Ozdorovitelny Kompleks Chayka

We came hoping to find some peace and relax, but after just one day we wanted to leave. Buildings 4 and 5 were awful. The water smelled metallic, cobwebs were all over, and there were insects everywhere. Finding maggots in the bed was especially disgusting, and the mattress seemed like it hadn't been washed since the 20th century. The mattresses felt as if they'd come from Pripyat, and the cockroaches made the place nauseating. It was hard to stay there even a day, between dealing with the pests and feeling like the bugs would drive you mad. The cafeteria food was mostly chunks of fat in broth instead of meat, though some dishes were tasty, and the cooks deserve thanks for their effort. There are some real pluses, but they don't make up for the problems. I hope they give the place a thorough clean and replace the mattresses. Thanks for at least possibly trying.

Lake Narach is just 300 meters away, and the forest is lovely. We were in the first residential building, an old Soviet-era one, and it was a bit shabby. Still, the bathroom worked and the linens were clean. We only used the room to sleep and change, so we had no complaints. We celebrated New Year's here, and everything was exceptionally well organized. The table was great, the host avoided vulgar contests, and the kids had activities that let the parents relax. Everything ran on time, and the staff were excellent. Around a hundred adults came, mostly aged 30 to 50, and it was a fun crowd. Honestly, we hadn't expected to enjoy it, but we danced and sang karaoke. Lunch outdoors included fish soup, and even the rain didn't put people off.

The lake has boats, catamarans, swans and a great pier that lots of people call the "podium." You can catch a free bus at 2:45 PM to the swimming pool or the village of Naroch for shopping, a walk along the embankment, and a photo by the snail monument in the park dedicated to the Naroch region. At nearby Zhuravushka sanatorium, there's equipment to rent and a range of treatments. The pine forest is close by, the air is crystal clear, and its paths to the lake are tidy and easy to follow. We even spotted plenty of blueberries, blackberries and big snails. Our room was in building 2, room 1. It was spacious, with four single beds, and a large bathroom. There were three of us, so I pushed two beds together to make a king-size bed. Having separate beds is handy, and the room works for two or four people. It also has its own entrance. The dining room food was excellent, and each day you could choose from a menu to suit your needs.

My April visit was lovely: the room was nice, the food was excellent and filling, it was quiet, and the scenery was stunning. For seven of the ten days, I had one of the buildings entirely to myself. I returned in August, though, and had a disappointing stay. There were lots of drunk Russian tourists, and cars were parked right below the windows despite a parking area nearby. I had to remind the maid a couple of times that we were out of toilet paper. The food was very meager and portions seemed underweight. In the evenings, dining room staff came out with bags, and the waiters didn't seem to know how to smile. My friend's room was very drunk, but mine was fine. The nearest store is in Zubrenka, and the bus to the village runs only a few times a week from nearby Zhuravushka sanatorium. You can book excursions, and the nature and lake are lovely. I visited twice, a few years ago, and have little bad to say about the April trip. I hope the staff have had training over the past couple of years, so the place can accommodate tourists properly and not disgrace Belarus.