Academy Hotel

The villa rooms felt private, cozy, and clean, and the location was really peaceful. It seems ideal for families, with good food variety and entertainment too. We'll definitely come back.

The beach was pretty disappointing. The sand was full of shells and hurt to walk on, and although the water was mostly clean, it had holes. It wasn't cleaned often, and the so-called wooden umbrellas looked ready to fall apart. Getting there took a long time, which probably helped make the pools so crowded. The bar was very far away and had little to choose from. A frappe or cone ice cream would've been nice. Around the main pool and restaurant, things were mostly dirty and crowded. There was a power cut for about three days, and flies were around the food. No fresh juice either, just lemonade that didn't taste like lemonade. It wasn't the worst place, but I don't think it was worth the money.

We were unsure about booking Mera Resort because of the mixed reviews, but all-inclusive choices were limited, so we took a chance. We were glad we did. We visited at the beginning of September, when it was less crowded than in high summer, which may explain some complaints about congestion. We had a wonderful family holiday and thought it was great value. We were happy and would come back. The villa section wasn't our vibe, though that's just personal preference. The kids' facilities were a huge plus. Activities started at 9:30 in the morning and kept going, with Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, and Pooh, along with pirates, dinosaurs, face painting, balloon shaping, and music and dancing. Evenings had story time and puppet shows at 8. The kids club was amazing, and there was a park with slides, rides, and a dedicated train ride that our little one loved. The kids' pool was heated to 28 degrees and had different kinds of slides. Adults also had good music and well-organized activities. We liked the jacuzzi and pools. There's a spa, but it isn't included in the package, and we didn't have time to go. The beach is about a 15-minute walk away, with a free bus every 30 minutes from 9:30 am. One warning: the road from the main road to the resort is very bumpy, not the best welcome. The food was plentiful and delicious, despite what some reviews say. There was always something available, from breakfast and snacks to lunch, dinner, desserts, and drinks. Breakfast included five kinds of cooked eggs, bacon, hams and salamis, cheese, cereal, fresh fruit, and more. Snacks included waffles, pancakes, pizza, fruit and vegetables, and a station where you could make your own shawarma. Lunch and dinner had duck, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, goose, lots of fish, four pasta types each day, different cooked potatoes, polenta, several soups, and more. The kids' corner served food made for children without added salt or sugar. I didn't enjoy most of the desserts, but my husband loved them. Ice cream was available all day. Drinks were served all day until 11 pm, including three wine brands in red, rosé, and white, spirits, Pepsi-brand juices, natural juices, beer, and sparkling or still water. One suggestion: the dining layout creates a lot of queues. Spreading the serving tables out would cut waiting times and improve the flow. We stayed in one of the two big hotels. The resort is large, with two hotel sides and a villa section, each with its own pools and dining. Our room was a little small, as expected from the building's design, but quite adequate. The bed was enormous and very comfortable, and every room had a lovely balcony with table and chairs. We found a bottle of wine and salty biscuits as a welcome gift. The hotel was impeccably clean throughout. When we arrived around 6 pm, reception staff were incredibly friendly, helpful, and polite. They explained everything clearly and gave us a resort map. It was a big plus that we could go straight to dinner starting at 7, since our meal schedule had begun. Staff across the resort were smiling and genuinely helpful, and we couldn't fault them. We wholeheartedly think they deserve five stars!

The beach was the part we liked least. It's a bit far from the hotel and nothing extraordinary, and could use some maintenance and decoration. Still, we had a lovely time with our little boy, and this is a great spot for families with kids. The whole villas area is clean, really nice, and tastefully decorated, and the rooms were clean too. The staff were very polite and worked hard, always smiling and greeting you, which is rare in România. The pools were nice and very clean, including for kids, and the spa area was clean and pleasant. Evening entertainment for children and adults was nice, though the music could be turned down a bit. The food was nice, but quality and quantity could improve. More fresh-cooked food and less frozen food would help. With some changes to the food, the villas area deserves five stars.