Villa Elmar

The sea and beach were the good part of this long weekend; the accommodation definitely wasn’t, and we won’t repeat the stay. What was offered and what we found didn’t match. They advertised free parking, but you had to find a space yourself, which caused arguments. The listed kitchen had basic dishes, but no dishwasher. The website said checkout was by 12:00, yet they required us to leave the apartment by 10:00. There was supposedly internet, but in practice there was none. No mosquito nets or blinds, neighbors could look into the windows, and there was no sound insulation. Across the street, the summer cinema shows films late, until 01:30. You can watch for free if you want, but you can’t avoid hearing it.

We’d definitely come back, even though the lack of mosquito nets was the one thing I didn’t like. The apartment was clean, well kept and equipped with everything we needed: two air conditioners, two TVs, a working refrigerator and a stove. They even provided a baby cot, which saved us bringing our own. It’s near the center and about equally far from both beaches. The place is peaceful, and the service from the friendly, smiling woman was very good. I was especially impressed that they came and cleaned the apartment, which doesn’t happen in many places.

Communication was very good, and while we were booking they did everything they could to accommodate us, which we appreciated. Once we arrived, though, we were disappointed. The kitchen is described as having utensils, but while there is a kitchenette, it has almost no utensils, and the refrigerator isn’t big enough for two, let alone a whole family. Free parking is available, but they don’t guarantee a spot for every guest. In my view, they could avoid the hassle and frustration by paying for parking for their guests, which costs 5 leva per day and is two minutes from the house. Another detail not mentioned anywhere: there’s an open-air cinema directly across the road, with two screenings a night. The second starts after 11:30 pm and runs until about 1 am. There are other details, but they’re not worth discussing.

It brought back memories of a vacation in Yalta in 2003! It felt so homelike and cozy. Zhenya, the owner of the house, is a magician!