This is why Bulgaria's Black Sea best for budget travel this summer

Bulgaria is a small but proud country tucked in the centre of the Balkans. The country has a long history dating back to the 7th century and its lands hide numerous gems, but perhaps best spot to start exploring the beautiful landscapes, rich history and delicious food that characterises this country is the Black Sea.

Bulgaria's Black Sea coastline stretches almost 400 kilometres and is brimming with pristine beaches, luxurious resorts and friendly people. All of those, however, are incredibly affordable. The seaside is relatively easy to reach as the two big cities on the coastline - Varna and Burgas - have airports and are connected to Sofia by highway, train and buses. Additionally, EasyJet, Ryanair and WizzAir fly to Bulgaria. A flight from London to Burgas won't cost you more than £150 during high season.

Arguably, the best way of discovering the Bulgarian seaside is by car. We would advise you to rent a car and travel around the coast since the distances are short and the scenery contrasts are fascinating.

Sunny Beach is probably the most well-known spot on the seaside. It is also knows in Bulgaria as the Balkan's party capital, and there's a reason why! The beachline is vast enough to host a vast number of international tourists, the beach bars are cheap and restaurants offer everything from a proper English breakfast to traditional Bulgarian yogurt deserts. The resort has its own festival, too. Cacao Beach Festival takes place every weekend of July and August, and is a wild party that takes place on the beach from sunset to sunrise.

But if you want to avoid all the craziness around Sunny Beach and Nessebar and indulge in a real luxurious getaway without breaking the bank, book a hotel in St. Vlas. The two towns are connected by bus but Sveti Vlas is much calmer and offers better accommodation. Here, you can get an all-inclusive five star hotel deal including the spa for just £100 for two per night.

The real Bulgarian treasures are outside Sunny Beach. In Varna - the Bulgarian sea capital - the Necropolis is the oldest gold treasure in the world, dating from 6th millennium BC. The artefacts are normally kept in the Varna Archaeological Museum. They often travel around the country so check with the museum before your visit. Apart from all the gold, Varna is a vibrant city where the beer is less than a pound and the seafood is finger-licking good.

While in Varna also check out the Kamchia biosphere reserve. The reserve protects vast forests and dunes, while the beach where Kamchia River feeds into the sea is beautifully untouched and the water is stunningly blue.

If you decide to go south of Sunny Beach, your first stop should be Burgas. Burgas is a cosmopolitan seaside city that offers sandy beaches to relax on, beautiful botanical gardens to stroll through and good, good food all day long. Whether you go to one of the small patisseries and buy yourself a banichka (a traditional Bulgarian pastry usually filled with white cheese) or get a dinner of shopska salad and seafood (mussels and baby-squid around here are very fresh and tender), Burgas' cuisine won't disappoint you. And if you are feeling hot get yourself a cold yogurt covered with jam and thanks us later.

A half-hour drive south of Burgas will take you to another fantastic little town with a long history - Sozopol. Similiarly to Nessebar, Ancient Sozopol's charm lies in the 28-centuries-old building guarding tiny rocky streets and overlooking the beautiful Black Sea. In the summer it could get quite hot around here, so we advise you to grab for lunch the local cold soup called Tarator. If you are looking for a luxurious place to stay, Sozopol's New Town has many to offer and all of them within walking distance from the beach. The other good option for accommodation close by is Zlatnata Ribka camping area (Gold Fish).

To really be alone next to the sea, take a trip to Varvara. Locals will probably not speak English, yet we think your best option of accommodation around here is homestaying. If you manage to convince a local grandma to give you accommodation for a few nights, for around £5 a night you'll be rewarded with the breathtaking landscape of Varvara's rugged coastline and a gorgeous breakfast consisting of mekitsi (another traditional Bulgarian pastry) and airian (a cold drink of mixed water and yogurt). Promise you no other breakfast tastes better.

To wrap it up: Bulgaria's Black Sea has a fascinating history, friendly people, delicious food, and comes cheap. Pack your sunglasses, a book and sunscreen, and plan your trip to Bulgaria before everyone else starts going there and the price raises

see more at: http://www.msn.com/en-ie/travel/news/this-is-why-bulgarias-black-sea-best-for-budget-travel-this-summer/ar-BBuKBhd?li=AA5afI&ocid=spartanntp#image=BBuKT10|2