Summer is law, summer is vacation, summer is holiday. We went to Royal Bay Resort for the first time last year. It was the same for Andy. Alma was still in the womb. We felt so good, so pampered and safe, that it was a must to return this year as well.
Our experience at Royal Bay Resort – why I love it
Spacious rooms. One key aspect is the space. All the rooms in this resort are very spacious and elegantly decorated. They have many suites, which makes this resort an ideal choice for families
Attention to customers. They are very attentive to customers’ needs. We requested the same apartment as last year because it was on the first floor and we thought it would be easy to maneuver Alma’s stroller. The resort staff thought of us and provided an apartment on the ground floor. The apartment even had a spacious terrace with flowers and grass. Although we had requested a smaller apartment, we received one suitable for four adults, so it was very easy for us to sleep with the children.
Amenities. The resort’s apartments have kitchenettes – small kitchens. They are equipped with electric stoves, a refrigerator, cupboards, a sink, a table, and chairs. So, if you can’t dine at the restaurant, you can easily eat in the room. Last year, this was a vital feature for us because Andy refused to eat at the restaurant. This year, he was actually delighted. Each apartment has a boiler. We had hot water, which was very important to me because I could sterilize Alma’s bottles. The living room, hallway, and bathroom have tiled floors, while the bedroom has parquet.
Cleanliness. The rooms are clean. Linens and towels are changed daily. These are properly washed. Cleaning is done every day by the staff.
Air conditioning. They have functional units in each room. This aspect is very important, especially if you stay on the upper floor. It’s extremely useful that they also work for heating. Since we were on the ground floor, we didn’t use the cooling much, but there were two evenings when we used the heating.
Generous restaurant. The dining area is large and spacious; strollers can be brought in. There are two terraces, one covered near the building and one on the beach with umbrellas. There is also indoor space for those who prefer to dine in air-conditioned comfort. The service is impeccable. The waiters are so attentive that nothing remains on the tables for long. The service is at the level of a 5-star restaurant.
Pools for adults and children. The children’s pool is 50 cm deep, and the adult pool is 140 cm deep. The water is impeccable every day, and the pool is very well situated on the terrace. As an adult, you can enjoy a drink while closely supervising the children.
Private beaches. The resort offers guests two private beaches with shallow water, perfectly maintained. On the beach and in the water, you find sand; the water is always clean. There are loungers with tables, umbrellas, and towels provided. There are hot water showers immediately when you leave the beach, as well as sand-cleaning devices for your feet at the entrance to the restaurant. There is also a beach set up right next to one of the bars, but without direct access to the sea – you need to go down a few steps to reach the beach.
Children’s playgrounds. There are a total of three such areas, with slides and other outdoor toys. They are always full of children and well-maintained. There is also an indoor play area with massage chairs, billiards, foosball, and other games for both children and adults, available for a fee – they operate on a token basis. There are small tables and chairs for children and toys.
Lots of maintained green spaces and trees. I greatly appreciated the presence of trees, so if you don’t want to swim one day, you have places to walk around the resort, avoiding the sun. There are several covered areas near the sea where you can enjoy the view and the sound of the sea. All the grass is mowed, and they have planted decorative trees and flowers.
Parking. Parking at the resort is available for a fee, payable upon check-in. It is quite spacious, and there are some shaded spots thanks to the trees in the area.
What Ultra All-Inclusive means at Royal Bay Resort
The food offered is so varied daily that the holiday is a constant culinary treat. Breakfast starts at 07:30 and ends at 10:00, then lunch is from 12:00-14:00, and dinner is from 18:30-21:00. Between breakfast and lunch, there is a „snack” consisting of fries and sausages/chicken, pizza, and pastries. There are two terraces serving drinks – juices, water, coffee, tea, cappuccino, hot chocolate, ice cream, beer, and other adult beverages. What I found admirable is that they have the highest quality coffee. I’m the type who either drinks exceptional coffee or none at all.
Fruits are plentiful, fresh or prepared in compotes, along with pastries and vegetables. The food is international, and local – Bulgarian. Breakfast is absolutely complete – fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurts, cereals, eggs, a type of local cheese pie, donuts, pancakes, pastries. Lunch and dinner offer multiple cooked dishes such as soups, cold cuts, cheeses, vegetables, roe, fish cooked in various ways, chicken, pork, beef, pasta, pizza, and cakes you would find in a pastry shop. As a personal note, they had a cake one day that was among the best I’ve ever eaten, and I’m very picky about cakes. It reminded me of the sweets from my childhood!
Our room consisted of a bedroom, living room, open-space kitchenette, and a terrace. We enjoyed an extra-large bed, an extra-large sofa bed, and two extendable armchairs. Access to the room is card-based. The internet worked flawlessly!
Aspects that could be improved
Initially, I didn’t want to write about the things that need improvement. However, I realized that if I don’t provide feedback and an authentic perspective, those who read my article might have very high expectations, and I could be seen as insincere. The resort is, after all, 4*, not 5*. There are a few differences. Therefore, I hope the management will be receptive without feeling offended by my suggestions:
Creating equal opportunities for all its clients for the beach loungers. Most people crowd onto the beaches with direct access to the sea. The beaches are spacious, but it seems that there are not enough loungers with umbrellas. Thus, there are clients who reserve the loungers from morning to evening, even if they are not on the beach. Three-quarters of the loungers are occupied by the same people, but during the day there are only towels with rocks on them, and the beach is almost empty. It might be helpful if there were a permanent staff member on the beach to ensure that some common-sense rules are followed.
Proper maintenance of the indoor play area. The resort has a huge room with gaming machines (billiards, foosball, ping pong, etc.), small tables and chairs for children, and toys. Unfortunately, parents and children do not take care of the toys when they are offered for free. Initially, the management provided a lot of high-quality and very expensive toys, which are now non-functional and very dirty. Ideal would be toys that can be easily cleaned and not necessarily expensive since children often take the toys from there. Some Kallax-style cabinets with boxes to store the toys could easily be installed. Also, a permanent staff member would be necessary. This person should handle cleaning, toy maintenance, and rule enforcement. The room and the idea itself are wonderful. It’s a shame that more children can’t benefit from them.
Proper maintenance of the outdoor playgrounds. There are two playgrounds very close to the main buildings (slides, swings, etc.). There is also a third one near the parking lot, shaded by trees. Unfortunately, those trees produce some fruits that make a mess, stain, and degrade the area. The playground looks great, but it’s unusable. There is enough space at the playground in front of the secondary building. All the outdoor toys can be successfully moved there. It would beautify the place even more, and clients would surely appreciate that shady spot for parking their cars. We all avoid oven-like parking spots for our cars.
Where to find Royal Bay Resort
Royal Bay Resort can be found in three locations: Royal Bay Resort, Royal Cove (Elenite), and Royal Grand. Royal Cove is 3* while the others are 4*. The difference between the three is given by location and services. The Royal Bay resort is more suitable for families with small children, while the others are suitable for families with older children and feature spa and wellness centers. The resorts in Elenite and Royal Grand do not have beaches on the seashore, but they emphasize wellness and spa services.
We have only been to the Royal Bay Resort in Kavarna, but I am sure the same high level of service is present in the other locations. We chose the Royal Bay Resort because it is the closest to Romania. Andy gets severe motion sickness, and Alma also doesn’t handle long trips well.
Next year we will definitely return, with older children and a somewhat clearer perspective. It will be just right for new memories. It’s a place we love to return to because of its historical significance, and also because in Balchik, my boyfriend proposed to me. It’s a place with special meaning for me, and I am so happy to have found an all-inclusive hotel (one of the few in the area) that allows me to enjoy time with my family with a dose of nostalgia and fulfillment.