I would recommend you have a look at a Balkan Holidays brochure, or at their website HERE. Balkan are the market leaders with far more choice than any other UK travel company.

Choice of resort comes down to personal taste. Sunny Beach is going in the direction of 18-30, but Golden Sands whilst lively in parts is much more refined. Smaller resorts are St Konstantin and Albena.

Peter

Thanks for that Peter. I was a little worried that Golden Sands was similar to Sunny Beach, but maybe I'll take another look.

Any idea what flights are like??

Thanks

Neil

Any idea what flights are like??

In what way?

Peter

Prices, airlines??

We are based in the North West so Manchester or Liverpool are best.

After a quick look around the flights seem quite expensice at the mo.....about 200 quid per person??

I'm thinking package holiday, going independent to Bulgaria can present problems when you try to fit accommodation and flights together, that's why I suggested Balkan Holidays.

Peter

Hi harvey7, we went to golden sands,Bulgaria for first time last year, 2 adults no kids.One thing I would advise you especially with young children- is to read the hotel reviews very carefully.you might find you are better off in an apartment. Although there are a few nice 4/5 star hotels, the majority of the hotels primarily cater for the eastern european clients. we had a terrible experience - my husband suffered badly with vomitting and stomach upset - then i was ill for the last few days. The food was absolutely awful, - but from experience and from speaking to others - it is much better to go self catering as the restaurants are very cheap and offer a much more varied menu. We ended up terrified to eat anything anywhere, but i was convinced it was something from the hotel, as others suffered there too. Beach and shopping are great, but i heard better reports about the other resorts.

We were thinking apartment or villa, but if we can get better flight prices by package deal then maybe thats something to look at. Seems most flights from the NW are 2 leg flights as well. That may put me off, as with 3 young kids, it ain't gonna be much fun!

With Balkan Holidays from Manchester, you should get a direct flight to Varna. Try booking a holiday and see if there are any warnings regarding deviations to other airports or landing at Burgas.

On THIS map of Golden Sands the hotels on the front between the Admiral and the Glarus would be ideal for a seaside holiday with small children.

In respect of apartments and villas, bear in mind that self catering is difficult due to a lack of proper food shops in the resorts. Remember that no one actually lives there, and apart from a very few five star hotels are completely closed down out of season.

Peter

Hi harvey7, we went to golden sands,Bulgaria for first time last year, 2 adults no kids.One thing I would advise you especially with young children- is to read the hotel reviews very carefully.you might find you are better off in an apartment. Although there are a few nice 4/5 star hotels, the majority of the hotels primarily cater for the eastern european clients. we had a terrible experience - my husband suffered badly with vomitting and stomach upset - then i was ill for the last few days.

I've only just spotted this. The hotel in this case was the Hotel Royal, a 3* formerly called the Trapezitsa which dates back to communist times. It was a last minute holiday so it might not have been in the brochure. It's not on the Balkan Holidays website.

As regular visitors to Bulgaria since 1989 we have never had problems with hotel food, although it is true that the many small restaurants are better insofar as they are a la carte as opposed to buffet self service . The hotels do not cater primarily for Eastern Europeans, I would call the food European holiday resort, and bear in mind they are catering for tourists from all over Europe both East and West and Scandinavian.

We have survived (thrived actually) 2* & 3* hotels in the past, but would nowadays recommend not less than 3*+ and 4* if possible.

Peter

Yes Peter I thought it was an old hotel, actually the hotel itself was not that bad, rooms etc clean and comfortable size, also drinks good. but the majority of english - especially children I dont think could stomach any food in hotels like this. I actually liked Bulgaria and the big city park in Varna was lovely. I just think anyone travelling with little ones should do plenty of research first. One thing I didnt like was the taxi drivers tried to rip you off all the time. we travelled around on the bus, which was easy. But taxis are very cheap in general if you can pick them up from your hotel, and avoid the ones touting for business at the airports and along the roads.
Harvey7 - there are little fairs dotted around for the kids and nightlife was excellent and family orientated, just stay away from the main back road with the red light district! although you can easily avoid this area. I think the resort you mentioned sounds your best bet.

Hi Neil

Don't want to offend anyone who loves golden sands or sunny beach, but if you want smaller,then they probably won't be your cup of tea. We had our first trip to Bulgaria last year and our criteria for picking the resort sound pretty much like yours, hence we plumped for Albena which was lovely. Enough in the resort centre to amuse the kids without being OTT. We did take a taxi to golden sands and wished we hadn't bothered, I think we lasted all of about an hour- this is just our opinion, but think Great Yarmouth or Blackpool in the sun and that pretty much sums it up, but then again we all want something different from our holiday.

Great holiday destination though- lovely people, good value for money and some interesting places to visit.

Pam x

I did mention Albena above, but when I looked at the Balkan Holidays website the choice of hotels is very limited - one B & B or half board with a supplement, and six all inclusive. There is likely to be even less choice with other travel companies.

I do not recommend all inclusive in Bulgaria, the choice of both food and drink is very limited with often poor service and long queues.

Contrast this with what Balkan have on offer at Golden Sands, but check where the hotels are on the map. Some are quite a way from the sea up a very steep hill.

Peter

Hi Harvey7,
Try Freedom Direct on http://www.freedomdirect.com.
Just got a brilliant bargain from them.

T
X

The first time I went to Bulgaria I went on a package holiday with First Choice to Sunny Beach and it was excellent. Couple of things to bear in mind - if you're on a night flight, take a taxi from Bourgas Airport to the resort. Although all the brochures say the transfer time is 40 minutes, in reality it took two and half hours before we reached the hotel as there were so many stops on the way. At the end of our holiday we took a taxi to the airport rather than the coach and it was much better. Secondly, go for a 4 or 5 star hotel rather than a 2 or 3 star hotel. And finally, don't go all inclusive or even half board. Food and drink in Bulgaria is so cheap that it just isn't worth eating at the hotel.