Hotel Lion — Hotel in Nesebar

We stayed during the first week of June - for the first half of the week, the hotel was quite quiet - there were no queues at dinner and the pool area had maybe 10 people lounging at any time... However the second half of the week, we noticed a lot of new guests checking in, and it was very noticeable at dinner time! People were queueing to get into the restaurant when it opened at 6pm, and at breakfast the queue for coffee got up to 10-15 people deep (there are 2 coffee machines) - I just went without (or you could pay for a coffee at the pool bar). Poolside got busier too, but there were still enough sunbeds for our group. Generally no-one reserves beds like other resorts so you have a fair choice of beds available.

General thoughts/comments: the hotel is nice - the rooms are a good size, the pool areas are really clean. The pools are not heated so can be quite cold, the deepest depth is 1.6m, but there are 2 separate shallow areas too. There is a life guard on duty during the day until about 6pm. There is no music played by the pool so it's quite peaceful. There is a bridge across two separate pools at the front of the hotel, which is visually lovely when you arrive, but it is a bit steep and may be a slip hazard at times - be aware if your mobility isn't very good. Maid service is daily, so you can have fresh towels each day if you wish. Pool towels are not included so take your own, or you'll have to pay a fee for towel hire. Room safes are also an extra cost. In reception there is a bureau de change, but it was not open during our stay (but there are several options close by if needed). There is a pool bar open until 10pm - when we arrived, the staff insisted it was cash only, but you can add charges to your room which you can then pay off by card during your stay/at check out. There was food on the bar menu available during the day (sandwiches, fries etc) but we didn't order so cannot comment. Half board at the hotel is breakfast and dinner only, the restaurant is not open for lunch at all. Food in the restaurant was nice - breakfast offered cooked options as well as continental options and cereal/yogurts/fruit. Dinner had a good salad bar, plus several hot options, and you can help yourself to wine & beer too. I will add that top ups on the buffet food is a bit slow, I had to wait a few times. Not that I expect everyone to speak English, but reception staff and pool bar staff speak it well, just something to be aware of if you're concerned about language barriers.

In terms of local facilities, there are 2 supermarkets across the street outside the hotel where you'll be able to buy toiletries, drinks and snacks (it's much better value to buy drinks there than the pool). There is a restaurant at the end of the road which we ate at for a change to the hotel restaurant - food was nice enough, but we weren't wowed. You're better off walking along the beach promenade/up towards Flower Street for more restaurant options.

One big negative for my stay - the air conditioning in our room was not cold enough. The room temperature did not drop below 25°c for the entire stay - we complained to reception on the second day, and we were rudely told that it was a problem across the entire hotel. We asked if any desk fans were available, and we were told "no." without any further comment. We complained again later in the week, and was then told that the problem was fixed across the entire hotel, yet our room remained too hot. We complained for a third time, and a manager arranged for maintenance to look into it, which apparently they did, but the temperature did not change. Our group's other rooms were fine, so I don't know why our room was not, and it was very frustrating, as it was up to 32°c during the day on some days during our break.

Conclusion - a nice hotel with a good location: close enough to the beach & shops but far enough away to be quiet. I would just say be aware of how busy the hotel may get during peak season. And hopefully you'll be assigned a room with cold air...

We arrived early hours at Hotel Lion. First impressions were really good. Lovely modern, clean hotel. Was welcomed by staff behind reception where he explained everything and handed over a take a way type, which had a roll fruit and a drink in. The hotel is a lovely clean place and cleanerns enter your room daily if you want them to. We stayed a week and had our beds and towels changed. There’s a mini bar in your fridge in your room where i typically did not read that you had to pay. lol. You don’t see any staff around really, and none make effort to talk. We found our air con was lovely and worked brilliantly. Could not connect to the WIFI anywhere in the hotel. FOOD- the food me and my sister found awful as there wasn’t much option (other than salad) for veggies. We were happy to see pizza but unfortunately had sausage on. We found at the start of the week the restaurant was busy but towards the end of the week it was obvious people found better places to eat. Breakfast is simple, and the same thing every morning. We found it always easy to get a sunbed, but did find people left out towels and not attended their beds throughout the day. On some reviews i read that the lifeguard will take them away but we did not experience any of this. There is NO entertainment what so ever in the hotel and this is a shame as it is a big hotel, and it would of been nice. The location is great and is about 5 mins walk to the sea front where there are lots of bars and restaurants and shops. We found it very cheap to eat out. We both brought £150 worth of lev and this was enough to see us through the week. We found the one pool colder than the other, but no worries on a boiling day. The lifeguard cleans the pool at 6.30 so no longer in use u till the next day. The boat excursion we attended we found boring, but the staff we so helpful and lovely. The quad excursion we loved and thoroughly enjoyed! Most of the people at the hotel are not english. We had a late fight back, and unfortunately we had to leave our room by 12 midday, our flight wasn’t untill 3:10 early hours so we was without a room for some good hours, which wasn’t helpful as we’d been out throughout the day and leaving with out a shower. Our luggage was just left under the stairs behind reception, where was open to the public to see and carrying medication it made me really uneasy all day. It was at an extra cost to keep our room on (but by the end of the week we wasnt left with much money). In all a nice holiday and lovely weather, we found the hotel was too quiet for our liking with not much...

Stayed for a week early June. Arrived late approx 9:45pm and was given a “dinner snack bag” on arrival- which was unexpected but a nice touch containing a panini sandwich, apple and water and a wafer - good for those too tired to go out for food after a long day of travel Room is decent size for a couple and bathroom equally good size Towels provided changed daily but sheets were not changed during the trip even when sign to make room up was placed on the door. Toiletries provided on first day but not replenished during stay so bring own obviously. Bins emptied daily and toilet roll replenished. Breakfast was decent standard spread of breakfast fry up style foods and then also fruits, cold cuts cheese and yoghurt bar. Only 2 coffee machines so the line for this was ridiculous and by the time you had your drink your food went cold. Cold juices on tap at both breakfast and dinner. Dinner service had a mixture of foods which varied slightly each day, large salad bar, cake bar and icecream bar and again a selection of fruits. The only downside is that the food isnt on a hot plate/ warmer baths and so it often wasnt hot just lukewarm unless you managed to get food when a new tray was put out. There is a microwave so I just heated my plate when I wanted. Dinner has house beer and wine on tap self serve along with the juice taps. Staff all lovely and attentive constantly collecting empty plates and cleaning tables. Pool was clean though small, however due to visiting off season it was often empty so not an issue, loungers filled up by the pool but always a couple empty. Again this is off season so not sure it would be good in the summer when many are on holiday. Great location 5 mins from the beach, 20 mins to the main strip of bars clubs and restaurants. Overall a great stay and would 100% return in the future if visiting again as it is great value for money. Luggage room for checkout but no shower facilities apart from the cold poolside shower, we didnt depart until 6pm and checkout was at 12 so we just locked bags in store room and spent day by pool.

Cons- very loud air con so not good if a light sleeper Busy busy smallish dining hall Only 2 coffee machines Sheets not changed during trip at all 7 days No line or stand to hang laundry on in balcony so everyone including us had to drape over the chairs and balcony rail to dry towels etc

However still worth staying!

In summary decent for a cheap but good quality stay with the benefit of the free food included. In a good location close to shops and restaurants for those wanting...