More Traveller Reviews of Riu Helios Bay Hotel
Fantastic Hotel
from Beebequeen
We had a wonderful time at the Helios Bay, The food was excellent, although a bit boring towards the end of the holiday. The hotel was immacutaley clean and the staff very friendly, especially in the childrens club which is a major plus if you have small children like us. The only fault we found was that the staff did seem to give preference to the Germans as there were a lot there, but we will definately go back.
Nice hotel, quiet location
from Robsony
I'm at the riu helios as i type. Coming home today. Only heard of one case of the ilness and he required a doctor to be called out in the night. Other than that the hotel really nice, location is boring, beach is ok, food was lovely, room was great. People nice. Pleanty of our german neighbours in the hotel, probably outnumbering the brits by 4-1. Would come back in about 4 years when the resort is more interesting. Entertainment wasn't too bad as was previously posted. I would reccomend hireing a car and taking excersions away from the resort. I think bulgaria has a lot to offer, but we didn't really see any of it. (small child with us) Enjoy!!
Lovely hotel, awful holiday ruined by the illness in the hotel which we had
from Snowella
Very impressive hotel on the beach, lovely spacious room, hotel staff all very pleasant and helpful. Entertainment extremely poor. Food looked very good but due to going down with the gastro -enteritis type illness on the 3rd day of being there meant I was unable to eat/drink and we were only there for a week. I was amazed to see so many ill people-vomitting everywhere, around the pool, public areas etc: Apparently this illness has been in the hotel for several months which we were not aware of and had not been informed of this by Thomson/Portland prior to departure from the U.K. which I find unacceptable as this Travel Company is putting peoples health at risk. I would have changed my holiday and gone to a different country if I had been aware. It was a very disappointing and frustrating situation - we looked forward to the holiday which had been booked over a year ago and took annual leave from work and what for- to become ill !!!!!!! I was still ill on returning home and had to have medication from my G.P.Tour companies sholud not be allowed to put people at risk, there were young babies, preganant women and probably people with pre- existing health problems but none of this is taken in to consideration. On returning home I have found on web sites that numerous other people had the illness and it is suggested it is caused by raw sewage . We had booked on a trip but were unable to go due to the ilness we saw nothing and did nothing. Would I ever go to Bulgaria again ? NO ! NO! NO!
great hotel bad sickness bug
from BLUNY
having spent the week there from 22 august untill the 29 august. Here are my comments...hotel in great location, staff lovely and very helpfull. hotel rooms and hotel lovely and clean. food ok but put of eating it after my daughter caught the so called bug, as did lots of people we had met there. we had met two couples with children whos children had both been on drips for the entire holiday. since returning my two daughters and myself have only just got over it. ITS A BAD ONE. The holiday rep was not to concerned as he said it was not the hotel his thoughts were that we had all picked it up from the sea. the hotel doctor very good, although be carefull as he does not tell you that you will be hit with a huge bill at the end of your stay, our friend was charged one hundred and fifty pounds for the treatment of her son just as we were about to catch the coach to come home. WOULD I GO BACK THERE.....NOT SO LIKELY....
Fantastic hotel
from MMNelson
We have just returned from the Riu Helios Bay - Obzor after spending a fantastic week (22/8/06 - 29/08/06) with my husband and two daughters. I was very nervous about going to this hotel after reading the reviews on this website about a sickness bug which seemed rampant within this hotel. However, we didn't experience any problems with sickness and there wasn't any evidence of any illness within the hotel, there was a doctor within the complex and I would pass his surgery about twice a day and I only ever saw one or two people there over the week so whatever problems they had in July seems to have been sorted now. ( I do think the problems started when the Riu Miramar nearby got flooded and there was a backsurge of sewage and all the guests were evacuated and put into the Riu Helios Bay which is when they started to have problems, this is just my theory?). Anyway, we had a lovely family room on two levels which was very large with a fantastic bathroom and sea view. We have tasted better food but I do think Bulgaria is way behing Spain, Canaries etc on catering for tourists and are still learning and what we did have was nice with lots of choice and it was presented very well. There was constantly an army of cleaners making sure everything was kept clean and tidy and also lifeguards around the pool. Only downside, don't expect to get a sunbed after 9am in the morning, the pool isn't big enough for the number of guests in the hotel and there are not enough sunbeds to cater for everyone when the hotel is full but the beach is right outside the hotel and that is where we spent most of our days. I would definately go to this hotel again as we found it so relaxing. Hope this review helps any anyone going to this hotel in the next week or so and are as nervous as I was after reading the previous reviews, don't be nervous as you'll have a great time. One last tip, don't eat the ice cream as we were told by some german guests who have stopped at this hotel before that the ice cream has been known to make some children and adults sick.
Sickness ruined our holiday!!
from lorriW
We stayed at helios bay for a week at the end of July. The hotel and pool area was nice as was expected for a Riu hotel as we have stayed in them before and have never been dissapointed. However this holiday was completely different and we couldnt wait to get home!! My son was sick during the second night and at first we put this down to over indulgence, too much coke ect.... but he carried on being sick for the rest of the night, and the next two days. My other son came down with this too and then eventually i did, with stomach cramps, pains in my side and generally feeling really lousy. We were'nt the only ones though, i saw somebody being sick in the restaurant at the table, sick around the pool and on the stairs. My partner actually saw a little girl in a wheelchair with a drip in her arm being sick everywhere. The hotel never seemed really busy and we thought it was because so many people were ill in their rooms. The management knew about this but seemed to do little about it! The doctor who was actually based in the hotel said it was an 'airbourne virus' and when i phoned the holiday hotline number they didnt want to know because of this. Im sure it must be more than this though because so many people were ill. People were asking to be transfered but nobody from the travel company wanted to know, and this is a very well known company! This hotel needs to be shut down and the problem sorted out. Our holiday was ruined because of this as was many other peoples. We wont be returning to Bulgaria again thats for sure!
nice, but spoiled by sickness
from emjess
Hotel and staff fine, but holiday spoilt by sickness, one by one we all went down with it. Stomach cramps, vomiting, and needed to spend hours on the toilet. Thomson did give us access to a doctor at the hotel, but sickness continued even after we arrived back in uk. If it were not for the sickness the hotel would have been fine, but have not felt we had a holiday as the sickness took over.
Sickness Bug continues ....
from Gill46
We arrived on the 1st August, 2006 and were pleasantly surprised at the hotel. Very nice, spacious family room, plenty of wardrobe space, bathroom very nice, but beds uncomfortable. The hotel was very clean and the grounds were lovely. Right on the beach. A quiet resort although a bit remote. The town centre was very nice and is obviously being refurbished. Quite a lot of market stalls but no one was pushy. We have not experienced All Inclusive before and were a little dubious however, it was perfect for our children (10 and 13) they could get a drink or something to eat almost all day. The evening meal was O.K. with a selection of dishes each day although there were two sittings, we were in the second sitting starting at 8.30 p.m. We went on the day trip to the Aqua Park at Sunny Beach which was thoroughly enjoyed by our 10 year old. All was O.K. until the penultimate day when during the afternoon I had to return to our room as I didn't feel well and I was very sick. My son, aged 10, returned to the room a couple of hours later and he too was very sick regularly all through the night. We spent the next day in bed. We travelled home later that night and my son was sick before we left the hotel and again at the airport. He felt very ill. Up until this point we were having a good holiday. When we first arrived at the hotel the first person I talked to told me there was a bug going around the hotel and I just thought "over indulgence", this obviously was not the case!
Sickness Bug
from BrownsandO'briens
We travelled to the Helios Bay on 14th.July, (delayed 8 hours at airport) for one week's all inclusive holiday. The hotel was of a good standard (quiet area) overlooking the beach. Although we had no issues with the hotel or staff, 7 out of 8 of our party were particularly ill whilst there (my son aged 8, started being sick/diarrhoea within 24 hours of our arrival). Hotel guests advised us that a "bug" had been circulating the hotel for some time and that numerous other holiday makers had experienced the same symptoms lasting about a day with severe stomach cramps and violent sickness. Appetite loss followed for 2-3 days. Our holiday was completely ruined as each of us went down with the illness. Despite logging the complaint with our Holiday Representative and writing a lengthy and detailed letter to the company upon our return, the holiday operator is unwilling to compensate us, stating that we should have sought medical advice. (Please be aware that fellow holiday makers did see the doctor and were charged 75 lev only to be told that it was an "airborne virus" and that it should be allowed to run its course!!) We saw several children with intraveinus drips and numerous people vomiting by the pool side and toilets. We cannot understand how guests were allowed to check in - and are still checking into this hotel (we have today seen reports from other holiday makers who visited in the last 14 days who have experienced the same illness). The holiday operators were and are fully aware of this ongoing problem.
great hotel-but too sick to enjoy the holiday
from skippy11
Yes its a great hotel. Have always enjoyed staying at Riu hotels but this one was certainly below the normal Riu standard. We stayed for one week starting weds 26th July. Rooms were clean food lacked imagination and was very repeatative.On Friday we heard that several families had had upset stomachs and were being sick. On Saturday evening our son became ill being sick on the terrace, (we could not get him to a toilet in time). We waited ages for someone to come and clean it up, had to tell Reception twice. When two maids/cleaners came we apologised but was ignored!!! and was cursed and given dirty looks before they began to sweep up with a bristle broom!!!!!!!!. Leaving most of the sick scattered around the terrace. The housekeeping Manager came over and agian we apologised she was fine and said not to worry "they are paid to do this" but said that our son had eaten too much and had been in the sun for too long and that he should stay out of the pool the next day!! With our son safely up in our room I then began to feel ill and spent all night in the bathroom as either our son was being sick or I was on the toilet. We both took tablets and medicene that we had bought with us.Sunday we both spent in bed with regular visits to the bathroom, I even had to get the maid out as she still insisted on cleaning the room. When your are crying out with stomach cramps and in desperate need of the toilet the last thing you want is to try and get the maid out of the bloody bathroom, only to find that she is standing outside the door waiting for you to finish!! On Monday we both felt a little better, but were unable to eat any food. Every person that we spoke to was either ill or a member of their family had been. Tuesday arrived and my husband woke with stomach pains and spent the day with his new best friend, the toilet. Both my son and I were still not able to eat and had sudden waves of nausea and a need to go the toilet. Wednesday our last day friends that we went with had not been ill yet but had spoken to a couple that should of stayed at the hotel next to ours but due to flooding (including overflowing sewage) had been put in our hotel. They were both now feeling unwell. On the way to the airport our daughter began to feel ill as did my friend Kay. We all managed to get home without any problems, lucky that people don't tend to use the toilets alot during night flights so our daughter was able to go when she needed to. Kay on the other hand felt very sick and did not eat or drink anything. It is now Tuesday we have been home for 6 days Kay has not stopped being sick and has had to give stool samples to the doctor her husband was also very ill for 2 days (Thurs and Fri). Myself and my son are still getting waves of nausea and need to go to the toilet frequently, have just made an appointment for the doctor. We are not sure want the cause is yet but is defiantly something we caught on holiday. Since returning we have seen a report in a national newspaper that shows that Tomsons were aware of a problem relating to sewage overflowing and checks were made by health officials but when I phoned them they would not give the finding of their report I was asked to put my complaints in writing, which I will be doing.
6 readers found this review helpful
This is my first review. I am writting it because the reviews I read helped us choose this wonderful hotel, giving us the lovely relaxing holiday that we were looking for. We choose this hotel with the idea of doing nothing for a week, we simply wanted to rest, relax and... more