrooms were slightly different. One was so small that reaching the toilet was difficult. The liquid soap dispenser in our room was broken, but reception replaced it immediately after we reported it. Apart from that, everything was fine, and the staff were helpful.