Balneocomplex Kamena

It feels like stepping back several decades, and the comfort and style aren’t appealing. The furniture is old, the carpets worn, and the bathroom is dingy and hasn’t been renovated. Even the sheets feel as old as the building. Unless you’re after a history reenactment, I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

The room was spacious, and the view across the neighborhood to the mountains was spectacular, especially with snow. The lobby was nicely decorated. Still, this is an old hotel refurbished in a late-80s socialist style, so don’t expect luxury. The spa, rooms, and indoor restaurant are passable, but nothing special.

There are plenty of things for after-hours entertainment, including a pool table, air hockey, table tennis, and a few electronic driving games. The pool is in good condition, and the place is affordable, but there’s a lot that could be improved. It’s usually crowded, though there’s room for everyone. The main drawback is the lack of air conditioning. Open windows may help, depending on the room, but ours was in a spot with little airflow and got quite warm, sometimes uncomfortable. The youngsters get to dive from the raised areas around 5:30-6:00 pm, but closing the pools and all water activities at 7:00 pm feels far too early. I understand the need to change the water. Reception staff will help, but they could be friendlier, as they often seemed stiff or sour. Some staff still act as if visitors should serve them instead of the other way around. Management could bring in some new ideas, unless they’re content to stick with what they already offer, which seems a poor strategy for this kind of business.

I stayed on a half-board basis as part of a cycling tour run by Penguin Travel. We arrived late, so I didn’t get to try the spa. My room, 514, was at the back and reached by lift. It was very clean but dated and not particularly large. The bed was fairly comfortable, though, and I slept well. Dinner had been arranged for 8 pm. We had salad, then fried cheeses, vegetables, and bread as appetizers, followed by chicken with potatoes and a few vegetables. The food was fine. Our waitress didn’t speak English and we couldn’t speak Bulgarian, so we used Google Translate to communicate, and it worked well. Breakfast was an OK buffet with the usual cheeses, meats, eggs, and bread, a typical Bulgarian breakfast as I’m finding on this trip. I’d suggest booking a room at the front of the hotel to get the sun.