They differ in size and focus. The bigger hotel is a family-friendly spa resort with eleven mineral pools, a kids club and a private beach 25 metres away. The smaller one sits on the seashore inside a natural park, with a balneology centre and a doctor. Families lean to the first; treatment seekers, to the second.
At a glance
| Fact | Ensana Aquahouse Health & Spa Hotel, St. St. Constantine and Helena | Balneo & Spa Hotel The Palace, St. St. Constantine and Helena |
|---|---|---|
| Check availability | Check availability | |
| Official category | 5-star | 5-star |
| Rooms on the hotel's own site, Differs | 411 | 154 |
| Brand, Differs | Ensana | Sunny Day |
| Board, Differs |
| All-inclusive |
| Adults-only | No | No |
| Family-friendly | Yes | Not published |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Pools | 11 | Not published |
Not published.Official category is the national tourist register category.
The short verdict
- Pick Ensana Aquahouse if you want a large, family-friendly spa hotel with 11 mineral pools, a 6,000 m² spa, a kids club for ages 4 to 12 and a private beach 25 m away.
- Pick The Palace if you prefer a smaller hotel on the seashore inside a natural park, with a balneology centre that has a doctor.
Location and getting around
Both hotels are in St. Constantine and Helena, in Varna province, and both hold the top official category in the national tourist register. The Palace sits on the seashore inside a natural park, by a sandy beach with a gentle entry. Ensana Aquahouse is 25 m from the beach and has its own private beach.
For airport transfers and journey times, ask the hotel. The Palace lists 1 accessible room and does not allow pets; for access needs at Ensana Aquahouse, ask the hotel.
Rooms and board
Ensana Aquahouse is far larger: the hotel gives 411 rooms and suites, facing the sea or the park. The Palace has 154 rooms over 5 floors, including 121 doubles (66 with a sea view, 55 with a park view), 20 deluxe rooms and a range of suites.
The two hotels sell different meal plans, so check the Board row in the side by side table. AI means all-inclusive, HB half board and BB bed and breakfast. Inclusions vary, so ask the hotel for the full terms.
The Palace lists a main buffet restaurant, a fish restaurant, Paros, a lobby bar, a whisky bar and a beach bar. For dining at Ensana Aquahouse, ask the hotel.
Spa and wellness
The Aquahouse hotel spa covers 6,000 m² across Aqua, Wellness, Thermal and Kids zones, with 5 saunas and hyperthermal mineral water at 46°C. Each stay includes one 3-hour visit to the Aquahouse Thermal & Beach water area, which has 14 pools.
The Palace's spa covers over 1,400 m² and was renovated in 2020, with 3 saunas, a steam bath, a salt room, a solarium, fitness and a hammam at extra charge. Its certified balneology centre has a doctor and uses Varna Lake mud.
Choose Ensana Aquahouse for time in the water and The Palace for treatments guided by a doctor.
Pools, spa and facilities
Ensana Aquahouse has 11 mineral pools, 5 outdoor and 6 indoor, plus pools for children and babies, a kids club and a playground.
The Palace has an outdoor eco pool by the beach, an indoor semi-Olympic thermal pool and a spa aqua zone with 2 mineral-water pools and an aquatonic pool. It adds 2 tennis courts at extra charge, a sea-view gym and a playground.
Who each suits
Choose Ensana Aquahouse if:
- you travel with children aged 4 to 12
- you want many pools and a large thermal spa
- you like a big hotel with a private beach close by
Skip it if you want a small hotel. See the hotel page for Ensana Aquahouse or check availability at Ensana Aquahouse.
Choose The Palace if:
- you want balneology with a doctor and Varna Lake mud
- you prefer a smaller hotel on the seashore in a natural park
- you like to swim lengths or play tennis
Skip it if you need a daily kids club early in the season or travel with a pet. See the hotel page for The Palace or check availability at The Palace.
For more choice in the resort, browse St. Constantine and Helena hotels.
Questions
Which is bigger, Ensana Aquahouse or The Palace?
Ensana Aquahouse, by a wide margin. The hotel gives 411 rooms and suites, against 154 rooms at The Palace. Ensana Aquahouse also has the larger spa, at 6,000 m², against over 1,400 m² at The Palace. If you prefer a smaller hotel, The Palace is the closer fit. Ask the hotel which room types are free for your dates.
Do these two hotels offer all-inclusive?
One does and one does not. The Board row in the side by side table above gives each hotel's plan codes: one lists all-inclusive, the other bed and breakfast or half board packages. What a plan covers, such as drinks, snacks or meal times, varies, so ask the hotel for the full terms before you book.
Which has the bigger spa or more pools?
Ensana Aquahouse on both counts. Its spa covers 6,000 m², with 11 mineral pools, 5 outdoor and 6 indoor, plus pools for children and babies. The Palace has a spa of over 1,400 m², an outdoor eco pool, an indoor semi-Olympic thermal pool and a spa aqua zone with 2 mineral-water pools and an aquatonic pool.
Is either hotel adults-only?
No. Neither Ensana Aquahouse nor The Palace is adults-only, so children can stay at both. Ensana Aquahouse describes itself as family-friendly and runs a kids club for ages 4 to 12. For the approach to families at The Palace, ask the hotel, and check the kids club days if you travel before 1 June.
Which is better for families?
Ensana Aquahouse is the clearer choice for families. It runs a kids club for ages 4 to 12 with animators, an outdoor playground, a children's pool with a water slide and an indoor pool for babies. The Palace has a playground and a kids club, but before 1 June the club opens only from Friday to Sunday.