Bulgaria is beautiful. 

And at my destination on the Black Sea coast the beaches are golden, the culture is vibrant and the subtropical climate ideal for anyone wanting to sunbathe, explore or take a dip in the warm waters.

Yet prior to my departure, when I told friends and family where I was going, there was almost universal scepticism.

I was told Sunny Beach – my chosen resort – had a reputation for loose living decadence fuelled by cheap booze and an “anything goes” culture.

This perception, it seems, has been propagated by documentaries following groups of teens embarking on their first holidays abroad without their parents, playing up to the camera and indulging in all manner of eye-popping hedonism.

So when I boarded my flight from Gatwick to Bourgas, my excitement was mixed with a smidge of trepidation.

But then I sat next to Bill, an 84-year-old retired RAF officer who has visited Bulgaria every year since 1967. He told a very different story of a country steeped in history with friendly, welcoming people which embraces families and has a little something for everyone.

And when I arrived he was proven right.

Based at popular Hotel Fenix, right in the heart of Sunny Beach and yards from the sand, I was struck by its vibrancy.

Rows of quirky shops line the streets with tourists able to wander past portrait artists, stalls, restaurants and ice cream sellers with the sound of waves nearby.

Horse and carriages carrying couples, families and friends trot along – it is somewhere unashamedly dedicated to the enjoyment of its visitors.

For all the busyness, however, it remains clean, and you begin to see why this purpose built resort became so popular with Russians during the Soviet era.

The beach has thousands of white sun loungers, but just like any comparable resort in Europe the atmosphere is one of fun – there are those sitting on their towel reading, children building sandcastles and adventurous water-skiing and parasailing.

No sign of the hedonism I was promised.

So in the interests of thorough journalism I, accompanied with six fellow Brits, headed out for a night on the town. It is true pints of beer can be bought for a matter of pennies and there are an array of special deals to draw punters in.

Revellers do dance on the bars – but aside from this there are few sights too different from what you might see in Bournemouth on a Friday night. On the whole the party-animals just want to have a fun time and the atmosphere on the streets is good.

There is an array of restaurants too – it is not just all about the dark clubs and pumping dance music.

But all of this pales in comparison to what is just a 40 minute stroll or short land train ride away.

Nesebar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for all manner of reasons.

This ancient city is like its own self-contained museum and as you wander in, passing the iconic wooden windmill, you are overwhelmed by historic buildings and monuments.

With 40 churches, it is said to have the highest concentration of Christian buildings per capita in the world. And excursions to the Blue Mountains and Istanbul are easily booked via Balkan Holidays too.

For anyone considering a holiday in the sun, Bulgaria deserves to be in the same contention as any other country in Europe.

Factfile

Sunny Beach offers fantastic value for money – with a pint of beer costing only £1 and you can get a three course dinner with drinks for a family of four in resort for around £30.

A seven night break at the four star Hotel Fenix, Sunny Beach costs from £381 per person half board including return flights from Gatwick to Bourgas and transfers to and from the resort, departing Sept 13, 2015 staying in a twin room with balcony.

For bookings go to balkanholidays.co.uk or call reservations at 0207 543 5555.