Guest House Comfort

The walk to the sea was the biggest downside for us. It takes 25-30 minutes over rough ground, across six railway tracks or an old bridge with asphalt showing through, then over slabs with potholes and more rails just before the beach. We had to carry a stroller, so it was a long, hard walk. Google Maps makes it look close, but Berdyansk’s tourist infrastructure isn’t great. At the beach there were so many people, dirty water, and a toilet far away. Children were peeing in the sea in front of everyone. There are better beaches, but you need a car to reach them, so staying closer to those would make more sense. The guesthouse itself was clean and cozy, with all the room amenities. The air conditioning worked well, and towels and bed linen were provided and changed on request. Administrator Alena was attentive and helpful, always ready to answer questions. The yard is spacious, with a barbecue and plenty of clotheslines. Nights were quiet, and the children could sleep undisturbed during the day too. The shared kitchen has a large four-burner stove, but once lots of people arrived at the end of June, there wasn’t enough room to cook. We had to wait until after lights out. A cook had been promised when we booked, but she only joined the staff about five days later. By then, traveling with two small children, we’d already had to sort out meals ourselves. We did order soup for lunch at 30 UAH per person. Cafes along the way to the beach charged around 20-25 UAH, and the meal was nothing special. Despite the rave reviews about the chef, there wasn’t any meat in our portions, or chicken, if that’s what it was supposed to be. On our departure day we ordered two lunch sets and were disappointed again. The cook’s mother was there. This time there was meat in the soup, but the compote was watery and had that characteristic watery smell of the area. Some salad tomatoes were spoiled, even rotten. The meal wasn’t worth the price, since you could buy more and better food for less on the way to the beach. Even with those issues, we were pleased with our stay at the Comfort Hotel. The staff try to provide what guests need, and it’s clear that the many vacationers and permanent residents have prompted ongoing updates and renovations to meet modern holiday needs. Ruslan and Alena, thank you for your comfort, understanding, and kindness!