Flamingo Grand Hotel & SPA

The hotel's location is probably its strongest point. The rooms were fine, but ordinary for the price, and the spa was so small it was hard to relax. We paid a lot for all-inclusive, yet with the hotel nearly empty, there was no buffet. Breakfast came as a plate and was poor in both quality and choice. The hotel must have known occupancy would be low, but there was no price reduction, compensation, or effort to make up for the reduced service. For those rates, guests should get the service they paid for whether the hotel is full or quiet. The value for money was very disappointing.

The rooms were clean and comfortable, though a little dated and in need of an update. Staff were great and welcoming, and there was a wide selection of food for different tastes. From October onward, though, everything shuts, even the shops. That does make for a peaceful stay.

The breakfast was fresh, tasty, and varied, but it could be hard to find a table. The beach is about a five-minute walk away. Parking was a letdown: getting a space closer to the hotel costs double per day. The pools looked fine and were busy, though we didn't use them. The hotel is decent, but I wouldn't call it four-star. The rooms are practical, but the decor is old and tired, and the place needs more attention to detail generally. The receptionist was pleasant, though a warmer, more relaxed welcome would have helped.

The beach was the only real bright spot, and the room's coffee machine came with free coffee. Beyond that, our week at this hotel, booked through TUI, was a major disappointment. The town is extremely quiet, with no evening entertainment, clubs, bars, or animation. The pools were icy and unused, apart from one small heated indoor pool. Service was lacking, and staff didn't give us enough information, so we had to work things out ourselves. The room had large bugs and spiders, cleaning was poor, and most towels had red or brown stains. Free water was supplied by housekeeping only on the first day, then we had to pay. Dinner was included, but even the cheapest fruit juices cost extra, and there was no tea or coffee in the evening. The meat wasn't to my taste; the vegetables and desserts were decent. Breakfast was mostly pastries, repetitive and unhealthy, and quickly got monotonous. It was the first holiday in my life where I was glad to get home. Many other guests on the flight back had similar complaints. I don't plan to return to Bulgaria. People felt unfriendly, with unpleasant reactions when you spoke English, and the staff and locals weren't welcoming.