Anybody been to Bulgaria?

[bensbride]

My aunt is currently teaching at an international school in Sofia, Bulgaria and offered to purchase one of our tickets as a wedding gift if we choose to go to Bulgaria for our honeymoon. We would wait until fall 2009 or spring 2010, so that she''d actually be there when we arrived. If we went directly after the wedding in June 2009, she would be here in Iowa for the summer...so that won''t work.

Anyway, I''m just wondering if anybody has been to Bulgaria? I''ve asked my aunt over email how she likes it and what there is to do there, but she''s been so many places that she''s kind of disenchanted by anything at this point in her life. Greece is a bordering country, so I thought we could maybe take a train or a short flight over there for a few days if there wasn''t much in Sofia.

I''d love any input or advice about Bulgaria or what places in Greece we should consider. If anybody has any ideas, I''d really appreciate it! Thanks!

 

[Bia]

I think that is a really generous gift and I would probably take her up on it--depending on what I had in mind. I have never been there but everyone knows that Greece is amazing so if its a hop, skip and a jump away, that's a great perk! Also, so many places in Europe have soooooo many great things to see and experience (culture, history, architecture, people, etc., etc.) so anywhere in Europe is worth visiting IMO.

What had you originally had in mind for your honeymoon? If you wanted something tropical, where you lay on the beach all day, then obviously Bulgaria wouldn't be a great choice.

 

[bensbride]

Neither FI or I are big into the tropical or cruise thing. While I think its a fantastic relaxing awesome thing to do, we were just up for something a little different. I think we''ve for sure decided to go, I''m just trying to figure out if we''ll stay in Sofia or just visit my aunt a couple days and then go to Greece. I''m reading that skiing is a big thing in Bulgaria, but alas I''m too uncoordinated to EVER attempt skiing again. It was surely a sight to be seen the last time I put skis on!

 

[swimmer]

Fall in Bulgaria would be nice. Do you like beer? That was my main memory from hitch-hiking through many years ago headed to Istanbul (which is really quite close and just amazing). People were very friendly, the Black Sea does in fact have beaches, many are really lovely, some not so much. But that is true of most bodies of water. Since my info is dated, here is a Bulgarian travel website link and National Geographic makes anywhere look compelling link

Hey, would you ever make it there again? Side note: I personally loved having our honeymoon months later so we could plan after the wedding stuff was over...it also cut down on the post wedding dystopia/ennui that is often reported. Just focus on a new project! Would your aunt be able to suggest activities? I stayed at an amazing convent there, now that would be an unusual honeymoon stop, a convent!

 

[Loves Vintage]

I have not been, but I really want to go to Bulgaria!!!! I think there's a poster on here who lives in Sofia. Yes, there is! She posted in this thread: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/where-do-you-call-home.98653/ Maybe you can do a shout-out to her to ask for more information. I remembered her post because right about that time I was getting a hankering for going to Bulgaria!

How long do you plan to honeymoon for? I think it's an absolutely fabulous honeymoon idea if you like to travel like me. I tend to prefer gorgeous countryside, outdoorsy, nature-inspired (mountains, national parks, forests, sea) travel, spending few days in each town, city, park, having coffee with the locals, nice dinners here and there with meals of cheese and fresh, crusty bread peppered in between. Michael Palin traveled through Bulgaria in his "New Europe" travel series: http://palinstravels.co.uk/book-4362 I'd l

ve to see the Rila Mountains!!

I'd recommend picking up a Fodors or Frommers or similar such travel book and see where it takes you.

 

[Clairitek]

There is a Bulgarian guy living in my childhood room at the moment in my parents house. My parents have actually been over to Bulgaria to visit with his family and really loved it there. I''ll have to ask them specifically what they liked about it so much and get back to you. They do have Black Sea coastline which I''m sure has some nice spots on it. The guy who lives with my parents is from Varna which is one of the cities on the coast.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Here''s the link to the Bulgarian National Parks website: http://www.bulgariannationalparks.org/en/index.phtml

So much fun!!

 

[bensbride]

Thanks so much, you guys! PSers are ALWAYS lifesavers and sooo helpful!

Swimmer - I totally agree about waiting a little while! It gives me time to earn some more vacation time and give us time to plan without worrying about all the wedding details! I think we might head over to Chicago for a few days after the wedding to just get away and relax...any excuse for me to go to a Cubs game! I lived there for a few years after graduation, so I know my way around and it wouldn''t be too stressful.

Loves Vintage - Thanks so much for the link! I put a shoutout up in Hangout for AdiS! I think we''ll probably go for a week and a half or two weeks, including travel time...assuming my FI can get the time off work. We''re also more the "taking in the beautiful outdoors" type. Thanks so much for the national forest links! That sounds wonderful.

Clairitek - Thanks for the help! I''d love to hear highlights of your parents'' trip!

 

[Pandora II]

I've not been myself, but my parents and brother and sister have - and didn't care for it at all.

They also had their room broken into and a lot of their luggage stolen.

It wouldn't be top of my list of places to visit in Europe.

Neither would Greece which I really disliked of all the places I have ever visited.

Turkey is lovely... as is Croatia, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Czech Republic...

The Baltic states are 'interesting', but not what I would call a honeymoon destination.

 

[bensbride]

Well, while in Bulgaria we will be staying at my aunt''s apartment for a few days...not at a hotel. I realize this isn''t the MOST romantic option, but it will be free and comfortable and safe. If we travel elsewhere, I''m not sure where we''re planning to stay. I realize Bulgaria isn''t probably the #1 tourist destination ever, but we can''t pass up a free ticket as a gift.

 

[swimmer]

Date: 12/10/2008 1:45:13 PM
Author: bensbride
Well, while in Bulgaria we will be staying at my aunt''s apartment for a few days...not at a hotel. I realize this isn''t the MOST romantic option, but it will be free and comfortable and safe. If we travel elsewhere, I''m not sure where we''re planning to stay. I realize Bulgaria isn''t probably the #1 tourist destination ever, but we can''t pass up a free ticket as a gift.

So, it sounds like you are Bulgaria-bound. How exciting! (name your first daughter Sophia in honor of your honeymoon?) I looked some more and it seems like hot spring mineral spas are all the rage near Sophia. That could be fantastically relaxing. How about for a 9 day trip 2.5 days in Bulgaria to chill, take in the sights, (forests, ruins, local carbohydrates), and then head to....anywhere you want in Europe! Ryanair had prices as low as 40euro Sophia to london flights. Or how about a romantic trainride? 5 days elsewhere, and then two days at the end relaxing again and visiting with your aunt...

I was in Greece this summer and enjoyed it, but eh, it was fine. Folks who have traveled a ton get a bit blase about places but it doesn''t mean that you won''t have the most amazing honeymoon. Hey, its just the two of you on an adventure together, what could be better? The question is now, where do you want to go? Istanbul is romantic, exotic, and cheap. Paris is romantic, expensive, and yet possibly worth it to you.

Bust out a map and think about what you want. What a wonderful present! Side note, the dollar is oddly high lately and the euro shouldn''t be as painful as it has been recently. Have a fantastic time planning your honeymoon! psssst, several people gave me weird questions about our honeymoon to Argentina, I just ignored them and thought about the cheap steak and wine we were looking forward to. Find something that you are psyched about! Free tix alone are awesome reasons to smile, now make your peace with Bulgaria and ______.

 

[Deelight]

The thing about Europe is once your there every country is a hop, skip and a jump away .

 

[AdiS]

Ok, I saw the shoutout for me in Hangout and I''m making a list of interesting places and things to do for bensbride.

I''ll post it in the Hangout thread, just in case anyone else''s interested!

 

[reyang]

I was in Bulgaria for a wedding last September and the newly married couple stayed on in Bulgaria for a couple of weeks for their honeymoon. The wedding was in Sliven a small town in central Bulgaria where the groom''s family is originally from (the bride''s American) and they honeymooned in Varna on the Black Sea. I think it''s the best Bulgarian option if you''re looking for both historical sightseeing and seaside beach resorts.

 

[Clairitek]

I spoke to my mother last night and she gave me some more information on why she and my father loved Bulgaria. She said that her favorite part of it was how ancient everything is there. The architecture and culture have been around for a very very long time. She said that they have many kinds of landscape as well- mountains inland and then the Black Sea coast they saw while in Varna (where they spent most of their time). She said the food was delicious and that the nightlife was fun too.

Funny story- My father celebrated his birthday over there and apparently had a little too much wine at dinner. He was down in the disco on the first floor of the hotel they were staying in trying to dance. He was drunk enough that my mother put him in the hotel room and LOCKED HIM IN from the outside to keep him from going back to downstairs to dance. My father doesn''t drink a whole lot so this whole story was hilarious to me.