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cheap holiday bulgaria

Varna / Golden Sands is perhaps the undiscovered Majorca of the Balkans. The big difference: if you follow the tips below, you can have a truly cheap backpacking experience.

TRANSPORT>TAXIS/BUSES
You have to be very wary when getting into taxis in Bulgaria because the government does not regulate or check that the meters are working properly. Because of this there are many taxi companies which have rigged meters and charge insane amounts.

The only two companies with good reputations in Varna are Lacia (with 500,000 written on the side, or Omega taxis). For a trip from Varna center to Golden Sands expect to pay 25 leva (12.5 Euros) with these brands. If you get one of the other brands expect to pay 80-100 leva (50 euros). I have had friends who had the unfortunate experience of being fooled by these guys, and if you refuse to pay the exorbitant amount, you may find that they threaten violence.

The cheaper and much greener alternative is to catch a bus to Golden Sands for just 3 leva (1.5 Euro)- bargain!! Buses going there include numbers 8,9,109,209,409.

Once you get on the bus be careful of the ticket lady (or man) who sometimes tries to give you the wrong change and will run to the other end of the bus to avoid you confronting her!! (it happened to me several times, but only with one woman)

Accomodation
There are two main cheap options here.

The first is to go to a hotel in Golden Sands (I recommend Hotel Vladislava as the cheapest and most happening,on the main strip and above Alarma night club). With a friend, you can get a double room for 15 euros per night – if you know how to ask!.

This is how.. leave all your luggage outside with your friend and go in and ask to be shown a room. They will usually say 18 Euros per night each. Ask them to request a better price from the manager because you are staying at a hotel nearby and will only move if they match the other hotel’s price of 15 Euros (with buffet breakfast). My German friend and I scored this in peak season! At other hotels you can expect to pay upwards of 30 euros per night.

Another nice thing about staying at this hotel is that a lot of the guests are young Germans who have come on a package deal. As part of this package deal they often get a red wrist bad which allows them to have unlimited FREE drinks at the bar downstairs for a few hour per day and an entry gold card which allows free entry to all the night clubs (which usually cost 5 leva each to get in!).

The great thing about this is that they often only stay for a couple of days, and when they leave are usually happy to leave both items to you if you ask nicely!!!
Free drinks and free entry to all the clubs!!

The other option which is especially suitable if you only speak English is to stay at a hostel which is just outside of town called X Hostel. It is only 10 Euros per night for a bed (sometimes cheaper) includes breakfast, and has an amazing atmosphere (I stayed here for 2 weeks – my longest stay in a hostel ever).
For 1.6 leva you can catch a bus to Golden Sands from here and is great for meeting people, as opposed to the hostels which can be socially isolating.

The only catch is taking a taxi back. Ensure you agree on a price before getting in the taxi and don’t pay more than 20 leva. You will be hard pressed to get a better price than this. I’ve bargained like crazy and they all have an agreement it seems.

Except…for the taxis which have come from further away and are dropping someone off here. If you are lucky enough to find one of them in a side street bargain 15 leva or less.

In my next blog I will cover how to eat from an extensive all you eat buffet for 1 Euro, the cheapest place to exchange money, the cheapest calling rates, and plenty more!