Sunny Beach through the eyes of the Balts.
You shouldn't start the bagpipe with the fact that we didn't have summer again and would like to warm up. This year we did not manage to go with our good friends! But, on the other hand, we took advantage of their experience and followed in their footsteps guided by their instructions!
Again, this is a departure from Riga, but, this time, a different company. This is Prieksture.
All negotiations about the tour and execution of all documents were carried out via the Internet and everything "grown together" (special thanks to Victory)! Exit 25, direction Sunny Beach (Bulgaria). Costs for two: voucher 684, insurance 40, visa 19, transport 38.
Knurled and therefore copied from the previous report:
Departure at 22.30 on the Vilnius bus, and at 2.50 we are in Riga at the bus station, we go to the station building to wait for the remaining time. Upon presentation of a ticket, they are allowed into the waiting room for free (without it, 1 euro per person). In the hall you can sit, take a nap, drink coffee from vending machines (from 50 to 80 cents), visit a paid toilet (30 cents).
Impressions, sensations, recommendations: docking with transport from Estonia is normal, the waiting time at the station is easily transferred, in case of delay and overlays, you can inform the group leader and the problem will be solved.
Day one.
At 4.35 we set off towards the Origo shopping center. At the appointed time, the bus came and we took our places according to the previously agreed. The bus is completely filled, and the back half of the bus is compacted with an additional row. Comfort is standard, corresponding to a budget trip (there is a toilet that is undesirable to use, there is hot water (though only five liters and only at stops), instant coffee and drinks, tea bags). The air conditioner works well. We left on time at 5:00! The group is a team, so two languages.
Latvia and Lithuania were planned with stops for the toilet. A sightseeing tour of the passing places was present. Stop for lunch at the Abro bar (in the Augustow area). They understand Russian, you can pay in cash (euro and zloty) and by card. Prices are very affordable. If desired, all the half-eaten can be packed in a box and taken with you.
In the evening we arrived at the transit hotel HOTEL LINEAS PRESOV in Slovakia (Lineas hotel, Preš ov BUDOVATE? SKÁ.14, PREŠ OV, SLOVAKIA http://hotel-lineas. slovakiahotel. net/
lineas. sk)
WiFi password: lineashotel
I got a room that was not very well maintained, so I was not happy. Wireless internet is weak.
Impressions, sensations, recommendations:
On the way, everything was clear, every 3 hours a stop. Dinner was ordered separately from Abro, so we left full. There is no possibility to have a snack or buy water in the hotel. The sockets in the hotel are equipped with a grounding pin, so there were some problems.
Day two.
In the morning breakfast at 7.00. Two pieces of ham, two cheeses, coffee, tea, butter, jam, well, very modestly. The drinks are insipid. At 7.35 departure - ahead of Hungary.
At 10 o'clock we arrived in Miskolc. A three-hour stop to visit the cave baths is a worthy and timely event! We rested, swam, had lunch.
Further forward according to the established schedule - 3 hours of travel and a stop.
At the Romanian border, passport control (30 minutes) - they put a mark in the passport for non-citizens.
At 21.45 we arrived at the transit hotel FAN. (Hotel FAN, Drumul Sibiului 45, Sebe? 515800
Romania). The hotel is pleasant, the rooms are comfortable, shower, TV, minibar. There is Wi-Fi passwordless. The hotel has a restaurant where you can eat. We were given the opportunity to order dinner on the way. The pleasure cost 5 euros (salad and chicken with french fries). Bottled beer for cash - 1 euro!
Impressions, feelings, recommendations: no breakfast, so either bring your own supplies or endure until lunch.
We visited the cave baths (Miskolctapolcai Barlangfü rd? ), on the advice of experienced people, on our own, i. e. without using the company. It's simple, you follow the escort and stand in the same line. You buy a ticket for 5000 forints (you can also pay with a card) and go along with the group. Further, everything is the same for everyone, so it makes no sense to pay more. Two types of lockers, one needs a 100 forint coin, the other does not need anything. The dressing room is shared. There are many places to dine and you can pay by card. Street trading for cash.
At stops in Romania, you need to have local money to buy drinks and snacks - not everyone accepts cards.
Ordering dinner at the hotel restaurant is a convenient solution.
Day three.
6.20 breakfast. Modest buffet. Fried eggs, sausages, sausages, cheese, jams, coffee, tea, watermelon.
Departure at 7.10. By the middle of the day we reached Bucharest. Sightseeing bus and walking tour with a local guide (Maria). Some free time.
At 22:00, the Amfibia beach hotel, Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, arrived at the place. The hotel is very average, but there are minimal amenities. True, I saw this for the first time, so that the water from the shower poured directly onto the toilet. The numbers are not equivalent, so who's lucky.
Impressions, feelings, recommendations: Breakfast at the hotel is acceptable.
A tour of Bucharest, as always, can not be ordered, but we did not regret it and were satisfied. You can pay by card everywhere. Arriving at the southern resort at 22:00, it is quite possible, if desired, to find a place for dinner. So it doesn't make sense to waste time shopping for groceries in Bucharest.
A hotel is a separate issue, but once again, what you pay for is what you get. So we don't have any complaints. WiFi only in the lobby for free, in the rooms for a fee.
Fourth day.
8.00 breakfast indoors on the second floor with a terrace. Not plentiful, but sufficient and in line with the level and expectations. Buffet. Muesli, sausages, sausages, cheese, tea coffee
9.00 Departure for an excursion.
Local guide Yana.
Sightseeing tour of Nessebar. Visit to the winery with tasting of wine, creams, rose oil. Some free time.
Sightseeing tour of Sozop. Free time. Lunch. 20-25 euros for two.
Visit to Ravadinovo Castle. One-hour excursion.
A trip to the wine museum. Pomorie. Wine tasting.
Everything about everything took a little more than half a day. On the way back we stopped at a vegetable market.
On arrival we went to the beach.
Dinner at one of the many establishments.
Impressions, sensations, recommendations:
We did not regret taking this tour. Yes, there is nothing special to see in Nessebar, as well as in Sozopl, but with a guide, nevertheless, we learned and saw more. Winery is a separate song. Wine sunk into the soul. It's called Mesembria. It costs 10 euros. Now, when they tried it, they would buy a little more than then.
The castle turned out to be a surprise, somehow they did not pay attention to it in the program. In fact, it turned out that we were in a fairy tale and the allotted hour flew by in an instant. I liked it very much.
A visit to the wine museum did not make any special impressions. The atmosphere is cheerful. We were given a chance to try several varieties of wine and brandy. Liked Cahors. There was a snack. Everything is very nice. You can purchase products. The prices seemed to be quite high (Cahors 8 euros)!
Day five.
8.00 breakfast.
10.00 an unplanned event. Today we visited salt and mud springs in Solnitsy (on the way to Bourgas). This wild place is open to the public. It is not equipped and unfurnished. I will not talk about the usefulness of salt and mud - the information is available, so read it for yourself. I will only note that we soaked for 40 minutes in a salt pond, then we went to smear ourselves with mud and dry on the beach. After about 40 minutes, everything was washed into the sea!
The afternoon was devoted to exploring the surrounding shops, in particular Janet. There they bought semi-finished products for dinner, and all this, together with cheese, wine and grapes, was consumed in the evening.
Impressions, feelings, recommendations: of course, everyone decides for himself, but I was very pleased with visiting the sources! The second half of the day could have been taken up with some other event, but acquaintance with the shopping surroundings also turned out to be useful.
Sixth day.
8.00 breakfast.
9.00 Independent visit to Nessebar. A leisurely walk to Nessebar, a walk around the city, lunch at one of the many food outlets. They traveled back by ferry. Afternoon time is devoted to beach recreation.
22.00 Departure for an excursion to Istanbul.
Impressions, sensations, recommendations: essentially a day of rest, we planned it this way on the eve of a night trip to Istanbul. Istanbul is 300 km away, which is much closer than from the southern resorts of Turkey. Therefore, it is very convenient. This excursion is considered the "pearl" of excursions. The group could not be recruited, there were only 4 of us. So we were attached to the “composite” group from Varna.
Seventh Day
Night transfer to Istanbul. The group is combined and multilingual. Guide Albena. The information was mainly in Russian. Documents were checked on the road, i. e. on the Bulgarian border (45 minutes) and on the Turkish border with an exit from the bus (30 minutes). One person did not have a visa, so they waited almost an hour for a visa.
6.20 Arrival at Istanbul Bedas Hotel. Breakfast for those who had payment. We had to pay on the spot (6 euros). The breakfast is very good, none of our breakfasts can be put close.
7.30 Istanbul sightseeing tour by Mercedes bus with a local guide. Guide Shenol Boz (? enol boz) is a unique person, an excellent, erudite specialist! In addition to the sightseeing tour, we visited some religious buildings included in the program. We also visited a leather factory where you could buy products.
12.30 end of the tour. Then free time, because. decided to save money on excursions. We visited the Grand Bazaar. It turned out to be nearby. Therefore, there is a lot of free time left. It was scary to go far, so we were very tired of walking around the surrounding area. We went for lunch.
20.30 departure from Istanbul. At the borders, they did not get off the bus (Turkish 25 min. , Bulgarian 45 min. )
3.00 arrival in Sunny Beach.
Impressions, sensations, recommendations: it is right that we devoted the day to rest and did not load ourselves before the trip. The trip is hard - two night crossings. A ticket can be purchased at one of the many agencies. It is possible for two days (which is probably more interesting, more useful, and less burdensome). And it can be done cheaper (buy on the spot). Everything will be about the same as ours: the bus is collected from all over the coast. It is a pity that Turkey was never seen, because it was night. But I really liked Istanbul, the coffee on the shore of the Bosphorus is excellent! Probably (I would now do so), I should have taken an evening tour of the Bosphorus. Beer is very expensive!
Day Eight.
8.00 breakfast.
Free day. Beach, swimming pool, shops, wine…
Impressions, feelings, recommendations: from the recommendations, one can only say that you can relax, or you can go on an excursion.
Day Nine.
8.00 breakfast.
Free day. Farewell to the sea and the city, shopping with you.
Impressions, feelings, recommendations: I don't think it's reasonable to load this day with an excursion. Carefully pack your things, buy some food for the trip, and, of course, buy numerous gifts.
Day Ten.
3.00 early departure, they were given a dry ration (absolutely inedible, except for water).
Traveling around Bulgaria. Border with exit from the bus and face control (1 hour). Traveling in Romania. On the road 20 hours without stopping for lunch.
23.15 hotel in Slovakia (same) - the room was excellent!
Impressions, feelings, recommendations: when traveling through Romania, coffee in vending machines is cash only. Dinner with the remains of what was purchased either in Bulgaria or at gas stations.
Day Eleven.
6.30 breakfast. More precisely, a hint of breakfast (see first visit)
7.15 departure. Directions. Late lunch at Abro.
Impressions, sensations, recommendations: ordinary, already thoughts at home.
Last day.
1.10 arrival in Riga.
3.05 departure to Tallinn
Impressions, feelings, recommendations: already at home.
TOTAL:
Of course, when evaluating the trip, you should understand that this is a budget option and say that the hotels are not the same, the bus is not the same, the food is bad, and, in general, we were not promised anything else.
Therefore, I will say that I got what I paid for and appreciate the trip in terms of organizing the tour. And everything was well organized! It is amazing when a whole bus of tourists and each with their own temper and ambition and the accompanying person can easily cope with all the problems and questions that have arisen. Issues of accommodation, following along the way, necessary stops, organizing excursions, obtaining information are resolved with ease! All information during the trip was provided in two languages. The excursion program was rich, but everyone could choose for himself what and how much he needed. As I already said, I was satisfied with everything, but I would like to note what left the greatest impression.
A stop in Miskolc and a visit to the caves allowed me to relieve the stress of the first day of the trip.
A pleasant surprise was the castle "In Love with the Wind" (Tumpalov's Castle in Ravadinovo).
A useful surprise was a trip to Solnitsy with salt and mud baths.
Istanbul left the expected indelible impressions. I would especially like to note the guide in Istanbul: they say that he is a walking encyclopedia Ş enol Boz (? enol Boz)
Many thanks to Teiksma who was our everything during the trip!
We should also note the professionalism of the drivers Eric and Eduard.
