Park-otel' Versal'

The place itself is pretty, but the service and respect for visitors left a lot to be desired. Entry cost 25 rubles per person, and I ended up having to ask for the complaints book and listen to a lecture from the manager and administrators. Nobody apologized. We came on a hot summer morning, three of us, including my 70-year-old mother, with temperatures around +30°C. There was no water, cooler, food for sale, or open restaurant. We went to see the animals in their cages, but many were probably asleep, so we didn’t see them. There were no carrots or apples available, and the hungry animals were being fed grass. Couldn’t this be organized properly? We weren’t allowed to take photos by the building facade or go up to look because a wedding was planned. The guests hadn’t even arrived yet, they were just getting ready. We politely asked the administrators what time the ceremony would be and whether we might have time to look and take a photo. They firmly refused. Later we learned we’d been there in the morning and the wedding was after 2 PM. We surely could have taken a couple of photos and seen the building and park in that time.

The big zoo and the beautiful, extensive grounds are the main draw, with lots of little spots to sit and barbecue. For a reasonable price, it can be a good vacation, but bring plenty of food. The room fridges are tiny and have no freezer, so they won’t hold much. There’s no shop on site, and the restaurant is closed to regular guests, apparently only serving large banquets and catering events. That leaves guests bringing their own food, though the hotel fridges aren’t suited to storing it. The receptionists warned us. If you need groceries or diapers, you have to make a trip, which means you can’t drink. In Sergeevichi, Doka is a short walk away and Briz requires a drive. Both shops are small, and bread only arrives after 3 PM, so there’s none in the morning. A proper store is 21 km away. We kept having to compensate for the lack of infrastructure by making trips to the general store, so it was hard to settle into the complex’s luxurious atmosphere. The unheated outdoor pool sits next to a large cottage, and those staying there seem to think it belongs just to them rather than being shared. The pool isn’t a highlight of the complex. The staff were generally kind, friendly, helpful, and offered suggestions about what to see and where to go. That mattered to us.

The pink house had everything we needed for a good time with friends: a gazebo outside, traps, a small fountain for grilling kebabs, coals, a grill, and skewers. I also really liked the restaurant, with live music and friendly staff. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, and the zoo has interesting animals. It’s such a gorgeous place to wander around and enjoy. I’ll definitely return and would like to stay in the other houses too :) I recommend it to everyone!!!

The room has recently been renovated and comes with air conditioning, a mini-fridge, mosquito nets, and the basic amenities. The only thing missing was a safe. Guests can park on site. There’s a nice zoo where you can watch the animals being fed, and breakfast is decent and included. The restaurant is available for an extra charge, and they make delicious cocktails. We were lucky that the complex was closed for a wedding, so only guests had access to the grounds and we could enjoy quiet walks. The staff were polite, and the landscaping is beautiful. A big thank you to the landscape designer and gardener. Glad to see such a high standard in Belarus.