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It’s true that if we choose Sunny Beach for our summer vacation in Bulgaria we’d risk not to be able to rest properly. Sunny Beach is one of the most vibrant resorts in Bulgaria and along the Black Sea. But is it truly impossible to have a quiet city break over there? Well, it’s not impossible at all – you just need to choose the right place to stay in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria – Sunny Residence!
Can We Really Rest in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria?
Whenever we hear the word “summer”, we always daydream about beaches, the sea, a proper beach cocktail with a tiny umbrella on it <3 We, Bulgarians, tend to fondly remember gypsies on the beach shouting “Everybory na magari” (i.e. “everybody on a donkey”, but they made it rhyme mixing both languages), but nowadays you can ride a camel on some beaches (like Pomorie!). I’d still recommend avoiding these animal attractions and sticking to other fun activities, though 🙂
When I visited Sunny Beach in Bulgaria again in July 2019, I was absolutely expecting the Ibiza vibes which I’ve always felt every time I was there before. Well, okay, Cacao Beach is still pretty famous (famous for parties, popular DJs and loud music 24/7), but we did see a lot more people at the side, where you could use your own umbrella and didn’t have to pay extra.
And as a whole, when Bulgarians think about a summer vacation which is “relaxing” or “family-friendly”, Sunny Beach is not the first place that pops into our minds. We tend to associate it with expensive cars, parties and loud music. Well, I was surprised to see that Sunny Beach doesn’t really live up to its fame anymore. But still, when you’re choosing a place to stay in Sunny Beach for your summer vacation in Bulgaria, you should absolutely choose one that is not right at the beach, as there are still some bars that play pretty loud music. Even a few years back, when I really liked parties like these, I still chose a hotel that is far from the noise.
Why Should You Choose Sunny Residence for Your Summer Vacation in Bulgaria?
1. Far from the noise, but close to the beach
Sunny Residence is only a minute away from Sunny Beach’s main street, but it’s just far enough so you don’t hear the noise from the vehicles. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the beach (and the infamous Cacao Beach, if you’re in the mood for that kind of thing 🙂 ). Right next to Cacao Beach, you will find a “free zone” where you can bring your own umbrella and not pay extra.
2. It’s perfect for a family beach vacation or one with friends
As Sunny Residence is far enough from the beach parties, it is definitely a better choice than most hotels at Sunny Beach. It’s quiet enough for your kids to be sound asleep easily , excluding the occasional seagull. Moreover, there is a night guard (which, I must say, is even better than just a 24-hour reception) that will bring you extra peace.
One of the most convenient things is that you will have your own kitchen utilities right at your fingertips, while the washer and dryer are at a public room. You can easily save 40-50 BGN and just cook your own dinner 🙂 In addition, you should absolutely add breakfast to your stay in Sunny Residence (no joke – the yummiest omelette I’ve ever tried!)
3. It’s a hostel, but it’s the most luxurious one I’ve ever seen!
The coziness of the rooms really impressed me! They’re extremely clean, tidy and with a cozy design. They also have their own bathroom (a very cute one!) and all of these things are not typical when you first hear the word “hostel”. Many of the places to stay at Sunny Beach couldn’t boast with such pretty rooms at all! Cozy, bright and with the cutest bathrooms, Sunny Residence’s rooms will make your summer vacation in Bulgaria splendid!
And to be honest – how many hostels have their own swimming pools? Yes, there are many hotels in Sunny Beach that can offer you a pool, but the prices are also pretty high if you’re with family or friends. Even when I, myself, am choosing a hotel for my summer vacation in Bulgaria (and I in Varna, which is by the sea!), I still like to have a swimming pool, especially after breakfast.
4. You will be warmly welcomed
The team that works at Sunny Residence is really kind! The girl at the reception was always smiling (which, unfortunately, can be rare along the Bulgarian Black Sea). The cleaning ladies, security and even the cooks always welcomed us warmly and this certainly made our stay more enjoyable! You can absolutely tell when hotel management is great 🙂
5. The prices are great!
Even though Sunny Beach as a whole is a bit more expensive than I would like, the prices per night at Sunny Residence are not bad at all – in fact, quite the opposite – the standard price for a studio right before and after high season is 74 BGN (take a look at all prices here). For the best offers, don’t forget to follow the website of My Vacation in Bulgaria or drop them an e-mail at sunny@myvacation.bg 🙂
Most of the prices per night in Sunny Beach average above 100 BGN (of course, considering only the good places to stay). Sunny Residence sometimes even offers prices for 50 BGN per night plus breakfast even for a few days during high season! 🙂
As I am impartial when writing this post, I’d also like to include a few small suggestions for improvement at the hotel. The Internet connection at Sunny Residence is still better than most hotels, but we had a few drops for the weekend we spent there (perhaps when there are too many people using it). It wasn’t as perfect as at apart-complex Galeria in Obzor 🙂 Another thing I was missing was some quiet music at the pool. It must, however, be really quiet, in order not to disturb the guests on the first floors. However, you can always bring your headphones or even use a bluetooth speaker (but not too loudly, though!).
What things to see are there near Sunny Beach?
Well, after you’ve chosen Sunny Beach for your summer vacation in Bulgaria, you will certainly be looking for things to see around Sunny Beach. Here are a few ideas:
Nesebar’s Old Town
Nesebar’s Old Town is really one of the prettiest things to see near Sunny Beach! It’s only 6-7 minutes by car from Sunny Residence, but you can also take a nice walk (about 30 minutes each way). Nesebar is so full of pretty old churches, ancient Roman remains and even an ancient theater, where you can attend an event or concert! 🙂
Sunset in Pomorie
Pomorie is another cute town close to Sunny Beach which is especially spectacular at sunset! Summer sunsets are a bit later, so the perfect combination would be dinner at the beach and then a walk around it, watching the sunset. The bay of Pomorie is beautiful and you will even be able to (almost) see sunset over the water <3
Aqua-parks
Action Aqua Park and Aqua Paradise are very close to Sunny Residence!! Aqua Paradise is the largest aqua-park in Bulgaria with so many slides and attractions, it would be hard to explore everything in a day (take a look at a full list at the website of Aqua Paradise). The full-day ticket is 44 BGN, but you can take advantage of a small discount if you book online.
Cape Emine
Cape Emine is not super close to Sunny Beach (about an hour by car), but it’s worth visiting the easternmost point of Stara Planina (the famous mountain that has given the name of the region – Balkans!), right? 🙂 The lay-by for the village of Emona is between the towns Banya and Obzor. I would highly advise you to leave your car in Emona and then walk to the cape (unless you have an SUV and you’re pretty brave). The road is very bumpy (and missing at times), but the views are definitely worth it!
The Ancient Fortress in Byala
The Ancient Fortress at cape Saint Atanas is so breathtaking – at the very edge of the high cliffs, it’s a lovely thing to see near Sunny Beach (just make sure not to visit at noon on a hot day!).
Well, I convinced you that Sunny Beach is great for a quiet or family vacation, right? 🙂 You can just e-mail sunny@myvacation.bg and book your summer vacation in Bulgaria <3 You won’t regret it, even if you do so for just a weekend!
*Note: My stay in Sunny Residence was provided complimentary. However, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.
