Sunny Beach Promenade, Sunny Beach, Bulgaria | (888) 399-9863
Beachfront location and a lively atmosphere
All guest rooms have AC and balconies with sea views
Extensive amenities, including restaurant, pool, garden, and bar
Many entertainment opportunities on-site and nearby
Continental breakfast buffet included in rates
Free secured parking is provided on-site
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Party scene in summer can be rowdy (a pro for some)
Few guest room amenities beyond basics, and bathrooms are small
Noise on lower floors, particularly over the bar
The Palace Hotel offers solid features and a lively atmosphere for the boisterous crowd of mostly Russians and Brits who flock to this mega resort on Sunny Beach. Much of the three-pearl beachfront hotel's energy is devoted to extensive amenities, including a pool, garden, restaurant, and bar, while the 143 guest rooms and suites cover only the basics, apart from the balconies and sea views. But few spend much time in the rooms beyond sleeping and prepping for an evening of dining, drinking, and karaoke. The same goes for the entire resort area, with the addition of several water and fun parks for kids. For similar amenities but a bit more history, aim for the Hotel Imperial at the south end of the beach, just outside the ancient town of Nessebar.
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Scene
Boozy beach scene with all the fixings
At the height of summer, the Palace Hotel is in full swing, when families and couples come in droves for fun-filled beachfront vacations. The slice of golden sand on the Black Sea right out front is packed with guests, as is the bright and slickly modern restaurant, which turns out a mix of classic Bulgarian and international dishes and plenty of booze, and hosts the occasional dance and music performances. More cocktails are available in the second bar, which goes full-blown karaoke later in the evening. A midsize oval outdoor swimming pool offers an alternative to the sea, and its tranquility varies depending on the number of children cooling off and splashing around.
Location
On Sunny Beach, in the heart of a mega seaside resort
In summer, the long coastline with the Black Sea fills with locals and international vacationers. Twenty miles north of Burgas, the nearest major city and airport, is a curved stretch of golden sand called Sunny Beach, home to a strip of high-rise hotels, waterparks, nightclubs, and beach chairs as far as the eye can see. The Palace Hotel is at the north end of the beach, among many others of its ilk. Regular buses run to Sunny Beach from Burgas and take about an hour, but it’s half the time in a cab and relatively cheap. Once in Sunny Beach, there are several transportation options to get around, including boat taxis, horse and carriage, and a “tourist train.” The only major sight near the resort is the 3,000-year-old town of Nessebar, six miles to the south.
Rooms
Functional rooms with pleasant decor, plus balconies and sea views
Classic Greek blues and whites cover the walls and upholstery of these 143 mid-range rooms and suites. Amenities by and large deliver the basics, including mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs with cable, telephones, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi, though units lack kettles, coffeemakers, and microwaves. Their highlight feature is the balconies, all of which look out to the sea and surrounding beach and resort. Bathrooms are similarly basic, though they can be small and some are in better shape than others. All have showers only and no dividers or curtains from the toilets. Units on lower floors are subject to noise from the bar, so light sleepers may want to request a room higher up.
Features
A solid lineup of seaside resort amenities, plus free breakfast
Palace Hotel lays on a thick frosting of vacation amenities. First and foremost is the beach itself, which, although not technically part of the hotel, is right out front. A further cool down or bronzing can be enjoyed at the midsize oval pool, while meals and entertainment shift to the on-site restaurant and cocktail bar, particularly during evening karaoke. There's a continental breakfast buffet of decent quality that's included in the rates. Also on the premises is a garden, children's playground, currency exchange, small grocery, and gift shops. Free parking is available but must be reserved ahead of time. Guests can make use dry cleaning and laundry service, and the hotel offers babysitting for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
