Dune Hotel

It's a decent hotel just a few steps from the sea, and the beach is well kept. Towels and sun loungers come with the 2800 UAH per night price. The staff are pleasant. Getting bags up to the fourth floor is a bit of a challenge because there's no elevator. Restaurant prices are steep, with flounder at 1300 UAH. There were no robes or toiletries in our room.

The hotel has rooms at different prices, and most have one bedroom. Only the priciest suites have two. Breakfast is included. You can eat at the restaurant, though the prices are exorbitant, but the place does feel like your own little paradise. It's an upscale, beautiful spot right on the seashore. The restaurant's summer terrace leads onto a little private beach with umbrellas and loungers. There's also a pool and a small playground. If you're a larger group of up to eight, you can rent a house by the sea, about a five-minute walk from the hotel.

The owner, Marina, had met my husband through his work, so after our stay I told her about what happened at the restaurant. She didn't seem to understand my complaint. She smiled and said she'd tell the restaurant staff to write prices for the signature dishes on the boards. But the next day the boards were still advertising specials without prices. Make of that what you will. We were there because my husband was on a business trip and someone in the city hall tourism department recommended the hotel. We deliberately chose one on the spit, close to the sea. The stylish interior, landscaped grounds, restaurant practically on the beach, and well-kept beach with loungers and mattresses were all lovely. Our impressions were mixed, though. We had first booked a superior sea-view room, but got a standard sea-view room for 2,200 UAH a night. It had no clothespins despite the strong winds, and no bathroom outlet, which made using a hairdryer difficult. There was a fridge and two glasses, but not a single plate or knife, so we asked the restaurant for one. The breakfasts were more or less okay, but the coffee was awful and over-roasted. For this kind of hotel, it should at least be decent. The restaurant prices were already unreasonably high, and we hadn't seen the chef's specials or daily specials listed on the menu. On our first day we ordered cheese soup with fish for 79 UAH, and it was delicious. The menu had five soups at that same price. The next day we were rushing to a business meeting and ordered shurpa from the chalkboard without asking to see a menu. It tasted good, but the bill was 358 UAH instead of the 158 UAH we expected. When we asked the waiter, he said specials aren't on the menu and we should have asked the staff for the price beforehand. That left a bad taste in my mouth.

The main drawback was the internet. The connection was weak, and several rooms had no Wi-Fi at all. I don't know why they'd recommend a stronger router. For an otherwise decent hotel, that's a pretty big problem. The location is excellent, practically on the shore, and the rooms are cozy and decent. Food is okay, but you either have to order in advance or wait a long time at the restaurant. The outdoor pool is small, while indoor parking is free. The staff were clearly hired for the season, and many were still figuring things out.