The scale of this hotel is just right, with not too many rooms or guests. Everywhere, including the sauna suite, is spacious and clean and many of the staff (especially receptionists, concierges, and most waitresses) were friendly and helpful. Breakfast had reasonable variety and changed (slightly) each day. Some people will prefer to be closer to the beach, but this was not an issue for us because we enjoyed strolling down through the Riviera Park, with its trees, funfair, bars and restaurants. The pool is not large, but was never crowded because it is right for the number of guests In spite of the communication/visa service issue mentioned below, we would almost certainly stay again at this hotel, if we are in Sochi.
A few small niggles that could easily be improved, and one big problem that should be put right quickly. Some (? more senior) staff are a bit unwelcoming. Restaurant and bar prices are higher than I would have expected, so we tended to eat elsewhere. The 'hot' breakfast tended to be luke warm - although my Russian friends did not find this a problem. My main problem was the hotel's inability to reply to e-mails - whether sent direct to the hotel's internet address or via it's web-site, and whether in English or Russian. Booking.com tried to help, but it didn't seem to make any difference. This meant that, although the hotel offers a visa support service, I was unable to access that service and had to make alternative arrangements at an extra cost of about £200. With the Winter Olympics coming soon, the hotel should really sort this out.
