We've stayed here for a week in June 2010 and it was a most enjoyable visit. Booking via card on internet was easy and staff ever so helpful. The location a few hundred meters from the sea front is perfect and helps you enjoy not only the great view and fresh sea air but also gives the benefit of short walking distance from most restaurants and beaches. However it is important to specify your room view while booking, as you may get "the building site view" instead. Rooms are nice, clean and modern. Balcony is quite small and close to your neighbours' but still allows you to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine while admiring the sea view. Breakfast in the restaurant downstairs offer good quality variable food for any taste. Free wifi available only in the pizza restaurant downstairs. A pleasant and unexpected surprise was a card and a bottle of local champagne on the birthday!

All in all the hotel is good, with nice rooms and an excellent view. But you can hear what your neighbours say or do, as the walls are very thin. There were several days were I could not sleep due to the noise.
The staff in the pizzeria restaurant and lobby has never heard of service with a smile. Expect your food to be served with an unhappy attitude.
NO WIFI except in the pizzeria.

We spent an enjoyable 7 nights at the Bristol. We were worried by the noise from nearby clubs and bars but a combination of good double glazing and air-conditioning meant this was not a problem. There was a building site next door (at foundation stage) which was a bit noisy. We were told that building work was not allowed during August but it was definitely taking place. In the end we didn't find this a major problem either.

Our room (502) was spacious, the bed was huge and comfortable but some people might find it a bit firm and we had a sea view and a balcony. We looked out at clubs and bars but this is only to be expected in Yalta. Bring your own kettle if you like to make tea. The breakfast was great. We recommend pancakes and fried eggs followed by a fruit feast - just about everything was on offer. Swimming pool was great and there were classes to join if you wanted. The gym looked good and was popular but we didn't test it.

Reception staff were helpful and can arrange trips and tours, book taxis or events - they booked concert tickets for us which were then delivered to the hotel. One downside - the hotel has only one lift and it broke down a couple of times. It really should install a second one.

This is quite a basic hotel but the staff did seem to speak quite good English and were always cheerful.

The reasons why I cant give this hotel full marks is because:

The hotel website room photos did not correspond at all to what we got and the bed was extremely uncomfortable. In addition they describe the hotel as the oldest in Yalta but apart from the plaque on the wall in the lobby I could have easily of believed it was all built 20 to 30 years ago (apparently it is from the 19th Century). They even have the cheek to say on the website that "You can hear the roar of the surf and sea breezes and the stunning views of the waterfront will not leave you indifferent" well the only thing we could see from our balcony were trees and a road which was noisy from both cars and late at night tourists. We were also woken by music and singing from the hotel restaurant (sounded like Karaoke). The door also has little sound proofing so when the tour groups check out early in the morning they are all heard marching off.

Twice when going to breakfast four of us couldn't sit together because the restaurant was full. The breakfast restaurant has two parts the nice outside "conservatory" bit but the larger inside bit is oppressive. The quality of the breakfast itself was ok but nothing special.

Overall I just don't see why other reviewers rate this place so highly.