Pelican Beach

The room was clean and welcoming, and the minibar prices were reasonable. The bathroom was small, and the air conditioner controls were worn, with knobs that fell apart. The balcony had just one chair, which was annoying as a couple. Also, there isn't enough parking around the hotel, and the private parking is ridiculously expensive.

The reception staff didn't listen or try to help when I had complaints, and the service felt like a three-star hotel at best. The room itself wasn't up to four-star standard either: old bathroom appliances, only warm water, old towels, a broken dryer, a fridge that didn't work, and air conditioning that was little help, so we had to keep the windows open. Parking was another hassle. The free spaces are limited and supposedly first come, first served, but no one keeps track. There's paid parking nearby, discounted from 50 to 25 lei, and you'll most likely have to use it. I'd avoid this hotel.

The rooms were nice enough, which is why I gave the hotel two stars, but the service is far below what you'd expect from a four-star place. Our apartment for three was spacious, clean, and had the amenities, apart from a minibar. There was a small, empty fridge built into the furniture, which worked fine for keeping our own drinks cold. Receptionists, bellboys, and cleaning staff did their jobs properly and deserve tips. The management, though, leaves a lot to improve, and we won't return. The restaurant was a sad affair. It was nicely refurbished and medium-sized, but prices were so high that there were only three or four tables occupied at lunch and almost nobody at dinner. High prices would be fine if the food were good, but it was mediocre at best. The grilled salmon we ordered one day was raw in the middle. A 200 ml glass of fresh orange juice cost 30 lei, more than I’ve seen even at posh Bucharest terraces, where it’s no more than 15 lei. The waiters sat around bored, and the place felt like a waste. Parking was a mess from the moment we arrived. The attendant told us there was no parking and wouldn't let us stop out front to unload. I ignored him, unloaded our bags, and parked 40-50 meters away. The next day, we saw an open spot near the entrance blocked by a plastic pin. When we signaled we wanted to use it, the attendant just stared. I got out to move the pin, and he shouted that it wasn't ours to move and that it was his job. The whole thing was absurd. Maybe it was because we hadn't tipped him on day one, or maybe he was holding the spot for someone who had. Who knows. On day three, the hair dryer came apart in my wife's hands and gave her an electric shock. We reported it right away. An electrician came at 9 the next morning, looked at it, and left without saying anything. At 5 pm, the wires were still exposed by the bathroom sink. We wouldn't let our four-year-old daughter go into the bathroom alone in case she touched them. I wonder whether hotel management realizes the legal liability if someone gets hurt. Probably not.

We had a relaxing stay: the sea was close, green trees nearby gave us shade, and the beds were comfortable. The room had air conditioning and a fridge, plus a very relaxing chair on the balcony. The staff were really pleasant, which all made for an enjoyable experience.