Boys, boys, boys… It’s that time of the year again. Time to start the long and delicate process of negotiations to convince your wife, girlfriend, kids, mother or boss that you’re perfectly capable of heading abroad with your mates for a relaxing few days in the sun without: a) spending six weeks’ wages shouting 300 strangers tequila jelly shots in the beach bar; b) drinking yourself into the next edition of Ripley’s Believe It or Not; c) waking up with amnesia in a foreign jail cell wearing a Spiderman costume and sporting a new tattoo of Beyoncé on your chest; or d) all of the above. Yes, it’s time for the Boys’ Weekend.
Assuming you’ve overcome any misgivings from your loved ones (because, let’s face it – none of that stuff above ever really happens… does it?), the next task is to come up with a location that does justice to the short amount of time you have. While thoughts of Benidorm, Marbella and Ibiza immediately come to mind, there’s a lesser-known place that’s definitely a contender: Sunny Beach. And just from the name you already love it, don’t you? You may be surprised, though, when you find out it’s not in Spain or Portugal – it’s in Bulgaria!
Sunny by Name…
…and most definitely Sunny by nature, Sunny Beach is situated on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. If you haven’t heard of it, there’s no need to hang your head in geographical shame, because plenty haven’t, but, rest assured, it’s absolutely spot on for a big boys’ getaway.
On the Beach
Clearly a lot of the fun at Sunny Beach revolves around the beach – and, er, the sun. You could lie around all day bronzing your beefcake, but come on – YOLO! You’re here for a good time not a long time, so step out of your comfort zone and get a little Bulgarian wind in your hair…
Jet skiing
There’s nothing more invigorating than cutting through the waves on a jet ski at top speed – and it’s even more fun when you’re doing it with your mates. You don’t need a licence, so, after a short briefing from the instructor, you’re off! The jet skis carry up to three people and you and your mates can head off on your own, or sign up for a Ski Safari (with a guide) for a few hours to explore a little further afield.
Black Sea Group, Sunny Beach, is located right on the beach. Prices for jet ski rentals start at 70lv (around £28) for 15 minutes up to a guided ski safari for 180lv (around £70).
Banana Boat
Ahh, the oldies are always the goodies and the ol’ banana boat ride is a great opportunity to get all your mates out on the water at the same time – and hopefully see a few of them fall in the water as well! Up to 12 people at once can climb aboard the big yellow inflatable banana and be towed at a rate of knots around the Black Sea – and who’ll make it back to shore is anybody’s guess…
Banana boat rides with Black Sea Group are 20lv (around £8) per person. Other water sports/rentals they offer include:
- Flyfish
- Speedboat rides
- Individual inflatables
- Parasailing
- The Seabreacher
Off the Beach
But contrary to its name, the fun to be had isn’t actually ALL on the beach at Sunny Beach. So, if we can coax you away for a few hours…
Quad Biking
Time to get down and dirty! Quad biking is a world of fun, but a word to the wise: don’t wear your only good clubbing shirt, because you’re going to get friendly with a whole lot of mud as you take your machine through its paces on the windy rural Bulgarian trails. After a basic instruction, you’ll be led by an experienced guide at full throttle along the twisting, turning tracks for an adrenaline infused experience. It’s as much fun as you can have off the beach, and the last one in buys the drinks!
A quad bike safari with PH Quads starts at 75lv (£29), transfers to and from the beginning of the trail are extra. For bookings ph: +359(0)895512616.
Paintball
Hunting down your mates and splattering them with paint ammo is all in good fun – although, admittedly, it’s also quite good revenge for old grudges! This is one of the most popular off-beach activities for big boys, and playing GI Joe for a few hours is a great way to clear out a dusty morning-after head. Everything’s provided (gun, armour, boots and mask) and you can choose from sessions with 100 or 200 balls – depending on your energy levels and just how badly you want that revenge…
Located at Burgas-varna Main Road, paintballing at Sunny Beach Paintball Park starts at 25lv per person.
Gun Range
If you’re more into grey steel than blue steel, forget your model posing on the beach and get out on the shooting range. You’ll get to shoot a huge range of gun models – up to 11 different types – with varying amounts of ammo, depending on your package. Scorecards are kept so you’ll be able to determine who’s the best shot. (It’s you, of course.) Among the iconic guns available are Rugers, Glocks, Makarovs and Sig Saueers; it’s enough to make any gun enthusiast weak at the knees, but now’s probably not the time…
The Condor Shooting Range has packages of three, seven or a full arsenal of 11 guns. Prices start at around £35 per person.
So there you have it: the perfect boys’ weekend getaway at Sunny Beach! A lively culture (and by that I mean loads of bars serving cheap beer), fabulous beaches and only a few hours from the UK by air – what more could you ask for? Oh yes, plenty of activities aside from bending your bar elbow? Tick.
How to Get to Sunny Beach from Bourgas
If you can get the guys to the airport wherever you are in the UK, you’re only a few hours short of your final goal at Sunny Beach. As an up-and-comer on the cheap holiday scene, there are several budget carriers flying in to the closest airport in Bulgaria, which is Bourgas, with a flight time from the UK of around three hours.
Once you land at Bourgas, convenient airport transfers to Sunny Beach are the best way of getting right to the door of your accommodation as quickly and as hassle-free as possible. Shuttle Direct offer budget friendly shared or private airport transfers to Sunny Beach that take just an hour, door-to-door.
Where to Stay
Balaton Hotel – Excellent for a wallet-friendly stay in Sunny Beach, the Balaton Hotel is quiet enough for a sleep in, but just a short walk to all the action of bars, cafes and restaurants. Stay in and enjoy the buffet breakfast, huge pool with terrace and free Wi-Fi, or get down to all the fun of the beach, just 150 metres away.
Kaya Apartments – Well, hello Sunny Beach! Reach out and touch the ocean from the Kaya Apartments, situated right on the waterfront promenade. You really can’t get closer, and the cool spacious apartments allow you to take full advantage of the views – without having to move an inch. And with the beach on your doorstep, free Wi-Fi, three restaurants downstairs and a fully equipped kitchenette in your apartment, there’s a good chance you won’t.
Aparthotel Grand Camelia – Five minutes from both the beach and the local aqua park, and with two pools onsite, there’s a good chance you’ll be spending a lot of time in the water with a stay at the Aparthotel Grand Camelia. Laze around the pool bar, top up your tan on the summer terrace, or get the party started on your own private balcony. Boys’ weekend in style!
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is the premier airport transfers company operating throughout Europe and North Africa. With our easy to navigate online booking system, all your onward travel arrangements can be in place before you leave home. Offering total peace of mind and a fast, budget friendly and convenient service, Shuttle Direct’s experienced local drivers will get you and your luggage to your accommodation in style.
