RUSALKA - SMALL COMPLEX WITH BEACHES LIKE IN GREECE, LOCATED IN NORTHEAST BULGARIA, VERY CLOSE TO ROMANIA
In this article I am presenting a seaside destination, which can be an alternative for other busier resorts, to spend a weekend at the sea. Judging by the fact that it is a very quiet place, with not too many tourist, I assume I am coming with a relatively undiscovered beautiful place.
As the title of the article already announced, I'm going to tell you about some of the beaches that delighted me the most from those seen on the Black Sea. If I will convince you, or on the contrary, I will make you think about a visit to this place, you will find out after reading this article. I tell you my experience and opinions regarding the Rusalka complex, both good and bad, because although nature helps a lot, there are many things that should be improved, related to people and investments.
HOW TO GET TO THE RUSALKA COMPLEX (RUSALKA RESORT, KNOWN AS RUSALKA HOLIDAY VILLAGE)
Located at a distance of approximately 50 km from Vama Veche, Romania and 5 km from Kaliakra, Rusalka Holiday Village or Rusalka Resort, it promises to be the place where you can enjoy rocky beaches and at the same time, with fine sand, slightly different from most of the Black Sea beaches.
It is very easy to get here by crossing the border at Vama Veche, the road being completely asphalted until you reach the complex. Once you leave Romania, follow the road to Shabla. The best option is if you follow the road from the coast, i.e. to the left of Shabla. After passing Kamen Bryag and reaching Sveti Nikola, we go left again. After a descent with a spectacular view of the sea, we reach our destination.
ABOUT RUSSALKA RESORT, BULGARIA
The resort itself does not have the best ratings and reviews, but I still chose to write about this place, because it is quite close to Romania and you can choose the option of staying at the beach without booking an accommodation there. The beaches are absolutely fascinating, and the location reminds me of Greece. Also, the complex is in a renovation process, and some bungalows already look much better, and those are my booking recommendation if you stay at this resort.
Once you arrive, you will leave the car at the entrance, in a parking lot of the complex, which costs around 3 leva/day. To the left of the parking is the reception. From there you will be picked up by a golf cart, along with your luggage, to the bungalow where you will be accommodated. There is also the possibility to come here just for the beach and pay an entrance and parking fee. It is also the option that I recommend, more because of the food, not necessarily the accommodation, where you have two options.
Rusalka Holiday Village is a complex of bungalows available for accommodation, equipped with their own bathroom, some of them also have a small terrace. They are located in an area with green grass and trees, but not very far from the sea. As I said above, not all of them ended up being renovated, so if you choose the non-renovated version, expect to be disappointed, because the rooms have remained the same as in the medieval period. Sorry, I meant the communist period. A small plus would be that it is cleaned daily. Also, there is internet in the room, but it costs 5 leva/day.
The area where the food is served is located next to one of the beaches, with a superb view of the sea. The food is charges separately and is self-service. The quality of the food leaves much to be desired, unfortunately. Besides this aspect related to the quality of the food, the meal is served between certain hours and if you don't come at the opening time, you may find out that you don't have many options, even if you pay the full price. Within the resort there is a mini-market, where you can buy souvenirs, an area where you can play tennis, a spa area with swimming pool and fitness room, all at an additional cost.
The resort has two beaches that you can choose from, both absolutely gorgeous, these being the only reason that I would recommend this location. The beaches are equipped with sunbeds, provided free of charge, but for which no mattress is provided 😒.
Both beaches are also suitable for children. Although they are rocky, they are cleared of stones, and the sand is very fine. In some areas of the water there are rocks from which you can jump.
In the second part of the afternoon, the beach in the picture below is completely shaded. This beach is also served by a bar where you can buy soft drinks and ice cream.
The beaches are formed in mini-bays, as a result the water is very calm and without waves, ideal for relaxing on the mattress or practicing various sports such as snorkeling, paddle or kayak, if you have the necessary equipment. Therefore, you must have your snorkeling equipment with you, because the water is quite crystal clear and you might be lucky to see something. There is the possibility to do diving organized by the people of the complex, for a fee, of course.
The beaches are ideal for photography. I recommend catching the "golden hour" in the morning, not in the evening. We couldn't miss a photo shoot next to the rocks on the beach. If you want some tips on how to take good photos when you travel, I recommend you to read an article that contains some tricks that I apply.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT AND ACTIVITIES NEAR RUSALKA:
The cliffs of Tyulenovo, where, unfortunately, there is no beach, but there are several places from which you can enter the sea quite easily. It is necessary to have water shoes;
The Castle of Queen Maria from Balchik, which I especially recommend for the garden that surrounds it. The location is absolutely gorgeous;
The cape and the old fortress of Kaliakra, the place where history and the beauty of the landscapes combine perfectly;
Bolata Bay, one of the most interesting beaches on the Bulgarian coast. I recommend this location only for admiring the bay from above, not necessarily for the beach. During our visit it was extremely dirty, and the surroundings smelled strongly of human feces;
Kavarna, a small and quiet resort, located in a bay;
Krapetz is a quiet little village with long and wild beaches. It is the ideal place for relaxation;
Albena is one of the most famous resorts on the Bulgarian coast. During the communist period, many hotels were built, and many of them welcome tourists who want to enjoy the all inclusive experience, and not only that; The beaches are clean, with fine sand and smooth entry into the water;
Kranevo is a location with quiet beaches, with a smooth entry into the water. There are both sunbed areas and free areas for towels;
Constantin and Elena resort is a quiet place, ideal for relaxation. Most of the hotels are located near the beach. Depending on the location, some beaches have a smooth entrance into the water, others quite steep;
Varna is the largest city in the north-east of Bulgaria, comparable to Constanta, so you have both tourist attractions and beaches that you can enjoy;
Organized excursion departing from Varna, to Balcic and Kaliakra, details here;
Kayaking on the Kamchia river, near Varna, bookings here;
OTHER ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS NEARBY:
If what Russalka offers in terms of accommodation does not delight you, I leave below some options from locations located at a relatively short distance:
Thracian cliffs Апартамент Голф холидей - apartment-type accommodation unit, which can accommodate up to 3 people. It has an outdoor swimming pool, and there are 3 beaches with fine sand in the area. Parking and internet are included in the reservation price;
Villa Tatalia, Bozhurets - villa-type accommodation unit, which is can be rented entirely. It can accommodate up to 8 people and is located 18 km from Balchik. It has an outdoor pool, a bar area, a barbecue area and a fully equipped kitchen. Parking and internet are included in the reservation price;
Talisman - villa-type accommodation unit, which can accommodate up to 5 people, located in Kavarna. The location has a terrace, sea view and parking included in the reservation price;
Hotel Tyulenovo - accommodation unit with double, triple or family rooms. It has room service, private beach and parking included in the reservation price;
CONCLUSION ABOUT RUSSALKA RESORT:
In conclusion, for the Black Sea, from my side, the beaches get a 10+ and once again the Bulgarian coastline pleasantly surprises me. I did not expect such a place to exist so close to Romania, with such beautiful beaches. The only negative point would be the administration of the complex, which leaves much to be desired. The resort still has that communist air and you have the impression that you have gone back in time. . But I noticed that this seems like it will change in the future, even though the renovation steps are moving slowly. There is also an advantage in all these aspects, namely that it is not crowded. We were there in August, when it should be in full season and it was quite empty.
With all the minuses related to management, I would return to this place, because the aspects related to what nature offers weigh much more in terms of personal preferences. The beaches are absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth at least a one-day visit.
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