A Mixed Bag at the Hotel - Great Room, But Service and Food Were a Letdown

Apple cider in a mug!

We visited Anapa a few times, but it never really clicked with us. This time, friends invited us to unwind at a hotel we'd never been to before. The price was right, so we decided to give it another shot. Our experience was a mixed bag.

Booking. We booked through Yandex Travel and got a better deal with a promo code. If you book through the official website, you can only pay 30% upfront, and the rest on arrival. We paid the full amount upfront.

We paid 43,000 rubles for three nights. We could've gotten a better deal, but we paid an extra 5,000 to stay in the main building. It turned out our friends got in without paying extra and paid less. I know my luck - I didn't want to risk it.

Check-in/check-out. Check-in is at 3 pm. We arrived around 11 am and got registered, but they didn't give us our wristbands. We were allowed to roam the territory, but we couldn't get breakfast. We had to wait for our wristbands to get lunch. And to make matters worse, we couldn't even get a transfer to the beach - we ended up walking around the block instead.

The thing is, you can only get through the hotels in the network with your wristband.

What I didn't like about check-in was the lack of concierge service. They position themselves as a family-friendly resort, and many people come with kids. It's really inconvenient to have to unload your own luggage, drag it around, or go get a cart to unload it from your car.

I have to say, one thing that really gets under my skin is having to wait for elevators. And they're there, but it takes forever to get a ride. When we were checking out, my husband waited over 10 minutes for an empty elevator to show up so he could get in with the luggage and everything. If it's during mealtime or dinner, it's actually faster to take the stairs than to wait for an elevator.

I have to mention that the parking situation is absolutely outrageous - 1500 rubles a day is just crazy. Luckily, there are other parking options nearby, and we were able to find a spot for a fraction of the cost.

Another thing that stood out to me was the constant arguing and complaining at the front desk. While we were waiting to check in, we witnessed three separate conflicts, and it seemed like no one was really doing anything to resolve the issues. To be honest, it was a bit unsettling.

We were given two wristbands - one for each adult - and cards for the towels when we finally got to our room.

And of course, we got a map of the hotel grounds.

The Room. The room was spacious, modern, and spotless. We had a comfortable double bed for the two of us.

I've got to say, the separate bed for my kid was a total game-changer. It's not just a sofa or a lounger - it's a proper little couch that's super comfy.

Our room had everything we needed - coffee, water, and tea. The only thing that bugged me was that the mini bottles were super small and kept running out. We had to stock up just to make sure we had enough.

The bathroom was a real highlight - it was all brand new and super clean. The shower was a breeze to use, and the water didn't even leak out. Plus, there were tons of little bottles with shampoo, gel, and all sorts of other goodies.

We even had a hairdryer and a massive mirror with built-in lighting.

I've got to say, we were surprised when we only got two bathrobes. You have to pay a 5,000-ruble deposit for a kids' bathrobe. We weren't expecting that. When we first arrived, the bathrobe in our room was a kids' one.

The room also has a big wardrobe with an iron, safe, and ironing board.

There's a balcony in the room, but for some reason, it only comes with one chair. We had a view of the road - in the morning, cars were honking, and at night, dogs were barking loudly. The noise is really strong.

Also, the door to the balcony opens like a window. I'm not sure how tourists slept in the summer. Even in October, a mosquito flew in and buzzed all night. Can you imagine what it's like in the summer?! And to make matters worse, there's no way to attach a screen.

Wi-Fi works perfectly throughout the hotel. By this point, we were really happy with everything.

Cleaning. We didn't need to clean up once during our 3-night stay. The housekeeping staff would pop in every evening and you could ask for anything you needed, like fresh towels. But first, you'd hand over the old towels, and then they'd give you the same number of new ones.

The grounds aren't exactly a resort. There aren't any hills or special kids' activities. But there is a small playground and a sports area. Everything's well-maintained and clean, although the grounds are a bit small.

At night, the grounds are lit up with lanterns.

By the way, the hotel itself is pretty cool. It's young and fun. There are plenty of spots to take a selfie to remember your stay.

Entertainment is pretty good. During the day, they have some interactive activities in the snack bar for kids. In the evenings, there's kids' entertainment, and the little ones love it – they dance and run around.

Then - it's a full-on adult disco. The music's pretty cool. It's more like a rural club, but it was actually a lot of fun on our vacation. We had a blast, and it was a great way to relive our youth. What didn't impress me was when they started letting off smoke. It was chilly, and the doors were closed, so it just concentrated the smell. We couldn't stay for long.

They also have contests and a kids' club, but our kids weren't really into it. The contests were mostly for younger kids, and the teen club was more geared towards pre-teens.

There's also a separate room for little ones with all sorts of games.

Food. For me, this was the biggest letdown. We go on vacation to try new and interesting things, without the hassle of cooking at home. And in that regard, Alen was a gem. They had so many cool dishes, desserts, and spreads. Fiolet, on the other hand, really fell short in the food department. And yeah, my tastes are pretty specific. I'm not a fan of soups, oatmeal, or anything like that. I prefer main courses, salads, and I'm a total sucker for delicious desserts. And the most important thing for me is variety. But here, it was pretty much the same thing every day. There were a few dishes that stood out, but for the most part, it was just the same old thing.

The fruits and veggies were pretty unimpressive. Given that we're in the Kuban region, I'd expect them to be super fresh and delicious. But they just seemed synthetic to me.

The salads were actually pretty good, though. They had a Greek salad, a beet salad with feta, and a bunch of mayo-based salads. But I wouldn't recommend those - they just didn't do it for me.

I've got to say, the kids' table was a lifesaver. My son spent most of his time there, and he was always excited to see what meal they'd be serving up. Standard mac and cheese with meat was a staple, and he loved it.

For the main course, we'd usually get meat or fish of some kind. The duck was a real standout – it was cooked to perfection and the sauce was amazing. The meat was tender and flavorful, and I could tell the kid's table was a hit because they'd devour it in seconds. The only downside was that the staff couldn't keep up with refilling the dishes.

As for dessert, it was a bit of a letdown. We'd get mashed potatoes and a mousse cake, but they'd get devoured so fast that the kid's table would be left with nothing but a pile of crumbs. It felt like they were serving the same old thing every day until it was gone.

Breakfast was a bit of a mixed bag, too. We'd get scrambled eggs, but no bacon or toast to speak of. They did have sausages, but I had a bit of a stomachache after eating one. Even the festival food didn't help.

And don't even get me started on the coffee machines. There were always long lines, and some of them would break down and need to be serviced. Others would just be turned off for no reason.

Another thing that caught my attention was the two bars in the lounge area. I wasn't a fan of the fact that they only served cola and Fanta at the bar, leaving kids waiting in a huge line. Why not install vending machines for cola? I didn't have any issues with the alcohol selection - they offered decent champagne and wine, and the cocktails were tasty. But why did they stop serving cocktails at 9 PM? The adult entertainment is exactly what I want to unwind and relax, but all that's left is champagne and beer. And why did they stop serving cocktails with vermouth, considering vermouth is a low-alcohol drink? As a result, many people were buying in bulk, and the tables were piled high with booze. It was a waste, as a lot of it ended up being poured out because people weren't drinking it.

The snack bar was also a letdown. The staff just couldn't keep up. The snack trays were constantly empty, and we only managed to get pizza once. Even then, it was devoured in an instant.

SPA. Now this was a highlight. The indoor pool is stunning, and it's heated. Plus, it seamlessly transitions from indoors to outdoors, maintaining the perfect temperature throughout the complex.

We also had access to various saunas, which I'm not a big fan of, but my husband enjoyed them and used them to warm up.

There's another heated outdoor pool on the premises.

And there's a third pool that's closed during the colder months.

Verdict: I didn't expect much from the hotel, but there were a lot of letdowns and missed opportunities. It felt like there just wasn't enough staff to keep an eye on everything. My son, by the way, really enjoyed his stay and is already asking to go back to the purple hotel. I might have even agreed to stay for another 3 nights, but not for a longer period.

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