Bulgaria

Cookie33

Hey, I'm going to Bulgaria in July with a few friends for my holidays. We are staying in the Bourgas region (Sunny Beach).

Does anyone have any holiday experiences there?

Is there any activities/attractions? I know of a waterpark and various watersports which look good fun

Also, what's the food like in Bulgaria? What type do they eat? Do they have a "signature" dish?

The Davestator

I was in Sunny Beach last year.

pro's
Sunny
very cheap beer
Lots of pubs & restaurants

Cons
Very little to see or do (other than water park)
You will get 'Bulgaria Belly' so bring appropriate medicine to stop the trots!
Prices vary wildly - beer from 60 cent a pint to over 6 euro
Airport is a disaster and very expensive (5 euro for can of coke)
Bulgarian people generall try to Fu*k you at every turn!

i dont regret my hol there, but I wouldnt go back, so go, enjoy the sun, play some crazy golf, go the water park but dont expect to much more

Il Trap

Sunny Beach is a great destination. Have visited the last five years. Nightlife is great and in general is dirt cheap. Of course, some places will try to rip you off but you'll spot them a mile off. Dunno what age you are or what you're into but pubs/restaurants i'd recommend are:
Sharkey's: Owned by a German/Irish guy. A bit rough around the edges but is often brilliant craic. Located one bus stop away from main street Sunny Beach in the direction of Nessebar.
Brothers Restaurant: Relaxed spot but best steak and chips in SB.
Most seafood restaurants in Old Nessebar.
Traditional Bulgarian meal and a show at Khan's tent is a good evening.
The Carolina/Bvlgari restaurant across the road from the new hospital.
If you're staying near SunCity/Nobel Hotel/Royal Dreams/Aktinia/Favorit apartments, try and locate a small Irish bar called 'One for the Road'. Owned by two Kerry men and is a brilliant spot for chilled out beers and guaranteed craic.
Also, a hidden gem is Crystal's restaurant in the village of Medevo. Medevo is village located about 10km outside Sunny Beach in the mountains. It is quite a difficult place to find but most local taxi drivers will be able to locate it. Really worth a visit especially if there is a group. The most amazing beer garden i've ever been to and is ridiculously cheap! Last time i was there we ate and drank from 7.00pm to 1.30 at night and bill came to €80 (160 lev) between eight people! Taxi to Medevo return will cost about 25-30 euro depending on taxi driver. Make sure you always agree a price with taxi drivers before you get in. Most indeed are robbing [EMAIL="b@stards"]b@stards[/EMAIL]. Even better if you can organise a taxi from the the airport BEFORE you go if you know anyone over there. They really will fleece you if you are not careful.


Waterparks are very good. There are two main ones with free buses. The pirate ship cruise is worth doing. One of the best days out is quad biking in the mountains. If you can do this then it is not to be missed.

I'd also recommend speaking to some other Irish people, be they tourists or bar workers. They are usually the best sources for reliable taxis, restaurants, doctors and any other essential advice. In my experience, they tend to help their own.
Have a good trip.

Partizan

Cookie33 wrote: »

Hey, I'm going to Bulgaria in July with a few friends for my holidays. We are staying in the Bourgas region (Sunny Beach).

Does anyone have any holiday experiences there?

Is there any activities/attractions? I know of a waterpark and various watersports which look good fun

Also, what's the food like in Bulgaria? What type do they eat? Do they have a "signature" dish?

Having lived in Bulgaria I can tell you whatever you do, dont go to Sunny Beach. Its an absolute tip. Bulgaria has far better places to offer than Sunny Beach. Try Golden Sands (Zlatni pyasatsi), Albena (both north of Burgas)Primorsko, Pomorie or Nesebar to the south. Cracking places where Bulgarians go. The food is fantastic and you will love the chalga

The Davestator

Il Trap wrote: »

Sunny Beach is a great destination. Have visited the last five years. Nightlife is great and in general is dirt cheap. Of course, some places will try to rip you off but you'll spot them a mile off. Dunno what age you are or what you're into but pubs/restaurants i'd recommend are:
Sharkey's: Owned by a German/Irish guy. A bit rough around the edges but is often brilliant craic. Located one bus stop away from main street Sunny Beach in the direction of Nessebar.
Brothers Restaurant: Relaxed spot but best steak and chips in SB.
Most seafood restaurants in Old Nessebar.
Traditional Bulgarian meal and a show at Khan's tent is a good evening. The Carolina/Bvlgari restaurant across the road from the new hospital.
If you're staying near SunCity/Nobel Hotel/Royal Dreams/Aktinia/Favorit apartments, try and locate a small Irish bar called 'One for the Road'. Owned by two Kerry men and is a brilliant spot for chilled out beers and guaranteed craic.
Also, a hidden gem is Crystal's restaurant in the village of Medevo. Medevo is village located about 10km outside Sunny Beach in the mountains. It is quite a difficult place to find but most local taxi drivers will be able to locate it. Really worth a visit especially if there is a group. The most amazing beer garden i've ever been to and is ridiculously cheap! Last time i was there we ate and drank from 7.00pm to 1.30 at night and bill came to €80 (160 lev) between eight people! Taxi to Medevo return will cost about 25-30 euro depending on taxi driver. Make sure you always agree a price with taxi drivers before you get in. Most indeed are robbing [EMAIL="b@stards"]b@stards[/EMAIL]. Even better if you can organise a taxi from the the airport BEFORE you go if you know anyone over there. They really will fleece you if you are not careful.


Waterparks are very good. There are two main ones with free buses. The pirate ship cruise is worth doing. One of the best days out is quad biking in the mountains. If you can do this then it is not to be missed.

I'd also recommend speaking to some other Irish people, be they tourists or bar workers. They are usually the best sources for reliable taxis, restaurants, doctors and any other essential advice. In my experience, they tend to help their own.
Have a good trip.

i agree with the traditional night, good craic

dresstoimpress

I stayed in Golden Sands for a week 2 years ago, but drove down to sunny beach for a day (roads were terrible!). Nesembar a world hertiage site near sunny beach is well worth a trip.

Cookie33

The Davestator wrote: »

i agree with the traditional night, good craic

yeah i'm keen to see what the bulgaria's traditional food and entertainment. i'll def try that out.

We're a group of students so it doesn't take much to please us, we'll prob go to the waterpark. the quad biking and pirate cruise sounds good as well..

thanks for all the info

dwaned

Excellent info Il Trap! Would totally agree with you. Just wanted to add two more restaurants, The funny Bar, and D'jannys if you come across them, good food and prices in Both.

Check your change no matter where you are and definately do not use the Bureau's on the street or any guy asking you if you want to change money!! You will loose a fortune!! Always use the banks, there are plenty just off the centre. And if I remember properly the one in the airport is a rip off too...

Have Fun

biko

A Swede of Iraqi origin was killed by bouncers there but it was a few years back. Quite racist it seems.
I would go elsewhere but that's me.

Cookie33

dwaned wrote: »

Excellent info Il Trap! Would totally agree with you. Just wanted to add two more restaurants, The funny Bar, and D'jannys if you come across them, good food and prices in Both.

Check your change no matter where you are and definately do not use the Bureau's on the street or any guy asking you if you want to change money!! You will loose a fortune!! Always use the banks, there are plenty just off the centre. And if I remember properly the one in the airport is a rip off too...

Have Fun

Yes, that was my main worry, I don't want to bring too much money, just in case I got pick pocketed (you never know)
Are there many ATMs in Sunny Beach or should I go to the banks?

dwaned

Yes there are ATM's and you can use your Irish card as long as it has Maestro or Cirrus.
There are loads of pick pockets, one important thing to watch out for are the prostitutes...A line of under-age gypsies touting for men. They will approach you whether you are with a girl or not and will be hanging out of you while helping themselves to whatever you have! So be vigilant! But as I said before, the biggest con it leaving you short changed! And that's not only on the beach resorts...
If anyone is trying to get you to do something you don't want to do...Just say NO! Don't be nice and polite... A simple and stern NO is what is needed while walking away.

I live here in Bulgaria and Sunny Beach is probably my least favourite place (partially because I work there often in the summer and its a pain), but the few vacactions I have spent there have been enjoyable and the beaches are superb..
Make sure you have insurance! Very important!!

Cookie33

dwaned wrote: »

Yes there are ATM's and you can use your Irish card as long as it has Maestro or Cirrus.
There are loads of pick pockets, one important thing to watch out for are the prostitutes...A line of under-age gypsies touting for men. They will approach you whether you are with a girl or not and will be hanging out of you while helping themselves to whatever you have! So be vigilant! But as I said before, the biggest con it leaving you short changed! And that's not only on the beach resorts...
If anyone is trying to get you to do something you don't want to do...Just say NO! Don't be nice and polite... A simple and stern NO is what is needed while walking away.

I live here in Bulgaria and Sunny Beach is probably my least favourite place (partially because I work there often in the summer and its a pain), but the few vacactions I have spent there have been enjoyable and the beaches are superb..
Make sure you have insurance! Very important!!

Thanks for the valuable information. Yeah I'm definitely going to be getting travel insurance.

robo

dwaned wrote: »

Yes there are ATM's and you can use your Irish card as long as it has Maestro or Cirrus.
There are loads of pick pockets, one important thing to watch out for are the prostitutes...A line of under-age gypsies touting for men. They will approach you whether you are with a girl or not and will be hanging out of you while helping themselves to whatever you have! So be vigilant! But as I said before, the biggest con it leaving you short changed! And that's not only on the beach resorts...
If anyone is trying to get you to do something you don't want to do...Just say NO! Don't be nice and polite... A simple and stern NO is what is needed while walking away.

I live here in Bulgaria and Sunny Beach is probably my least favourite place (partially because I work there often in the summer and its a pain), but the few vacactions I have spent there have been enjoyable and the beaches are superb..
Make sure you have insurance! Very important!!

Would you have a list of recommended restaurants in Sunny Beach? My sister may be going there at the weekend for her holidays.

dwaned

Hi Robo,

There's a few mentioned above that are good. If your sister likes sea food then she needs to head out to old Nessabar, lovely spot to see and for food. Don't be afraid to ask to see the menu before you sit down, a lot of restaurants have the guys on the streets trying to pull people in, they are mostly ok even though annoying so tell her not to feel intimidated by them.

DwaneD

shiibata

As Dwaned has already mentioned, Djannys is the restuarant I would go to if paying a flying visit to Sunny Beach, have never been disappointed with that joint.

Also if anyone is going to Sunny Beach, under no circumstances accept fruit from anyone even though it may seem a goodwill token, once you have accepted it, you could be harassed into paying serious money for the fruit.

Cookie33

shiibata wrote: »

Also if anyone is going to Sunny Beach, under no circumstances accept fruit from anyone even though it may seem a goodwill token, once you have accepted it, you could be harassed into paying serious money for the fruit.

Wish I heard that sooner.. was at sunny beach about 2 weeks ago and the guy asked us if we wanted plums. Neither of us a fan of them tasted them and they were lovely. Anyway my friend agreed but only for a small amount. Our "small" bag was jammed packed of plums and cost us 15lev (was 20 but we tried haggling). Ended up throwing the majority of them away because he gave us far too many.

After this I noticed more of them and they really pester you. I saw one man nearly running after a man and woman holding out some fruit to taste.

My advice keep walking and keeping staying no (some of them can get quite rude when you don't want any)

siobhan.murphy

hiya Im going for a week,should I get money before go or take it out with atm there??

dwaned

siobhan.murphy wrote: »

hiya Im going for a week,should I get money before go or take it out with atm there??

you will get a better rate over there but only use the banks!! keep well away from the kiosk's..

double GG

dwaned wrote: »

you will get a better rate over there but only use the banks!! keep well away from the kiosk's..

Not true.

Use the banks by all means But String or Crown kiosks are 100% legit and offer the same rate.

Do not be tempted by any other 'great offers' as they'll rip you off as the price you see is for 'sell' not 'buy'.

dwaned

double GG wrote: »

Not true.

Use the banks by all means But String or Crown kiosks are 100% legit and offer the same rate.

Do not be tempted by any other 'great offers' as they'll rip you off as the price you see is for 'sell' not 'buy'.

Whats not true?? you do get a better rate over there.. and crown kiosks might be 100% legit but the crowne kiosk 10 meter's down the street won't be!! We are talking about Bulgaria after all.

double GG

dwaned wrote: »

Whats not true?? you do get a better rate over there.. and crown kiosks might be 100% legit but the crowne kiosk 10 meter's down the street won't be!! We are talking about Bulgaria after all.

It's not true to say to stay away from the kiosks. There are no 'fake' crown kiosks and all offer the same rate as the banks such as the coop bank.