Balneo Comlex Medica Narechen

The one person I found nice at the hotel was the man at the bathtubs. He was really friendly and pleasant. I wanted to book a massage, so I asked reception where to find the masseuse. They said to look somewhere in the hotel, probably on the second floor. I went up, but a woman there couldn’t tell me where the masseuse was and yelled at me instead. We were only there to use the pool, and I can’t recommend it. It’s very small, with room for perhaps 10-12 people at most. I can’t imagine how all the hotel guests would fit if many wanted to swim. Hygiene didn’t look adequate, and the water wasn’t warm enough. This is NOT thermal water.

The nature makes up for some of the shortcomings in the people 😊. The town is small and quiet, and the complex itself is all right, I guess. Rooms are very small, with an even tinier shower room, and you can see signs of age. The staff still have a long way to go. If you enjoy walking, be ready for steps, steps, and more steps.

The physiotherapy was excellent, and the radon water is unique. The doctor was experienced and professional, and the mostly young staff were very professional too. Everyone kept the hotel area very clean. There are also some nice trips on offer to Krustova gora and other interesting places. The restaurant serves delicious, good-quality food at low prices, but I wouldn’t include it with a spa package. We didn’t like the package food, so pay separately and enjoy the restaurant. There’s also a very good family restaurant nearby with great food and drinks. I definitely recommend the place.

We had a relaxing stay and felt it was good value, especially because the procedures and hotel facilities are so good. The staff were polite and kind, particularly in the spa and rehabilitation center, where the rehabilitators are professionals. We also enjoyed the pool and fitness room, and cleanliness was up to standard. For Narechenski bani, this Balneohotel is probably the best option. Our room was fine and had everything we needed. There was a pricing dispute at reception: they first tried to charge more than the rate they’d given before booking. The room is an extra category, but their site doesn’t list a rate for it, so misunderstandings like this can happen. We didn’t enjoy the food included in the package. It was low quality, not tasty, and the portions were small. Ordering freely from the restaurant is much better, so if you’re picky about food, book without meals or with breakfast only. The steam bath wasn’t working on some afternoons and early evenings, and no staff member was available to deal with it. The pool isn’t mineral water. We were told radon water isn’t suitable for everyone and shouldn’t be used for long because of its radioactivity. This should be explained more clearly on the hotel site so people don’t arrive expecting a mineral pool. The pool is also on the small side and can get crowded. There’s no air conditioning in the rooms. It was fine for us because ours was in the shade, but a room on the fifth floor must get very hot. The hotel could build out its services with trips to nearby places worth visiting and transport to Plovdiv, since public buses are sporadic and unreliable. Narechen itself isn’t well maintained or developed as a spa resort. There are a few good restaurants, but that’s about it, which is a shame because the nature is lovely and there are good sightseeing spots nearby. We’d visit again if the quality stays the same.