Until most recently, Sveti Vlas was a little-known hamlet on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. The village, situated north of the summer resort Slunchev Bryag (Sunny Beach), used to attract holiday makers seeking something other than five-star service.
Today the picture is slightly different. Sveti Vlas has joined the other tourist destinations in the fight to draw the most customers. This desire of every resort has turned Sveti Vlas into an attractive place with a beautiful yacht marina offering all the conditions a tourist might want. These are now in direct competition with its bigger brother, Slunchev Bryag.
Proof of this is the small hotel with the romantic name Villa Kefalonia, named after the largest of the Ionian islands. The Greek origin of this name coincides with the atmosphere of the place – traditional Greek style. The brand-new hotel (building and all) is at the northern end of Sveti Vlas, just 50 metres from the beach. The hotel does not have a restaurant – and this is not the only thing that might surprise you while staying there. In fact, Villa Kefalonia has been designed to be exactly that – your own summer villa, a place where you feel at home, completely independent and enjoy your summer holiday at the sea.
If you are planning to go down the shore with your family, or with friends, Villa Kefalonia offers you the choice of 15 furnished apartments with living rooms, small kitchens and spacious bathrooms. All of this is enough for a full-scale rest for a group of three or four. The large fridge in the kitchen can be filled to the brim with a brief trip to Bourgas, the big town in the area, 35km south of Sveti Vlas. If you do not fancy such a journey and prefer to spend your time on the beach under the sun, the hosts of the villa will take any order you might have and deliver everything on your list at reasonable prices.
The set-up at the villa allows you not only rest but also the possibility to invite guests for the weekend. The kitchen is equipped with every culinary appliance known to man. It will help you impress your friends and look like a real chef, even if you are just making ham and eggs.
If you have no desire to whip up miracles in the kitchen, you can simply ask the hosts to start the barbecue in the yard. It is your choice what to grill – be it your mother-in-law or juicy steaks. You simply need to make a list of the required products and hand it to the hosts in advance, who again will take care of everything. Several hours spent around the barbecue guarantees you a great time. There are always people gathering for just a beer and a chat with the “neighbours”.
For couples who seek a romantic experience, Villa Kefalonia offers six lovely studios with areas for rest and entertainment. They also have a small kitchen. If this is not enough for your time-for-two retreat, the balconies of the studios are designed as small green areas where you can give a flower to your beloved each morning, and each night enjoy the calm of the summer sky.
After hours, you can spend your time visiting the numerous bars and disco clubs in Sveti Vlas, just a stroll from the villa. Or if the beach has served its purpose of relaxing you, simply spend the night around the swimming pool with a cocktail in one hand and a cigar in the other.
In the villa’s yard, you will find a small shop that offers fruit, vegetables, meat products, sandwiches and beverages. This little shop answers to the whole atmosphere of the villa. It resembles your own larder at home, from which you can always grab a drink or a snack on your way to the beach. The prices in this “larder” are lower than the market ones.
It is the middle of August and if you have already spent your summer holiday, it is not too late to experience one more weekend at the seaside. For those keen on spending time at the beach in the autumn, the tranquillity and quietness of Villa Kefalonia will serve you well.
The beaches of Sveti Vlas are just a step away from Villa Kefalonia, manned by trained life guards and equipped with umbrellas and chaises longues available for hire.
The access to the beach is free of charge and everybody is welcome to use it at any time. In addition to the surf and sand, the beach line offers you the option of having a relaxing massage, which, together with the beach bars, will make your time really pleasant. The summer is still on; enjoy it.
Tel: 02 958 23 14
http://villakefalonia.com
