Riu Helios Paradise

arrived on the 16th of september after delays at newcastle airport and then delays at burgas for luggage and travelling in a very hot coach for 40 minutes with no air con to a welcome drink and pretty quick check in to be then told our room had been upgraded to a family room having booked a seaview room we were told this was the same ,got to room after what felt like a 2 mile walk from the lift to find this was as we know a sideseaview room with a built up balcony that at 5 ft 5 i couldnt even see over ! went straight bk to reception were the guy on reception then went on and on about these are what we call seaview .sorry but this is not what we paid for after getting the tui rep involved he then went to look at room and then sorted it with reception to have our room changed ,we were then put on the 9th floor in a seaview room . This hotel is beautiful and kept really clean couldnt fault the cleaners especially ours even though alot of guests said they didnt have the same and alot didnt even have there sheets changed .On our first 2 days at hotel we had all facilities open to us main hall for meals, snack bars and beach bars ,the beach bar was really good because its about a ten minute walk to the bit that is for the hotel to use so what a good idea to have a building with toilets,drinks ,and food ,chips,pizza pasta burgers and ice cream to be able to use ,we would use this as apit stop when we would walk to sunny beach .the snack bar near the pool was also good for the same kind of thing but we later found out this was actually an italion restaurant that was never open when we were there ! food was always the same and cold dont think we had one hot meal my son is a really picky eater and he went without alot of the time so we had to constantly walk to sunny beach for him to have something to eat so we spent alot of money when we were supposed to be on an all inclusive holiday ! the only meal we enjoyed was the asian restaurant when it was open ! pool bar was good but the wasps were a nightmare swarms of them dont know how the staff coped always loads of sunloungers available pools were freezing cold dont know how people were even using them plus one had a lot of seagulls in it more than people and alot of seagull poop around ,also to many trees in grounds the place would look alot better without them ,used the indoor pool kids pool alot warmer .after 2 days of having facilities to use alot started to close beach bar closed so no one used beach ,italion restaurant closed so no snack bar only main restaurant open from 8-10 for breakfast,12-3 for lunch ,6 -9 for dinner and nessebar open for ice cream and a few muffins for 3 till 6 so alot of times we went hungry and this is not good on all inclusive not what u expect especially for the money we had paid for this holiday !shop on site was practically empty as well .alot of guests were unhappy with this hotel and all of us were trying to see tui reps a few that were lucky enough to see a rep were g

One week stay, two couples…good job we had each other for company! Had we been made aware this was the last week of the holiday season for this hotel and the Sunny Beach resort we would not have booked it. The hotel itself is beautiful and spotlessly clean. Great location. That’s the good bits done. The hotel boast 5 restaurants. Unfortunately, only the main buffet one was open and actually, three times in the week we were banished from it as they were hosting conventions/private parties in it. On these occasions we had to use the small limited Asian or Bulgarian restaurant which they opened. All the buffet food was bland, cold and repetitive. Chicken, neck of pork, pizza and some sort of fish was the limit. Definitely not what you’d expect from a RIU 4* all inclusive. There was no late night snack bar. They put a tray of dried up cheese sandwiches on the karaoke bar at 11pm, first come first served. They were disgusting. Entertainment was non existent. Main show bar was closed. Only one of the animation team left in the hotel. Our evening entertainment consisted of one game of bingo one night. Next night, quiz, lasted 30minutes. Two nights of Karaoke lasting 90minutes and mostly kids singing. We went to the indoor pool, thought we’d try the jacuzzi. Unfortunately this was occupied by two drunken men who were simulating sex with each other and play fighting. They’d also taken in wine glasses which obviously were not permitted. Beach bar was closed. Swim up bar, closed. Only a handful of staff could smile (some bar staff), the rest were miserable and stern. No holiday atmosphere or hospitality whatsoever. The hotel was winding down and packing up around us…it was supposed to be our holiday! Rooms were spacious and clean. No tea making facilities but did have a safe which they wanted the equivalent of £20 to use. This was not a deposit. As we had a late return flight, we enquired about a late check out of our room. We were told we could have it free…if we signed an agreement not to complain about the hotel! Obviously we didn’t keep our rooms on! Virtually every UK holidaymaker in the hotel was complaining. The holiday rep was overwhelmed. It was the only topic of conversation. I’m attaching photos of the pizza on offer (the only thing that was hot). The late night sandwich which was the entirety of evening snacks. Brussels and eggs for breakfast. Evening entertainment (provided by kids)

Two week stay. Family of 4. Anyone that complains about the food, must be mad. It's no different to anywhere I've stayed across Europe. Not sure what people expect when the hotel caters for nearly 600 rooms. You will find something. I dont know what else they could have done, other than they didn't do omelettes for breakfast. We usually get a fresh omelette station on holiday. Not this time. Now I am no tree hugging, vegan, eco warrior by any stretch, but this does lead me on to the amount of plastic being used in this hotel. Riu chain should be ashamed and more conscious. In England, we have become very aware about this. So it doesn't sit well with me that every drink is served in plastic cups with a plastic straw, then binned. Again, I tried to use my plastic cup a few times, but the staff kept binning it and getting me a fresh. They are small too, so you only get 2 gulps from each cup. I also tried to use glass where possible and reuse, but staff washed it. Also the room states to leave towels on floor if you want fresh, but we got fresh everyday, even though we had only used them once. Maybe I shouldn't care when on holiday? I don't know. But I couldn't help think about it. The room was a decent size and clean. The boys had a pull out double bed, which was rock hard. Luckily they are young and light or they'd have got a bad back. The view out the room was shocking!! All we had to overlook was very large flat roof! We were on floor 3 and also at the end of the flat roof is trees. We were sold this as a supiorior sea view!! We couldn't see the sea! Not a sea view in my eyes! We moved rooms a week later and wow. What a difference. So please be aware some of the views on the lower floors are ropey! You'll be okay from floor 4/5 upwards. The beach is great with free loungers and umbrellas. Never struggled to get a lounger at pool or beach and we would leave room about 10.30am. The Sunrise Bar on the beach is perfect, as you can use loo, eat and drink without trapsing back to hotel. The beach isn't that far, even though some on here say it is. Depends what you're used to walking. 5 mins walk isn't much to me. I got stung by a wasp. Lots of wasps about. Especially at the pool bar all over the soft drink nozzles. Seagulls also a bit of a pest! The skwark and swoop down. Some annoying guests bringing food out, which wasn't allowed and only encouraged the seagulls. Also the white plastic tables next to the sun loungers are dirty and in need of a good soapy wash. The slides are okay. Not sure why they are unavailable between 12pm and 2pm though? Just have them open all day. They are on the small side though. Not enough to entertain teenagers for long really. Mine aged 10 and 11, would last about an hour before going back to main pools. The entertainment isn't great. It's just different dancing shows by the animation team. They do try though and have learnt many routines! But no live singing, magic or danger shows. Also it's on slightly too lat