Malina Villas

We stayed as a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 children aged 5 and 7 at the Malina Villas in February 08. Initially we booked the villas for two reasons. Firstly we wanted to be able to walk to the ski depot and the slopes, and secondly we wanted a chalet type residence where we could have privacy, our own kitchen and bedrooms and where the children could play out in the snow. We definitely picked the right place for these requirements. The ski depot and nursery slopes were within a 5 minute walk from the Villas (and the Malina Residence) where most of the other hotels are located 2km and a bus ride away. This meant that we could go to and come back from the slopes when we wanted as opposed to waiting for the buses which did not run between 10 and 3. Secondly, the chalet. The children could play outside whilst we took a well earned rest inside, and we could see exactly where they were and what they were doing. Immediately inside the door is a living room with 3 seater settee and 2 chairs. There is also a decent dining table with 4 chairs and 2 huge heaters, one of which has a drying rack attached. We used this constantly. At the back of the living area was a quite steep, narrow staircase leading upstairs. Beyond the lounge was a basic kitchen, with loads of cupboards, but not much in them. There is no microwave or oven, only a single electric hob. Take your own kettle, there isn't one. There is also no toaster which would have been nice. Upstairs are two bedrooms, one with a triple size bed which completely fills the room and the other with twin beds. Obviously being in the Apex of the Triangle shape of the villa, they are small, but perfectly adequate and comfortable. There is also a wardrobe in the corridor, but that is all the storage apart form in the kitchen. The villas sadly lack some shelving etc.
We were half board. The restaurant is located in a separate wooden building and gets very busy in the early evening, but we always got a table without problem. As is the norm in the hotels in Bulgaria, the food was served luke warm from a buffet table. This is a shame as the food was actually quite tasty. You can also order food from a la carte, but you pay extra. When we did this, it was a bit chaotic, all the food came at once so we sent the main courses back. You guessed it. When they came back, it was cold. They soon heated it up when asked though. There is no bar at the villas, but the mexican restuarant in the malina residence next door is quite a nice little bar area, and they do food in there if you get fed up of the cold stuff.
We would definitely go back, although a little basic, they are comfortable and met our requirements perfectly.