on the beach

hi toonman or others who have been to riu helios at sunny beach do you pay for sunbeds on the beach we are all inclusive and is that the hotels private beach.thankyou

|||

Here are some reports from this year.

thomson.co.uk/holiday-reviews/…

I believe you do pay for sunbeds on the beach side but not poolside. If my memory serves me right part of beach is roped off but thats all.

Toonman

|||

cheers toonman all your reviews are very helpful

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 2:16 am, October 01, 2009

F.A.O Toonman

Hi toonman I know your a regular visitor to sunny beach and your info on here has been great but please tell me Hotel Diamond is not all youngsters getting drunk I read on another post that it was 18-30`s and we are not old fuddy duds by any means but really don`t like the thought of being kept awake all night by teenagers

|||

While you wait for Toonman to log on... Diamond was not 18-30s last year but I have seen reports that it is this year. The diamond is ideally located on the main road right in the centre and near to the market area. A 24hour BALLI supermarket nextdoor.

|||

The Diamond has never been exclusive to 18-30%26#39;s but this year they are advertising it on their website so I suppose it will be mixed clientele this year.

Most of the action is further up town and therefore shouldn%26#39;t be too bad. We have stayed in the Oasis a couple of times ( just down and opposite ) and the security guards would frighten most people off from causing trouble.

There are people on this site going to the Diamond later this month so hopefully they an give some up to date info.

Toonman

|||

Oh Thanks to both of you Toonman and WelshLadyNorthWales, for your replies you have put my mind at rest , I don`t mind at all teenagers, but would not like to be in a hotel full of them lol, we go tommorrow so I will def post back and let everyone know , 1 more sleep wooooooooh

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 1:25 am, October 01, 2009

Sunny Beach 13th June

going 4 the 1st time, does anyone know what the weather will be like? Any bars and restaurants people rate or recommend? What is the nite life like? Thanxs

|||

You should find the weather very good, mid to high 20%26#39;s if not warmer.

Plenty of bars or restaurants. ( Best is Djanny%26#39;s situated in the market area across the main road from the Hotel Kuban, also Condor in the same area.

Loads of clubs, Iceberg, Lazurs ,XL, Orange plus others.

Your%26#39;e best bet is to ask about the clubs and how people rate them probably the week before you go. That way you will have this years in places as opposed to last years.

Toonman

|||

Im goin on this date as well! Starting to really look forward to it now!

Iv been told its very cheap too, so thats even better :)

|||

Im goin on the 13th june aswell really looking ofrward to it, sounds like it has a good nite laugh and is really cheap for drinks and food which is a bonus

|||

Yeah, cant wait! My cousins were there last year and loved it....

Where r u staying? myself %26amp; my Boyfriend r stayin in the Marvel Hotel

|||

me and my boyfriend are stayin in the majestic hotel, ive heard its on the quieter end of sunny beach but apparently it isnt that much of a walk into the centre so should be ok

|||

Hi my wife and I are going on the 20th June, staying in the Marvel hotel. Seems like half of Ireland will be in sunny beach. I%26#39;ve been reading the forums to know what to look out for and it seems that %26quot;toonman%26quot; is the expert, so take notice of what he has to say, and thanks to him also.

|||

we are goinhg on the 23rd june for 2 weeks...it will be our 25th visit to Sunny beach... we first went there in 1986 and have been returning every year since sometimes twice.....It is not as good as it was but still the top resort in Europe in my view...

|||

Hi I am staying in the Hotel Majestic for a week on the 13th June. Does anyone know if i would be able to upgrade my room to an apartment and if so how much is it likely to cost??? Thanks

|||

ye will have a great time. cheap and good fun.

make sure your suitcase is well secured coming in and out of Bourgas. Put tape around it if need be. Mine was broken into after checking in on my way back last year. so be wanred.

|||

Here is the Majestic hotel web page. Click on contact us and the e-mail address appears. Make an enquiry direct then.

http://hotel.majestic-bg.com/en/

Toonman

Plugs

Can anyone advise on what plug socket to take to Sunny Beach please?

|||

Just use normal European adapters.

|||

Thanks for that, are those the 2 prong ones please?

Thanks

|||

Thats right. You can pick them up anywhere.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 1:25 am, October 01, 2009

Hotel marvel

hi there im off to hotel marvel in a week and was just interested to hear any comments about it from people who have been, especially regarding, rooms, food and ammenities such as how much sun beds are a day. thankyou very much ian.

|||

Hi, Im goin to the Marvel Hotel 2moro for two weeks. I have read all the reviews on this website about it %26amp; emailed a few people who wrote the reviews as well. All the feedback was positive!

My cousin stayed in this hotel last year %26amp; said it%26#39;s lovely %26amp; spotless clean too. She said it was mostly couples staying there %26amp; very few children around.I dont know how much the fee is for a sunbed, but i doubt it will be much since the resort is generally very cheap.

The only bad thing I heard about this hotel is the food can be cold or luke warm-which is why i only went b%26amp;b instead of half board.

Hope you enjoy your holiday.

Im off to pack now :)

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 2:17 am, October 01, 2009

Using ATM's in Sunny Beach

I would like some advice on using my debit card and or credit card in an ATM in Sunny Beach

I would have thought that using the ATM%26#39;s to draw money by a debit card i.e. switch/maestro in Sunny Beach would have been be an expensive method of obtaining money. Firstly the exchange rate I would summise you get when the rate is worked out back in Britian by your bank would be rubbish and then I also thought on top of this your Bank charged an extra levy for using your debit card abroad.

I also would guess that using a credit card to obtain cash through the ATM would be more extortionate than using a debit card.

This is only my perception and I would appreciate it if anyone could enlighten me on my theories.

|||

Maz,

Without doubt the best way of getting currency in Bulgaria is using a NATIONWIDE FLEX ACCOUNT card in the ATM%26#39;s.

This is I believe the only card that does not charge you any fees whatsoever for getting money out. ( Most others charge up to £4 a go ) and believe it or not we got a better rate from Nationwide than either at home or in local Bulgarian banks.

Last year we were getting 2.85 lev in the local banks but we got 2.93 from Nationwide and no charges or commission .

Most of the experienced travellers to this country all swear by them. I wouldn%26#39;t be without it.

We go with about £30 in lev just to tide us over then use ATM%26#39;s as we need cash. There is only one downside, but for us not an issue, in that you can only get out a maximum of 400 lev a day. Have always found this to be more than enough.

Toonman

|||

Hi Toonman

Couldnt agree with you more re: Nationwide.

How can anyone get through 400leva in a day?

Hope you enjoy again this September.

|||

Hi Welshlady, I certainly am looking forward to another 2 weeks in the sun come September.

Had to cancel one holiday there as wife was seriously ill at the turn of the year but thanks to a great surgeon she has pulled through and given the all clear to go abroad so had no hesitation in booking up for 2 weeks in he Iberostar SB ( Lovely hotel )

Hope to meet up with other site members for a knees up.

Toonman

|||

Hi Toonman

Pleased to hear your wife is much better. Can see from the forums how much you love SB.

We go for 3 weeks on 20th June and probably back first two weeks in September. May see you around.

We have many good BG friends and we stay in their small (20rooms) hotel in Zora village. We normally spend a lot of time with them and eat and drink in the places the locals go,Djannys and Condor included.

Counting the days now until we go.

|||

hi im thinking of taking alittle bit of local cash then using my card ive got a natwest solo card do u think this will be accepted? also whats 1lev to a pound or 10 lev if easier

thanks

|||

We always take a small amount of llev with us just to tide us over, tipping taxi driver,porter etc and carry some clean,unmarked £20/£10 notes for exchanging in the BANKS.

Majority of time use Nationwide Flex Debit card in ATM%26#39;s.

( If yours has a Visa/MasterCard sign on you shouldn%26#39;t have a problem )

current rate is 2.47 lev to the £ ( In resort banks )

1 lev is approx 40p

Toonman

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 3:19 am, September 30, 2009

money exchange rate

hi can anyone give me the best advice on exchanging money this year we always exchange at home to levs but have been reading reviews that says we will get a better rate in bulgarian banks do the banks charge for exchanging t/c or sterling or euro this is our third year in sb so i hope nothing has changed to much since last july

|||

Hi,

weve just got back from sunny beach this morning and the best advive we recieved was to change money at crown exchange booths which were everywhere could not miss them,the rate on the board was the rate you got,that was 2.37 last night, hope this helps.

|||

The official rate from Bulbank or Raiffessen banks in Sunny Beach is currently 2.41. First Investment Bank has it at 2.48.

Toonman

|||

hi stkholdings did you try any of the banks to exchange cash if so did any of them charge commision was there a big differance in prices for food and drink

|||

hi

does anyone know what the current rate is when you use your nationwide card?

thanks x

|||

Saw a reply from someone just back saying he got 2.46 on his Nationwide card.

We have never been charged commission for exchanging sterling notes in any bank in Bulgaria.Traveller Cheques can cost you up to 10%.

Toonman

|||

Hi teal...If you have easy access to Euro as you probably have in the north of Ireland, bring Euro as the exchange rate is the same as last year ...the leva is fixed against the Euro...

|||

teal,

EVERYTIME I have been to Sunny Beach I have checked the exchange in the UK (with my commodities broker - which will beat any deal in the UK!) and either she will come top OR the exchange rate in Bulgaria will be the best possible.

DO NOT exchange in the UK for convienience! I take about £100 in Levs from the UK to pay for cab, snacks, tipping the luggage boy at the hotel if arriving late at night, and the rest I exchange my sterling once in Sunny Beach as and when I need it. Remember if you intend to come to bulgaria the following year buy extra Levs on your return and keep them in a draw for when you return.

1Baloo

|||

hi,

we didnt use the bank because crown was on our door step when we arrived at sunny the rate was 2.41 but dropped to 2.36 then last 3 days was 2.37. Food did vary the further you went but on the beach front strip chicken and chips 8 lev steak and chips upto 20 lev drinks 2 for 1 cocktails 7.50 and a beer 2 to 3 lev. hope this helps

|||

hi everybody just to say thanks for all the latest information just cant wait for the 5th of july to get away money exchange might get better i hope we have sent for the nation wide cards as it seems to be the best no comission we are all on that gamble for the best deal we dont believe in saying we had a bad holiday as a holiday is what you make of it as long as the food is good the bed is clean the beer cold trips you can only do what you booked or paid for nobody can make you do what you dont want thats all for now

|||

Hi ,

Im just wondering, did anyone use the cash mashines there and take out money as they need it that way?? or would you recomend to bring alot of euro with you , i would just be nervouse about carying large amounts of cash, any advice on what to do??