Alua Helios Bay - All Inclusive

Review of Helios Bay After recently noticing a rather unfair and negative review, I wanted to share my own honest experience of Helios Bay, which was entirely positive. From the moment we arrived, we were given a very warm welcome. All the staff were friendly, attentive, and accommodating. Each time we passed through the hotel lobby we were greeted with a smile, particularly from the staff member with “Schumacher” on his name tag, who stood out for his friendliness. Kids Club & Entertainment The kids club was excellent – safe, well-run, and with staff who were both friendly and trustworthy. The entertainment team were outstanding, working tirelessly throughout the day and evening. They were always professional and made the atmosphere fun and welcoming. Facilities • Beach towels are provided, with the option to exchange used ones for clean replacements whenever needed. • Rooms were cleaned daily, with fresh towels provided if left on the bathroom floor. Beds were made neatly and bathrooms always restocked with essentials. • Balconies were a comfortable size for two adults, with a table and chairs provided. • The main pool was kept very clean and well maintained. The children’s pool could benefit from slightly more frequent cleaning, but overall both were well cared for. Food & Beverage As someone who has worked in catering, I had no concerns about food hygiene or safety. The buffet food was fresh, frequently replenished, and never left sitting out for long. There was a wide choice and everything I tried was tasty. My only suggestion would be for each food item to be clearly labelled, including allergen information, which would make things easier for all guests. The waiting staff were attentive – quickly clearing empty plates and resetting tables efficiently. Drinks options were plentiful, and while the cocktails were nice, a little more attention to detail would make them excellent. Overall Experience Helios Bay advertises itself as a 4★ resort, and I feel that’s fair. Having stayed at a 4★ resort in Mauritius, I’d personally place Helios Bay at a strong 3.5★, but certainly with the potential to be a solid 4★ thanks to its great staff, management, and standards. This was our first family holiday abroad, and we had a truly lovely time. Obzor itself is quiet, the locals are welcoming, and the whole experience left us with wonderful memories. We are already considering returning next year and would definitely recommend Helios Bay. Please don’t be put off by the occasional negative review – our experience was overwhelmingly positive.

We booked this relatively last minute and were taken in by the Tui “Platinum” status as took this as a seal of approval. We should have read the fine print…. The hotel was genuinely spotless. Room was a great size and the cleaners ensured that each day the room was immaculate. Also, the pool was a decent size and was also kept very clean. Unfortunately that’s really where the positives end. My reflection is that the cultural clash between west and Eastern Europe were more distinct than we appreciated. It became clear from our first interaction. When we checked in, the receptionist wasn’t able to speak coherent English however we ambled along until his colleague who was more proficient stepped in. This became a trend. I would estimate that 90% of the staff do not speak English, and those who are in more prominent guest-facing roles struggle. I understand that it may appear narrow minded of me, but this is the hospitality industry where communication makes an enormous impression and unfortunately here it was distinctly lacking. Some staff would really try to be friendly and helpful despite the language barrier, but half of them didn’t seem to bother. This is apparent amongst the guests too. There are multiple nationalities of guest in the hotel, with Western Europeans being in the minority. Perhaps this is to be expected in a hotel in Eastern Europe however the cultural differences can make it uncomfortable. This was a view shared by a number of fellow British guests we spoke to. It appears that treating others with politeness and respect, is not a universal consideration across the client base and there were numerous occasions when we witnessed and experienced guests barging through doors, not saying “thank you” when doors are held open etc. Additionally the treatment of the cleaning staff in the restaurant was uncomfortable to watch (pointing at mess on a table, expecting the person to clean it up so they can sit down, without any gratitude whatsoever). The food was OK. Cooked fresh for each serving, but quite repetitive on the whole and lots of pork as others have commented. Note - we have a severe shellfish allergy in the family. Despite really labouring the seriousness of the consequences of cross-contamination, we were told by the waitress in the a-la-carte that there was no shellfish on the menu….only to walk 2 paces to the starter buffet area to find plate upon plate of prawn sushi amongst the other dishes. Almost certainly, this was not malicious but a further implication of limited language skills of the customer-facing staff. Needless to say, the consequences of this could have been disastrous. My overall summary is, if you are not bothered on leaving the hotel and want somewhere where you can eat and drink lots and sunbathe all day by the pool in your own bubble, you’ll be fine here. We definitely won’t be back in a hurry though. Positives: - very clean and good sized rooms - beach is nice - food is ok Negatives - staff com

If you travel with children take plastic bottles/flasks as you can fill them with water / juice to keep hydrated……………..