This 'beachfront' hotel just south of the city of Baku is certainly built to impress, with very good facilties for those who want to stay in a 'leisure/exercise' centred hotel. Two pools (25m indoor – 2.2m deep for the full length so the kiddies were all wearing life preservers) and a large, crescent-shaped outdoor pool (see photos). Gym, and terraces including a kiddies play area (which was well used at the weekend by visiting families).
I had a very good 'Superior French' bedroom overlooking the pool, terraces and Caspian Sea. On the road side, the 'mountain view' rooms look over the main Salyan Highway' to some scruffy hills that look more like a huge quary than 'mountains' (Azerbaijan does have some beautiful countryside, but this is not it!)
The food was not as good as I expected, except for the one pasta dish I had, and the lamb kebab. Some waiters were very pleasant, others were stuck-up … large choice at breakfast including cereals, fruit (fresh, canned and dried); pastries (piled unattractively in a 'warmer'); selection of cold meats and cheeses, and hot breakfast dishes – some nice choices.
Dinner menu include a selection of steaks – but the accompaning veg was like a pile of mixed frozen veg dropped onto the plate.
A 'free shuttle' into town was prominently advertised in reception – four times daily – but, after I'd booked the mid-afternoon shuttle and been asked 'for only one person?' I got a call in my room to tell me that the shuttle wasn't running on that day – one of the reasons for my marking low on 'service'.
If I get the choice on another visit, I'd probably try the Crescent Beach next door – or stay in town.