DIT Evrika Beach Club Hotel

Located on 14 landscaped acres right next to the Black Sea, DIT Evrika Beach Club Hotel is one of the biggest hotels in Sunny Beach, and one of the biggest resorts in Bulgaria. Is this a quiet beachside escape? Not at all, and guests at this family-friendly property should expect plenty of crowds and plenty of lively noise -- with kids all over the place and entertainment teams doing their best to make everyone happy. The massive outdoor complex -- including a beach whose promenade is free of shops, a huge water park with adult and children's zones, and gaudy pools -- is packed with hotel guests throughout the day. Inside, things are relatively modern, with contemporary low-slung seating, lots of beach tones, and architectural details meant to evoke seaside retreats in Greece and Italy. The hotel emphasizes outdoor activities, and it draws mostly families with its energetic atmosphere and wealth of activities. Couples might prefer a smaller, more intimate resort.

DIT Evrika Beach Club Hotel is in Sunny Beach on the Black Sea. It sits right on the beach promenade, with numerous restaurants, bars, and clubs in either direction. Action Acquapark water park and Sunny Beach Karting Track are about a five-minute drive away. Luna Park Sunny Beach amusement park and Flower Street -- with its food stalls, carnivals rides, and nightlife -- are a seven-minute drive from the hotel. The ancient Thracian settlement of Nessebar is a 15-minute drive away. The UNESCO-designated site includes the sixth-century Hagia Sophia Church and 14th-century Church of Christ Pantokrator and Church of St. John Aliturgetos. Burgas Airport is a 30-minute drive, and Burgas city center is a 35-minute drive from the hotel.

The 633 rooms at DIT Evrika Beach Club Hotel are spread over four buildings, and are modern but unexciting. The color palette is neutral -- with white, beige, and brown predominating in most rooms -- and furniture has light wood veneer surfaces with clean lines. A bit of floral artwork hangs on the wallpapered walls -- though doesn't offer much in the way of character -- while beige carpets line the floors. Some rooms are done in brown and gold hues, with slightly more rustic looking furniture, though are still generically modern. Every room includes a balcony or terrace, some of which look onto the beach -- keep in mind that rooms near the pool can be noisy.Rooms range from 161 square feet for Single Rooms to to 495 square feet for Apartments (15 to 46 square meters), so some can be compact. All rooms come with air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and TVs, some of which are tube style. Kettles for instant coffee and tea are available upon request -- for a fee -- and Wi-Fi and safes both incur fees as well, despite this being an all-inclusive hotel. Apartments have living rooms and sofa beds, and some other rooms have bunk beds for kids, like the Studio that we visited. Unfortunately, bathrooms look dated, in part due to a frequently unattractive choice in tilework. The dark brown hues in most don't do much to brighten the spaces -- neither do the old terrazzo countertops. Bathrooms do have a bit of counter space around sinks, and all include walk-in showers.

The DIT Evrika Beach Club Hotel sits along the beach on the Black Sea, and has plenty of sun loungers set up on the sand as well as a a bar and volleyball. Water sports such as surfing, waterskiing, and boating are nearby, but come at an extra fee. For alternative ways to get wet, the hotel has more than 23,000 square feet (2,137 square meters) of pool space. The main swimming pool has water volleyball, water aerobics, and a poolside bar and snack bar. The hotel also has a smaller free-form pool, children's pool, and hot tub. One of the more popular features is the hotel's water park, which has an adult zone and a children's zone. The adult zone has a fully enclosed tube-like water slide; an open-air spiral slide with curves; a straight and wide raft slide; a 20-foot-high kamikaze slide; and a lazy river that winds its way around the park. The children's zone includes a water play house, two spiral tube slides, an arc spray, mushroom sprays, and water games. Unfortunately, the hours of the water parks are limited, meaning parents have to find other ways to entertain their kids in the meantime. The hotel also has a kids' playground, kids' club (ages six and up), climbing wall, two outdoor tennis courts, soccer field, boccia court, air gun shooting, darts, and a game room. For those who want even more options to stay active, there's a fitness center with a decent amount of modern equipment. The hotel also has a sauna, small spa, and beauty salon. A hotel highlight is the large amphitheater with seating for 600 guests. Here, the entertainment team stages dance shows, musical performances, folklore shows, and comedy sketches. The DIT Evrika also has karaoke, a nightclub, and live music. The breakfast buffet features a made-to-order eggs, sausages, bacon, pancakes, breads, pastries, cereal, fruit, coffee, and juice. The main restaurant serves European and traditional Bulgarian cuisine, with a show-cooking section and special theme nights. A second restaurant also serves traditional Bulgarian cuisine, with meat and fish dishes prepared on a charcoal grill. The Asian restaurant features an open-air terrace and show kitchen. It serves Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese fare, while the Italian-Mediterranean restaurant has a view of the pool. Some restaurants are not open every day in low season. In addition to the beach bar and poolside bar, the hotel also has a lobby bar and a bar with outdoor terrace, library, and big-screen TV sports. The DIT Evrika Beach is an all-inclusive property, with the rate covering all meals, afternoon pastries and ice cream, unlimited domestic beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and all on-site sports and activities. The DIT Evrika also has a tour desk, convenience store, gift shop, medical center, and free parking.