Hotel Grand

The location, right on the main road from Constanta to Varna, is the one real plus. Rooms are so-so, but the furniture was dusty and the bathrooms weren't very clean. The pool water was extremely cold, making the pool almost useless, and the sauna wasn't working. Restaurant food didn't match the prices.

The staff were friendly and the room was okay, but I won't be coming back. It was noisy all the time, and a constant diesel or fuel smell was coming into the room, so we couldn't open the windows. The bathroom door was hard to open, too.

The restaurant was a pleasant surprise. The food was good, but service was slow. Breakfast comes as coupons that you can also use for lunch or dinner, which is handy if you don't eat much in the morning. The minibar in the room is overpriced, so you can empty it and buy what you want at the supermarket. The balcony is spacious enough for a snack for two, though the view isn't great. The gaps between its railings are wide enough for a six-year-old to get through and fall, potentially fatally. There's a gate behind the hotel that gives a shortcut to the beach. The indoor pool is nice, but the jacuzzi doesn't work properly and has no safety features to help you get in or out. An older person could have trouble using it and could be badly hurt in a fall. The pool is between 1 and 2 meters deep, or 3 to 6 feet, and there's no barrier at the entrance, so watch children closely. The basement stairs by reception are another hazard for kids, with no proper protection, just a rope marking the edge. A fall there could cause a serious injury. There's no elevator, and it's not child-friendly or suitable for older people. I couldn't even sit on the reception couch because the receptionist wanted to sleep there. That was really bad. The staff were rude, and the hotel claims three stars, though to me it felt more like one and a half.

I was made to pay for two people even though I was staying alone, and they wouldn't refund me when I left early. A musty smell hangs around inside, and I found the administration's greed shocking. Consumer Protection would have plenty to look into here, I think. I don't recommend this hotel.