The Golden Sands resort offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy the best of the great outdoors in Bulgaria, as it is located on the Black Sea and is surrounded by stunning scenery, including beautiful wooded hillsides. Its white sandy beaches and clear blue water make this resort an ideal choice for those looking for a fun packed, relaxing holiday.
Things to see and do
Activities at Golden Sands start but definitely do not end with the beach. The main stretch of sand goes on for three and a half kilometres and is as wide as 100 metres in some places. Being a Blue Flag beach means it is safe to swim, but some adventurous visitors may wish to take this further.
Take part in a number of activities such as banana boating, volleyball, or set off with the aim of mastering the skills of windsurfing or parasailing. To really make the most of the wonderful' seaside location, scuba diving courses are also available, helping beginners fall in love with the underwater world.
Back on dry land, you can race the rest of the family at the local go karting track or head off-road on quad bikes. If operating a vehicle sounds like too much hard work, maybe choose to have a round of mini-golf or a spot of archery instead.
Culture vultures do not fear as there are plenty of places for you to visit too. One of the easiest places to explore due to its close proximity to the resort is the Aladzha Monastery, hewn out of the cliff just above Golden Sands.
This incredible location is thought to date back to the 12th century and has a chapel and small museum, offering an insight into its history. Take note of the stunning frescoes on the little church's walls, which were painted by the Hesychast monks who called the monastery home.
Golden Sands is also ideally located for trips to Nessebar and Varna, which while quite different to each other, both have their attractions. Nessebar is all about the history, with cobbled streets and quaint houses, while Varna is more modern, but known for its coastal charm.
Nightlife
Whether you prefer to spend the evenings sipping cocktails at a bar on the beach or blasting out karaoke classics with your friends, Golden Sands has the nightlife options to meet your needs. Most of the hotels have entertainment facilities, but there is plenty to cater to those who may wish to venture further afield.
Eating and drinking
Bulgaria offers great value for money, so eating out is relatively inexpensive, with the choice of going native and trying cold cucumber soup and grilled kebabs or opting for something more familiar like pizza or a Chinese dish.
Be sure to take advantage of the fresh cheeses and locally grown olives - you can almost taste the sunshine in which they grow. You may also like to try typical tipples of the region, as wine and brandy are both produced in the area and are of a very good standard.
Shopping
Golden Sands has a good selection of shops, but for those serious shopaholics, the city of Varna is within easy reach, just 18 kilometres away. There is a big pedestrianised area lined with various shopping outlets and several shopping malls offering international brands at prices much lower than in the UK. At the other end of the scale, visitors may wish to browse the market stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables to gifts and souvenirs.
Getting around
Most of the hotels, restaurants, beach and attractions in Golden Sands are quite close to each other, making getting around relatively easy. Do not expect this corner of the Black Sea coast to be flat, however, which means those with mobility issues may require assistance. The bus service is frequent and reliable, making it a useful alternative, while daytrips to interesting locations in the region are easily arranged.
Practical information
The closest airport to Golden Sands is Varna and it takes less than three and a half hours to fly there from London. Operating two hours ahead of British time, don't forget to put your watch forward when you fly to Bulgaria.
With an average ten hours of sunshine each day during the high season in July and August, you are unlikely to miss the weather back home. Summer temperatures can hit as much as 27 C, but even in October it tends to drop down to around 17 C, which isn't exactly cold.
Learning a few phrases in Bulgarian always goes down well with the locals, but staff in the hotels and restaurants of the resort tend to have good English skills. The local currency is the lev and at present you can get approximately 2.4 levs for each pound sterling.