The tourist season at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast traditionally starts at the beginning of July and the peak will be in August. Therefore, June is not so intensive when it comes to vacations in this country. Perhaps, this is because more and more compatriots prefer to go to the nearby Mediterranean beaches of Greece at the beginning of summer and then in mid-August and even in September, to treat themselves to a "patriotic" vacation on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. "Our statistics show that our Black Sea coast is full for the active season," says Milena Vusheva, customer service manager of the largest platform for sea, mountain and rural vacations in the country.

"Sandanski, Tsigov Chark, the areas around Velingrad and Pazardzhik and especially the southern part of Black Sea coast are currently the most sought-after destinations. There is great interest in Sozopol and all the way south to Rezovo. People no longer want to be on the first line of the beach, but rather to be able to spend a little more time in a house with a garden, with vineyards, with barbecue and activities for the children. Such guest houses have been booked since the month of February. The apartments and the studios are usually booked later but they are now already full. Everyone finds what they are looking for,” Milena Vusheva says.

More than 80% of guest-house and hotel owners have raised the prices between 10 and 20% this season. But this does not affect much the Bulgarian vacationers. On the contrary! Often it is not the price but the conditions for recreation and especially the availability of extras or luxury that determine the choice of tourists:

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"Everyone wants to have a jacuzzi, a pool, a sauna. People want the conditions to be luxurious,” Milena Vusheva says. “For example, there are people who want a dishwasher in the kitchen and ice generator. And it turns out that the more luxurious houses are booked earlier than the ordinary guest houses that do not have a pool or other extras. Recently people have started building completely new guest houses instead of restoring old properties. Simply because of the design and the desire to be more modern. But tourists are also looking for places like Obzor. Several condominiums located on the beach offer studios or apartments for rent for families with children. Clients use the pools, children's areas and all the amenities of the complex for a pleasant vacation," Milena says.

This year, mountains seems less preferred destination in comparison to the seaside. In the height of Summer-2023 Bulgarian mountain resorts and villages were full but now the season there looks lethargic, Milena Vusheva says. This is especially true for the northern regions of Bulgaria, where hoteliers complain about low number of bookings.

"People continue to look for houses that are about 100 - 150 km away from the big cities, such as Sofia. Such houses are already booked until New Year. However, north of the Balkan Mountains there are not many reservations for July and August. But let's not forget that the road infrastructure there is a bit worse. If the infrastructure in Northern Bulgaria was better and if the Hemus highway was completed, I am sure that many more people would prefer the northern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, as well as the accommodation places in the northern regions of the country", Milena Vusheva says in conclusion.

Read also:

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Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: bgvakancia.com, Pixabay, Radio Vidin