A BARGAIN IN THE BALKANS
STEPHANIE BALLOO takes a break in Bulgaria, and discovers it’s not all stag dos on the Black Sea
STUNNING sunsets lined with mountains, breathtaking day trips, unforgettable entertainment, sandy beaches and constant sunshine.
Although up-and-coming Bulgaria may not yet be one to tick off the bucket list, it does have its fair share to satisfy sun-seekers, history buffs and families alike.
Famed for its raucous party hotspot, Sunny Beach, ‘stag dos and cheap booze’ sometimes spring to mind when tourists dismiss the Black Sea coastline.
But brimming with a curious mix of cultures from surrounding Turkey,
Romania and Greece, this is far from all the scenic Balkan nation has to offer. Just a short drive from Sunny Beach, and on the southern peninsula of Bourgas Bay, sits the idyllic seaside town of Pomorie.
The land is sparse and mainly empty, but five-star hotels and water parks are starting to pop up as the country’s tourism industry flourishes.
We were staying six nights at the luxurious Sunset Resort, a vast and stylish complex boasting a 400m natural beach. Despite the late hour of our check-in, smiling faces greeted us at the hotel’s grand, glossy marble reception, and a bellboy took our cases to a studio apartment in one of the five six-storey blocks within the resort.
A bottle of Bulgarian sparkling white wine was the perfect finishing touch to our spacious, spotless apartment, which boasted our own balcony looking out onto the coast.
And, we were soon to discover, glorious temperatures of 28°C and a sun that blazes down from dawn till dusk. At the resort, you can literally chase the sun before watching it set along the beach, as it shines on the five separate pool areas at different times of the day.
All-inclusive and full-board guests help themselves to a vast buffet at mealtimes, hosted within three in-house restaurants of your choice. For breakfast, everything from fry-ups and croissants to cinnamon crepes and fruit is available. At lunch and dinner, various meats are on offer alongside soup, rice, fish, pasta, salad, chips, cheeses, potatoes and other vegetables.
Each night, slight alterations are made to the spread to keep it fresh, with traditional Bulgarian veal cooked on a barbecue in front of you for Sunday’s entertainment.
If you’re still craving something a bit more exciting, high-quality à la carte restaurants are dotted around the complex, among them Chinese, Italian, French, Mediterranean and a Grill House.
Between lunch and dinner, the smell of hot sugary donuts fills the warm air as staff cook the sweet treats in front of peckish holidaymakers. Hot dogs are also free for those patient enough to wait in the lengthy queue. And there’s a patisserie on site for anyone with a sweet tooth, too.
Nine bars serve everything from coffee to cocktails within the hotel itself, but you also have the option of the cool, quirky bars which line the beach front. Cocktails at the hotel are reasonable (for those who aren’t all inclusive), costing just £4 and a beer is roughly £1.60, but eating out is even cheaper on the beach.
There’s plenty at the hotel to keep you occupied all week, but it is mainly a place for young families, as we soon discovered during Saturday night’s entertainment. Dozens of kids, aged from three up to around 10, were all dancing to songs like YMCA. Entertainment for the rest of the week was similar, including a comedy sketch which had the children chuckling.
We kept ourselves busy with sunbathing, swimming, sunset walks along the beach, a game at the resort’s own bowling alley, drinking wine on our balcony and cocktails in some of the bars yards from the hotel.
On the Sunday night, the resort hosts an unmissable Folklore night to complement the traditional barbecued veal. This features an authentic Bulgarian dance routine.
The best thing about the hotel for parents, I suspect, is the free kids club. Children can get involved in a host of activities from crafts and sports to water games and exercise classes. There’s a Disney shop selling themed toys and clothes for the
youngsters, too.
The resort’s waterpark is just a short walk away and includes a range of daring, colourful slides. It costs an added £20 per person for those who aren’t all-inclusive, so it’s well worth booking the full package. For the adults, there’s a gym and a spa on site, but these cost extra, too.
Friendly staff at the hotel also encourage anyone sunbathing by the pool to engage in water polo and other free group activities. Sunbeds are another added luxury and are within a designated no-towel zone, as we discovered when we were kicked off that part of the beach!
Time spent at the resort was relaxing, but the excursions offered by the hotel made the trip extra-special.
From seeing a pod of dolphins swim alongside our catamaran through crystal-clear water, to the ancient Greek ruins in Nessebar, there’s plenty to see and do nearby.
Nessebar old town is around 30 minutes away and costs just 3 leva each (£1.38) on a bus which handily stops right outside the resort.
Instead of isolating the town’s history in museums or turning it into a tourist trap with a fee, Nessebar’s incredible five century-old ruins sit embedded amongst quaint restaurants and shops.
There were many five-star restaurants to choose from, including those with panoramic views of the harbour.
We chose the highly-rated Old Sailor, with outdoor seating overlooking the remains of an ancient Greek building. The food was some of the best we’ve ever tasted, and extremely reasonable in terms of price.
The bill came to just 80 leva (£36) for a starter to share, two main meals, a side of potatoes, two drinks and water to dilute the brutal strength of the Bulgarian vodka. A traditional Bulgarian mixed grill had a sumptuous barbecue taste and was just as fresh as the sea bass my partner devoured.
You can opt for the hotel’s guided sightseeing trip to Nessebar, but be warned, it only runs on Tuesdays and Sundays and costs £14 per person.
Another brilliant excursion was our VIP catamaran cruise organised by the resort. It set us back around £54 each, but was a perfect day out with unlimited drinks and dolphin sightings. Lunch was provided and during the cruise, you can stop off to dive into the sea to cool off.
We were recommended Khan’s Tent for our final night in Bulgaria, which was the ideal way to finish what had been a fantastic holiday.
You’re transported by the hotel’s taxi to a classy white circus tent with stunning, elevated views of Sunny Beach. Then you’re waited on hand and foot, with a four-course meal and a bottle of wine – all the while serenaded by a brilliant band playing familiar hits in between awe-inspiring feats by circus performers.
Finally, you’re invited onto the dance floor as the party continues. It cost £41 each for the whole night, including food, drinks, entertainment and transfers.
The resort also offers several other trips, including a Virgin River Tour, The Valley of Roses, Black Sea Riviera, Balkan Safari, Blue Mountains and a Night of Traditions.
The wide itinerary on offer just went to prove what we already knew – there’s a lot more to discover about Bulgaria than you might think.