Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Bulgaria / Black sea coastal / Golden Sands
 |  | Travel Reviews : Golden Sands |
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| | | | Bulgaria: high times at low cost
Bulgaria might seem like an unusual option for a beach holiday but it's fast becoming a popular destination for British holidaymakers.
The resort of Golden Sands, on the Black Sea coast, shares the same latitude as Biarritz and experiences the same fantastic, mild weather as the French Riviera.
One thing Bulgaria has over French resorts is that it's much cheaper. Golden Sands is its big, lively party hotspot on a busy, two-mile white sand beach. It's packed with discos, cocktail bars, pubs, casinos, market stalls and amusements for kids.
As a result, the area is predominately occupied by young Brits, Germans and Russians and youthful families, but it still attracts plenty of people of all ages.
If you want to escape the crowds and discos, opt for one of the five hotels with a private beach in the Riviera Holiday Club at the southern end of the resort. The best of the lot is the five-star Imperial, a stylish '70s hotel that's more fashionable than most Hollywood stars' wardrobes. It is a gorgeous example of funky architecture and design.
The resort is in a National Park so you can get away from it all on peaceful walks through the lush woods. Other things to do in the area include romantic yacht trips or themed pirate boats for the kids. If lucky you'll spot a dolphin.
Within walking distance is the 12th-century Aladzha Rock Monastery located on a hill with beautiful views.
For the sporty there's tennis, mini golf, horse riding, jet skiing, paragliding, sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing and bowling. Golden sands has two diving schools so it's possible to gain a qualification far more cheaply than in the UK.
Travel Guide: Bulgaria
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| | | | Fascinating excursions all around
Many hotels have spas with inexpensive treatments from the cosmetic, such as facials, to the remedial, such as massage for sports injuries. Water and curative mud from the local mineral springs is harnessed for its therapeutic properties. It's used to treat conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, bronchitis, or for treatments that simply help stressed bods and minds unwind.
Visitors can take a day trip to the Danube river or even hop over to Romania or Turkey to check out Istanbul, while closer to home is the town of Varna, which is good for shopping and features the Roman Thermae, the fourth largest baths in Roman Europe.
The pretty town of Nessebar and the famous Unesco-protected Madara Horesman rock relief are also nearby.
The huge variety of restaurants include Chinese, Russian and Indian but if you want traditional Bulgarian food, try the Trifon Zarezan restaurant, which has an impressive folk and fire-walking show.
Prices for a seven-night, B&B Balkan Holidays break starts from £369 per person for the Imperial Hotel, Golden Sands, with flights and all transfers.
For more info, ring 0845 130 1114 or see balkanholidays.co.uk.
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| | Available rental properties in Golden Sands |
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