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We may only be in spring, but summer travel plans are still being made and there may be nothing more on travelers’ minds than dreaming of the perfect beach.
Often the easy decision is to book a trip to Mexico, no questions asked.
But don’t sell yourself short. Europe is much easier to get to than it seems, and that includes some pretty incredible European beaches that won’t break the bank.
Even when we think of European beaches, we often think of places like France, Spain and Greece. But why not Bulgaria?
I can confirm that Sofia, the capital of inland Bulgaria, is far from a place I would like to visit again, but even as one of my least favorite destinations, Bulgaria’s breathtaking coastline makes my eyes sparkle when Ren & Stimpy!
The Black Sea has become a trendy getaway in recent years, but these three lesser-known holiday destinations are those of Europe cheapest beach escape.
Sunny beach
While all of today’s cool kids are poisoning their minds with mumbling Taylor Swift rap and diss songs, the classic Sublime lyric “Summertime, and the livin’ easy” pretty much sums up the coming months of Bulgaria’s beautiful beaches.
Summer skies are sunny with temperatures between 80 and 95 degrees on average, just in the perfect spot for a perfect beach vacation.
Located outside Burgas, the appropriately named Sunny Beach has been mentioned in several articles and publications for how affordable it is to holiday here.
You can start your day with a cup of coffee in the morning and end it with a cold beer, both for less than $2. More importantly, where you rest your head at night is the biggest draw in terms of your travel budget.
These 3 hotels are all located along Sunny Beach less than $450 for a one week stay:
- Hotel Arda
- Smolisch Hotel
- Lira Hotel
- Hotel & Apartments Sunny day
golden sands
If there’s one thing for sure about Bulgaria, it’s that they’ve really turned the names of their beaches upside down!
Another appropriately named beach, Golden Sands, lives up to the hype and then some. It stretches for miles full of beautiful resorts, views of beautiful blue water and you guessed it: golden sand. Travelers can save money while vacationing in style.
While this part of the world doesn’t even notice Cancun’s visitor numbers, the prices for their fancy resorts put most of Mexico to shame.
Bulgaria is where the real deals happen. Travelers can easily find luxury resorts between $50 and $80 per night, such as the four-star Astera Hotel & Spa.
Those looking to level up even more can select all-inclusive packages without having to spend extra, with many resorts still costing less than $80 per night with all the freebies.
Golden Sands is the place where parties take place day and night, from beach bars to resort nightclubs, but everyone can find their place in this affordable paradise.
Albena
Along the coast of Golden Sands lies another slice of paradise full of lavish resorts known as Albena.
The most notable is once again the aptly named Albena Resort, with rave reviews from guests saying it is ‘gorgeous’, ‘peaceful’ and has all the amenities you could imagine.
Albena is the most secluded beach destination of the bunch, as Sandy Beach and Golden Sands tend to attract a larger crowd.
While the Albena Resort is on the higher side, there are other four-star and boutique hotels located along the beach and within walking distance of some of the best scenery this side of the Black Sea.
There are 5-star hotels for those who want to maximize their beach days with the best of the best, and of course both the Maritim Hotel Paradise Blue and the Flamingo Grand Hotel & Spa have the highest rates.
Bulgaria is officially a Schengen nation
From April 1, Bulgaria was previously welcomed into the Schengen Zone (with a few exceptions).
Those who want to stay long-term will have to find a new loophole, but those just looking for a typical week-long beach holiday need not worry about Bulgaria’s new status, especially if they go there to fly.
Travelers looking for the full scope of this impact can read this article.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
