site.btaIvelia Hotel & Spa Welcomes Guests After Major Renovation and Upgrade to 4-star Category

Ivelia Hotel & Spa in the village of Dabnitsa is welcoming guests after a major renovation and an upgrade to a four-star category as of September 2025, the complex’s manager Anelia Uzunova told BTA.

The spa centre uses salt electrolysis as a method for purifying the water in the pools, which avoids the use of aggressive chemicals and provides conditions suitable for small children and people with sensitive skin and allergies. The water does not have the characteristic smell of chlorine, while maintaining a high level of cleanliness and clarity.

The temperature of the indoor pools is between 33C and 34C, while the jacuzzis are kept between 37C and 38C. Indoor and outdoor jacuzzis are also available. The outdoor pools are seasonal and will open on May 1, Uzunova said.

The hotel’s spa centre includes a classic Finnish sauna, herbal sauna, steam bath, salt room, and relaxation zone. Families with children actively visit the salt room because of its beneficial effects on the respiratory system. The herbal sauna operates at lower temperatures and is suitable for people with cardiovascular or other health issues, while the steam bath combines elements of a classic and Turkish bath.

The main flow of visitors consists of Bulgarian tourists, with guests arriving from different parts of the country. They are primarily looking for a peaceful family holiday without loud entertainment programmes, Uzunova added.

The spa centre currently offers classic, therapeutic, and anti-cellulite massages, with plans to expand the range of therapies, the manager said.

The Dabnitsa area offers opportunities to visit tourist attractions such as the zoo corner located nearby, the St. Archangel Michael Chapel, as well as the villages of Leshten and Kovachevitsa. Guests consider proximity to the town of Gotse Delchev an advantage as well, she added.

BTA presents news from certified spa, wellness, and medical spa centres in Bulgaria in its BG SPA: Salus per aquam, Health Through Water feature. Their total number exceeds 200. The initiative, organized in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism, is linked to Europe's leading health tourism event, the HEALTHXCHANGE SUMMIT, which will be held from May 11 to 13, 2026, in Varna, Sts. Constantine and Helena, Golden Sands, and Albena. BTA will be the event's main media partner.