Sunrise - Apartment 41,Santa Marina, Sozopol

The food was a highlight for me. The main restaurant was amazing, especially the best duck dish I’ve had. I also loved a salad with figs and creamy goat cheese, I think it was goat, topped with caramelised sugar. The Stradivarius by Chateau Copsa red wine was a little sweet but tasty. Breakfast was delicious and had lots of variety, and the staff were polite. I liked how the houses were arranged, along with the parks and pools. The kitchen had everything you might need, even ice in the freezer. The beach strip felt a bit too small for me, though.

The lift down to the beach didn’t work, which was the main reason we picked this place. My disabled mother couldn’t join us there even once, and that was heartbreaking. Santa Marina is overpriced, and what’s advertised doesn’t match what you get. When we arrived, the reception and restaurant were flooded, and there was no electricity or internet. We couldn’t check in, get to our rooms, or even stay dry. Staff had no solution or useful information to offer, which was unacceptable. Three days later, we still had no internet or TV. The resort looks pleasant, but the decline since our visit three years ago is clear, and the rooms are passable but neglected. It feels like the priority is selling as much property as possible, mainly to Russian buyers, before putting more money into the resort. The front row of houses has already sold out, so that approach seems to be working.

The pillows were the worst part of the room for us. They were so thick they gave us neck pain and a poor night’s sleep, and there weren’t any alternatives. The room was humid, the AC was loud and didn’t work normally, with no dehumidifier function. The water heater was set too low, so we ran out of hot water in the shower, and the hair dryer didn’t work. We stayed one night shortly before the busy season. At first the complex looked impressive, but the accommodations and some amenities seemed poorly maintained. Security wouldn’t let us in through the main gate and sent us around to the back of the village. From that rear entrance we saw a pool with green water and a sandpit playground with grass growing in it. Our room was spacious and had a nice balcony, though a partly built building in the middle of the village blocked what could have been a good view. The room itself was otherwise fine. Maybe we were unlucky in the off season, and the hotel has potential, but the stay left a lot to be desired.

Inside the complex things are in good shape, and there’s transportation available. The place has loads of green space, great pools, and amazing views. Some parts look neglected, though, with unusable parks and cracked terrain, which is sad to see. In high season, some parking spots look risky because of the slope. I’d guess cars could easily get dented by other drivers.