Families holidaying in Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach are spending under FORTY QUID on food and drink a day
It costs £35.73 5 for a snack lunch and an evening meal with drinks for two adults and kids at the Eastern European resort, according to a new report
FAMILY holidays abroad are much more expensive for Brits this year as a result of the falling value of the pound.
But there are still some popular destinations that won't break the bank when travelling with kids.
A new report on the cost of food and drink in 15 European resorts by Post Office Money has revealed that Sunny Beach in Bulgaria is the place for Brits wanting to keep costs down but still enjoy a nice evening out.
The Eastern European resort on the Black Sea is by far the cheapest option, costing £35.73 5 for a snack lunch and an evening meal with drinks as well as a coffee, beer, wine and cola.
But the same items could cost three or four times as much in other resorts - families visiting five of the 15 resorts surveyed can expect to pay over £100 for the food and drink items.
These included Majorca (£100.70), Corfu (£116.91), Nice (£138.13), Ibiza (£144.86) and Sorrento (£163.20).
A bottle of beer costs just 72p in Sunny Beach, and a three- course evening meal for two adults and two children, including a bottle of house wine and soft drinks costs just £28.77.
So is it worth a visit?
While Sunny Beach undeniably a bit rough around the edges compared to the more traditional European resorts like Sorrento and Nice, it also has plenty to offer in terms of where to stay and things to do and see.
The resort not only offers good hotels at a fraction of the price of other places, but also great nightlife, beautiful scenery and tasty local food and wine.
Read on to find out more about the largely untapped holiday destination…
Accommodation
Accommodation in Sunny Beach really is cheap, with rooms from as little as £25 a night at hotels in August if holidaymakers book early enough.
But there are also some high-end properties, like the five-star Galeon Residence & Spa, which costs from £62 for a double room for seven nights.
For those looking for both quality and good value, Premier Fort Beach Hotel is rated No.5 out of the 221 hotels in Sunny Beach on TripAdvisor, and it only costs £57 a night.
The beaches
The main beach – Sunny Beach - is several miles long and gets very popular in the summer months.
There is plenty to entertain the kids along the promenade, as well as good value watersports for the older children.
Typically, a parasol and beach lounger will cost you around £8 to rent for the day in peak season.
If you want a bit of peace and quiet, head along the coast a couple of miles to Irakli Beach - a two-mile stretch of sand that has been protected against any building work, allowing it to retain a remote feel.
Sveti Vlas to the north is somewhere in between the two beaches – quainter than Sunny Beach, but with more amenities than the rugged Irakli.
Nightlife
The nightlife along Bulgaria’s coast has been booming for several years now.
As well as several music festivals, Sunny Beach is also famous for its bar crawls, foam parties and daytime party boats.
One of the most , which featured in the Channel 4 TV Show “What Happens in Sunny Beach”.
A concerted effort by the resort to attract global DJ’s during the summer months means that there are usually some good headliners in the clubs too.
Drinks are incredibly cheap – some bars along the strip will sell cocktails for as little as £1 and a glass of wine costs just £1.20.
Wildlife and history
The Bulgarian coastline is incredibly rugged and beautiful in parts, and you just have to go a couple of miles outside of Sunny Beach to find amazing scenery.
To the south is the ancient city of Nessebar, also known as the “Pearl Of The Black Sea”, which is classified as an Unesco World Heritage site.
Equally, you can pay for a day cruise on a luxury catamaran , who will take you for an excursion along the coast, then drop you off for some snorkelling.
Alternatively, take a cruise along the beautiful Ropotamo River, with its abundant wildlife.
Food and wine
Bulgarian food is a cross between Eastern European and Mediterranean cuisine, with plenty of grilled meats, chopped salads and yoghurt-based sauces.
They also specialise in stuffed pastries, stuffed vine leaves and an array of stuffed vegetables.
Restaurants in Sunny Beach range from the high-end Khan’s Tent, which has panoramic ocean views, a cabaret show and a live band alongside the food, to the cheaper, but just as well-rated small restaurants.
On average, an evening meal for two with wine will set UK visitors back less than £20, while a snack lunch for a family of four costs £3.36.
While Bulgarian wine isn't a popular choice for British drinkers at the moment, it has been made in the country for thousands of years.
In fact, in the 1980s, it was the second largest wine producer in the world.
Bottles of wine can be bought from as little as £5 in restaurants, but many places will do even cheaper versions if you order a "jug".
Don't forget to also sample the country’s alcoholic delicacy, Rakia.
Kids activities
While the area has a good nightlife, there is also plenty for families to do in the resort, like mini-golf, go-karting and fun fairs.
Sunny Beach has its own amusement park, called Luna Park, which has an array of rollercoasters and smaller rides.
The water park Action Aquapark is free for kids below 90cm tall in peak season, while guests measuring between 90-130cm pay £8.50 and those taller than 130cm pay £17 .