Ralitsa Hotel

DONT GO !!!!!!!!!!! This is the worst holiday I have ever had, I would rather spend a week in cardboard city. The food is not fit for consumption, the rooms were very basic, sheets don't get changed, the staff treat you like dirt (Germans get better treatment), there is nothing to do for the kids unless you want to pay and there is not to much to do in the resort . Everyone we met all had the same feelings about the holiday, most said they will lodge a compliant with First Choice.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED DO NOT GO !!!!!!!!!

We have just returned from a week in the Ralitsa Hotel (3*), Albena, Bulgaria.
Our first impressions of the place was ok, the rep warned us all on the transfer bus to the hotel that if you didn’t want help with cases to your room to ignore the baggage men, as they will demand money for their trouble (The last thing you want when you have been travelling all day / night). We didn’t except the help, but was not pointed in the correct direction of the room either, but was pretty easy to find.
Our room was nice, it was very clean and consisted of two single beds (Which were comfortable) and bunk beds. The walls in the hotel are very thin....therefore, I would suggest taking ear plugs if you are a light sleeper.
The bathroom was very clean, had a walk in shower, sink and toilet. The only thing I would add about the bathroom which was a letdown, it had a window that everyone could see straight in....we just put a towel over the window so it wasn’t much of a problem for us.
The food in the hotel is a bit hit and miss.....Breakfast was nice, I had Pancakes with chocolate sauce on most mornings and fruit. The food did seem to be sat about and not particularly fresh, but we did manage to find something to eat, someday I just had Chips and Salad.
We found the staff at the hotel to be rude and unhelpful. The Animation team however were very polite and couldn’t do enough to help out.
Most things are outside in Albena so if you are going end of the season, I would suggest taking some warmer clothes. We only packed small summer stuff, and got caught out and cold....however that is not the hotel or resort fault.
Our first choice rep we found to be extremely false....she would be pleasant to you if you were to speak to her.....but we got the feeling she didn’t really want to be. (Probably because it was coming to the end of the season).

I visited this hotel last year and found the stay very enjoyable. I found hardly anything to complain about.
However if you are a fussy eater and prefer your chip shop fish n chips then I would not suggest this hotel, as the food is very different from English.
The cleaners were extremely nice and folded my clothes every day.
There was one woman at the front desk I did get a few looks off though, but other than that the rest of the staff were very friendly.
If you are staying there I would recommend the jeep safari. I had a lot of fun and found some of the stuff very interesting. The water fights were hilarious as well so if you do go take a lot of water!
The hotel is about 5 minutes away from the shops which I found very helpful as well.
So other than one horrible member of staff and the rather different food this is an excellent hotel and very enjoyable especially for young families.

After booking we read some shocking reports about this resort and hotel. Needless to say we were very worried about going. I am pleased to say we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived. The staff were helpful, cleaners lovely, rooms were clean and well stocked, linen changed regularly and fresh towels when needed.
Food was good with plenty of choice. Snack bar was the same most days but still nice.
You do have to get your last drinks before 11 pm as they will not serve you even if you are in a queue.
Not to many Germans in the Ralitsa but there were more in Vita Park which is linked with the Ralitsa. They certainly were not a problem for us.
I think this Hotel deserves the 3* rating that it has. It does not have the extras of a higher rating but you cannot expect more for the money paid.
We had a great time. The weather was lovely. We did enjoy listening to one family moan about everything (none of it was justified!). It was a bit of a joke for us!
A'la Carte was not all that but it was edible. Funny man in there who said please every time he gave you your food. Worth visiting for the experience but you may want to eat something first as it is not to everyone's taste.
Nice stroll to the shops and beach but there is a free bus if you would prefer. Shops are very samey but Poco Loco restaurant is worth a visit.
If you buy air conditioning and you have more than one room, only pay for one as the controller works all rooms!
All in all we had a good time. Just do not expect a 5* when you pay for a 3*.

I got back on the 28th Aug after two weeks with my 9 and 4 yr old and husband and mum and dad. Well, we did read some pretty bad reports and was dreading it as we haven’t been away for 16 yrs!
Well the room was cleaned every day the pool was great, weather was fab, food like every where there was definitely something for everyone we didn’t get ill, it was a little busy and there are a lot of rude people but we still smiled, don’t take someone’s toast.
We did eat out twice at poco loco and that was just for a change, we had our money worth on pop, lager, pizza, ice cream, etc, go for a visit to the Dobruja hotel and have a coffee on the 15th floor you can see all over Bulgaria and it is really amazing.
The dolphin show was good but only 20 minutes and then you get 2 hrs in Varna, I would of rather gone to Varna for the day as it was lovely, go to the water park, and also the beach was beautiful.
So come on you people out there who really slated it give some credit, we had a lovely cheap hol, I would go back but I do want to see other places. I do think people want the Ritz well go top class!!! People where nice an animation team were brill. Well done.

This was the worst holiday I have ever been on. Please do not go here!
This was more like a 1* than a 3*. It wasn’t clean, the food was disgusting. I nicknamed this hotel "Fawlty Towers" and that was being nice.
The animation team were great and that is the only great thing about this place.
You have been warned!
Do not go here if you do not like Pork, Wasps or dirty, tiny shoe box rooms. There are a lot of petty thefts going on here. Could not wait to get home!
Oh and the weather was shocking - thunder storms and rain.

A very good 3 star hotel, food very good quality and variety. Room a little dated but exceptionally clean.
Pools [3] very safe and good. Cleanliness throughout the complex exceptional. Staff very planet and helpful. Day time activities varied and good.
The nearby beach is great. A great holiday at a very good price. Go you will not be disappointed.

After reading all these reviews we were somewhat a little apprehensive about staying here. We are a family of 4- 2 adults & 2 children aged 9 & 11.
We stayed in the 4 star hotel Ralitsa Superior & had a lovely time!
We flew out with First Choice, and were not impressed with the miserable staff and unsuitable 'family' film shown- rated 15!
The 4 star hotel is lovely & clean. It is surrounded by trees so there is plenty of shade. Our family room was perfect - 2 ensuite, a sea & pool view! It was kept spotless everyday by the maids.
The food was really delicious and a good variety every day. The staff were very attentive.
The pool was warm & kept spotlessly clean. It is such a large complex that you could walk around it and walk off your large meal! The drinks were fine to us, they didn't seem watered down. If you want a cup of tea (being English!) then ask for the milk in a separate cup & add yourself!
The animation team were very professional and produced excellent shows.
Albena town is lovely & is so clean! It's only a 10 minute walk. It is just perfect for getting holiday souvenirs/bargains. There is a little train to take you to & from your hotel if you don't fancy the walk! We can't comment on the town at night as we stayed on the complex in the evening.
The beach is clean, the sea is warm, & it wasn't crowded! There is a shuttle bus (10 mins) to take you there.
In you want a lovely souvenir, and then book Dimitrov, the artist at the back of the complex to do a fantastic sketch of your children or yourself. Book him in advance as he gets booked up quickly and also you have to collect your sketch a few days later.
Yes, there are a lot of Germans & the sunbeds do get taken at 8am every morning!
Yes, there is a lot of smoking in the hotel but you can escape this by sitting outside or going for a walk.
The staff on reception do need to learn a little more English & smile but we did not notice any preferential treatment given to the Germans.
We flew back with Bulgarian/Balkan Holidays with very a professional Cabin Crew (unlike our flight out with First Choice!)
We would have given it 10/10 but have minus a point each for the smoking and the miserable reception staff!
Overall, this was a lovely, relaxing holiday and we are so pleased we went. In fact, we are hoping to go again.
Enjoy your holiday...you will!

To all that have booked or looking to book......... Please take no notice of the rest of these reviews, unless you are a complete snob (with that much money you should only look at 5*) or just one of those people who go on holiday to moan about something different to what you moan about the other 50 weeks in the year!!!!!
I spent £1600 for four adults to go here and it was worth every penny and more!!!!! The country is gorgeous, the hotel immaculate, staff friendly (with exception to one woman on front desk) and helpful, beach is lovely and your close to everything you need when looking for a cheap and cheerful holiday away from the stress of every day life.
The Rooms- our room consisted of two beds (comfy), a shower (nice and powerful) toilet (clean). Plenty of storage space for clothes, telly with only one English channel which was BBC world news, enough for me as I don't go on holiday to watch telly anyway. Maids came in everyday except Thursday and changed our beds on most of these.
The Pool- is out of this world, lovely and big, in fact MASSIVE, allowing lots of space even with all the inflatables for the kids, pool and poolside was always clean!
The Food- NOW, I am really puzzled as to what these moaners eat in their own homes?? Every day there was a counter of fresh salad, fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereals, freshly baked bread by the basket full and cakes, drinks bar, then on top of that you had the hot stuff which was usually chicken in a sauce, beef, chips, pork burgers, sprouts, carrots, Bulgarian dishes etc. On top of this there was always cold meat being carved every day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously??? Oh yeah and there was two choices of soups everyday as well and its nice folks! I never once struggled to find something to eat!
The Bar- I'm not a fussy person (as you can tell) but one thing I am about is my fizzy pop, I can assure you that all the drinks are fine and taste like genuine products. As for watering down beer and spirits........ I wish they had or I wouldn't have lost the day after I decided to drink! hahahaha
Yes the hotel is German run and YES they are rude and infuriating, but that's just the guests!
My advice, don't do the yacht trip, the beach is not so secluded when the other 4 boats of people arrive hahaha, do go to the quiz on a Tuesday, nice bar you wouldn't find otherwise, and if you like shopping and don't care if their fakes.... go to golden sands, 40 levs return in a cab!!!!
Please don't listen to too many reviews, if I had I would have missed a great holiday that was still affordable in the school holidays!

I have just returned from a family holiday at the Raliitsa with my two boys aged 14 and 16and will say we had a great time.
Everyone was really friendly, the maids went out of their way to be helpful and the rooms were kept very clean although basic they had every thing needed for holiday room including plenty of wardrobe and cupboard space.
The food was fine there wasn’t a day that we couldn’t find something for all of us in fact I think we ate a bit too much, I can recommend the fresh bread!!!!
The pools are lovely and kept very clean there’s lots of sun beds and we never had a problem getting one whatever time of the day we went to the pool, it was very hot when we were there they were having a heat wave with temperatures in excess of 40 degrees so we have all come back with nice tans.
The 1 thing I will say is that the Germans are very rude and ignorant but I think that’s a culture thing and it certainly didn’t spoil our holiday and I didn’t witness any preferential treatment of the Germans.
The animation team were very good and you could join in as much or as little as you wanted we enjoyed a good game of water polo every day. All in all a very good relaxed chilled out holiday and I would love to go back again.