The Helena Park is a 4* hotel within the Helena Resort (sister hotel is Helena Sands 5*). The Helena Resort has fantastic facilities and all of the staff we wound to be friendly, respectful and helpful.

This hotel is at the end of the Sunny Beach resort and is a good 15 minute walk to the commercial area. This turned out to be an absolute god send. The security staff at the beach front we witnessed asking an a firm but polite way for people who thought they could come along the private section of road on scooters and golf buggy's.

the beach is nice although We wished the bar would stop giving out glass bottles and glasses (accidents do happen and did) there is quite a lot of broken glass in the soft sand. The only problem we had was when we sat on towels next to the water the vendor asked us for money we pointed out that we were not near any of the loungers or umbrellas but he insisted we pay. We didn't pay and checked with the hotel management who quickly advised us we had every right to sit, free of charge where we were. Although this part of the beach is portrayed as part of the Helena Resort the loungers and umbrellas are not free of charge.

The pool areas are kept beautiful but again we have a problem with drinks being issued in glass containers a number of careless guests knocked over their drinks, smaching their glasses, when trying to turn the loungers toward the sun. The staff are quick of the mark to clean but we feel it would be safer to have plastic containers.

The gardens are kept lovely and the housekeeping staff could teach us a thing or two they even clean the outdoor lights on a daily basis. Our rooms were kept spotlessly clean.

The food was fantastic (we had reports that the food was geared more for the Germans!) Brits are hard to please, the food was great there were standard salads, cold meats and cheeses on offer daily but different combinations of rice salads and pastas every day we don't remember anything being repeated. The carvery was excellent with meat cooked to perfection especially the evening with the pork that melted in the mouth. YUM! Some guests did moan about the lack of choice for the kids. Our Son is 9 and loved it, he didn't complain once. The Head Chef even commented to us how good it was that he was trying all the different foods. it took us some time to convince the Chef that he didn't eat junk food even at home, not even McDonalds. They will cater for the kids if you ask but why not use it to convince kids that fresh fruit, salad and vegetables are tasty and filling?

If we return to Sunny Beach, at this time we would only stay at the Helena Resort.

We found the food was to a very high standard, the children enjoying choosing their own foods, all very fresh, and displayed to a very high standard.

All members of staff were helpful friendly and couldn't do enough for you.

Rooms were kept clean every day, we gave the maid a few lev and found everything spot on.

I liked the location as it was a nice walk and we were away from any noise (not that we saw any)

We didn't get involved with the entertainment but the wellness centre was great.

The Helana Complex is divided into two hotels, the Sands (5 star) and the Park (4 Star). Although we stayed in the Park, the only difference was that most of the rooms in the Sands faced the beach and both Park and Sands guests could use the majority of facilites in both hotels.

Arrival.

The Helana complex was first drop from the airport which made a refreshing change. Around 12 couples from my flight were staying there and checking in was a bit of a zoo. The free sparking wine did help but we were glad to get our room after about 30 minutes (we were last to be processed).

Bell boys took our luggage up and we settled in The welcome meeting was arranged for 1100 hours next day.

In Processing.

After breakfast we moved along to the meeting with our rep.

Basic information was passed and the ever popular Reps Tour sheet was covered in detail. In the vast majority of cases, the reps tours are 50% more expensive than those you can arrange locally so it pays to be adventurous.

The Hotel (Park)

Impressive decor, quality fittings with excellent and relaxing public rooms. Large but not uncomfortable. Good bar facilities in the hotel itself (lobby, Pub and Pool) with three more in the Sands plus a Piano bar (open until 0400 hours)on site. Currency Exchange on site and an ATM near the exit to the complex.

Food.

Breakfast (0700 to 1000) and evening meal (2 sittings, one at 1800 the second at 2000). Food based around the continental model and served buffet style. Good variety and lots of it. Didn't go down well with all the Brits there but I found it acceptable but average. Staff very willing to please.

Rooms.

Electronic key card, safe (extra 25LV per week), TV with sat TV (3 English/American channels), huge bed, pillows/quilt, minibar (good for keeping your drinks cold), bathroom with a bath/shower (good water pressure and lots of hot water), normal loo, hair dryer, soaps. shampoos and even a shoe cleaning kit. Seemed to be phones everywhere, even next to the loo, good pictures on the wall and plenty of mirrors. Large picture window with door opening onto a balcony with a table and couple of chairs. View to the mountains at the rear of the hotel (plus the main road and a scabby coach park - ho hum)
Cleaned daily, towels replaced daily if you wanted (they did subscribe to the environmebnt by asking you not to get new towels everyday if possible)toilet paper not too bad but you may want to take a roll of you own.

You could use your keycard to charge everything in the complex to your room if you wanted to.

Entertainment.

Full program 6 days a week stating at 1000 hrs until 1600 hrs. Kids club from 1800 to 2030 then live music (3 nights a week) or one act plays/theme nights by the entertainment staff for the rest of the time. Even bingo but in 8 launguages. Most of the Brits left it to the Germans who seemed to join in everything. To be honest, entertainment was average and unsophisticated but there was plenty to do in town.

The Pool

The only thing you couldn't do in the Park was use the Sands pool or dining facility for your breakfast or evening meal. Everything else was fine. The Parks pool was ace but the water was very cold. Good quality loungers with free mats and towels. Best rule ever, NO reserving loungers. The staff would come round and clear away unoccupied loungers every half an hour, so there was always sufficient loungers for all. Good pool bar with waiter service. Good variety of drinks (local and imported) and snacks available. Cost of a pint around 70p, coffee 25p, coke 30p. That's cheap considering the surroundings.

All in all, a very good hotel for the money and well worth the effort. It will be interesting to see how the place looks in a few years as there were signs of decay (damp walls, leaking roofs) even at this early stage after opening.

This hotel was a very comfortable and stylish. It has to be one of the top two in the resort (and the other is NOT the Victoria Palace).

The rooms were spacious and kept clean and tidy.

The Hotel in general, was the same.

Staff were very good, easy to attract but not intrusive if you didn