Hotel Slavuna

Our meal plan was at the nearby hotel, and I can only say good things about it: tasty meals, a choice of meats, and fresh fruit and vegetables every day. The location is right on the beach, with one free parasol and two sunbeds per room. Our double room was an okay size, with a double sofa, desk and mini fridge, and the sea view was amazing. It was clean enough, though the shower needed more scrubbing. Sleeping was a nightmare. The mattresses were extremely uncomfortable, the curtains didn't block the light, and the place was very noisy. We won't be back.

The Dine Around option lets you have lunch or dinner at partner hotels. We tried Gergana, and the difference was huge: the restaurant there really seemed like four stars, miles ahead of Slavuna/Mura. You can also use Gergana's cocktail bar, where the drinks are much better, though its snack bar isn't available to you. We were a family of four, with children aged 9 and 11. The hotel is right on the beach, which saved time and hassle. The beach and water were clean in the good summer weather, around 34-35 degrees. The pool is shared with Gergana and is big enough, but there were hardly any sunbeds, so we sometimes used chairs and a table. The animation was mediocre, especially compared with Malibu. Our room was spacious enough and had a nice view, but several things didn't work properly. The mini fridge didn't keep things cold, its cupboard door was difficult to open, some bulbs were out, the hairdryer didn't stay fixed to the wall, and there was rust outside. It was over 35 degrees when we arrived, but there was no AC remote in the room. We waited 15-20 minutes for reception to bring one. The cleaning ladies were okay. The receptionists, hotel manager in particular, and waiters seemed dull, tired, angry, bored and not very attentive. The table cleaner looked at us angrily when we arrived on Monday, as if we were intruders. Service improved a little by the end, but not much. I'd rate the restaurant and snack bar 5/10. The food was okay, not special, and most people should find something they like unless they're very picky. The drinks were disappointing: lobby drinks were better than those at the beach bar, the water was almost always warm and the juices were artificial. Coffee and beer were okay; I didn't try the wine. The machines were poorly maintained, sometimes broken, and didn't always make what the pictures showed. It was also very hot inside, and the air conditioning didn't seem to work as it should. The restaurant is shared with Mura. The room gets 6/10. The employees, 2/10. The beach and pool, 8/10. I wouldn't call this a four-star hotel, maybe three at most. Some signs say three stars, while others, including the entrance, say four. It felt like they had found a way to add another star. We've stayed at Malibu twice and had a much better time. We did enjoy parts of this stay, but next time we'll pay more and try Gergana or Kaliakra.

Albena has plenty of activities and choices, it's quiet, close to the beach, and everyone gets a parking spot under a tree. Those were the good parts. The hotel felt like a two-star place presented as four. The room was dated throughout, from the TV and air conditioner to the sofa. The balcony doors were especially hard to open and close. The bathroom ceiling kept getting wetter, and the room was never cleaned unless I specifically asked. I forgot to request replacement shampoo bottles, and they were left empty. The maids spoke only Bulgarian. I waited 15 minutes at reception for a replacement remote, then got another faulty one. Aside from the maids and one receptionist, the staff were unfriendly. I was asked to leave the restaurant in Bulgarian while I tried to work out why. Eventually I understood that I wasn't wearing a T-shirt. My mistake. About 90% of the food was awful, either bland, oily, undercooked or just disgusting. The coffee was undrinkable, and the machines smelled like pee. There were no working toilets in the restaurant.

The staff, room and food were good, but this doesn't feel like an eco hotel. If the claims were true, it should be a good hotel with a beautiful beach, but there was plastic everywhere and the beach was dirty, full of smokers and cigarette butts. Disgusting. It seems better suited to Romanian and Bulgarian guests who smoke all the time 🤭. It doesn't meet EU standards, and the hotel feels stuck in the 1990s. Calling it ECO feels like a scam.