Surprising Bulgaria - Part 1: Affordable Luxury

The Balkans are firmly on everyone’s wish list for travel. An area of striking natural beauty, many historic sites and cultural events, together with welcoming local people make that inevitable. Balkan Holidays, the award-winning specialist holiday company to the region, outline what to discover in Bulgaria, the country found in the sunny South East corner of the Balkans.

But what does everyone already know about Bulgaria? It consistently tops the charts of ‘Best Value’ destinations according to the Post Office, in their worldwide ‘Holiday Costs Barometer’. This compares the costs of frequently-bought items in resorts. In Bulgaria, Sunny Beach was the winning resort, with a bundle of items bought locally being far less expensive than its nearest rival in Portugal. A bottle of local beer is less than £1, a glass of wine just over £1 and a three-course evening meal for two, including a bottle of wine, just under £22. The value for money in Bulgaria is officially unbeatable!

Less well known are the new hotels popping up along the coast. Big name brands such as Melia Hotels International and Barcelo Hotel Group are now available and bring a whole new level of luxury yes, but affordable luxury to Bulgaria. Balkan Holidays’ top-seller the 4* Melia Sunny Beach is the perfect choice for holidaymakers looking for a high-class base for a week or two. It’s situated just steps away from the sandy beach and close to the resort centre. Everyone is on an All-Inclusive basis, so will definitely eat well and feel great here.


The 4* Melia Sunny Beach is the perfect choice for holidaymakers looking for a high-class base.

Sol Hotel Nessebar Palace epitomises the term ‘Affordable Luxury’. Prices for 5* comfort start here at £714 per person, to include flights, 7 nights’ accommodation on an All-Inclusive basis. As an added bonus one dinner can be taken in the wonderful Osteria del Golfo Italian restaurant with its delicious choice of authentic dishes. It’s a real treat. The whole complex has a fun and relaxed vibe, with lots to do from pool fun, nightly entertainment and ball games galore.

With Balkan Holidays’ Premier Selection, which is a range of 13 very high-quality hotels, guests receive an extra luggage allowance of 8kgs (total 30kgs), priority transfers (for speedy drop off) and the services of a senior representative. Top choices include 5* Hotel and Residence Barcelo Royal Beach, in the very heart of Sunny Beach. This 5-star complex has one of the largest gardens and pool areas in the resort, as well as the largest shopping mall in the resort within its grounds.

The 5* Wave Resort in Aheloy south of Sunny Beach is a very high-quality complex, and everything is here to ensure you and your family have an extraordinary holiday. For a start, the view from the hotel, across all the pools and down to the beach is spectacular. Foodies will love the choice of restaurants at Wave, from traditional Bulgarian, to Asian and Mediterranean.


The 5* Wave Resort in Aheloy offers families a high quality holiday with everything you need.

Up in Golden Sands, the finest choice is the Melia Hotel Grand Hermitage. The glamorous 5 star hotel is perfectly located, close to the beach and only a few minutes walk from the nightlife in Golden Sands. It offers incomparable comfort and standard one could expect on a dream holiday. 

In the southern part of the coast, Hotel Marina Royal Palace in Duni is top notch. Many don’t leave the complex as everything anyone could possibly want in terms of relaxation exists here. After a day at the pool or beach, or taking part in the range of activities, there is entertainment at the main stage, and then plenty of bars from which guests can watch the sun go down. Many try the local tipple of Rakia: it’s a clear and potent kind of brandy, usually made from grapes, although versions made from plums can also be found. It’s served with ice in restaurants and bars.


Many don’t leave Hotel Marina Royal Palace in Duni as everything anyone could possibly want exists here.

For more information on our range of luxurious holidays, please visit our Premier Selection page.

Check back next week for our Food and Drink blog, for more on Rakia and other local tipples and treats.