Holiday in Bulgaria
Discussion
TheHeretic said:
However the language makes them sound like they are a bit shouty and uppity. They are not. I mentioned this earlier.
This is very true, and good advice for anyone going to all Eastern European countries. From my travels around the eastern parts of Europe(albeit not to coastal Bulgaria, but many times to the resorts just up the coast in Romania) I find everyone friendly, helpful and generally welcoming to tourists. It is just the nature of the language that makes people sound aggressive, but it is just down to the formation and pronunciation of the words. Once you get past the initial shock of the tone of voice, they are a lot more helpful and courteous towards you than most western countries.
Yes there are a few that are assholes, but that is true of anywhere on the planet. Just go with an ounce of common sense and basic self-awareness of your surroundings and there will be no more problem than anywhere else.
TheHeretic said:
beanbag said:
It's a massive dump. Think of a cheap Benidorm with every person trying to rip you off left, right and centre.
I've been to Bulgaria many times and I think it's a miserable place. Dirty, corrupt, people are generally quite unfriendly if you have nothing to offer them and the squalor is horrendous.
Top tips:
- Avoid paying by card. I had my card cloned three times in Bulgaria and over charged many times.
- Take cash. Leva is the currency and there are 2 leva to each euro. I suggest changing your money to euros and switching that to leva when you're there.
- Don't drink the tap water.
- Don't get in a taxi
- If somebody offers to help, they want money.
- Mind your pockets. There are pick-pockets everywhere and they spot tourists off a mile away.
- Don't leave anything on a table while at a restaurant. It'll be gone before you know it.
- Mind the police if you are driving about in rental cars. They'll stop you for no reason and "fine" you for some random thing. Basically they'll just tell you to give them money.
All in all, I would avoid going but since it's already paid, stick to your resort enjoy as best as you can.
Just to add, I have a very poor experience of Bulgaria. I know it's not the same for everyone but my experiences were not good and I spent a lot of time there. More than most. However some people like it (I have no idea why), but I can suggest a million places that are better.
Well where do I start with this? I've been to Bulgaria many times and I think it's a miserable place. Dirty, corrupt, people are generally quite unfriendly if you have nothing to offer them and the squalor is horrendous.
Top tips:
- Avoid paying by card. I had my card cloned three times in Bulgaria and over charged many times.
- Take cash. Leva is the currency and there are 2 leva to each euro. I suggest changing your money to euros and switching that to leva when you're there.
- Don't drink the tap water.
- Don't get in a taxi
- If somebody offers to help, they want money.
- Mind your pockets. There are pick-pockets everywhere and they spot tourists off a mile away.
- Don't leave anything on a table while at a restaurant. It'll be gone before you know it.
- Mind the police if you are driving about in rental cars. They'll stop you for no reason and "fine" you for some random thing. Basically they'll just tell you to give them money.
All in all, I would avoid going but since it's already paid, stick to your resort enjoy as best as you can.
Just to add, I have a very poor experience of Bulgaria. I know it's not the same for everyone but my experiences were not good and I spent a lot of time there. More than most. However some people like it (I have no idea why), but I can suggest a million places that are better.
Edited by beanbag on Tuesday 4th June 14:01
The tap water is fine. I drink it every day.
Get in a taxi. What on earth do you think is going to happen?
I have never been asked for money, nor expected from money from anyone I have helped, or had help me.
I have never been pick pocketed or know anyone who has been pick pocketed.
I leave my phone, ipad, and wallet on the restaurant table, and they are still here. So is my brothers stuff, his wife's stuff, my mum's stuff, and the stuff of my friends. They do have a thing about leaving bags on the floor, and they will tell you to put it on a chair, or the table. I have yet to figure out what this fear of the floor is.
The police are easily bribed. If you don't want to bribe, just ask them for a translator, and play their bluff.
I would suggest Beanbag avoids the place, as clearly he is a mishmash of myth, and terror stories. I would Los suggest you do not visit other places in the world like Africa, India, South East Asia. Not everywhere in the world is like your leafy English suburb. Welcome to the world.
The people are perfectly friendly, however the language makes them sound like they are a bit shouty and uppity. They are not. I mentioned this earlier. A point to remember... The world is not Disneyland.
Like I said, peoples experiences differ but I found it to be pretty terrible. I've travelled to probably 50+ countries in my time and I don't have any fond memories of Bulgaria. Unfortunate? Maybe....but none of my stories are myths and those that I know travelled there either left early or have the same memory as myself.
However, back to the holiday. I'm sure as you're with friends it'll be fine. Just keep your wits about you and you'll enjoy it. At least the beaches are nice if you can avoid the parasol areas.
I'm back and I didn't die or get stabbed or robbed 
The hotel was good. Clean and tidy, plenty of food and most of it was good. Breakfast was the weakest meal just down to the bacon not being great and sausages were a bit hit and miss. I can't eat too many eggs or dairy either so had to be careful. But oddly the ice cream I was completely fine with. Room was decently sized and good enough. Pillows could have been better though. Being all inclusive all my eating and drinking was done in the hotel. Drinks were cheaper brands but most time I asked for "a whiskey" I'd get a triple but was never as strong as home stuff. At no point was I drunk even after one night I had one of every cocktail they had. Pool I found was often cold until about 4pm. The slide was fun even if we had the lifeguard shouting at me for splashing too much. On his day off a German who much have been pushing 20st would whistle at the top, fly down and almost empty the small pool. Great fun. Got on with plenty of the people there.
Sunny Beach outside the hotel I wasn't as fussed with. It is touristy and there's shops selling fake stuff, with varying degrees of quality for miles around. There's about six different types of shop and then it repeats. I bought very little as there were no "brands" I like there. My cousin spent way too much IMO when I'd rather buy the proper stuff in sales here. Spent most of my money in duty free in Bourgas Airport.
We went to Nessebar by bus which was only a Lev but was awful. Health and safety is non-existent here. The boat ride back was much better. Nessebar was nice enough but a few hours wandering round shops was enough for me. I did snorkel every morning but never saw much. The fair was fun with a 3 year old and of course I had to be the adult to accompany her. There are men in the street touting to come into their bars and restaurants but this was the same in Turkey, Tenerife, etc. Beers and food outside going by the menus seemed cheap enough. There were electric scooters you had to watch out for that really shifted. Was tempted to hire a jetski until I saw how slow they were.
For me a week was enough. I now know a pool/beach holiday isn't for me. I like to be doing things and being with 7 others there's a lot of indecision and hanging about. Wherever we go next there has to be more to do.
The hotel was good. Clean and tidy, plenty of food and most of it was good. Breakfast was the weakest meal just down to the bacon not being great and sausages were a bit hit and miss. I can't eat too many eggs or dairy either so had to be careful. But oddly the ice cream I was completely fine with. Room was decently sized and good enough. Pillows could have been better though. Being all inclusive all my eating and drinking was done in the hotel. Drinks were cheaper brands but most time I asked for "a whiskey" I'd get a triple but was never as strong as home stuff. At no point was I drunk even after one night I had one of every cocktail they had. Pool I found was often cold until about 4pm. The slide was fun even if we had the lifeguard shouting at me for splashing too much. On his day off a German who much have been pushing 20st would whistle at the top, fly down and almost empty the small pool. Great fun. Got on with plenty of the people there.
Sunny Beach outside the hotel I wasn't as fussed with. It is touristy and there's shops selling fake stuff, with varying degrees of quality for miles around. There's about six different types of shop and then it repeats. I bought very little as there were no "brands" I like there. My cousin spent way too much IMO when I'd rather buy the proper stuff in sales here. Spent most of my money in duty free in Bourgas Airport.
We went to Nessebar by bus which was only a Lev but was awful. Health and safety is non-existent here. The boat ride back was much better. Nessebar was nice enough but a few hours wandering round shops was enough for me. I did snorkel every morning but never saw much. The fair was fun with a 3 year old and of course I had to be the adult to accompany her. There are men in the street touting to come into their bars and restaurants but this was the same in Turkey, Tenerife, etc. Beers and food outside going by the menus seemed cheap enough. There were electric scooters you had to watch out for that really shifted. Was tempted to hire a jetski until I saw how slow they were.
For me a week was enough. I now know a pool/beach holiday isn't for me. I like to be doing things and being with 7 others there's a lot of indecision and hanging about. Wherever we go next there has to be more to do.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff