Albena

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Family fun on theBlack Sea coast

An August 2003 trip to Albena by doonhamer32

A fortnight of family fun in a new (to us) resort, in a country we love very much.

  • 9 reviews

Family fun on theBlack Sea coastBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Albena is one of the smaller resorts on the Black Sea and has a definite "up-market" feel when compared to the Big Two, Sunny Beach and Golden Sands. It is family-friendly, with loads of things for kids and teens, although probably not really suited for party animals, as most of the bars are closed by midnight.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

As it's so small, walking is easy, but the hills can be tiring, so use the mini-trains that serve all the hotels and main streets or take a carriage ride around the resort, but remember to agree on the cost first! Taxis are cheap and plentiful.

Hotel RalitsaBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

The hotel was better than we expected, given the price we paid. The room was large and well-furnished, with a spacious balcony. The whole place was bright and clean, and the staff was very friendly, except for one waitress in the beer garden who never smiled (or not that we saw).

The pool is massive (free-form), with a couple of pool bars and a snack bar, and there are tennis and volleyball courts, football (soccer) pitches, and a kids' playground.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on January 26, 2005

Hotel Ralitsa
Varna road Albena, Bulgaria

Poco LocoBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

A varied menu containing both international dishes and local specialities--try the kvarma--at reasonable prices (even for Bulgaria). The big attraction, though, is the staff, all singing, dancing waiters and waitresses!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on January 26, 2005

Poco Loco
Atrists Street Albena, Bulgaria

TropicanaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

A big cafe bar which can get very busy, especially when there's football on TV; they do a wonderful pepper steak, and although the cocktails are a tad overpriced, it does sell Astika, which is a huge plus for me.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on January 26, 2005

Tropicana
Artists Street Albena, Bulgaria

Slaviansky HatBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The seating in this gypsy-themed restaurant is around an amphitheatre-type area, ensuring everyone has a good view of the show, which kicks off around 8:30pm. Firstly, the band plays some gypsy violin music, and then the dancers appear--but this is not folk dancing like in the other restaurants in Albena. This is a story in dance, almost (but not quite) a ballet, and is very, very good.

The food is excellent, with some local specialities alongside more familiar fare. The spit-roasted lamb is wonderful, and the house speciality, "Three Kings," is exceptional--cuts of chicken breast, pork, and veal together in a mushroom and pepper sauce. The wine list has a good, if not extensive, selection of locals and imports (the imported wines are way more expensive, but still less than we pay here in the U.K.).

Service can be a bit slow at times, but not enough to be a problem. We went in August, and although the place was busy, seating was not a problem, so just turn up and enjoy!

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on February 3, 2005

Slaviansky Hat
Albena Albena, Bulgaria

RAIBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This restaurant has two entrances: one from the main road and the other from the beach, through the bar/cafe--don't be fooled into stopping there, since it's just a bar; carry on through to the paved area, surrounded by little "conservatories". The floor show takes place on the paved area, so bear this in mind when selecting seats.

The food is a mix of European dishes, reflecting the clientele, but the show is unashamedly Bulgarian folkloric and all the more enjoyable for that. Chicken and veal are the house favourites, some served in separate dishes from your vegetables, so they're good for trying and sharing. The menu is in Bulgarian, Russian, German, and English, but it is also pictorial so you can see what you're ordering.

My daughter so loved this place, we ended up going three times, by which time we knew the show backwards and forwards, as it's the same every night. All in all, it's a good night out for not a lot of outlay.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on February 3, 2005

RAI
Southern Beach Albena, Bulgaria

KaliakraBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Historic Kaliakra"

For a thousand years or more, this was a major settlement, first for the Romans, then the Bulgars, and it was finally destroyed in the Ottoman invasion. It's a fascinating place, spread over quite a large area, with spectacular views out to sea, and it has a couple of cafés and fast food stalls. The museum is small, but interesting--not least because it's in a cave! I would suggest you buy a guidebook on the way in (4 Leva), as it definitely helps explain the history of the site and what you're looking at.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on January 26, 2005

Kaliakra
Cape Kaliakra Albena, Bulgaria

Horse ridingBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

A nice little stable offering a couple of different accompanied ride-outs, with horses and ponies for all the family, and not too expensive. The rides last for a good hour or so, through the forest (national park) or along the beach at dusk.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on January 26, 2005

Horse riding
Varna Road Albena, Bulgaria

Jeep safariBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Picture a group of tourists of all nationalities piled into ex-army 4x4s and barreling through the national park, each truck chasing and "ambushing" the others in a running water fight, and you've got the essence of this crazy day. Throw in a BBQ lunch with free beer, a visit to a moonshiner, and some Bulgarian dancing, and you have it all. Brilliant!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on January 26, 2005

Jeep safari
Booked via travel rep Albena, Bulgaria

About the Writer

doonhamer32
doonhamer32
London , United Kingdom

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