Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. What is it actually like?!

This thread has definitely put me off considering Sunny Beach for this Summer.

What do you guys suggest as an alternative? I've read in many threads and on other sites that Ibiza is far too expensive. I'd like a mix of quality (nightclubs, beaches) and affordability (the cheaper the better in terms of drinks and food). This would be just as much a beach holiday as a clubbing, and I'd like to avoid the more 'trashy' destinations (I do know there will be not so nice people everywhere).

I also read that Ayia Napa, Mykonos and Rimini are the other 3 'main' party centrals on the Mediterranean, but I've also heard that Majorca, Magaluf, Kos, Kavos, Malia, Zante etc are very popular (hence why they're all on Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents).

Thank you!

This thread has definitely put me off considering Sunny Beach for this Summer.

What do you guys suggest as an alternative? I've read in many threads and on other sites that Ibiza is far too expensive. I'd like a mix of quality (nightclubs, beaches) and affordability (the cheaper the better in terms of drinks and food). This would be just as much a beach holiday as a clubbing, and I'd like to avoid the more 'trashy' destinations (I do know there will be not so nice people everywhere).

I also read that Ayia Napa, Mykonos and Rimini are the other 3 'main' party centrals on the Mediterranean, but I've also heard that Majorca, Magaluf, Kos, Kavos, Malia, Zante etc are very popular (hence why they're all on Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents).

Thank you!

They're all basically the same. Just tacky and sleazy. If you want to get wrecked with other young people and chavs then any of these, just go for the cheapest.

Ok, thanks.
I'd much prefer to go to a European city, but the only problem with this would be the expense. I mean, the nightlife in some of these places is immense, but if drinks are similar prices to those in UK city nightclubs, then the whole experience would be very expensive. What do you think?
Also, have you heard of any alternative destinations, such as places in Croatia for instance?

Thanks!

I personally think you should consider other types of holidays, not just party island types. The best thing you can do when you're young is travel, keep that in mind. I just think there's more to see than the same old night out but with some sun added.

I'm not trying to tell you what to do or anything just giving my opinion.

If I had the choice of going to Magaluf for a week or visiting the pyramids in Egypt and riding on camels across the desert, I know what I'd pick. Hopefully you get my point and don't think I'm just being a patronising numpty.

This would be why. I guarantee when you go with your pals it'll be different.

Iv been out with a group of girls i met there to the early hours of the morning without my family and never encourntered any problems, never heard of anyone getting there stuff nicked from hotels. I hung about with a few teenage groups that were there on 6 th year holiday and they never had any complaints. Mabye iv just not been observent but I havent seen or heard of any crime or rip offs in bulgaria apart from they stupid tow trucks and gypsis who get chased by police if they go anywhere near the main tourist areas.

No, I understand what you're saying and it's very true, but those types of holiday cost a lot of money as well. Plus, I've been on many of that style a holiday with my parents. I've done the touring around France, Skiing, Spain, Majorca, Italy, Austria, Iceland, Monaco either with my family or school.

My friends want to go on this type of holiday as well, so I don't want to try and change their minds. Preferably, we'd like to go somewhere that is fairly near to some of those kinds of attractions, we'd probably spend a day or 2 visiting cultural/tourist sites.

This will be the only time I'd go on a clubbing holiday, I guess it's pretty generic for someone of my age to do this kind of thing, and may seem like I'm following the crowd, but it has to be done. I don't intend on dying while I'm there and I know my limits, so I think I should be alright and have a great time!

I'm just stunned to be honest.

I'm not exaggerating but it was everywhere I went, there were mafia in cars asking me if I wanted to buy weed, I saw a guy staggering along by where the bungee trampoline is (not the one right on the pier, the other near the moped stalls) and he'd had the absolute **** kicked out of him. I saw gypsies scamming tourists, guys in bootleg CD shops asking me to swap my phone for cocaine, prostitutes everywhere. I got chased by a taxi driver with a knife at 6am for saying I wasn't going to give him money to help me as I was lost.

You must have sat in the bars all night without walking the streets to other bars because I find it hard to believe you've been there multiple times and saw nothing. Maybe you were drunk and don't remember (not being rude but it might explain it )?

The hotel thing, I noticed money going from the table next to the bed every morning and put it down to me being drunk and losing it, eventually I asked my friend if he'd been moving it and he said he'd had money go missing too. Then he couldn't find a tracksuit and I noticed a hat gone missing, then more clothes... we left some leva under the bed sheet as the cleaner was cleaning our room while we were on the balcony and she took it. His parents also had money taken and we confronted her and she suddenly couldn't speak English and gestured that the wind must've blown it out the door. We asked for a different cleaner and we never got anything back.

I'm just stunned to be honest.

I'm not exaggerating but it was everywhere I went, there were mafia in cars asking me if I wanted to buy weed, I saw a guy staggering along by where the bungee trampoline is (not the one right on the pier, the other near the moped stalls) and he'd had the absolute **** kicked out of him. I saw gypsies scamming tourists, guys in bootleg CD shops asking me to swap my phone for cocaine, prostitutes everywhere. I got chased by a taxi driver with a knife at 6am for saying I wasn't going to give him money to help me as I was lost.

You must have sat in the bars all night without walking the streets to other bars because I find it hard to believe you've been there multiple times and saw nothing. Maybe you were drunk and don't remember (not being rude but it might explain it )?

The hotel thing, I noticed money going from the table next to the bed every morning and put it down to me being drunk and losing it, eventually I asked my friend if he'd been moving it and he said he'd had money go missing too. Then he couldn't find a tracksuit and I noticed a hat gone missing, then more clothes... we left some leva under the bed sheet as the cleaner was cleaning our room while we were on the balcony and she took it. His parents also had money taken and we confronted her and she suddenly couldn't speak English and gestured that the wind must've blown it out the door. We asked for a different cleaner and we never got anything back.

I stay in my parents apartement so iv never had anything nicked out there the securitys great in my complex. Mabye different areas of the resort are different? I dont know. Im not a big drinker so it wasnt as if i went about blasted not taking my surroundings in. I always have felt safe there I took my 13 sister and her pal out to iceberg, revolution and the bars on the front and never had any problems. I did walk about the resort at night and walked like right down to the old bit. Most people i know that have went are familys so mabye thats why i havent heard any robbery stories, but when i was out anyone i spoke to didnt have any problems. I havent saw any drugs either, we talking about the same sunny beach? Lol

it's pretty seedy from what I remember - mafia and prostitutes everywhere! Cheap food and drinks though...

I stay in my parents apartement so iv never had anything nicked out there the securitys great in my complex. Mabye different areas of the resort are different? I dont know. Im not a big drinker so it wasnt as if i went about blasted not taking my surroundings in. I always have felt safe there I took my 13 sister and her pal out to iceberg, revolution and the bars on the front and never had any problems. I did walk about the resort at night and walked like right down to the old bit. Most people i know that have went are familys so mabye thats why i havent heard any robbery stories, but when i was out anyone i spoke to didnt have any problems. I havent saw any drugs either, we talking about the same sunny beach? Lol

Awesome. sounds good! Reading some reviews, they have said that there aren't many brits there (around 20% were brits it said on one site) and that the majority of people were in their mid 20's did you find this when you went?
Thanks for the quick response btw!

Cheap in what respect? The town itself or things like the drinks, food and accommodation?

Been to Bulgaria on holiday 5 years in a row this summers the first im going with a group of pals. I have never heard of any crime in Bulgaria and all the bulgarians iv met arenice. The mafia are everwhere but i wouldnt say its seedy, doesnt seem to be allot of drugs going about either. Foods cheap if you stick to wee bulgarian places(they do the best food anyway) and drinks cheap advrage beer price in a bar is a pound can easily find a beer for fifty pence, cocktails in a dear place are two for a fiver, vodka mixers are two for three pound most places so its pretty good in that respect. Been in iceberg, disco orange, revolution all were pretty good the clubs probably wont be anywhere near some other holiday resorts but still can have a pretty good time. Loads of people most speak english big crowds of brittish late july and august. Probably nowhere near as scenic as spain or the likes but has a wonderful beach good strip of cheap bars and is pretty safe ( havent seen any fights yet).