Ebony and Irony do Golden Sands

Advantages: Proper brand name Coke and large bottle servings - I'm easily pleased, y'see
Disadvantages: The busy areas are even busier at night

...use them even if I had, since everyone assumed you wouldn't speak any Bulgarian. Turns out, they assumed right. Golden Sands is served by Varna airport ("the 2nd largest in Bulgaria" is still tiny) about 30 mins away. Varna city is slightly nearer and is a nice half-day out. Other excursions include 'Bulgaria without make-up' where you go into a 'typical Bulgarian house' (or as 'typical' as any house can be, when it lets 20+ tourists march through it every day), trips to Rumania and Turkey, and to the waterpark on the other side of Golden Sands (entrance is about 20 Lv so it's not dirt cheap). Spa treatments are widely available at many hotels and you don't have to be a resident to indulge, but they get booked up so plan ahead. Typical prices for these and other items are below. (1 Lv was 35p when we were there) A 45 min...

zoe_page 21.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Golden Sands Resort

Ebony and Irony do Bulgaria

Advantages: Right on the beach
Disadvantages: Some of the staff need a good talking to

...at this hotel. ** Why Bulgaria? Why Golden Sands? Why Iberostar? We chose this destination for a few reasons (the weather, the duty free, the prices) but mainly, it has to be said, because it was one of the few places in the package holiday brochures that neither of us had visited, well travelled little minxes that we are. We chose Golden Sands for no specific reason, though once we did so we reassured ourselves it sounded just a smidge more high class than the main alternative, Sunny Beach. Our main aim for the trip was to combine some sun and sand with spa treatments, so we narrowed our choice to hotels that had in house salons, and then went for a big name chain, Iberostar, on the assumption they might be better than some stand alone local hotel. Not that we don't support local businesses, you understand, but sometimes you just don...

zoe_page 17.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Iberostar Obzor and Igrez Beach, Golden Sands

Royal Bay Hotel, Elenite, Bulgaria

Advantages: Everything you could need in one resort, friendly staff
Disadvantages: Not a good selection of food If you are a fussy eater.

...'m not sure if he is still there, But first choice was told about him on our departure back. The beach was lovely but you do have to get up early to get a bed, even though the reps ask you not to reserve a bed with your towel, they still do. the beach is man made and not a natural beach, on our last 2 days at the hotel we had a freak storm and as the hotel is built next to the mountain, the rain ran down the mountain and washed the beach away, there was little sand left on the beach only rocks, sunloungers being drifted away, and mud everywhere being washed down the mountain. The staff said they had never seen anything like that before, and the next day it was all staff hands on deck, outside the hotel was being hosed down of mud, and they really tried their hardest to make it as easy for the guests to adjust. All in all i could not...

mayasmist 20.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Royal Bay Hotel, Elenite, Bulgaria

A Thai Paradise

Advantages: Relaxing, beautiful scenery
Disadvantages: Quite remote

...I stayed at the Golden Sands hotel in October 2004. We paid £800 for a package holiday, spending 3 nights in Bangkok and 7 nights in Cha Am at the Golden Sands. The hotel was large but consisted mainly of German or Russian guests. We were the only British couple staying at the hotel which wasn't really a problem but it is always nice to meet new people on holiday. The hotel is about 2 and a half hours drive from Bangkok airport (our transfers were included so I would not be able to tell you how much this journey would cost you) Cha Am is a very small village and is close to Hua Hin. Our hotel room was spacious and had beautiful views across the pool and across to the beach. The hotel pool was literally 50 metres from the beach. The beach had gorgeous white sand and the hotels and beach were protected by armed guards so it...

daylehall 29.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Golden Sands Hotel, Phetchaburi

Hotel Selena, Sozopol, Bulgaria

Advantages: Location, standard of hotel
Disadvantages: None

...Went to this hotel for 2 week this August. I can not praise this hotel enough. The hotel is rated 3 star but, in my opinion, should definitely be a 4 star. The hotel opened last year and is situated in the new town, directly on Central Beach, overlooking the old part of town. The location could not be better. On arrival we were greeted by friendly and efficient receptionists and a porter. The porter took us up to our room, which was a family room on the 4th (top) floor. The room was spacious with hairdryer, telephone, mini bar (which doubled up as a fridge) TV (some English channels: Sky News, Euronews, Cartoon Network and some film channels). The room was immaculate and had a massive balcony with sea view. The swimming pool is very small but never busy and is always cold. There are plenty of sun beds around it...

yvonnemrussell 02.10.2006 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Selena, Sozopol, Bulgaria

Pomorie Hotel, Bulgaria

Advantages: Clean
Disadvantages: Can be noisy

...My partner and I stayed in hotel Pomorie, Sunny Beach, Bulgaria for a fortnight during a summer holiday. Having originally booked for a lower standard hotel, we found it a pleasant surprise to be upgraded to this large three star hotel with 287 twin rooms, 31 family rooms & 23 single rooms. *~*~*Check in and First Impressions*~*~* As it was dark we couldn?t completely see the hotel when we arrived, it looked large and nice enough ? although it wasn?t the most attractive of hotels ? a bit of a concrete block. I believe that a great many of the hotels in Sunny Beach were built in the late 50?s. However, there is now a large amount of development taking place around the resort. The hotel reception, although dark, is clean and large with a couple of bars and couches dotted about. We had to wait in a queue to check in, which isn...

sharkel 22.01.2007 (09.05.2007) · Read review
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Review of Pomorie Hotel

Dreaming of Golden Sands

Advantages: Beautiful location, ideal for families
Disadvantages: Basic facilities

...the campsite to Arisaig. It will take about half an hour to 45 minutes to get there. When there you will find a Spar for basic essentials, a café, a restaurant, a hotel, phone box, a newspaper shop and Arisaig Harbour for ferry trips to the small islands. Arisaig is the nearest shop to the campsite. ADDRESS Gorton Sands Caravan Site Gorton Farm Arisaig PH39 4NS The owner of the campsite is Mr MacDonald. He will keep himself to himself, but never misses a trick!! In the past a lot of the Scottish locals seemed unfriendly, but over the years they have mellowed out. Some people think Mr MacDonald is the same, but I speak from experience in saying that he can be very helpful. He doesn?t stand for any disruption on the site, so if someone were being too noisy late on at night then he would tell him or her. If you become a regular at the site he...

gwarwick 29.05.2003 · Read review
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Review of Gorton Sands Caravan & Camping Site

Royal Park Hotel, Elenite, Bulgaria

Advantages: The Aqua Park
Disadvantages: bad standard of service

...The nature in Elenite is really very,very beautiful. There is a big forest and great views. In the past Elenite was one of the best Holiday Villages in Bulgaria. I was in Royal Park Hotel, Elenite in the autumn of 2009 and I don't want to go there again. This is an enormous Hotel and the nature is hidden and lost behind the walls. Restaurant (cantine) and food There is no choice and the quality of the food is doubtful. Some of my colleagues had problems with the stomach. There are no more than two fresh salads. You must look for a clean plate. The tomatoes for example are not for salad. These are cheap tomatoes used for producing preserved food and puree. Rooms The rooms are not cosy at all. The bathroom and the whole room are not clean. There is a mould in tha bathroom. Some of the rooms have a good view but if you don...

nadia71 21.10.2009 (22.10.2009) · Read review
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Review of Royal Park Hotel, Elenite

Hotel Hawaii & Nessabur, Bulgaria

Advantages: Cheap, handy, pleasent and affordable.
Disadvantages: The flight

...Just returned from a holiday in Nessabur, Bulgaria, staying at the Hotel Hawaii in a bed and breakfast basis. The hotel building from the outside looked like any other block from communist days BUT our room on the 13th floor was lovely, a little basic but very spacious and looked like it had only just been upgraded. Our fridge was missing and so were chairs to sit on! A request at the reception saw a couple of chairs and a fridge delivered. The room was kept spotlessly clean, swept and floor washed every day, new towels at least twice a week, linen also changed. The power shower in its own cubicle with loads of hot water was a first! The breakfast was one of the best we have had for many years. Hot and cold buffet, tea, coffee, fruit. Admittably if you arrived at the last knockings say 9.50 when they stopped serving at 10am they...

Rogfrith 21.07.2008 (20.07.2008) · Read review
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Review of Nesebar (Bulgaria)

Hotel Samakov Borovets Bulgaria - Brilliant!

Advantages: Everything you could ask for in a ski resort hotel in Eastern Europe
Disadvantages: None

...We stayed in this hotel which came highly recommended from our travel agent. Having not been to Bulgaria before we weren't sure what to expect. Due to a flight delay we arrived at the hotel at 1am. A porter was there to take our bags from the coach and patiently waited while we checked in and rented a safety deposit box (can't remember the exact amount but was minimal) This didn;t take long and as soon as we had our room key the porter showed us to our room, gave us a quick rundown of where to find things within the hotel. We did tip him (about 10 Bulgarian lev). We left the unpacking and went straight back down to the bar (which was still open) for a quick drink. The waiting staff were very courteous and had a good understanding of English. The service was quick and the drinks bought to our table. We returned to our room to...

jgallinzx 24.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Samokov, Borovets