Hotel Druzhba Reviews

we have just been to bulgaria for the first time. what a dissapointment, the hotel was very basic although clean, we had to walk across an open yard to the hotel for breakfast this hotel closed while we were there and we then had to go to another hotel and as it rained for most of our stay we did/nt bother as the food was nasty and cold. we found the hotel to be the most expensive place to eat and drink. poco locos was lively and food pretty good. we enjoyed dundys food and if you want a quiet drink and a warm welcome go to the cocktail bar.

the h**kers are very in your face and seemed to use our hotel a lot and are out in force both day and night not very nice.the beach seems to be clean and life guards are in attendance.the baverian bar at the back of the medical centre was very good , meals and drinks at cheap prices , and choice was vast.

im affraid we wont be back to bulgaria and balkan airways needs to train its staff again, they made us feel like they were doing us a favour by letting us on the flight, the pilot never once spoke to the passengers, no inflight entertainment and between belfast and leeds we thought we had no staff on board.

sorry to say we had a terrible holiday from start to finnish.

We have now stayed in hotel Drouzhba in Albena twice, 2004 and 2005. The hotel staff are very friendly. Their names are Zak,Mike,Sven,Vinny and the boss Ivor. The hotel is situated on one of the little shopping streets, it is only around the corner from the beach and the pool. The breakfast taken in the Slavianka next door is very nice they have all kinds of food, they even have a healthy eating table laid out with all types of low fat foods. The best eating places are Izwora, Poco Loco, Peter's House,Tropical,Staria Dub,La Bomba and Rai. The beaches are very clean and so are the pools.

The resort is totally flat so it is suitable for anyone with walking difficulties or the elderly. Also there is plenty to do for the kids,plenty of amusements. The hotel rooms are cleaned every day and the cleaners are very nice. Ivor the boss is very good to our kids, giving them free sweets etc. It is a very homely place and everyone is so friendly and helpful. Ivor rang me last summer to thank me for some traditional soevenirs that we sent him to put up in his new Irish bar. Looking forward to seeing them all again this June,2006 can't wait counting the days.

Would recommend this hotel and resort to anyone who is looking for a good relaxing and enjoyable holiday.

We have been to Hotel Drouzhba in Albena twice. It has to be the most friendly and comfortable hotel that we have ever stayed in, they all make you feel so welcome and at home. The food in the hotel is very good and you are just around the corner from the pool and the beach. Our favourite eating places are Poco Loco, Izvora,Staria Dub, Peter's House,Tropical,La Bomba and Slavianski Kat. The resort is all flat therefore it is suitable for anyone with walking difficulties. The staff in the bar and waiters are good fun they are called Danny,Zak,Vinnie,Sven and Mike. Ivor is the boss he is very good to our children,he gives them free sweets all the time. He even rang us one day when we got home to see how we all were.

We are going back again now in 24th June, can't wait neither can the kids.Highly recomended for families and a very relaxing holiday with brilliant people.

My boyfriend and I went to Albena last week on a last minute deal to Bulgaria with First Choice. We didn't really know what to expect because neither of us had known anyone who had gone there.

I have been to Turkey and Greece a few times, and Bulgaria is as nice as, if not better! We were really impressed with the standard of the accommodation at the hotel. It was a 2* hotel, but was better than some of the 3/4* hotels I have stayed in. Although the accommodation was basic, it was all we needed. Nice beds, a balcony, a good sized bathroom with a shower (amazing water pressure) and a bath.

It was BandB and the food was plentiful - you eat in another hotel called the Slavyinka - and although it is quite geared towards the Germans, it was delicious. Plenty of fruit and pastries.

We had a lovely time in Bulgaria - we're really sad to be back! The weather was gorgeous, the hotel is in a fab location for both the beach and the restuarants and bars. I would highly reccommend a trip to the Aquapolis - the waterpark in Golden Sands. It's 24 lev for a day, and taxis there and back are cheap. Actually Bulgaria on the whole is really cheap!

I would throughly reccommend both the hotel and resort.

Third visit in last twelve months and once again an enjoyable holiday.
Prices have remained stable with a pint of Lager around £1:00 and meal between £3:00 and £6:00.
For a top quality meal try the Old House on the promenade.

Beware the man at the MAXI shop next to the Druzhba Hotel,he will be waiting for you on arrival offering english cigarettes DO NOT BUY THESE they are copies and are very dangerous.

If you are given rooms above this shop be warned that if you leave decent clothes on the washing line he may come along and cut the line during the night and be away with your clothes which happened to two of our party.

Will be back in Albena shortly looking for a well dressed man selling fake ciggies

This was our first trip abroad for 24 years and we choose Bulgaria because it was unusual. We were pleasantly surprised.

The hotel is very basic but it was clean and the rooms were comfortable but there is not a lot of storage space so it you take loads of clothes you may be hard pushed to find enough space.The reception staff were very helpful and very efficient and they speak excellent English.

We wanted to see as much as we were able so booked the organised tours and these are very expensive- the equivalent trip would have cost the same in England but unless you have the confidence to hire a car, these would be your only way of seeing Bulgaria. We did the Danube trip (£31 each which included lunch), Balchik Botanical Gardens (£20 each)and Nessebar (£31 each which included lunch). The food is beautiful(fresh salads and vegetables), we tried loads of different places to eat and our favourites were Poco Loco (which has excellent dance entertainment) and Izwora Restaurant on the sea front (ask for Thomas). The beach was white sand and the sea clean. There were plenty of sunbeds always available.

We took £600 spending money and were spent this although the cost of drinks and food is very cheap. There are 2.80 levs to each GBP and Albena is dearer than other parts of the Bulgaria. The cost of 500 ml of local beer is 2.50 levs and a bottle of wine in a restaurant is 9 levs. A starter salad is approximately 4/5 levs and a pizza is about 8 levs. A steak meal would cost appoximately 13/16 levs.

We travelled to Varna on the local bus (no problems) but be VERY careful when you disembark, the pick pockets and low lifes are waiting for you. Once away from the bus stop, just be vigilent and it would be advisable not to carry a video camera in Varna. The Cathedral and sea side park are well work seeing. The costs of food/drink in Varna is half that of Albena but in Albena you are very safe.

We took local bus to Dobrich and were targetted by three young girls but despite their best efforts, we foiled their attempt to rob us - just be careful. Lovely town and well worth seeing. Nessebar is gorgeous and very touristy but that is why you are there. The harbour cafe has lovely setting and it very friendly and nice food. Most of the restaurants in Albena are very good but if you like dark beer, try the Beer Kellar at the far end of the resort near the Arabella.

We are going again next year to try Golden Sands. Hope this summary helps.

After convincing my friend into going somewhere a bit different. Towards the usual sun sea sand and whatever else you can manage destinations like spain and Greece. We found Bulgaria a surprise , many would think that is an communist backward place that the Enlgish don't go to go. They would be wrong we are in the minority but is that a bad thing? I'm only 22 and me and my friend have been on holiday to the livelier places and although we were looking for somewhere quieter this year Albena has something for young an old .

The main street has a lovely market whith lots of craft ice cream and sunglasses stalls. Albena is a very clean resort with a lovely beach and very friendly people. It's a more laid back atmosphere than golden sands and Sunny beach. which is to its advantage, as it gets less crowded but still is home to lots of bars and resteraunts. Without the packed conidtitions other resorts have the PR workers to dont annoy you. Albena has two nightclub that are open to 7 in the morning and one or two strip clubs. The main problem is the h**kers that walk up and down the main market street from about 7 onwards. However they will not bother families and couples. It was a different story for single men though, but they learnt we weren't interested and actually they have a sense of humour about it as they watched us run away.

My mate and I made lots of new friends some I still emailing.Especially drinking till 3 or 4 in Tropicana cafe where they have a live band and two Elvis impersonators storm( an elvis mini me) and an older one whos not to bad. If anyone goes in there say hello to the bar maids from Phil and kenny they will remember us. Id also recommend poco loco as the waiters and waitresses dance with you and the beach bar for karaoke. ON THE MARKET STREET THERE IS ALSO A STALL FOR PAINTING (ONE RUN BY TINA SAY HELLO TO HER!) WHERE PARENTS CAN LEAVE THERE CHILDREN TO PAINT SMALL POT ANIMALS WHILE THEY GO AND DRINK OR WHATEVER ;-). .........

The hotel iself is clean but basic the bar opens 24hrs and the staff are helpful. Zac the waiter will talk for hours about football!

Overall for the price we paid it was an amzing holiday I would defiantly go again .Anyone looking for a cheap and slightly different, but not as different as you would expect id urge to visit.if you want the nightlife its easy to find if not there lovely beaches and lots of watersports to take part in and best of all beers and food is fairly cheap!

The last time I went to Bulgaria was in the Communist Era. Then it was ultra cheap, but the food was awful. You were given food vouchers to dine at any restaurant. After examining the extensive menu (in Cyrillic)the confusion was immediately relieved on learning there was but one choice - usually mutton, stale bread, boiled potatoes and shopska salad which was the only edible item. It was covered in grated sheep cheese. You can still try it and is delicious.

What a change this time. The food is varied and tasty. Plenty of choice and very cheap. I would endorse another corresponent by recommending Bar 789 just past the galleon ship. It is just outside the boundary of Albena and is even cheaper than the other restaurants. It is full of Communist artifacts and has friendly service. We were on B and B which I would advise as eating out is cheap and fun. Breakfasts were excellent with a wide choice, all served buffet style.

The hotel was excellent value for money, faily basic but clean and comfortable. There is TV in the rooms to help you brush up on your Bulgarian! The bar is 24 hour and have very friendly bar staff. The only friendly people you should avoid are the ";ladies of the night"; who are numerous, but will not bother you if you are a couple or a family.Albena is mainly German and the Bulgarians call it Germantown. Prices, of course, are quite a bit higher than in Bulgaria generally which you will find out if you go to Varna or other places such as Dobrich and the nearby fishing village of Balchik- all worth visiting from the bus stationw which is at the entrance to the resort The bus station is either a half hour walk or you can catch the mini train.

Taxis MUST be carefully negotiated. However they do not seem to have much trade. We took the taxi to Balchik at 7pm and asked to be picked up at 11pm. After an hour or to we walked back to near where she dropped us off and thre she was - waiting. We did the decent thing and took her to a bar for a drink. However be careful in Varna as there are pickpockets who are very clever. All in all - a great holiday