Well it might not be a very good summer, but it is, nevertheless, summer, and next year's brochures are starting to arrive!

One destination that has grown in popularity over the last number of years is Bulgaria. It is now one of the most sought-after destinations from Ireland.

Bulgaria is known as the "Jewel of the Balkans" and is a country of beautiful, unspoilt scenery, with miles of golden sandy beaches.

It is rich in tradition and culture with beachside resorts offering relaxing holidays by the Black Sea followed by great nightlife in bars and restaurants dotted along the coastline.

Situated in South Eastern Europe Bulgaria features ancient cities and picturesque hilltop villages.

Some of the best-known resorts in Bulgaria are featured in brochures from Ireland including Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Elenite and Albena.

Golden Sands is the largest resort on the northern black sea coast.

It is situated in the beautiful natural park – Zlatni Piasaci, home to a variety of wild life and natural springs.

This resort boasts rich wooded hills, pale yellow sand and crystal clear warm waters.

This is a beach lover's paradise with a good selection of water sports and a nightlife that gets really busy in the summer months. As the name suggests Sunny Beach is the sunniest resort with the longest, widest beach strip.

This resort is well established and is ideal for families.

A host of pavement stalls provides you with the opportunity to pick up some local arts and crafts.

There is excellent nightlife in this resort with a variety of discos, nightclubs, beach-bars, restaurants and bars.

The flight from Ireland takes three and a half hours and the transfer times to the various resorts take between thirty-five minutes and two hours and ten minutes, with Golden Sands being one of the furthest away.

Some of the hotels are brand new having only opened their doors this year and the facilities should be excellent.

Bulgaria is good value for money. The currency in Bulgaria is the Lev.

There are a good variety of hotels on offer, and I would be inclined to encourage costumers to book four star and this will be equivalent to three star accommodation here in Ireland.

I could be wrong about this but most of our customers would be of the opinion that the star rating in Bulgaria is not as high as in Ireland.

Some of the attractions in Bulgaria are the great value spa treatments available in many of the hotels.

Everything from chocolate massage to wine baths are available and at a fraction of the prices charged in Ireland.

Even in the winter Bulgaria is a fabulous destination and we are in the process of putting a fabulous ski group together for this coming winter to Bulgaria.

We will be working with a local nightclub and bringing out our own entertainment and it should be fantastic.

Winter or summer, Bulgaria is a great destination and worth visiting at least once, although I suspect you will be tempted to return.