We went the week before the season really kicked off. Everywhere was gearing up to the official start and the hotel was wonderfully quiet. The facilities were very very good. The room was clean, had English channels and a brilliant view of the rest of the hotel complex and coastline. Staff were very friendly multi-lingual and very helpful. The beach was very close and almost empty every day. Old Nessebar was stunning and a good walk away - not too far which suited me :)
One day we walked all the way round the bay going through Sunny Beach. That was pretty dreadful(!) - full of English people, sex shops and places doing fish n chips. But the beach itself was very nice - good clean sand and all. Just a bit busy. Was a very enjoyable holiday. Very relaxing and would definitely go again.

Have just returned from brilliant holiday with my partner. The staff were excellent, our room cleaning was top line and the hotel was one of the cleanest ever! Food was varied with a typical mediterranean feel but other tastes were catered for. Bedroom was lovely with a spectacular view over the Black Sea.
Cannot fault it.

After reading such contrasting reviews on this hotel, I was interested to see for myself what it was really like. The good news is it’s fine! It has one or two faults but doesn’t everywhere?
The food seems to be criticised in many of the negative reviews. I personally found it to be good, if not very good, in terms of quality, quantity and choice. There were a couple of exceptions, the pasta was inedible (I speak with some authority being Italian) and the desserts seemed to be based entirely on artificial cream. Anyone who has mistakenly tasted shaving foam will be familiar with the sensation. I have stayed at a few all inclusive hotels and this has been the best for food so far, one evening both swordfish and fresh squid were on the menu. I rest my case.

Another criticism seems to be aimed at the guests, the majority of whom are Russian. I can only put this down to xenophobia, it’s true they do seem to have a brusque manner and keep themselves to themselves. However, I didn’t see any of them get drunk and hot blooded males will soon see what prompted The Beatles to write Back in the USSR.
The hotel is clean and run efficiently, the staff are polite and friendly. It has the usual facilities and its own stretch of private beach which is fairly narrow and has a strange smell about it, I understand this is due to deposits of sulphur rather than anything more unpleasant. There was never a problem with a lack of sun beds around the pool, I did, however, find the music a little intrusive. The thing with poolside music is it’s fine if it’s the kind of music you like. In Jamaica last year I was in seventh heaven as the PA played the soundtrack of my youth, I might just be getting old but the bubblegum europop played at the Bay’s poolside was a source of minor but fairly constant irritation.

All in all this is a good hotel with good facilities and good food. It is particularly well suited to young families (of which there are many) as there is plenty for children to do. Teenagers may struggle to keep themselves amused and late night revellers should look elsewhere as everything closes at eleven.

6 of us stayed at the Nessebar bay, wife 52 and I 54, 21 yr old daughter and fiance, 2 16yr olds.
The hotel is part of 3 hotel complex each hotel has it own swimming pool and indoor pool but you can use any theres also a small childrens pool with a castle and a slide into the pool. plenty of sunbeds wherever you were on site there is also an area down near the beach with sunbeds. Rooms we had were very clean and comfortable a bit larger than normal with 2 queen size beds. both rooms had pool views.
The beach is small and not that brilliant but the resort of sunny beach with 4 mile beach is about 20mins bus ride (catch no3 outside hotel) cost 1.4lev about 70p.
Food was really good. I am a bit fussy but always plenty beef chicken pork and local food too. Some complained about queing. but if you go when busy what do you expect!!
Choose the best time to suit you Dont forget brits like meals piping hot whilst so not so in some other countries, be careful with chicken they seem to like to wuickly heat and seal the meat but i didnt have any probs..
Staff very helpful and friendly. entertainment staff young energetic VERY friendly. get to know them and enjoy their company as they try to get you to the events. I did pistol and rifle shooting and a bit of latin dance. most entertainment outside at the stage but in the ballroom if wet plenty of seats but get there early.
Not much to do locally hotel is just outside nessebar. if fit you can walk to Nessebar about 20mins you go over the causeway to old nessesbar with small harbour and various old buildings and narrow cobble streets in the old town. you can walk roundthe island probably about 30mins took us a while because wife is disabled but she managed it. it is flat all way round. Shops are basicaly tourist stuff but well worth a visit.
Bus to nessebar is no3 or no7 though there are a few others that come occasionally. Buses can be a bit crowded early morning as people get about after breakfast.

What else?
Pools are very clean and obviosly there is poolside bar and snacks/ice cream through the day. Try abit of the language it is fun trying and dont be afraid to ask if it is right they seem to appreciate the effort.(plus i found i got bigger measures at the bar)
Eastern block people dont seem to smile or look happy but they are very friendly. Not many english at the resort , which was fine mainly russian romainian, turkish, polish, and few norwegian very few germans or dutch.

Sunny beach will be worth a visit if you want noise .nightclubs bars etc i took the bus but didnt get off mainly coz i didnt have the time but it looks like any other busy resort which is ok for me but wife preferes quiet resorts.

oh make sure you get a room with a poolside view or see view as out side the palace hotel is a derelict military base!!! there is no activity or noise from there ,being nosey i tried to sneak in for a look but the sleepy gaurd dogs awoke to prevent my expedition!!!

Stayed for a week all inclusive about £365 each at end of june well worth it good value
great holiday couldnt find anything to spend money on so spent £35!!! or is that because i'm a tight fisted yorkie???