Hotel Argisht Partez

The hotel is beautiful, especially with all the palm trees and flowers. The food tasted good, though it got a little repetitive. Staff were really nice, especially Zina at reception, Artha and Aleks at the bar, and the cute girl from the restaurant.

The food was fine, but the menu barely changed. You’re not supposed to drink tap water, and they give you only one bottle for the whole stay. Any extra water costs money. Service is poor, and the hotel doesn’t offer amenities. For the beach, you have to pay extra. First they send you there to check for an available spot, then you have to return to the hotel for a voucher. The next day they can just call the beach instead, so you don’t need to go over there. It makes no sense. One time we were at the pool bar with our kid, and when my partner went to get drinks, she was told she couldn’t order three at once. The design is very nice, but that’s about all I can praise. I wouldn’t recommend it, except perhaps to a group of friends who just want to drink and relax by the pools. There are plenty of other nearby hotels with much better service.

The complex and surrounding area were clean and pleasant, with supermarkets and the beach only a few minutes’ walk away. It looks modern, tidy and fairly luxurious. The pools are well kept, and the 18+ area is great for relaxing without children around. Karina and her colleagues at the owners’ apartments office were friendly and helpful, as were the polite, supportive parking guards. Service at the pool bar was very poor: no one greeted us, nobody spoke English, they took cash only and gave no receipts. The old all-you-can-drink deal has been dropped unless you buy the full food package, which was disappointing. Dinner for apartment owners costs 120 lv per person, which seems expensive beside nearby restaurants. We also had a bad experience with the receptionist with light hair and glasses. She didn’t smile or make eye contact and left us feeling unwelcome, not what you’d expect at a four-star hotel. In general, neighbors in the apartment entrances don’t greet one another, so the atmosphere feels rather cold.

The pool setup was great, four pools, lots of parasols and plenty of spots to relax, and everything looked really clean. We liked the day pass enough to book an overnight stay for next month. The pool bar was odd, though: my first two drinks cost 17lv, which felt steep, and the man put the money in his own wallet. Later orders were much cheaper, so I suspect one staff member was overcharging. There were only two toilets, and no changing rooms or showers near the pool.