- Prices
- Beaches
- Weather
- Resorts
- sights
- Small pluses of Bulgaria and Croatia
- A spoon of tar
- Summing up
Where is it cheaper - and where is it better to go with a child? In which country can you feel like a hero of the Game of Thrones, and where - to see how fires are extinguished directly from the sea? In one country, the hotel business is more developed, in another, the excursion program is more interesting. Each country is beautiful in its own way - and each has small flaws. It cannot be said which is better. We will tell you everything we know about Bulgaria and Croatia, and you will decide where to go on vacation.
Where to go in the summer? Instead of the already bored Turkey and Egypt, tourists are increasingly looking at Bulgaria and Croatia. And for some reason, our man in the street has developed a stereotype, they say, all these Balkan countries are the same. This is not true. Bulgaria and Croatia are very different - you will see this by visiting both countries.
Prices
In Bulgaria, prices are much lower. This is the most suitable option for the budget traveler. It has cheap food and decent facilities for a minimal fee. The cost of vouchers is significantly different: in Bulgaria they are half the price. Although holidays in Croatia will cost a little more, the country is also not distinguished by high prices. For clarity: in Bulgaria a half-liter bottle of beer costs an average of 61 euro cent, and in Croatia - 95. Lunch for one in an inexpensive Bulgarian restaurant will cost 5 euro; Croatian - 6 euros.
Beaches
In Bulgaria, most of the beaches are sandy. Rocky beaches prevail in Croatia. It can be both harmless pebbles and large sharp rocks. In some places, the entrance to the sea is so inconvenient that swimming is possible only in special slippers with rubber soles.
As for water, Croatia has an advantage here. The sea is clean and transparent. In Bulgaria, impressions of a vacation can be spoiled not only by muddy water, but also by the garbage floating in places.
Weather
Although the countries are on almost the same latitude, the climate is slightly different. It makes sense to go to Bulgaria only in July. Visiting the country in August, you risk not catching the beach weather. Sometimes the summer here does not differ much from the Moscow one: the same clouds, rains and even a thunderstorm.
In Croatia, summer weather is a little more like a resort idyll. It is quite warm here in June and August, and there are almost no dense clouds. But at the very peak of the heat, it is not advised to go to Croatia. The point is the forest fires that break out from time to time in the mountains. The entire coast is covered with smog, and the smell is not the most pleasant.
But the spectacle is quite fascinating: the plane, almost landing on the sea, scoops up water into a special reservoir, and, having risen, overturns a giant vessel directly to the place of the fire. The show ends at lunchtime. And after refreshed, the firefighters get to work again.
Resorts
Bulgaria is a family holiday country. Five-star complexes with the All Inclusive system feel best here. Large hotels with a rich buffet, entertainment for adults and children, every day is a new holiday.
You can find similar establishments in Croatia too. But traditional vacation here is renting a small private apartment or camping in nature. And also Croatia is the number one country for nudists.
sights
It is boring to spend the whole vacation on the beach without leaving the gate of the hotel complex. You need to get out to see the surroundings for at least a couple of days.
Hunters for picturesque landscapes should visit Croatia at least once. There are more than enough beautiful places here. Any settlement or hamlet is already an attraction: neat houses with red tiles and temples with turrets will not leave anyone indifferent. The pearl not only of Croatia, but of the whole of Europe, is old Dubrovnik. You shouldn't even write about him: it's better to see once than to read a hundred times.
Nature is just as impressive. The Krka nature reserve with picturesque waterfalls is located 90 kilometers from Split. The most impressive point in Croatia, which tourists from all over the world come to see, is Plitvice Lakes. There are many small islands in Croatia. In the end, you can just sail on a yacht and admire the scenery.
If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, then you will surely be delighted with the trip to Croatia. After all, it is here that the cult series is filmed. The castle in which the events unfold is not a pavilion scenery, but real Croatian fortresses. For example, Mierim is actually the Klis fortress located in Split. And King's Landing is nothing more than Dubrovnik.
In terms of sights, Bulgaria is slightly inferior to Croatia. After driving through major cities, you will not see anything unusual. There is a saying: chicken is not a bird, Bulgaria is not abroad. It certainly differs in some way from the CIS countries, but certainly not in urban views. The resorts are very reminiscent of the Crimea. And if you take a ride inland, you get the impression that you did not leave your native country.
If you go anywhere, then to small towns like Sozopol or Nessebar. It is quiet and cozy here, and the lovely wooden houses do not remind of the socialist past of Bulgaria.
Travel companies now and then offer excursions anywhere and on anything. Don't get fooled. The program will be sucked from the finger - then you will regret spending so much money. Better to rent a car and go for a walk on your own: it's much more interesting.
Small pluses of Bulgaria and Croatia
Bulgaria. Relaxing on the beach here is a real pleasure. The coasts delight not only with soft golden sand, but also with stunning shells of all shapes and colors scattered over it.
Croatia. Here you don't have to spend money on mineral water. The water is clean everywhere: you can safely drink it directly from the tap. As for the views, it is beautiful everywhere, not to mention the picturesque villages and surrounding landscapes. What are the viaducts alone! For those who do not know: a viaduct is a kind of bridge over the mountains. Instead of meandering roads, straight bridges with frequent high abutments were erected here.
A spoon of tar
Forest fires in Croatia - smoke can ruin not only the air, but also your photos. Going into the water, you need to carefully look at your feet. And it's not even about the sharp edges of the stones lying at the bottom. Underfoot can be a whole zoo of marine life, harmless and not so. You can spend the rest of your rest in the hospital, just stepping on some poisonous fish. Avoid sea urchins: their needles are very difficult to pull out. Special rubber slippers will protect you from dangerous sea creatures. Take the time to buy them at your nearest supermarket.
A small nuisance awaiting tourists in Bulgaria is sea bugs. There are many of them - and they bite painfully. Bulgaria has another unpleasant feature. Almost everyone who comes here gets a cold. The point is either in the insidious weather, or in the not too clean Black Sea.
Here are some tips for travelers from experienced tourists:
- Don't book excursions. A guide who mumbles in broken English will only interfere with viewing the beauty of the surrounding attractions.
- If you are traveling to Bulgaria, take care of a first aid kit for all occasions. By the end of the rest, it will be very offensive to sleep with the temperature.
- Take warm clothes to Croatia. If you decide to take a walk in the mountains or go to the already mentioned Plitvice Lakes, you will need a warm jacket. The air temperature will be much lower than on the beach.
Summing up
If you do not have a significant budget, opt for Bulgaria. Here prices are noticeably lower. In addition, you can get to Bulgaria by car or bus - it will cost much less than a flight.
For colorful landscapes and natural wonders, visit Croatia. Beautiful views are here at every turn. Visit old Dubrovnik and spend some money on a walk along the fortress wall that surrounds the city. Go to Plitvice Lakes and Krka Park.
Bulgaria is considered a great place for a comfortable family vacation. The entire coastline is strewn with hotels and All Inclusive complexes. Everywhere there is an entertainment program for the whole family: perky animators will not let you get bored, even if you never leave the territory of the institution.
However, it is not worth generalizing. And in Croatia you can easily find a comfortable complex for a family vacation, where everything is at hand. In both countries there are hotels with different pricing policies. The main thing is to find what suits you.
Nor can it be said that all Croatian beaches are inconvenient or dangerous. Here you can find a beautiful sandy beach with a flat entrance to the sea.
Both in Croatia and in Bulgaria, almost any tourist can find a place for himself. We wish you a bright and unforgettable stay!
