No, not the Eastwood epic rather the currency problems facing us Brits going on hols this coming year, ie, The Lev, The Euro and The Pound....and not necessarily in that order.
Seeing as our £ has nosed-dived against the Euro and, although a wee bit better this week ending on £1 = 2.103 Euro's from our local Inter Cash Bureau, the general concensus seems to be a very unstable time lies ahead for us all with regard to our spending money in dear ol Golden Sands. This will be our third visit in five years and could be the most expensive of all. Of course Bulgaria has always been excellent value for clubs/night life/food/drinks/excursions etc etc, and a smaller wedge of lev for your dosh should'nt matter too much overall so just what do one do to get the best rates. The banks in GS always give good rates and secure services and hopefully that will be the same for this year. Would I be better to take Euro notes as they are commish free to obtain over here, or maybe dear ol battered to death Sterling...? Perhaps a quick dive into the Yankee Dollar might not go amiss with Mr Bulgarian Bank Boss...?
No idea of when to actually 'buy' the bloody stuff before we leave for the airport and, apart from waiting till we get to GS to change it into the Luverly Lev, I'm open to any suggestions
This year we're staying at The Nympha in GS from 3/6 till 17/6 on an All Inclusive basis so we could in fact spend very little extra on drinks n food etc....my partner always loves her cocktails from the hotel bar and we do love our excusions and a night out or two but thats about it apart from a few t-shirts/shorts as souveniers.
regards to all...jim.
Hi, can you please tell me were you got that rate of 2.103 Euro's to the £1. It has never been this high since coming into force, are you sure you are not mixed up with the rate being Lev's to the £1. if so the opening rate in Raifeinnsen Bank (BUL) was 2.20, do like most of us regular travellers do, open a Nationwide Flexi Card, load it up before you go, best rates from ATM's and no charges. Tonyt
Post Should read 1.103 euros for a £1 at the local Inter Cash Bureau's.
Sorry Tony, and for giving everyone a bum-steer into the Bureau de Change of La-La Land
regards Jim..
As Tony says, Nationwide's Flex Debit Card is the ONLY way to travel, today's rate for ATM withdrawals with one is £1 = €1.15 (an extra €4.70 per £100 exchanged, against your Inter Cash Bureau rate).
You'll usually find that the bank rates offered in Golden Sands (or any other resort) are rubbish compared with the rates offered in the same banks in 'real' Bulgarian cities like Varna or Dobrich, as the resort banks take extra profits by adjusting the exchange rates for tourists.
Baldur
the hotel next door to the nympha give a very good rate, it was the best in gs when we were there last year
For hotel rates that may be the case, but nowhere near as good as Nationwide flex rates.
Never even think about buying Lev in UK, the agents her seem to think they can have a laugh with the rate.
When I have tried to tell them its 1.95 Lev to the Euro, they just give me a blank look.
Usual problem with Scottish notes though, so we never take them.
I'll have a look at this Nationwide Flexi account.
usually find the bank in St Vlas is a wee bit better than anywhere in SB.
Banks in any 'real' Bulgarian town, like Sveti Vlas or Nesebar will pay those institutions' normal rate for currency exchange, most places in Sunny Beach & other resorts adjust their rates (in their favour, of course) specifically for tourists.
There can be some difference between banks' rates, as in most countries - Raiffeisen usually seems to offer the best rate on Sterling, Postbank often offers the best rate for visitors exchanging Euros.
Baldur.
thanks
today euro = 1.1 to the pound.
You'd receive 1.12 with the Flex Debit Card today at VISA exchange rates.
Yes there are ATMs in Golden Sands, the Borika ATM finder shows ATMs at Hotel Shipka, Hotel Marina, Tourist Centre Red Crab and the Information Centre, while the VISA ATM locator shows one at Hotel Astera. The Mastercard locator shows ATMs at Hotel Zlatna Kotva, Sparm supermarket, Hotel Kaliakra, Hotel Erma and other locations.
Two banks (which will almost certainly have ATMs) are shown on this 2004 map of Golden Sands and I recall a Raiffeisen Bank branch near the Admiral.
Baldur
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