BAJKA Hotel

The prices are reasonable, and the place has a cozy feel with good service. The steaks and salads were tasty.

The atmosphere was relaxing, though the service was poor.

We stayed at the complex from February 13 to 15 and left very disappointed. The buffet at Sunday breakfast, at 9:30 in the morning, was completely empty. The pool water was cold, so swimming wasn't possible. Service here still needs a lot of work. Good luck with that.

The main reason we chose Bayka was the setting and the choice of indoor and outdoor pools, and those were real pluses. We stayed 10 days, though, and the longer we were there, the more issues came up. For a few days it might be fine, depending on what bothers you, but I have questions about a longer holiday. Our room was clean, the balcony was cleaned too, and the linens were fresh and in good condition. Housekeeping came on day four, after we requested it, then every three days without us having to ask. During one visit, a nightgown went missing with the dirty laundry. We only found it the following day because the laundry room was locked when we noticed. It seems hard to believe the administrator couldn't get the key to look for it. A small thing, but still upsetting, especially when you want your own comfortable nightgown while spending the night in the basement during shelling. Breakfasts varied according to the hotel's occupancy, something we weren't told when booking. Some days there was a choice of five dishes, later it was four; weekends had a buffet, and it wasn't always refilled promptly. When breakfast was served to order, the only drinks were tea and coffee from a thermos. There was no milk or even plain water, let alone juice. A few days later only tea was available, and proper coffee had to be ordered at the bar. Weekend staff seemed overwhelmed by the crowds. They cleared dirty dishes, but left crumbs and rubbish on the tables. We also had some awkwardness at check-in. We arrived a few hours before the stated 2 p.m. time and asked where to leave our things while we went for a walk. The room was already ready, so they let us in, which was welcome after a long trip. Then the administrator called to say we had to pay for early check-in because he hadn't realized they charged for it. In our experience, other hotels have let us in for free when the room is ready and it's not very early in the morning. The choices were to leave for two hours or pay. It was worked out amicably and we stayed, but it wasn't a great first impression of their hospitality. The spa opening routine was another frustration. It opens at 10, but at 10:10 the administrator might still be absent, and you have to wait or go find him inside the spa. Once you're there, they start switching off lights and cleaning, as if no one expected you. On weekdays the sauna and hammam operate only from 5 p.m.; weekends they're listed as open from noon to 8 p.m. At 5, the sauna wasn't properly warm yet, and by 7:30 staff were turning everything off and saying they closed at 7:45. We stayed in a wooden house hoping for quiet and privacy, but cars were buzzing around all day, more often than you'd hear near homes in a big city. It'd be good if guests and workers left cars in the lower parking area, except when carrying things or making the 200-meter walk downhill is genuinely difficult. The road tiles are broken too, adding to the noise. One day the pool bar was shut because staff were helping arrange a birthday party. It felt like paying guests were overlooked. They could perhaps leave the bartender's number so they could come over if needed. Still, the location and pools were why we came, and the cleanliness was good. The mixed experience made more sense over a longer stay than it might for a few days.