Riu Helios Paradise

Llegamos el 16 de septiembre, tras sufrir retrasos en el aeropuerto de Newcastle y en Burgas por el equipaje. Viajamos 40 minutos en un autobús con mucho calor y sin aire acondicionado. Nos dieron una bebida de bienvenida y hicimos el check-in bastante rápido. Nos dijeron que nos habían cambiado de habitación a una familiar. Habíamos reservado una habitación con vistas al mar y nos dijeron que era la misma. Llegamos a la habitación tras lo que nos pareció una caminata de 3 km desde el ascensor y descubrimos que era, como ya sabemos, una habitación con vistas laterales al mar y un balcón que, con mi 1,65 m, no podía ni ver. Fuimos directamente a recepción, donde el chico de recepción no paraba de hablar de "esto es lo que llamamos vistas al mar". Lo sentimos, pero no es lo que pagamos. Tras contactar con el representante de TUI, fue a ver la habitación y lo solucionó con recepción para que nos cambiaran. Nos pusieron en la novena planta, en una habitación con vistas al mar. Este hotel es hermoso y se mantiene muy limpio, no podría quejarme de los limpiadores, especialmente los nuestros, aunque muchos huéspedes dijeron que no tenían lo mismo y muchos ni siquiera cambiaron sus sábanas. En nuestros primeros 2 días en el hotel, teníamos todas las instalaciones abiertas para nosotros, el salón principal para comidas, bares de aperitivos y bares de playa, el bar de la playa era realmente bueno porque está a unos diez minutos a pie de la parte que es para uso del hotel, así que qué buena idea tener un edificio con baños, bebidas y comida, papas fritas, pizza, pasta, hamburguesas y helado para poder usar, lo usaríamos como una parada cuando camináramos hacia Sunny Beach. El bar de aperitivos cerca de la piscina también era bueno para el mismo tipo de cosas, ¡pero luego descubrimos que en realidad era un restaurante italiano que nunca estaba abierto cuando estuvimos allí! La comida siempre era la misma y fría, no creo que tuviéramos ni una comida caliente. Mi hijo es muy quisquilloso para comer y se quedaba sin comer la mayor parte del tiempo, así que teníamos que caminar constantemente hasta Sunny Beach para que comiera algo, así que gastamos mucho dinero cuando se suponía que íbamos a estar en unas vacaciones con todo incluido. ¡La única comida que disfrutamos fue la del restaurante asiático cuando estaba abierto! El bar de la piscina estaba bien, pero las avispas eran una pesadilla, enjambres de ellas, no sé cómo el personal se las arreglaba, siempre había un montón de tumbonas disponibles, las piscinas estaban heladas, no sé cómo la gente las usaba, además, una tenía muchas gaviotas, más que personas, y mucha caca de gaviota alrededor, también había demasiados árboles en los terrenos, el lugar se vería mucho mejor sin ellos, usamos la piscina cubierta, la piscina para niños mucho más cálida. Después de 2 días de tener instalaciones para usar, muchas comenzaron a cerrar, el bar de la playa cerró, así que nadie usó la playa, el restaurante itlion cerró, así que no hay snack bar, solo el restaurante principal abre de 8 a 10 para el desayuno, de 12 a 3 para el almuerzo, de 6 a 9 para la cena y el Nessebar abre para helados y algunos muffins de 3 a 6, así que muchas veces pasamos hambre y esto no es bueno en todo incluido, no es lo que esperas, especialmente por el dinero que habíamos pagado por estas vacaciones. La tienda en el lugar también estaba prácticamente vacía. Muchos huéspedes no estaban contentos con este hotel y todos estábamos tratando de ver Representantes de TUI Algunos que tuvieron la suerte de ver a un representante fueron g

One week stay, two couples…good job we had each other for company! Had we been made aware this was the last week of the holiday season for this hotel and the Sunny Beach resort we would not have booked it. The hotel itself is beautiful and spotlessly clean. Great location. That’s the good bits done. The hotel boast 5 restaurants. Unfortunately, only the main buffet one was open and actually, three times in the week we were banished from it as they were hosting conventions/private parties in it. On these occasions we had to use the small limited Asian or Bulgarian restaurant which they opened. All the buffet food was bland, cold and repetitive. Chicken, neck of pork, pizza and some sort of fish was the limit. Definitely not what you’d expect from a RIU 4* all inclusive. There was no late night snack bar. They put a tray of dried up cheese sandwiches on the karaoke bar at 11pm, first come first served. They were disgusting. Entertainment was non existent. Main show bar was closed. Only one of the animation team left in the hotel. Our evening entertainment consisted of one game of bingo one night. Next night, quiz, lasted 30minutes. Two nights of Karaoke lasting 90minutes and mostly kids singing. We went to the indoor pool, thought we’d try the jacuzzi. Unfortunately this was occupied by two drunken men who were simulating sex with each other and play fighting. They’d also taken in wine glasses which obviously were not permitted. Beach bar was closed. Swim up bar, closed. Only a handful of staff could smile (some bar staff), the rest were miserable and stern. No holiday atmosphere or hospitality whatsoever. The hotel was winding down and packing up around us…it was supposed to be our holiday! Rooms were spacious and clean. No tea making facilities but did have a safe which they wanted the equivalent of £20 to use. This was not a deposit. As we had a late return flight, we enquired about a late check out of our room. We were told we could have it free…if we signed an agreement not to complain about the hotel! Obviously we didn’t keep our rooms on! Virtually every UK holidaymaker in the hotel was complaining. The holiday rep was overwhelmed. It was the only topic of conversation. I’m attaching photos of the pizza on offer (the only thing that was hot). The late night sandwich which was the entirety of evening snacks. Brussels and eggs for breakfast. Evening entertainment (provided by kids)

Two week stay. Family of 4. Anyone that complains about the food, must be mad. It's no different to anywhere I've stayed across Europe. Not sure what people expect when the hotel caters for nearly 600 rooms. You will find something. I dont know what else they could have done, other than they didn't do omelettes for breakfast. We usually get a fresh omelette station on holiday. Not this time. Now I am no tree hugging, vegan, eco warrior by any stretch, but this does lead me on to the amount of plastic being used in this hotel. Riu chain should be ashamed and more conscious. In England, we have become very aware about this. So it doesn't sit well with me that every drink is served in plastic cups with a plastic straw, then binned. Again, I tried to use my plastic cup a few times, but the staff kept binning it and getting me a fresh. They are small too, so you only get 2 gulps from each cup. I also tried to use glass where possible and reuse, but staff washed it. Also the room states to leave towels on floor if you want fresh, but we got fresh everyday, even though we had only used them once. Maybe I shouldn't care when on holiday? I don't know. But I couldn't help think about it. The room was a decent size and clean. The boys had a pull out double bed, which was rock hard. Luckily they are young and light or they'd have got a bad back. The view out the room was shocking!! All we had to overlook was very large flat roof! We were on floor 3 and also at the end of the flat roof is trees. We were sold this as a supiorior sea view!! We couldn't see the sea! Not a sea view in my eyes! We moved rooms a week later and wow. What a difference. So please be aware some of the views on the lower floors are ropey! You'll be okay from floor 4/5 upwards. The beach is great with free loungers and umbrellas. Never struggled to get a lounger at pool or beach and we would leave room about 10.30am. The Sunrise Bar on the beach is perfect, as you can use loo, eat and drink without trapsing back to hotel. The beach isn't that far, even though some on here say it is. Depends what you're used to walking. 5 mins walk isn't much to me. I got stung by a wasp. Lots of wasps about. Especially at the pool bar all over the soft drink nozzles. Seagulls also a bit of a pest! The skwark and swoop down. Some annoying guests bringing food out, which wasn't allowed and only encouraged the seagulls. Also the white plastic tables next to the sun loungers are dirty and in need of a good soapy wash. The slides are okay. Not sure why they are unavailable between 12pm and 2pm though? Just have them open all day. They are on the small side though. Not enough to entertain teenagers for long really. Mine aged 10 and 11, would last about an hour before going back to main pools. The entertainment isn't great. It's just different dancing shows by the animation team. They do try though and have learnt many routines! But no live singing, magic or danger shows. Also it's on slightly too lat