Personally I would do neither. Hire a taxi for the day. It can work out cheaper and less stress. Use local transport for a day in Varna and another day out to Dobrich.

Patka

Just to endorse what Patka has said(Good Evening) I have only ever used Taxis and Public Transport to get about. To give you and Idea. Albena to Nessebar, 4 hours there and return plus stopping at Cafes our driver knows off. £50 for the four of us including Tip. Another of my favourites is Bus to Varna ,Train to Dobrich, Bus back to Albena over 100 miles for just £4. A book I would look for is the "Rough Guide to Bulgaria" go to local library borrow it, if you like buy one. Tonyt

Hi,

I think, the best is to book organized excursions. Because, there are guides, who know much more about the history and culture of Bulgaria than the taxidrivers.

I have made a lot of great organized excursions in Bulgaria, and if you like, you can see my reports about them on my webside (in English). If you wish, I'll send you a message with more informations.

Regards

Bulgarienfan

Thanks for the really fast replies everyone!! There is obviously so much more to Bulgaria than the beach!! Tony any tips on where to get a taxi in Albena? Bulgarienfan, who to book excursions through in Albena as an alternative to the tour reps would be great as well.
Patka, would you recommend the buses, I have read reports about people not having had the best of experiences with them. Since we will have the girls aged 8 and 10, we obviously need to play it safe.

Thanks again everyone, it's much appreciated

Pam

Just follow all the same security measures you would take if visiting a busy market in the UK. I always dress down and carry a bag so old that hopefully people might put something in (never happened yet) rather than be tempted to take anything out(never happened either)

Wherever I go on hols , not just Bulgaria, I never take any jewellery, gives me an excuse to buy some more but also I dont have to worry about losing it.

Patka

Hi Pam, just of to St Omer for the day, will catch up tonight or tomorrow with information you require. Tonyt

Hi Pam, indeed, Bulgaria is much more than the beach. I recommend to visit Balchick with the Botanic Garden and the castle of the Romanian Queen. Another "must" ist Cape Kaliacra. It ist able to visit these both sights with one excursion.

Another great trip is Plovdiv-Sofia-Borovetz-Rila Monastery. But it is a two-day-trip.

The greatest trip I made up to now is Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanassi - Gabrovo - Etara - Shipka - Kazanlak, another two-day-trip.

Where you can book? Your tour operater will offer you these trips. And there are a lot of local tour operators, where you can book.

Regards

Bulgarienfan

How far would Balchick be from Sunny Beach as we are about to travel to SB in August for the 5th time.

Thanks very much Bulgarienfan, I think for our first trip with the girls the ages they are, as great as the two day trips sound, I think probably we will stick with day trips. We find it works well to have a couple of rest days and then a full trip day etc- the girls would just spend a fortnight in the water, but once I've exhausted my suitcase of books I'm bored!!

By the time we go with everyone's help I will have my list of trips ready!!

Pam

Hi Tgilmour

Balchick is about 135km or 84miles from Sunny Beach,i dont think there will be any excursions from Sunny Beach(I may be wrong though).So unless you are hiring a car the only option is by taxi(I think it will be too much of a chew using local transport) which will cost over a 100lev.

In my opinion having been to Balchick(I went from Golden Sands),i think although the gardens are lovely,it is a long way to go for what is there.
But that is only my opinion.

Basil.

I agree with Basil, it will be a long drive for not a lot there. Better done from the Varna area.

Peter

Basil and Peter, this is right. It is far away from Sunny Beach and there are not organized trips to Balchick. But we did it with taxi, we were four persons, and so i was not very expensive. But I recommended it to Pam, and she will stay in Albena.

For tourists in Sunny Beach I recommend the excursion "Blue stones of Sliven". It is a one-day-trip and you will see the Balkan mountains and more.

Bulgarienfan

Hi Pam, Now to generalize on what has been said in different posts. Prices I am quoting throughout are as of last Sept and in Leva..
Balchik, local bus to Garden Entrance 1.40. You have to buy 2 5 lev tickets each onr for Garden and one for Palace. Do not expect P{alace as we know them, it is in reallity a Summer House, but very nice. If you walk to Palace go out of gate at bottom turn left and walk into Balchik a level walk of about a mile, no traffic and plenty to look at. Cantre oof Balchik a Bus will pick you up back to Albena, again only 1.40.
Ref. Patkas remark about taking an old bag, I always take black unmarked carrier bags and this gives no clues as who you are, I also leave my watch at home, buy a cheap one for £4, give it away at end.
Taxis, with permission of admin, The numbers I am going to give are mature gentlemen with a good knowledge of Bulgaria and speak English. Get a Price first and do not insult them by offering fare before journey is completed.
Both in Albena on the rank opposite Dobruja Hotel
They are Doycho Doychev mob 0887 14 20 69 Toyota no TX 8954 PX
Kiril Kostadinov mob 0887 15 50 16 Ford Escort Estate TX 5841 PX
I also have the rank number, but you need to p.m. for that.
To give you an idea of Prices 4 of us went with Doycho to Nessebar for 180 levs including tip and he waited four Hours there for us.
Had we gone on organised tour (these can be very mixed nationalities)
to Nessebar we would have paid 70 levs, so a saving of 25 levs each.
Anything else you can always p.m. me. Tonyt

Following from Tonys post. His figures are in Leva and the exchange rate is approx 2.8 leva to the £ so when Tony says bus fare 1.4 its only 50p.

Tony, Pete would say he takes his old bag everywhere.

Patka

Hello to the both of you, a little off subject, but when I am asked if I want a bag in a supermarket, I always decline by saying I divorced her 13 years ago. Tony