Flamingo Grand Hotel & Spa

Breakfast: nearly meeting a 3 stars hotel. Cold meat selections are definitely reused, eggs of poor quality, same sausages (frankfurters), no a-la- carte menu (standard in 5*), coffee poor, dishes very dirty on the back, same cups, greasy & sticky. Dinner - some items are derived from food used in the morning, smart re cooking, overall tasty but definitely no more than 3* experience. Chef at grill either no ppe, hair tightner etc. No drinks selections apart from ordering extra cost (despite having dinner included in the pack deal). For both, no high quality selection of food expected for 5* property - basic stuff. Spa - overpriced at 55EUR/50 mins relaxing massage where technics are poor, amateurish, towels smelled as rancid oil, guessing not changed on the massage bed. Room cleaning - a disaster, toilet smelled as public toilet, asked 3 times to get it cleaned, 1 st time only wiped with toilet roll, second time nothing, 3rd time washed slightly but incredibly dirty (I had to buy chemicals to wash it myself… you don’t wanna know). Balcony dirty, kitchenette greasy, room condition overall, a 3* hotel at max, with all the inclusions, comfy bed though and good curtains. Windows dirty fingerprints, tiles dirty and greasy, hairs all over the bathroom. Bar cocktails - a mix of something but nothing to do with proper drinks, but highly priced (nice menu quality though). Staff not answering requests on booking, apart from that polite and helpful, a shame that services provided, quality of room and F&B is just dust in the wind. I had high expectations from a 5* advertised property, but only got 3* experience at max. Other mentions: no lobby music, no lobby scent, people don’t smile, sun beds are made of plastic (seaside), lowest quality and umbrelas broken and old/ no cushions available either (ehy advertising it as a perk?). People leave their towels by the pool to keep sunbeds taken and barely half of them are used - poorly organised and other guests can not use the facility. Gym - 3 machines - unacceptable to advertise it as facility, I get it why there are no pictures there (2 running threadmills - cheap for home use and a few dumbells (5 sqm alltogether). A lot more to say, and unfortunately not good stuff and zi don’t really get how this hotel has gotten 9.2 out of 10. Kudos to bellboy, and reception staff. Other than this, 3 out of 10 at best. Not good value for money.

Having decided at the last moment to attend a conference in Albena, we have found a very good offer on the web for the Flamingo Grand (it was much cheaper than any other hotel). Having a limited budget (you know, research funds) we decided to book the hotel, and we were wondering in which dark basement our rooms would be... And instead, surprise: fourth floor, huge rooms with beautiful balcony! The staff is very kind and I have to say that I really like this hotel.