Each week our holiday hero, Neil Simpson, delves into a great holiday theme and does all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: why summer bookings are booming to Bulgaria.
It’s the Riviera, but not the French or the Italians. Consider the Bulgarian Riviera instead, which is fast becoming a summer hotspot.
Airline Jet2 says it has already brought so many bookings to the region that it will operate dozens of additional flights in July, August and September, and the company has also announced plans to offer a record number of high-season hotels in key areas of Bulgaria. . Holiday resorts by the sea.
Jet2 boss Steve Heapy says: “Many of us still see holidays as essential purchases and demand is particularly strong where to get good value for money, which is certainly the case in Bulgaria.”
Jet2 airline says it has already made so many bookings to Bulgaria (pictured from the country’s Bolata beach) that it will operate dozens of additional flights in July, August and September
The Post’s latest Holiday Pay report shows that the cost of a typical day in the sun on the Black Sea coast – the area that makes up the burgeoning Bulgarian Riviera – remains much cheaper than rival European resorts.
The researchers’ holiday basket of eight items (including a bottle of water, coffee, sunscreen and a dinner with drinks) costs just £26 in Bulgaria. The bill is £56 in Cyprus, £60 in the Costa del Sol and £71 in Lanzarote.
Travel agents such as On the Beach are offering dozens of school holiday weeks in Bulgaria this summer from under £550 per person, including flights and transport. Many also include the company’s complimentary high-speed security offer at departure airports. Choose the Sunny Victory Apartments and in addition to two swimming pools and an on-site shop, the resort features rooms with fully equipped kitchenettes. Accommodation costs from £522 per person for a week in July (onthebeach.co.uk).
Pearl of the Black Sea: The small town of Nessebar above is a Unesco World Heritage Site on a narrow peninsula with a 5th century church, restored frescoes and narrow streets with traditional half-timbered houses to explore
Holidaying in Bulgaria doesn’t mean sacrificing style either. In addition to thousands of additional seats on new flights from Birmingham, Leeds-Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle, Jet2 has launched elegant hotel and spa complexes in Bulgaria, including the Secrets Sunny Beach Resort.
The adults-only retreat promises infinity pools, swim-up bars, ocean-view suites and an oceanfront grill on the beach. All Inclusive weeks next summer from £679 per person from Leeds-Bradford. Another “Luxury Collection” option for families, new for 2023, is the Voya Beach Resort on the marina, with direct beach access, a parents’ spa, kids’ club and mini water park for kids. All-inclusive weeks cost from £649 per person from Birmingham Airport (jet2holidays.com).
Attractions are also increasing along Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, where wide sandy beaches are sometimes interrupted by beautiful, rocky coves. Tui offers guests the chance to explore Black Sea catamaran cruises from £62, where you board for a welcome drink before sailing to a secluded cove for a swim, snorkel and a full lunch in the sun.
Tui’s new Into The Wild 4×4 tour takes visitors to the 50m high Borov Kamak waterfall (photo)
Bright green geckos (above), wild boars and golden foxes await visitors on Tui’s new excursion
Another excursion in Tui’s new Green & Fair Experiences category, which focuses on sustainable tourism, is the full-day Into The Wild 4×4 tour, from £50 per person. Leaving the Black Sea coast, you enter a densely forested national park where bright green geckos, wild boars and golden foxes roam. You will also see the lunar landscapes and soaring arches of Leyarnika Cave before having lunch in the village, tasting honey and visiting the 50 meter high Borov Kamak waterfall.
And while many of Bulgaria’s family-friendly hotels and resorts are relatively new (which is why many guests love them), there’s also history. Known as the Pearl of the Black Sea, the small town of Nessebar is a Unesco World Heritage Site and sits on a narrow peninsula with a 5th-century church, restored frescoes and narrow streets lined with traditional half-timbered houses.
Just ten minutes from most Sunny Beach hotels, Nessebar walking tours start from around £30 per person (getyourguide.co.uk).
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
