Holidays in Bulgaria with children

Bulgarian resorts enjoy the well-deserved love of Russians. So it was 30 and 40 years ago, this tourist destination is considered to be one of the best for families with children today. The climatic features of the country, the pricing policy of hotels and sanatoriums make Bulgaria accessible to most tourists, regardless of the state of the family budget.

Holidays in Bulgaria are economically quite beneficial. If you find a good offer, even with minor discounts, holiday for the whole family at one of the resorts in this country will cost almost one and a half times cheaper than the same period on the beaches of Turkey or Egypt.

The flight to the destination from Russia does not take much time, and this is a definite plus for families who go to rest with small children. It is no secret: the younger the child, the more agonizing he has acclimatization.

If you compare the Black Sea beaches inside Russia (Sochi, Adler) with the Bulgarian coast, the advantages are also obvious: in Bulgaria, the coastline is sandy, soft and comfortable for children, the flow is smooth and gradual, with the result that the water warms better, the bottom is clean.

Bulgarians are historically very warm to the Russians, on vacation in this country there will be almost no problems with the language barrier. For children, an amazingly large-scale infrastructure has been created - both on shared beaches and in special children's camps, where you can send a child.

Among the minuses experienced tourists say a relatively short season, an uncontrolled rise in prices due to the influx of tourists at the peak of the season, as well as a small amount of entertainment in cities, far from the tourist areas. The beaches in some resorts of the country are not thoroughly cleaned, but this fact does not surprise a Russian tourist who is used to the polluted beach areas of Sochi.

The relative disadvantage is that the tourists in Bulgaria are not offered such a wide list of possible educational excursions, so rest in this country rather refers to the beach. This is not always enough for a full vacation with a teenager who needs new experiences.

In the summer months and the first decade of September there is usually almost no prolonged rains, the weather is mostly sunny and favorable. If you have to flight with a small child, it is better to podgadat vacation at the very beginning of the season or at its completion, since the rest of the time the beaches are crowded, which is undesirable for children under 3 years.

The water temperature in early June, of course, is not enough for full-fledged water procedures - about 20 degrees, but in August the sea warms up to 27-28 degrees, and these are maximum values. Starting from August 20, the water gradually cools down, about 0.5 degrees in two or three days. Longer heat is stored in the southern resorts of Bulgaria. The northern coast cools faster, there after a night storm even in August the water temperature can drop to 16-18 degrees.The tourist season on the south coast lasts a little longer - until the third decade of September.

Fresh breeze that blows almost all summer will be useful both for adults and children. Cold weather in Bulgaria begins in September.

As is evident from the geographical location of Bulgaria, the coast is divided into southern and northern parts. Resorts are everywhere. The most popular for family holidays are Albena, Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Dunes and Golden Sands.

This resort is located in a picturesque location on the territory of the national reserve, and therefore is perfect for holidays with small children. The holiday season here is somewhat shorter, since it is the northern part of Bulgaria.

You can go here with teenagers, because on the territory of this particular resort there is one of the most famous aquaparks in the world - Aquapolis, recognized as the largest in Europe. Kids will love the outdoor pools, which are located right on the beach.

The most family of all Bulgarian resorts. Practically every hotel has its own beaches, and children have acceptable conditions for the most interesting recreation - there are sports fields, attractions, small towns. In fairness it should be noted that such entertainment will be interesting for children up to 7-9 years old, the older children will be bored.

Albena boasts quite clean beaches, where beach chairs are provided for free, and in some places umbrellas. There are no problems with food, as cafes and small restaurants are located along the coast. Almost all have a special children's menu, in general, prices are quite affordable.

In Albena, tourists usually do not offer additional services for babysitting, so there are almost no hotels with babysitters, children's rooms and special animators for kids. Parents will have to entertain their children by themselves.

This resort is known even to those who have never been to Bulgaria. This is the place with the cleanest beaches in the country. However, the resort is not quite suitable for families with children, because in the season it is filled with noisy and numerous youth companies who come to work out water and beach sports and just relax on a grand scale.

Southern Bulgarian resort, which is ideal for children's recreation. The hotels operate on an all-inclusive system, usually restaurants offer an expanded children's menu. The beaches are fairly well equipped, but almost everywhere beach equipment will have to be rented for a fee. This resort also has its own water park. - not as big as in Golden Sands, but quite acceptable for an interesting holiday (both with a preschooler and a teenager).

This resort will appeal to those who love family sightseeing holidays. True, the set of excursions here is small and is limited mainly to sightseeing trips through the ancient city with perfectly preserved architecture. After an informative pastime, you can go to the beach. The resort also has a water park.

As already mentioned, the choice of hotels in Bulgaria is quite large. If there is a family vacation, the selection criteria are tightened. So, many moms and dads want the hotel to have a kids club. And there are such places:

• Sol Nessebar Bay (Nessebar). In this complex of hotels there is not only a kids club, but also a small water park, an interesting multi-level swimming pool. The hotel is "all inclusive", but a number of pleasures will be provided for an additional fee. This is a spa, Turkish bath (hamam), massage, the opportunity to go to the gym, court for tennis.Free of charge, you can enjoy the outdoor pool, indoor heated pool, play basketball, archery, go to aqua aerobics and ride with water slides.

• Dit Evrika Beach Club Hotel 4 * (Sunny Beach). Parents will appreciate the umbrellas and deck chairs that they will get completely free of charge, and the children will find something to do in the club that exists specifically for them. The territory has its own water park, separately pay for a visit which is not required. Water sports are available here only at an additional cost. You will have to pay separately for using the Internet in the rooms. The children’s club offers aquagrim lessons, discos and competitions for the youngest tourists. Food - "all inclusive", the restaurant has a separate table for diet, a separate large children's menu.

• Melia Grand Hermitage 5 * (Golden Sands). This hotel has a kids club, designed for children aged 3 to 12 years, a special children's pool with water slides, there is a special slide for very young tourists - from the age of 2 years. This fully compensates for the lack of its own water park. There is a playground, the club held mini-discos. The restaurant does not prepare children to order, but dishes from the children's menu are presented on an equal basis with adults (on one buffet).

• Sol Luna Bay 4 * (Golden Sands). In this hotel by the sea you can find fun for the whole family. Family rooms are comfortable enough, if necessary, an extra cot is provided free of charge, but you will have to pay separately for a baby carriage at the box office. The hotel has its own water park with rather high and interesting slides. The kids club is open all season, it is designed for children from 4 to 12 years. For teenagers (from 12 years old) in July and August a separate club is open. The beach has playgrounds and trampolines.

This list of hotels with children's clubs does not end there. Almost at every resort you can find several offers that meet the stated requirements.

If you choose a quiet place for a rest in a small hotel or rent a house, then you also have to plan your vacation yourself. To do this, you need to know what places in Bulgaria you can and should visit if you plan to have a holiday with a small inquisitive Pochemu. It is worth paying attention to the water parks. There are several of them. Usually they are located at hotels, but everyone can visit them for an affordable fee. Among the rest of the entertainment most noteworthy are the following:

• Zoo (Varna). On the area of ​​more than 30 thousand square meters are located not only animals with animals, but also museums. In addition, you can visit the dolphinarium and the aquarium, ride a child on a pony.

• Ship pirates (Nessebar). You can go on a sea voyage on it from the pier of Nessebar and from Varna. The whole family will have fun spending hours on the high seas in the company of pirates. A theatrical performance awaits everyone on board the ship, in which children play roles by participating in numerous competitions, quests and even in a real naval battle with the enemy ship. All (both children and adults) on board are sure to be fed lunch and allowed to fish and swim in the open sea.

• Museum of Retro Things (Varna). As a reminder of the times when Bulgaria was actively building socialism, there is a museum in Varna that will make adults smile and arouse interest in children who have never seen Soviet-style objects. Here are preserved cars "Lada" and "Moskvich". The pearl of the collection is the Chaika machine. Here are stored devices for the demonstration of filmstrips, reel tape recorders with recordings of songs by Vladimir Vysotsky and Anna German, typewriters and vintage cameras. Here is a large exhibition of photographs from the time of socialist Bulgaria.

• Game center Capella Play (Varna). This children's city in the old Bulgarian city.The indoor center for games and entertainment has an area of ​​over 800 square meters. It will be quite interesting for a child to go through a two-story labyrinth, shoot air guns and rush around with a pool of plastic balls. In the center there are playgrounds for futsal and trampolines. Older children can spend time in the hall of video games. You can feed the child here, because the game center has its own pizzeria, which offers a lot of tasty and healthy dishes, salads, snacks, desserts.

• Naval Museum (Varna). Teenagers, especially boys, will be interested in a unique museum, which contains samples of historical equipment, anchors and equipment from the most real ships, submarines and destroyers. The samples of the military uniform of the Bulgarian sailors of the 19th and 20th centuries are also presented here It is noteworthy that many of the exhibits can be touched and photographed with them, and rarely does a little boy give up a photo of him as a fearless captain at the helm of the ship!

In addition, you can visit the Botanical Garden in Balchik, the Ecopark in Golden Sands, the Aladzha Monastery there, the Sea Zoo Aquarium in Varna and several amusement parks, including the largest in the country - Primorsky Park, located in Varna.

Choosing a hotel, you should honestly answer the question what exactly your family expects from a holiday in it. If you are interested in good infrastructure, the most comfortable rooms, then your possibilities may be limited only by finances, as hotels in Bulgaria always try to create the most convenient conditions. Pay attention to the presence or absence of children's clubs. Remember that in most hotels for the use of the phone and the Internet will have to pay separately.

Almost all hotels offer a standard set of services: the price includes swimming pools, gyms, sports facilities, visits to water slides. Courses on surfing, diving, yacht sports - a separate item of expenditure, as well as visiting massage therapists, baths, saunas, SPA.

Most hotels offer all-inclusive. In some places it is possible to pay only breakfast, which will significantly reduce the cost of living.

Renting private housing in Bulgaria for the period of vacation without intermediaries allows you to save from 30 to 50% of the cost of rest. Today, Internet sites offer to do it yourself, but it is better to choose large international services for booking accommodation. May require prepayment. You can carry it through your personal account, which becomes available after registering on the site.

An important detail: the owner of a house or apartment will receive his money, transferred by you through your personal account, only after you check in and report that there are no complaints against the landlord. If you come to the address, and the housing does not match the promises of the owner, the entire deposit will be returned to you in full back to your bank card. This service is available to the Russians on the portal VPUT.

You can send your child to rest in one of the children's camps in Bulgaria. Chavdar, Olympium, Matrix, Kiten and Albatross enjoy the highest confidence of their parents. There are and language campsthat offer teens to improve their knowledge of foreign languages.

In the camp "Chavdar" take children from 6 to 21 years old, rooms are designed for four, there are air conditioners and TVs. The camp has its own beach, swimming pool, many sports and entertainment areas.

"Olympium» - sports camp. Here everything is provided for future champions: there is a hall for strength training, a swimming pool, training halls for wrestling, karate, a dance hall and much more. Classes are held under the supervision of experienced sports instructors.

"Matrix" - camp in the youth format, which annually updates the theme of shifts. Robots, nanotechnology, dance, fitness, movies.The themes are different, but the embodiment is always worthy of praise.

Make a visa to Bulgaria is easy. You can use the services of travel agencies, and you can collect the necessary documents and send them to the visa application center on your own. There are usually no problems with obtaining a visa.

To obtain a visa you need to fill out a questionnaire (it is presented on the website of the Bulgarian Embassy in Russia). In addition, adults should have active international passport, like a child with 14 years. Until that age, it can be entered in the passport of one of the parents, if they have an old-style document. The visa center must be provided with photographs of 3.5x4.5 cm, including children’s, as well as medical insurance (with a coverage of at least 30,000 euros).

It is necessary to present air tickets, proof of reservation at the hotel, a certificate from the parents' place of work, indicating income and a certificate from the child’s school. You will need an extract from the bank about the state of the account.

Meals in Bulgarian hotels are not very diverse. Experienced tourists and sanitary doctors recommend that you carefully consider the additional washing of fruits and vegetables, as there is a big risk of contracting an intestinal infection. Bulgarian cooks, like their Turkish counterparts, are not too "bothered" by a scrupulous approach to hygiene requirements.

Acclimatization should not take a lot of time (due to a certain similarity of climatic conditions with Russia, more precisely, with its southern part). Even if the child has a pronounced acclimatization, there are medical centers at all resorts, and every hotel has a doctor, communication with which will not interfere with the language barrier. Specially designed in advance, before departure, medical insurance will allow you to receive a full range of medical care, if necessary.

In general - reviews of family holidays in Bulgaria are positive. Parents note the beauty of nature, the softness and comfort of the climatic conditions of the Bulgarian resorts. However, complaints are heard against the neglect of some beaches, especially for general use. Expensive food in restaurants offering national cuisine. The cost and quality of entertainment and excursions, most parents consider acceptable. The provision of medical services in Bulgaria by tourists with children is evaluated on a solid "four".

On holiday in Bulgaria, see the video below.