we took sterling and changed it at a bank near the irish pub{across from the international}.
there were three of us ,we spent about £800 but about £100 was on taxis as we were out of the resor. we also went on a jeep safari which cost about £60.
a meal for three plus beer/cola cost us about £18.
two large largers {pint each} was about £1.30
bottle of cola is about 40p

Hi deborahj we usually go to G/S been going there for many years but it is getting to busy for us now.As it is more for the young people.What like was the Gardia as we were thinking of booking it for next year,also how much was the taxi into G/S as would still like to be near so that we can visit friends we have there.Many June :

the hotel was very good.the staff were all lovely and couldnt do enough for the guests.its very clean and towels changed every day.shampoo and bubble bath left or refilled every day.I think its great for couples but not realy for families as there is only a small pool outside and the pool table in the sky bar for the kids.
the area is very run down and the chair lift wasnt working the whole two weeks we were there, the walk to the beach is about ten mins downhill but a bit of a climb coming back up.the night club at the gardia is on the lower ground and is ideal for the guests. the only downfall is you are only 50 yards from the alen mak hotel and because this is so bad a lot of the british guests from there come down and can sometimes overcround the sky bar and nightclub.
taxis cost 10 leva into the main resot not bad for a 7km drive
the hotel has a mini bus into the resorts st kons, varna and golden sands
it takes you for about at ten and picks you back up at 4 it cost about 2 lev each way.

In my opinion the Hotel Alen Mak is not a "hotel from hell"

The clients that book it from the brochure are quite satisfied. The problem is allocation on arrival clients.

As we all know, AOA does not guarantee a resort. The only people that do not seem to know this are the Travel Agents selling the holidays. They make false promises to the clients.

So upon the clients arrival they are expecting Golden Sands, and receive the Alen Mak, which is 7KM away.

Tourists who book AOA, more than likely book it because it's cheap. If you pay a low price you will not get a central hotel in a resort. You will be accommodated in hotels on the outskirts of resorts.

The price dictates the standard and location of hotel.

You get what you pay for!!!!!!

Thank you deborahj your reply is much appreciated.and has answered a lot of my questions.it sounds really ideal for us as G/S is now for the young people

the people we spoke to last week who were in the 3 star and some from a.o.a from alen mak were quite happy with the area as they were trying to get into our hotel {50 yards from the a.mak}it was the hotel and staff they didnt like.
everybody has different views on whats acceptable for their families and i certainly would not stay in the alen mak and thats after viewing it not just hearsay from the guests

In GS now. Having a fntastic time. Will post more later in the week.

Hi,

Where are you staying?
Whats the weather like.
We are going next week and can't wait.
Have fun!

Jo

Staying in the Lilia. Still a week to go :-) The weather has been good ...until today when it has been a little cloudy, but still warm.

Beer is on average 3 lev for half litre (just over a pound)

Average meal costing about 15 lev a head (including drink).

Me and Mrs MG have to go now, holiday things to be done :-)

MG, Try the Sky bar next door at the Palm Beach (get in the lift in receptio, go to top floor then up the steps to the roof). You'll get a very warm welcome, usually a free Brandy and some interesting conversation with the two brothers that run it Kris and Stefan.

Whats the Lilia Like, the reception looked very impressive but thats as far as we got.

Hi CB

I'm really intrigued after reading your post about the 2 brothers Kris & Steve, can I ask if they are really tall by that I mean around 6ft 8 ish, it's just that we went to Albena earlier this year and met these guys called Kris & Steve who ran a bar in Albena and also one in Golden Sands, in fact we still get the occasional e-mail from Kris. If it is the same two guys, I can vouch for the fact that they are great company, we, my mate and our partners spent almost an entire fortnight in their company and they were a scream!
I hope it is the same 2 brothers , it would be lovely to tell them they got a mention on HT!
Nazdrave
Scruffyish

They are indeed very Tall, and skinny. I don't know about a bar in Albena but Kris has his fingers in many pies so its quite possible. Stefan (or steve as he calls himself as he thinks its easier for the english to say!!) is a big footie fan and always has a different English football shirt on usually donated by tourists.
Are you out there at the moment? I did tell them I'd give them a mention. If you see them say Hi from Chris, the Architect and Hull City fan.

Hi CB,

Yup, it sounds like the same Kris & Steve. Unfortunately we will not be back out there till next May now but I have Kris's e-mail so I will say Hi for you. Your'e right about Kris having his fingers in many pies, he has sent me loads of info with pictures of property in the Veliko Turnovo area because he knows I am quite interested in property there and we have sent him a couple of Scottish flags over for his bar in Albena, haven't managed to speak to him much over the Summer months cos' he has been really busy but should imagine that we will hear more from him when the season ends, having said that he is getting married in October so it will still be a busy time for him!! They really looked after us when we were out there, in fact Kris gave us a lift home to our hotel every night!!..................having said that it was all his and Steve's fault that we couldn't walk in the first place !!!!
Nazdrave
Scruffyish

Will try the Sky bar in the next couple of days (if Mrs MG agrees) :-)

weather today sunny unitl about 1pm and has been cloudy since.

MG, just tell Mrs MG its been highly recommended. Try Tuesday evening, they have a small pool competition. I managed to bag 30 lev by winning it.

Son has just phoned from GS, weather hasn't been brilliant. Sunny in morning but clouding over in the afternoon. He was propositioned 6 times walking down to the phone box They went to the water park today, but said there were lot's of wasps about. He is impressed with the prices. Beers really cheap and they have been drinking a lot of cocktails which he said were about 4 Levs.

Going to try the Palm Beach sky Bar tonight. Weather perking up today. did not have the usual 2pm clod cover :-)

Went to Dobric yesterday. About an hour on the bus (change at albena). would recommend it as a place to visit. far less touristy. Mal for two with a bottle of wine for 13 Lev. Bought a shirt for 13 lev - there is an identical one on sale in GS for 25 Lev.

I'm so jealous MG. I wish I was there now.

Hi guys.I have just booked golden sands for one week.Can any of yous give me any useful tips and things we should look out for when we are there Ie cons or rip-offs.Also what way do taxis work over there agreed fair or meter and what would you pay for a taxi to Varna?