Lara Barut Collection-Ultra All Inclusive Hotel

Why I gave this hotel 3 stars, starting with the good points:

I stayed at Lara Barut with my 6-year-old child from February 21 to February 28. We stayed in the Lagoon area, where the rooms were beautiful, modern, and spacious. The shower was excellent.

During the first few days, it was very cold outside, and since the pool and the main restaurant are located in the main building, this was very inconvenient for us. We had to walk outside while wet and wear jackets to the restaurant.

The indoor pool was heated, though it was a bit chilly for my daughter. The water in the pool was salty, which is good in some ways, but it stung everywhere. Outdoors, there is one heated pool with saltwater and another large pool with freshwater. We were lucky to swim there once, but getting out of the pool was freezing cold. In summer, I imagine it would be perfect.

The spa treatments were very expensive, so I didn’t risk trying them. However, the hotel offered a complimentary 10-minute massage, and it was amazing!

The food in the main restaurant was always excellent and very tasty. Desserts were outstanding. On Tuesdays, there was sushi, and on Wednesdays, seafood—all very fresh. The juices were delicious and not watered down.

Overall, aside from the negative experience I will describe below, our stay was good. The staff at the dessert counter always served with a smile, and many waiters in the main restaurant were very welcoming. The reception desk was not very informative, but I learned more about the hotel from the lady at the desk near the entrance. She spoke Russian and was very polite.

The room cleaning was great; the housekeeping staff cleaned daily. The hotel grounds were perfectly clean, with no litter anywhere.

The kids’ club was nice, though limited in activities due to the winter season. The animators were friendly, but my daughter only went there twice because most of the children were younger, and she didn’t find it very interesting.

My absolute favorite was the cat house and its caretaker—a wonderful man who takes care of 50 cats at once. The cats were all so cute, and we are so grateful to him for his work! My daughter adored visiting the cat house.

Now for the downsides:
1. The biggest and most disappointing issue that partially ruined my stay and impression of the hotel was the behavior of one staff member in the restaurant. It was rude and unacceptable for a hotel of this level. When I went to get sushi, one staff member made it very clear that he was unhappy with how much sushi I was taking. He then spoke to another staff member, and they started whispering and smirking, clearly at my expense. I was so upset that I was brought to tears and had to complain about him. I hope action was taken, but I wasn’t informed of any outcome. The general manager apologized, but that was the end of it.
2. The location of the Lagoon rooms was inconvenient for the winter season. Do not choose this area during colder months, though this was my mistake.
3. The non-alcoholic cocktails were not tasty, and the selection was very limited—only four options.
4. In the main restaurant, long lines formed in some areas. For example, every morning, I had to wait 15 minutes for an omelet. The waitstaff were sometimes overwhelmed and appeared very tired. There didn’t seem to be enough staff during peak hours.
5. It was impossible to get a reservation for the à la carte restaurants. I tried logging in at 9:00 a.m. sharp for several days, but the system always said there were no available tables.
6. Due to ongoing renovations, one day the dining area smelled strongly of paint, which made it unbearable to eat breakfast there.

In summary:
Our holiday could have been amazing if not for the one instance of rude staff behavior. The hotel is beautiful and well-maintained, with stunning views. The cat house is a gem! The location is also great.

I am not sure if I would return, as my overall impression was spoiled, but I am still grateful for the experience.