golden sands or sunny beach

which resort is best golden sands or sunny beach been to sunny beach begining of july really enjoyed it so relaxing exceopt for the rain for 4 days heard golden sands have cockroachs must say never saw any in sunnybeach in fact hardly saw any insects not sure wetner to try golden sand next year

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Hi fellow Toony,

Golden Sands is a smaller resort than SB and most of the operators fly to Bourgas then bus the guests up ( approx 2 hours ).

The resort is quite hilly, unlike SB and doesn%26#39;t have the number of hotels/apartments SB has.

More family orientated and slightly more expensive than SB.

If you do decide GS can thoroughly recommend the Hotel Sofia right in the heart of the resort as we had a superb holiday stay there.

Toonman

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I prefer GS. A smaller and more relaxed place. Also nicer nature, more green. And Varna is just 10 min away. One of my favorit cities in the world. Very nice for shopping, eating (half the price and better quality than GS/SB) and people watching. Also have a nice beach.

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Personally I much prefer Golden Sands and think its a lovely resort. Quite a few hotels are uphill as is the Aquapolis waterpark but a little train runs up the back of the resort. Its easy to walk down to the beach. From Golden sands you can easily visit nearby St Konstantin and also Albena.

Have been many times over the years to GS and loved every visit. Have only been a couple of times to Sunny Beach and whilst we did enjoy our holidays, wouldnt rush back there. SB is a huge resort with loads of building work going on.

Didnt see any cockroaches at all in GS.

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thank you for your answer will look at the hotel sofia maybe book for next year 7 take grandchildren

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Golden Sands everytime, only been to SB once and was not impressed, mind you that was in the early nineties I%26#39;m sure its much bigger now. No cockroach epidemic just the black harvest beetle occasionally which are harmless. Just returned from two weeks there and stayed at hotel Shipka (2nd time) The Ambassador is quite good too very friendly bar people. Also managed to get direct flight from manchester to Varna (as we always seem to manage thank goodness) hope this carries on as it is quite a trek from Bourgas.

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Booked a holiday for Hotel Aphrodite in Golden Sands for my husband and I for 14 days from Sat 6/9/09 and since reading the forums I am regretting my booking. All I read of is locals ripping you off, thieves, pickpockets, gypsies, unhelpful police, vile food in restaurants, bad drainage, rainy weather, bad walking on uneven and broken pavements, noisy hotels and a resort full of 18s to 30s. It seems hard to find a good report.

I consider forewarned is forearmed, we know to be careful, should we be dreading or looking forward to our holiday?

Also, I%26#39;ve read stories of £9.50 per day for 2 beds and a parasol, are there any alternatives if you want a day on the beach? Can you for instance just use your own towel on the beach?

Any tips?

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Hendrixlover

Reports of thieves, Gyspies, pickpockets etc. Who have you been speaking to? I heard of more of these from people who had been to sunny beach. We always go to golden sands and have found the people to be very helpful. Not had an occasion to deal with the police (thank goodness) but if they seem %26quot;offhand%26quot; it is probably because they don%26#39;t speak much english (usually). There are groups of young people mainly scandinavian/german who%26#39;s tour operators organise bar crawls/foam party etc. but it is not constant just a couple of nights per week and when all said and done they are just having fun. The food in restaurants is not vile (maybe it is in some hotel restaurants) we go B%26amp;B and part of our evening is going to eat out. I can recommend %26quot;Ivans%26quot; at the top of party street, the Gerana traditional Bulgarian, near hotel Marina this one puts on a floor show at aroung 9.00pm. If you need a bacon butty there is a bar called Jerry%26#39;s near the lighthouse restaurant.

Beach- yes it can be expensive to use beds and brolly. but you can find a spot just to lay your own towel if you like. I think that they will have to reduce the price after this year because hardly anyone was using them.

Hope this info helps - have a good holiday and don%26#39;t worry. As long as you look out for yourself just as you do here you shouldnt have any probs.

Regards

Bulgarian Rover.

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Bulgarian Rover

Thanks very much for your reassuring response. I take the view that often people only post when they have a complaint. I have looked on trip advisor and other sites in the past both and am surprised at the negative comments people make. I do take on board the fact that you have to be careful where ever you go, further, we have been to vile places and hotels and fantastic places and hotels and we have yet to have a bad holiday, we always make the best of it and remain positive and keep our sense of humour. This is the first time I have EVER had second thoughts, and I should have known to take some reports with a pinch of salt.

Ever been in Sept? I have read reports of cold nights and rainy days......is this mostly claptrap?

Thanks very much I am grateful for the most helpful tips, I will certainly post a review when I return.........

Cheers

Hendrix Lover.

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hendrixlover,

Have been a couple of times in September, it is certainly cooler than July/August but not as bad as here!!! Take a jacket or cardy for the evenings which can get quite cool. The weather - should still be quite sunny although you may get an odd shower.

Happy trip

Bulgarian Rover (Blackburn)

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Dear Bulgarian Rover from Blackburn,

Know what? I am looking forward to my holiday now!!

Your replies have been invaluable to me.

Many thanks - we will raise our glasses to you one night if, of course, we have not lost our money to a pickpocket, we are not bitten by a rabid dog, marauding wolf, stung by a flying hornet or jellyfish, or fall into a muddy ditch!!

My friends and family now think it hilarious and now send me every single negative report they can find on Bulgaria!

Watch this space.....................

regards from Hendrixlover