After all the reports on this hotel it was with some trepidation that we began our holiday on 20th June.The hotel itself being just over a year old looked very impressive from the outside and it had a bright and airy feel about the place. The room we stayed in on the 8th floor was spacious enough with a Tv, fridge(stocked with 4 bottles of water) and balcony overlooking the mountains.
I have to say the hotel is still not finished, we found a suite at the end of the 8th floor next to the lifts lying open one day-no carpets or doors fixed, around 20 mattresses and 3 or 4 basins lying on the floor, workmen were also putting the finishing touches to the dado rail around the lift entrance.

The cleanliness of the hotel was excellent with maids and cleaners on all the time it seemed. They did an excellent job although mopping the carpetted areas seemed a bit extreme.

The food was a big let down unfortunately.There are 2 First Choice British Chefs on hand who were overseeing everything but some of the dishes looked awful and some which looked good tasted awful. Everything seemed to be cooked in oil and then put into the trays with the food. The breakfast was the most disappointing. The fried eggs looked as if they had been cooked for 5 seconds and the bacon, well the less said about it the better, just look at other reports about it. There are 3 other restaurants you could use if you booked early enough with the Sunshine restaurant being the best, the only gripe I had here was it used the same menu the 3 occassions we used it.

The location of the hotel was good from the point of view that it was on the beach. There was not a great deal to if you didn't want to swim in the pool or beach. The pool itself was large and was never crowded and I swam in the sea frequently with no signs of jelly fish. The Royal Park guests could also use Elenite Village (75metres away) and Royal Bay hotel (150metres away), they were all part of the Victoria Group. You could go to Sunny Beach or Nessebar on the bus or water taxi which gave you various options on your day.

The hotel staff were friendly enough but the bar staff rarely moved out of first gear even when they were busy.Perhaps they didn't have any motivation.

Entertainment took two different forms. The animation hall had daily/nightly entertainment with night time being usually a dance routine. They did get the kids involved on a friday night with Mortal Combat or Pirates of the sea (they charged 20 Lev for this approx

The hotel was very very nice.

Tthe staff where very friendly and helpful.

But the food let it down big style that is something that needs working on. The all-inclusive part was a little hard to understand as there was not a wide range of food during the day and if someone was a vegetarian on the holiday who knows what they ate during the day.

The location in my opinion was perfect.

The cleanliness was spot on and the maids need to be praised more for their wonderful work they made us feel at home.

The entertainment has been rated very poorly, the animation hall entertainment was fantastic and also the first choice entertainment was great both made everybody have something to do on the night with out them I would have been very bored.

I would definitely visit the Royal Park hotel again!

We went with our fears as did many other guests to the "Hotel From Hell" as was previously quoted but instead of a nightmare we were given our best holiday yet. The hotel itself was spotless, they were always sweeping and cleaning.

My only complaint with the chambermaids is that if you wish to tip do it directly, do not leave loose money on the table as my kids did with their pocket money of 30 levs.

Don't know why so many people have moaned about the food, it was great always hot and plenty to choose from - even for the pickers !!

The pools were smashing for the kids, BIG TIP if you want the sun all day at the pool and sunbeds use the smaller one of the two with the canopy and chicken as the sun goes down much quicker on the other one. Try the sea rides if you can especially round ring for 4 people, its fantastic !!

The beach is very clean and the water is soooo warm. Kids Club is wonderful as are the reps who smile 24/7. My eldest turned 7 on holiday and they gave him a big party and a cake at the Bugs Bunny's dinner (they made such a fuss).

The girls and guys do so much for the kids its unbelievable, mini disco is great - ADULTS BEWARE : THE MIMIC MAN WILL GET YOU, YOU WILL KNOW IT BETTER THAN YOUR KIDS !! Say a big hello to Smelly Kelly and Tiny Tom for us, they give it everything.

Avoid the lifts if possible, they have a warped sense of humour. Only take sterling or euro and only exchange at your hotel or a bank, everyone else rips you off.

Beware of pickpockets, Sunny Beach and Bourgas are dynamite for them. Do not pay for the excursions at the welcome meeting if you have any sense : Nessebar lazy day, Saturday Nite Live etc all are a big ripoff!!

Pre booking airplane seats is also a big con. DO NOT pre book late checkout either as it only costs 5 levs per hour at the hotel.

We weren't caught with any of these cons so we can't complain but a lot of our new friends were so be sensible and spend your money elsewhere. All in all this was a superb holiday and touch wood we'll be heading back next year with a larger family group.

I was a bit worried after reading all the reports but I can honestly say do not believe what you read, some people are very picky. This was the best holiday we as a family have been on.

The hotel is like a palace it puts all the others around especially in Sunny Beach to shame. The cleaners are always there the staff are very polite.

Food is great with lots of choice and a kids section with as much ice cream as they can eat. You have three other restaurants you can use, even the local beer and spirits which are AI are great.

The entertainment was a good laugh, I dare anyone who goes not to remember Tiny Tim and Smelly Kelly... they are the best reps ever. Even their own Animation crew give you a good night out and it's all in the grounds so you don

The hotel was of a very high standard and clean I have not seen so many staff cleaning a hotel 24/7.

The food was great the only thing wrong was the local vodka.

Entertainment could be better maybe a comedian or hpymatist.

The only problem about the dining area was the toaster they could do with a revolving one which would not take as long.

I must say the staff of the hotel cleaners etc were brilliant! Our room was always clean and tidy and the staff were always friendly even with the abuse they got from some of the management and people staying!! When my sister was sick the maid was straight round to clean up god bless her!

My problem was with the First Choice staff at 5 months pregnant I ended up in hospital for 3 out of 14 days with food poisoning! As did my 11 year old sister! The First Choice staff had given me a card to contact the hospital if we had problems failing to mention the hospital was a 40 min drive! and that when we were returned the ambulance driver would not have the hotels permission to drop up to the front of the hotel! We had to walk not very far but in the state I was in it was far enough!! When I went to find a First Choice rep I couldn't I complained and all of a sudden they were there when they were supposed to be!

The First Choice rep then informed us that there was a severe stomach bug which had been going about the hotel! and when asked why in that case as I was pregnant why I hadn't been informed of this fact she was speechless!! As we were so ill we had to get certificates to validate that we were fit to fly home and were promised accompaniment onto the plane and help whilst on the plane which never came about! Needless to say I ended up in hospital for another week after the holiday!

Although most people seemed to enjoy the entertainment I agree with another post that some times I thought it was inappropriate for children!

I would definitely visit this hotel again though no chance would I go with First Choice not a family friendly experience!

Royal Park, Elenite. Stunned by first sight of hotel on approach from Bourgas airport, awoke next morning beautiful sea views with dolphins jumping across bay.

Restaurant very pleasing with wide selection on display, food satisfactory, but gradually improved following arrival of new (English) head chef to very good standard - 2 picky kids & no complaints !

We found our room to be very spacious & comfortable. Heard people complain about lack of british tv, but am relieved to escape Walford / Weatherfield for 2 whole weeks.

Hotel location in our opinion was superb with lovely beach and calm bay surrounded by mountains, although many bemoaned distance from Sunny Beach which made bus/taxi necessary.

Hotel staff were always very friendly & polite whilst all the time remaining proffesional & efficient. The first choice reps are superb. Always friendly, they readily respond to any comments/enquiries & certainly made for a better holiday for us.

Resort entertainment was of a high standard with two different entertainment teams and an excellent kids club team.

Nightly kids disco made for happy kids, followed most nights by a show by the bulgarian animation team followed by the first choice entertainers in a varity of different activities each night with audience participation an integral part.

First impression of the hotel Wow this was the first time abroad as a family and we are definitely going back soon.

Plenty to do for children above the age of 3. Would recommend they do some thing for children under 3.

The surrounding entertainment out of the hotel is not pram/wheelchair friendly, or they didnt have baby changing facilities.

Hotel: no complaint, reps and staff really helpful if they couldn't help they would find some one who could.

Well recommended family holiday. i rate this a ***** star not a four.

Plenty of different resturants to choose from.

Local buses from out side the hotel to Sunny beach/ Nessabar Etc.

There was also water sports which I recommend if you love doing this sort of activities go at the end of June as the season was just beginning as we were leaving (04/06/2004).

Reps would be out and about during day/night with all sorts of activities (Partner Recommends Vollyball)your have 3 swimming pools to choose from onsite shops, doctors.

Food: there was always something different on every night, breakfast was the same all holiday we didnt really go for breakfast only three times during the two weeks.

Sunny beach a place to visit (english breakfast) and cheap designer wear.

Stayed in the Royal Park Hotel in May of this year - was a bit wary of going as heard lots of bad reports from last year - very pleasantly surprised.

The hotel was constantly being cleaned and the staff couldn't do enough for you. The food was fine - we didn't starve and were well fed throughout the holiday!

Thought the hotel was a little isolated before we went into Sunny Beach but after seeing the hotels there - we were very glad we were staying where we were!

The hotel's kids club was excellent and entertained our three year old like she has never been entertained before! Thought our room - junior suite - was excellent - it was well designed and the rooms were a very good size.

All in all an excellent holiday for the money we paid.

Upon arrival by taxi we were "interrogated" by some hostile security guards.

The Hotel is set at the back and beyond, there is nothing else in the immediate vicinity of this place.

The receptionists were rude and certainly not keen to check anyone in!

The lifts were often out of order and the stairs poorly lit, on arrival the porter used the stairs to bring our luggage and had to sit in our room to recover before leaving.

The balconies were full of nesting birds which "swooped" you if you went out and there were droppings everywhere.

The food was awful quite often resulting in a long wait for the food to be replenished whilst the staff stood chatting or arguing. Whilst we were there they had brought 2 English Chefs out to teach them how to serve hot food that was hot and chilled food that was chilled, although at the beginning of our holiday all chilled food was stood in the room without chillers and full of flies!!

The pools were dirty and one full of frogs and tadpoles, you hear of people swimming with dolphins, all we had were frogs and tadpoles. We never saw the pools cleaned during our stay.

Linen and towels were only changed if you repeatedly requested it, dirty towels we left in the bath were returned to the rail by the maid without being changed.

Kids club was not welcoming and our outgoing 7 year old only went once and refused to go again.

Tiles and drain covers missing around the pool and the staff were not interested in any complaints or comments.

Quite often there was no hot water and they suffer from power cuts too.

The all inclusive drink menu is also very restricted here and the entertainment is limited, not what you expect from a large Hotel Complex.

This is by far the worst hotel our family have ever stayed at.