I found i was paying only 1 to 1.5 lev for a large beer in varna ....kebabs and food stalls are very very cheap in varna too....about 1/3 of prices in golden sands......i paid 80 stinkies for a plate of chips and 60 stinkies for a small cola.....

fast internet access is only 70 stinkies an hour in varna internet clubs ...the one I went to was full of bulgarians watching episodes of freinds they had downloaded....lol

pat

Hi Pat,

Even Varna is considered expensive by people in outlying towns & villages.....

Baldur

Arrived back on 9 June after 2 weeks in Sunny Beach.

Average in bars 2.5 levs for a large beer (Kamenitza and Zagorka)
Bottle of coke 2.5 levs.
Cocktails 5 - 6 levs
Pancakes 2 - 3 levs from the fast food stalls
Baked Potatoes 4 levs
Kebabs 5 levs
Henna temp tattoos from 5 lev
Mini golf 8 lev adults, 5-6 lev kids

Aquapark 26lev adults, 14 lev kids for the day. Inc sun beds and umbrellas. After 3pm this reduces to about 26 lev for an adult and child.
Take the free bus rather than taxi.
Smaller aquapark at the Hotel Kuban is 15 lev each for a day ticket for al slides + 5 lev each for a sun bed.

Ice Lollies from 60 stinkies. Cornetto type ice cream 2 lev
Game of pool 2 -3 lev
Flight simulator on the prom 5 lev each
3D cinema 10 lev each for 20 mins film
10 pin bowling at the Globus Hotel 10 lev each a game.

Alio

some great info from tonyt

Tonyt
Member

Joined: 11 Mar 2005

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:34 pm Post subject: Tonyt's report- prices, restaurants, hotel and tips.

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As promised here goes. will down load photos tomorrow.
Bus fare to Varna from Albena still 4 levs each way
Train Fare from Varna to Dobrich 3.5 lev single
Bus fare to Dobrich from Albena 4 lev
Bus fare to Balchik from Albena 2.5 lev
Price comparison.
Albena Varna
Strawberries 5 lev a kilo 2.20 lev a kilo
Cherries 6 lev a kilo 1.60 kilo
Apples 4 lev a kilo 1.80 kilo
Bananas 6 lev a kilo 2.10 kilo
water melon 4 lev a quarter 1.20 a quarter
half a beer 2 lev .90
large beer 3 lev 1.60
coffee (cappa) 2-3 lev 1-2 lev
fanta 3 lev 1 lev
Water 1 lev for 1 1/2 litres .50
ice cream sundae 6 lev 3 lev
ice cream 1 lev .50
pancakes 1 lev .50

going to sunny beach in 2 weeks time.have no idea how much spending money to take for family of 4 for 2 weeks self catering.and with 2 teenage daughters who want to go shopping for clothes etc.

hi alison - we 4 have just had a week self catering and spent £500 -eating out every night and some lunch times too, some designer clothes ,a new suitcase, lots of crisps and ice creams, food for in the apartment, toys, hats, sandals, sunglasses, etc. hope that helps!

We are going from Ireland to sunny beach on the 17th of july,would we be better off getting our drink and cigs on the plane or can you get drink out there like brandy and volka to bring home.thanks

Hi berkeogh,

If you want specific brands of cigarettes/alcohol, it's probably better to buy them at the airport or on the aircraft.

If you are prepared to try local brands, it's better to buy them in Bulgaria - 200 Victory cigarettes are 26 Leva (around €13) bottles of local spirits, such as vodka & brandy, from around 5 Leva (around €2.5) per 70cl bottle.

Don't forget the Customs limits on bringing back cigarettes & alcohol, as Bulgaria is not yet an EU member state.

Baldur

had 1 and a half pints of larger, bottle of water ,two milky coffees you pay extra for milk £2 , kebabs take away, small 2 lev ,large 3 lev ,extra large 5 lev,meal for 3 30 t0 50 lev with salad as starter{ they are so big we shared} and side dishes,it was 2.82 lev to the pound when we was there

I found it very cheap toward UK.
Meal out for two, starter, main course, desert, coffee all for £10.

Bus fares 15p.
Cigs - 60p
Lager pint - 50p

Beware of taxis at the airports as they rip you off.

We have no idea as to the implications of entry into the EU on prices, and the ones you quote give a false impression as to the cheapness of Bulgaria. Alcohol and cigarettes have both been subject to recent price hikes due to tax.

To find out the true situation for 2007, we will have to wait until the first members of this forum return and report.

Peter

That would still only make cigs about £2.00 towards £6.00 here, if they dont the same would make lager £1.50 towards £3.00 here.
I hoe they dont as i do think it will make tourism harder for them

Hi Peter,

The 'EU effect' is, as you say, currently unknown as far as the resorts are concerned.

There were large excise 'hikes' on cigarettes last year, but there are reports (both in the press and from Bulgarian friends) that Bulgartabac's cigarette prices (e.g. 'Victory') are being reduced by around 30 Stotinki per pack in the face of strong competition from cheap imports from Romania & elsewhere.

I will be in Varna/Dobrich at the end of this week, so can check on at least some of the effects of EU membership on 'real' Bulgarian prices but, as you are well aware, these will not necessarily reflect the prices charged in the resorts.

Baldur

Hi folks,

Having trawled right through this topic im still nowhere nearer finding the answer to the question in my head.....everyone has differing opinions!!

How much do i need to take with me for our holidays?

We're going for 1 week AI at The Royal Park in Elenite at the end of August, me, my wife and our 2 kids (11 & 4)

Although we've gone AI we will be eating out a couple of nights, the missus wants to get around and see a bit of Bulgaria too and obviously the kids will want to do things.

Roughly how much do i need to get changed into Lev's? any help?

Cheers

Hi Keefg,

At this time of year no one knows, because of the effect of EU entry on prices, and general inflation in Bulgaria.

I'm sure people will be able to give you an idea nearer your departure date in August, but it's essentially unanswerable as such.

What we really need are people to return with price lists of things such as drinks, restaurant meals, and excursions.

Peter

OK I'll try to help but its like asking how long is a piece of string.

Everyone's ideas are different but If you look at the thread re Things to do you will get some idea of excursion prices from Golden Sands most of the excursions from Elenite will be in the same price range.

Eating and drinking out is much cheaper than UK. If you allow say 1/2 of what you would spend here, you will be OK. Cigs & Booze are far cheaper. Allow extra cos the kids will want to buy the fakes. Many people find they spend more than they expected because they cant resist the bargains and because things are so much cheaper they do more.

Now re changing your hard earned money. The best way we've found is to get a Nationwide flex account and use cash machines, no charges and a better exchange rate.

Patka

If you want to take cash read the Currency sticky. I wouldn't advise changing here, read the currenct sticky.

Might be having a moment now but what kind of climate is it?

Also another question do the restaurants cater for Vegetarians?

Climate is 'warm temperate' that is warmer summers than here but colder winters.

The choices in the restaurants for Veggies are usually salads, omelettes, Kashkaval pane(fried cheese) and pizzas.

Patka

t1ff4n1
re climate- I noticed in one of the travel supplements on a Sunday that they said it was sunny for 10 months of the year whereas the summer season is a lot shorter than other popular destinations such as Spain.