You must have been very unlucky in who you met, the bulgarians are fine in my experience I've been there a few times and met lots of em because one of my step-parents is from there. The women are a bit nutty but generally the people are nice and friendly. Perhaps they just hated you.
There's certainly much better holiday destinations, but its only a small place with barely the population of london, can't expect to be astonished. Nevertheless its got some cool little cities and there's plenty on offer plus as with much of eastern europe its cheap cheap cheap (I think i paid like the equivalent of 50p a pint!). Not to mention the lethal bulgarian homemade rakia, destroyed me that did; they are really heavy drinkers over there, beer isn't even considered alcohol its just a drink, only spirits count as actual alcohol.
Please no one take spade's opinions as fact, the bulgarians really are alright!