Sanatoriy Almaz

I got a free voucher as a labor veteran and was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly everything went. Check-in took five minutes, the room was warm, and it came with soap, shampoo, a shower cap and three fluffy white towels. The shower stayed hot and the room was cleaned daily. Meals were varied, with fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, kefir, juice and pastries every day. The food servers, Sveta and Natasha, were always smiling and friendly. The treatment-room staff were just as polite and attentive, especially Irochka from Ozekerit and Natasha from Mineral Baths. Many thanks to Doctor Alexander Vladimirovich Drach and the whole team.

The rooms are in awful condition, though the food is okay. For the second day now, none of them have running or hot water. You can't even use the toilet, never mind shower. A truck brings water, and people carry it in buckets and bottles. This is the worst sanatorium I've ever stayed at.

The staff were the one good part, apart from the receptionists and administration. They were helpful, accommodating, friendly and polite, which is surprising considering they work in these conditions for pennies. Food was plain cafeteria fare, neither especially good nor terrible. At least we didn't get food poisoning. But the price doesn't match the quality: 1,200 UAH a night for a double room is a lot, especially when most people stay at least 14 days. I'd only recommend it to thrill-seekers. We got back from this "wonderful" place three days ago. We'd read the reviews and seen the photos, but figured people were exaggerating, were pampered, or were writing for competitors. I didn't want to believe it, which was a mistake. Our superior room was a mess. The shower stall was black with mold on top and rusty underneath. The carpet was threadbare and covered in strange brown stains. It would've been better if it wasn't there at all. The TV remote had just one working button, the power button, and the buttons on the TV itself had been ripped out, so we couldn't change channels or adjust the volume. There were smaller problems too: a broken sconce lampshade, dust everywhere, and bedding in such a state it seemed as though bodies had been buried in those sheets. I don't even want to imagine the economy rooms. My neighbour said the toilet in her bathroom wasn't screwed down.

I was at this sanatorium in 2007 and 2008 for my health, and I was happy with both the treatments and my stay. I didn't share photos of the room or bathroom from those visits. I ate, had treatment and slept at the sanatorium, then spent the rest of my time walking around Truskavets and going on excursions. The resort park, fresh air and people were lovely. The town also has lots of historic buildings and monuments, with architecture and local character that really draw you in.