The drawback to package holidays on the
Black Sea coast is the nature of the principal resorts. The purpose-built complexes are often over-large and some distance from the nearest town or village, ensuring that you experience little of Bulgarian life. Beaches, however, are generally spotless, and coastal waters warm, clean and safe.
Sunny Beach (Slanchev Bryag) and
Golden Sands (Zlatni Pyasatsi) are the biggest (and most soulless) of the complexes, chock full of restaurants, bars and discos, while Albena is almost as huge but rather more stylish, with excellent sports facilities. Sveti Konstantin is smaller, surrounded by woodlands and coves, while villa complexes and holiday villages such as
Dyuni or
Elenite will appeal to those in search of something more tranquil. You could also stay in the attractive fishing port of
Nesebar, either in a hotel or an apartment in the old or new town. Currently, Balkan Holidays is the only tour operator offering summer beach packages. Peak-season prices for
holidays in Sunny Beach, Golden Sands and Albena hover around £325-435 for one week, £409-550 for two, though prices can be £100 lower in May and September. For a hotel in Sveti Konstantin or a self-catering studio at Elenite, you're likely to pay between £415-545 for seven nights. Apartments in the old houses of
Nessebar cost about £329 per person for seven days in high season, dropping to £265 in May or September; apartments in the new town cost slightly less.
