No doubt about it, Europe has great slopes to offer skiers of all ages or skills. But if you venture up the most famous mountains in Austria or Switzerland, they’ll set you back a pretty penny, with expensive ski passes, overpriced food, pricey accommodation… you name it. However, snow hounds on a budget, shouldn’t despair. » Read more
Bulgaria: Budget Travel Guide
It’s never too early to start planning next year’s European vacations. If you’re looking for somewhere new to explore in 2019, you should think about booking a trip to one of the European Capitals of Culture: Plovdiv, Bulgaria. If you’ve never been to Plovdiv, you can enjoy a new European destination while soaking in world-class » Read more
If you plan on visiting Bulgaria, don’t overlook the country’s second-largest city — Plovdiv. Packed with old-world architecture, an impressive ancient Roman theater, and one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe, Plovdiv is an excellent choice for budget travelers with a taste for culture. And speaking of culture, Plovdiv is scheduled to be the » Read more
It’s always exciting to visit a new city and stay at a new hotel — especially when it surpasses your expectations. I had heard from many people that Plovdiv was one of the gems of Bulgaria, so when I added this ancient city to my itinerary, I started searching for a hotel. You can easily find » Read more
Have you ever been to Kosovo? And no, I’m not talking about the state in the Balkans. The Kosovo I’m talking about is a tiny and picturesque Bulgarian village nestled in the Rhodope Mountains about an hour from Plovdiv and two hours from Sofia. Home to only eight permanent residents, Kosovo, Bulgaria is a beautiful but » Read more
There is a lovely anecdote in the introduction to Annie Kay’s Bradt Guide to Bulgaria. It tells how God was dividing up the Earth between all the different peoples. True to form, the Bulgarians turned up late and there was nothing left. But the good Lord took pity on the Bulgarians and gave them a » Read more
Sofia boasts an oddball mix of museums and galleries. Probably not a lot of Cheapos would normally add the National Museum of Military History (92 Cherkovna str.) to their list of “must-see” sights in the Bulgarian capital. The Web site is not calculated to wow the casual surfer, but it does have some splendid promotional » Read more
Travelers to Bulgaria short on time will be pleased to know that Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city, is often referred to concentrated in Plovdiv’s Old Town—can be seen in a single day. Built around three hills under Roman rule in the 1st century A.D., Old Plovdiv (known in Roman times as Trimontium) a very walkable » Read more
Photo by Sunnia Ko In Bulgaria, herbivores and carnivores alike can enjoy the delightful and addictive red pepper relish known as lyutenitsa. Made from red peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, sugar, and other spices, a little bit of lyutenitsa can add life to a dry piece of bread or any of the grilled meats so commonly » Read more
The beauty of travel in the Balkans is the authentic experience it provides its visitors. Without much of the tourist infrastructure set up in other parts of Europe, an adventure is always just around the corner. Like when you want to inquire about transport options to Montenegro from Bulgaria and your handy Bulgarian phrase book » Read more
