Rocca Resort

I called to book a table at the restaurant for Valentine's Day, but they said they would only accept the reservation if we booked a room too. The policy felt incredibly rude and discriminatory.

Our stay was great, and we'd love to return. The complex is set up for relaxing, with a clean, well-maintained pool, spotless facilities, tasty food and warm, friendly staff. Overlooking Kardzhali Dam in the heart of the Rodopi Mountains, the place has crisp mountain air, peaceful quiet, shimmering water and vivid sunset colors. Definitely somewhere worth visiting more than once.

We stayed for a week. The villa, pool and view were good, though breakfast needs a lot of improvement. I know we're in Bulgaria and service and presentation may not count for much, but a little effort would make the stay better. We didn't try the restaurant at all during the week because I didn't want to risk getting bad food.

The location and buildings are great, and the villa rooms are large. But for 300 BGN a night for three adults and a five-year-old, it didn't feel like good value. There's no mosquito trap on any window, so bugs, mosquitoes and all sorts of insects get inside. The rooms also lack basic furniture, leaving you to keep your luggage in the suitcase. Breakfast was especially disappointing: hardly any variety, small buffet platters that were empty within two minutes with so many people, and cleanliness that was only just adequate.