Couples who want space kept for over 16s, from a rooftop infinity pool to a beach zone, will lean towards the resort of roughly 500 rooms 10 m from the sand. Travellers after a large spa with a warm mineral indoor pool lean towards the hotel 0.1 km from the beach. Both run a Mini Club and both open seasonally.
At a glance
| Fact | Grifid Noa, Golden Sands | Meliá Grand Hermitage, Golden Sands |
|---|---|---|
| Check availability | Check availability | |
| Official category | 5-star | 5-star |
| Rooms on the hotel's own site | 496 to 503 | Not published |
| Brand, Differs | Grifid Hotels | Meliá |
| Board | All-inclusive | All-inclusive |
| Adults-only | No | No |
| Family-friendly | Not published | Yes |
| Spa | Not published | Yes |
| Pools | Not published | 4 |
| Beach distance, Differs | 10 metres | 100 metres |
| Address | Not published | Golden Sands, 9007 Varna |
Not published.Official category is the national tourist register category.
Grifid Noa vs Meliá Grand Hermitage: the verdict
Grifid Noa splits itself in two: a children's pool, Mini Club and teen playroom for families, and a rooftop pool, sky bar, beach zone and three dining rooms for over 16s.
Meliá Grand Hermitage is the spa-led resort, with a 1,315 sq m spa, a children's programme and seven meeting rooms, but no adults-only areas.
The two resorts in one table
| Hotel | Beach | Official category | Board | Rooms | Adults-only areas | Spa | Largest room, theatre | Page | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grifid Noa | 10 m, across a promenade | 5-star | AI | 496 to 503 (pages differ) | rooftop pool, beach zone, three venues, 16+ | Calma Wellness Center | ballroom, 450 | View hotel | Check dates |
| Meliá Grand Hermitage | 0.1 km, private beach | 5-star | AI | Not published | none named | 1,315 sq m, mineral indoor pool | ballroom, 420 | View hotel | Check dates |
Not published by the hotel
The national tourism register lists both in the top official category and both as seasonal. Neither hotel states its opening and closing months, so ask before you plan dates.
Sand, sunbeds and the walk down
Only a pedestrian promenade separates Grifid Noa from the beach, which the hotel puts 10 m away. Each room gets one parasol and two sunbeds on the sand while they last. Over 16s have their own beach zone, with drinks and cabanas for swim-up guests.
Meliá Grand Hermitage gives 0.1 km to the beach and lists a private beach among its services. Ask how you reach the sand and whether loungers come with the room.
Pools by name
Two outdoor pools sit by the beach, one for adults only. The Relax Pool on the second floor faces the sea, and the children's pool is 40 cm deep with three slides. Indoors there is a heated pool closed to under 12s and a jacuzzi closed to under 16s. On the roof, the infinity pool is for over 16s.
Meliá Grand Hermitage lists four pools: an indoor pool with mineralised hot water, and garden, sports and children's pools outside. All open from 8:30 to 18:30, and water slides and a rope park add to the day.
How the food works
Grifid Noa assigns its main buffet by room type: Palette & Plate for Deluxe rooms in the main building, Terrazza for Standard rooms in the wing. Koreni serves Bulgarian dinners à la carte. Steakroom and Chef's Passion Cook & Serve charge extra for dinner, and Cook & Serve is for over 16s, as are Beach Club Salma and the glazed sky restaurant Sora.
Meliá Grand Hermitage gives nine restaurants and bars. Hermitage Restaurant runs an international buffet with show cooking, a pasta station and a children's corner. Al Dente cooks Italian dinners and The Vine Bulgarian ones, both on the R floor and both booked in advance. The Level Restaurant is kept for guests of The Level, the hotel's private tier. Ask which venues your stay covers.
Families, teens and adults-only zones
Grifid Noa's Mini Club takes children aged 3 to 6, with a mini disco each day. A garden playground suits ages 4 to 12, and the supervised Teen Meet Zone has PlayStation games, mini football, board games and darts. The adults-only areas are open to every guest over 16, and a swim-up floor adds rooms and suites with private pools for adults.
Meliá Grand Hermitage greets children at their own reception with a private check-in, a welcome drink and a snack. It runs a Mini Club, a mini disco, a play area and a Mini Spa, but gives no ages. More family options sit on the Golden Sands family hotels page and in hotels with kids clubs across Bulgaria, while couples can compare adults-only hotels in Bulgaria.
Spa and gym
The Calma Wellness Center at Grifid Noa has saunas including an infrared cabin, a steam bath, a relax zone, fitness, massage rooms and facial and body care. Treatments and steam cost extra.
The spa at Meliá Grand Hermitage covers 1,315 sq m. Inside are a heated indoor pool with thermal water, a sauna, a Turkish bath, a gym and a Health and Beauty Club of 18 rooms, with treatment areas outside in the gardens. Treatments cost extra, and the gym opens 8:30 to 20:30. See Golden Sands spa hotels for more.
Meetings and weddings
Grifid Noa's Level Up ballroom sits on the 11th floor with a sea view terrace and takes 450 in 510 sq m. Simposia, Assemblia and Conferra add rooms for 90 to 140.
Meliá Grand Hermitage has seven rooms over 832 sq m. The Hermitage Grand Ballroom seats 420 theatre style or 160 at a banquet. Satok takes 150, Lisimah 80 seated, Orpheus 50, and three boardrooms seat 16 each. Compare conference hotels in Golden Sands.
Getting there
Grifid Noa is 30 km from Varna Airport and 1,500 m from the resort centre. Its parking is limited, partly underground and partly remote, with a shuttle round the clock. Pets are not allowed.
Meliá Grand Hermitage is 26 km from Varna airport. Its pages say nothing on parking or pets, so ask. Routes and transfer options are in Varna Airport to Golden Sands.
Who each resort suits
Grifid Noa fits:
- couples who want a rooftop pool and beach zone free of young children
- families with children aged 3 to 6, or teens who need their own room to play
- groups that want a sea view ballroom
Meliá Grand Hermitage fits:
- spa lovers who want a warm mineral pool and a full treatment menu
- families who like a children's check-in and a Mini Spa
- planners who need seven rooms, including three boardrooms
For the wider shortlist, see Golden Sands and luxury hotels in Golden Sands.
Questions
Is Grifid Noa adults only?
No. Grifid Noa welcomes families, with a Mini Club for ages 3 to 6 and a teen playroom. It also keeps areas for guests over 16: a rooftop infinity pool, a beach zone, a sky bar and three restaurants. A swim-up floor has rooms and suites with private pools for adults.
Which hotel has the larger spa?
Meliá Grand Hermitage. Its spa covers 1,315 sq m, with an indoor thermal pool, a sauna, a Turkish bath, a gym and 18 treatment rooms. Grifid Noa's Calma Wellness Center offers saunas, a steam bath, fitness and massage, but gives no size. Both hotels charge for treatments, so ask for the current spa menu.
When are the two resorts open?
Both are seasonal on the national tourism register, and neither hotel website states its opening or closing months. Ask each hotel directly before you book flights. Outdoor pools at Meliá Grand Hermitage open from 8:30 to 18:30 each day, and Grifid Noa notes that beach sunbeds go to guests while they last.
How far is each hotel from Varna Airport?
Grifid Noa gives 30 km from Varna Airport and Meliá Grand Hermitage 26 km. Neither publishes a drive time, and traffic can add time. Ask the hotel about transfers when you book, and compare routes before you land in Varna.
Do children have their own pool at both hotels?
Yes. Grifid Noa has a children's pool 40 cm deep with three slides, and its indoor heated pool is closed to under 12s. Meliá Grand Hermitage has an outdoor children's pool plus water slides and a rope park. Ask either hotel about lifeguard hours and swimming rules for younger children.