Barcelo Royal Beach - Apartment

The beach is close, about a 5 min walk, and the pool area was very clean, with good sunbeds and umbrellas and very good pool bar service. But the pool was not heated, despite being advertised that way. Breakfast was good, and the salads, vegetables and soups tasted good. I tried the other main courses too, and they tasted very bad. I'm not a picky eater, I wasn't raised by kings. The service at check-in was poor. I came early after paying in advance to make sure I still had a room, but more than an hour after the stated 2 PM check-in time they were still “waiting for confirmation.” Staff could at least have seemed more interested in helping. The room was fairly clean but smelled bad, as if unused for a long time, and the furniture looked tired. There was only a 3-in-1 shampoo/shower gel/conditioner/soap in the bathroom, hardly a 5 star experience. The sink looked dirty, the shower cap was broken in the shower, and the toilet seat was very worn and scratched. There were rust marks around the panic string, and the bathroom didn't seem recently cleaned. The people with me had the same experience in their room. They asked to move, but their replacement rooms were no different. There were no water bottles or anything in the minibar either. The name of this hotel does NOT reflect the quality of the service, so do not be confused.

The spa was a real highlight. We booked a Turkish bath, massage and facial package, and it was worth every penny. Maria was skilled, professional and welcoming. The hotel also waived the parking fee because of the water problem, which I appreciated. We came for two nights to spend quality time together, since my friend lives in Sofia and I live overseas and we only see each other once a year. The staff gave us a lovely welcome, helped with luggage, offered to park my rental car and brought complimentary water. They were friendly and helpful through most of the stay. Our room was spacious, clean and comfortable, with a large bathroom and a view over the pools and part of the beach. There was even a complimentary bottle of champagne, which didn't last long. We were told on arrival that the hotel had no water due to circumstances outside their control. It was expected back around 18:00 hrs, but didn't return until later in the evening, and when it did, it stayed discolored throughout our stay. I was also surprised there was no minibar. The food was mediocre at best, although the croissants and cheese selection were particularly good. The coffee machine was awful, as were the juice and soda machines, and the dessert section was one of the weakest I've encountered at a resort. We had booked for the indoor pool and spa, but the indoor pool and hot tub were freezing. Staff tried to warm the area by limiting airflow, but a warmer room doesn't warm the water. The outdoor pool felt warmer, which defeated the purpose. Front desk knowledge could be better. The evening before checkout, I asked if room service was available or if there was anywhere to get food after dinner hours. The receptionist said she didn't know because she was new. The next morning I asked how to get to the parking area where staff had left my car, and again she didn't know. Not knowing is understandable, but making no effort to find out isn't. I also had a frustrating issue with a necklace left in my robe pocket after the spa. It was recovered, but the initial response was disappointing. I felt they should have first said, “Give me five minutes to track down the robe and see what happened.” Instead, they focused on why I hadn't used the safe. The only employee who seemed slightly rude or unprofessional was the housekeeping supervisor. Everyone else I met was pleasant and respectful. The customer service was mostly excellent, the room was comfortable and the spa was fantastic, but the food, cold indoor pool, water issue and a few management concerns kept this from feeling like a five-star stay.

The stay felt like an easy escape, whether we were unwinding in the room, relaxing by the pool or having dinner. The atmosphere was calm, elegant and relaxing, and the team seemed to care about making every guest's visit memorable. Service stayed warm and attentive throughout. We were welcomed like old friends, and the spotless, beautifully designed room had a postcard-worthy view. The bed was incredibly comfortable, with thoughtful touches that made things feel luxurious without being pretentious. Breakfast was exceptional too. One of the best hotel experiences I've had. 10/10, and we'd return in a heartbeat. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for comfort, quality and unforgettable hospitality.

We had a wonderful stay at Barceló Royal Beach and would recommend it. It's conveniently close to the beach, the rooms are spacious, and ours had a beautiful view of the sea and pool. The food was excellent, with lots of choices for different tastes.