Riu Bolero ClubHotel

1 reader found this review helpful

We've just returned after 2 weeks all inclusive at the Griffin Bolero.
Fantastic hotel, staff and accommodation, noticed whilst staying that this hotel has previously won Thomson best accommodation last year 2006 it's easy to see why luxurious rooms with free mini bar, maid service daily and spotlessly clean.
We travelled as a family of 3 with a 10 year old son, plenty to do in the day with poolside entertainment, no pressure if you didn't feel like participating.
Easy access to drinks machines soft and alcoholic, with plastic glasses around the pool area continually being collected.
Two main pools lilos allowed 1 with Jacuzzi and ideal for families, the other deeper and better for the more advanced swimmer but still suitable for children.
All three restaurants were immaculately clean 2 serving throughout the day with a wide choice of food.
The animations team worked very hard with obviously a low budget making sure that everybody had a great time, they even waved everybody goodbye when they left the hotel at the end of their holiday.
Very close to the beach front but no noise or disruption ,with easy access to all attractions including mini train along resort front.
We booked our trips through the hotel rather than Thomson purely down to costs as all trips are arranged by the same company.
Visited the aqua park by courtesy bus 1 lev each and 25 lev entrance and had a great day out.
We were informed that Thomson are not using this hotel next year(shame on Thomson) due to costs, however it is still available through Balkan Holidays.
All in all a great time and we would visit again.

Location: About 50 minutes from the airport. A 3 minute walk to the beach - but you have to pay for sunbeds there, 10 minutes to resort centre past lots of little shops and different activities.
Rooms: Spacious and well cleaned. All-inclusive mini-bar provided (re-stocked every other day) but you have to pay for your safe. TV had 3 English speaking channels; but my kids enjoyed watching "Sponge Bob" in Italian!
Food: 3 restaurants, only 1 non-buffet. In the main one there were lots of different dishes and all well-presented but it did get rather repetitive after a fortnight! The Argentinean grill consisted mainly of junk food in the day.
BEWARE: the staff were very over-zealous in clearing your plates away. At times it felt as if they were hovering over you, waiting for you to take your last mouthful and that you should hurry up and go! Always leave one person at the table; otherwise it will be stripped by the time you return with your food! They were very strict about time.
At 2:57 you were not allowed a hotdog for 3 minutes until 3pm when snack-time officially started!
Entertainment: The Animation team were superb! There was a schedule of activities every day including water polo, volleyball, shooting, boules, ping-pong etc etc The team were incredibly inclusive, but didn't hassle anyone into doing anything they didn't want to do. They adhered to the rules of the game at all times.
The kid's club was very good. They catered for children from 4-12 and again had a clear schedule with a huge variety of activities for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. The evening entertainment was fairly dire!
Hotel: Everybody had a uniform - the lifeguards, gardeners etc. There were always people cleaning and the staff were generally pleasant and helpful. There was certainly a friendly atmosphere. The Thomson rep lives at the hotel so is around regularly. There was an on-site shop that stocked all your holiday essentials.
Pools: 1 indoor with spa that offered massages etc 2 outdoor and a kid’s pool. Lifeguards often patrolling and cleaned at night. Having said that there were quite a few ear infections going on and we did start to wonder if it was the pool water?
Playground: A slide and a swing in some sand - don't get excited about this one.
The air-conditioning was more like having a fan in your room and I don't think it was switched on in the public areas i.e. Bar Salon.
I would recommend this hotel; it was good value and deserved its 4 star status. Our children are 3 + 5 and had considerable freedom and lots of fun in a safe environment.
It was a very good family holiday.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just returned from two weeks all inclusive at the Riu Bolero, party of sixteen including three children.
The hotel was spotless with cleaning staff working all day and night to maintain standards(never in your way).
The food is plentiful with a wide range of choice too suit everybody in all three restaurants.
The rooms are practical and very spacious with a fridge which is re-stocked every two days with water, beer, and soft drinks, there is also a safe(with a small charge) in every room, maids come in daily too clean at your convenience.
The two swimming pools and two kid’s pools are clean and well maintained, bearing in mind the amount of drinks knocked or kicked over the use of plastic glasses is a very good idea.
Small downside was the evening’s entertainment programme it was only an hour long, with early evening catering for the children, we all went out by 10.15pm saving the hotel money on the free drinks which end by 11.50pm when the hotel becomes a ghost town.
The children’s animation team were very busy night and day organising shows and games for everyone(they also stage most of the shows for the evening entertainment on a shoestring budget)there is a dance called the LAVAKKA they do about eight times a day, which got on my nerves.
The resort itself was clean with a nice beach(recent heat wave made it too hot though 116 degrees f.
The bars restaurants and shops are very alike, beware of a bar called serenattas they charged treble what the other bars do(they keep receipts and when questioned about price they can’t find them 99lev for seven drinks)no wonder it was always empty.
A special mention for our hotel Thomson rep Katie, we had a medical problem with one of the kids (little Charlie)and she helped out immensely saving one of party a lot of money, she was kind friendly and helpful even offering us drinks from the bar if she was getting herself one top marks too Katie, in a nutshell friendly helpful staff, very clean hotel, pleasant resort, nice food, clean swimming pools.
If I could change anything it would be the entertainment(evening) and the bar closing time(later)and the obnoxious male cabin crew member on the flight home. Thanks to my party for an enjoyable holiday.

1 reader found this review helpful

What a fantastic hotel! We stayed for 2 weeks and how pleased we were, so much we are re-booking for next year.
The hotel was cleaned everyday from top to bottom, and the rooms were spot on. They were spacious and the bathroom very smart. The minibar was a nice touch in the room; this was re-stocked every other day with beer, soft drinks, and water, all free!
The 3 restaurants were superb. A good choice of food for all, nice to have 3 choices in the all inclusive, and would recommended the Asian restaurant. All the bars have a good choice of drinks for all; these are available nearly all day.
The pools are excellent, large and clean, which my daughter did not want to leave. The staff could not do enough for us, always friendly and willing to help.
The animation team were fantastic, and they worked very hard. The shows they put on were excellent, and they kept all amused all day, would love to know where they get the energy.
The hotel deserves its 4 star rating. We don’t have a bad word to say about the hotel or resort.
Only bad part is we had a pushchair, and this caused problems as there is no access for wheel/pushchairs. Thanks to all the staff for the superb holiday. Highly recommended.

1 reader found this review helpful

Fabulous hotel. Can’t fault it at all. Pool was loved by our 3 children. Meals were all delicious, hot, and nutritious.
Entertainment team made a huge impression on our children. The shows were good fun and kept the children amused. Would recommend this hotel.

1 reader found this review helpful

This hotel is unsuitable for wheelchair users people with pushchairs there are far to many steps lack of food choice for the children uncooperative staff new hotel but faults are appearing in the building.
Indoor pool is freezing and not heated like suggested. My family of 8 were very disappointed. We are still waiting for a response from Thomsons regarding these problems and the fact of no wheelchair access not being added in on brochure details. Travel cot was substandard. 4 out 6 high chairs had broken straps. The food standard was below par and only the German tourists appeared to actually enjoy the food.
No diet available or baby food in the entire hotel. The snack bar closes at 5 to become a paying restaurant even if you are on fully inclusive you still have to pay for this restaurant.

2 readers found this review helpful

I thought the Riu Bolero was a great hotel to have our holiday! First time in Bulgaria all together and love the place!
The staff in the Bolero could not be friendlier, from reception, to bar to animation. But a big thank to our Thomson reps, Mandy and Emma, who made our holiday extra special. They were always there whenever we needed them and welcomed us with a big warm smile! No job was too small for our reps, whatever we needed, they made sure it was done!
The animation team were an excellent group of entertainers! We particularly liked their Riu Bolero dance that they did three times a day! Krissy, Itso and Mitko were very friendly and always remembered the names of our children! Our children thoughts they were the best entertainers they have had!
THANK YOU THOMSON AND RIU BOLERO!

1 reader found this review helpful

Party of 2 adults and 3 teenagers. Stayed for 1 week from 16 August 2006. Had an excellent time. The cleanest, friendliest hotel we have ever stayed in. The bedrooms we had were on the 6th floor and both had a sea view. Large bedrooms with both bath and shower, very well decorated with clean towels every day.
Food wise there was always something for everyone from Salads, Pizza, Burgers, ice-cream etc to full breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Tried both the Argentinian and Asia restaurant - the Asian one we thought was 'spot on'.
The bottled water was a great asset too, likewise the fridge in the bedrooms. The animation team did a great job of entertaining although from the second day onwards we hardly saw our teenagers as they had made friends and they all stayed together from first thing in the morning to last thing at night.
Great swimming pools - we tended to sit around the top pool as there was more of a breeze there. Towels for use at the pools were changed every evening. Only 1 minute walk from the beautiful beach where there are loads of water sports.
Didn't really venture out of the hotel apart from a stroll in the evening as everything was there that we needed. All in all we can't fault this hotel and would certainly recommend it to anyone.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just return from holiday hotel clean, food great staff great the animation team worked really hard to entertain anyone who wished to join in.
Only bad point to the holiday was my partner hurt ankle went to see doctor at hotel, doctors receptionist contacted doctor for treatment following day more treatment given it was at this point a bill was mentioned. My partner was under the impression that his medical card covered this treatment.
If you need to see the doctor in the hotel ask about cost first due to no one mentioning this until after treatment.

1 reader found this review helpful

First time to Bulgaria with very young family (2 and 1 years)
This hotel is excellent, we stayed for a week and wished we had booked longer.
The accommodation is large, modern and is cleaned daily.
Nothing is too much trouble for the staff, especially the animation team who work from dawn till late at night entertaining adults as well as kids - the shows are really good. You will end up singing the "I want to go to Riu song" for the next 6 months (buy the CD!)
Food is great, hot with loads of choice, no excuse for going hungry (or thirsty!).
Would recommend for families as kids club and staff are great, and is 2 mins walk from beach and town centre.
Cant wait to go back.