However, snow hounds on a budget, shouldn’t despair. Europe still has many great destinations where you can speed down snow-covered mountains at lower prices. We’ve gathered our top five spots for budget skiing in Europe, located in five different countries. We’re here to help you plan your next European ski trip, the cheapo way!

Top 5 destinations for budget skiing in Europe

1. Bansko, Bulgaria

Located about 100 miles from Sofia’s airport, Bansko has the longest ski season in Bulgaria, with snow-covered slopes from mid-December to mid-May. The town is nestled at the foot of the scenic Pirin Mountains and features a quaint old town square with stone buildings mixed in with modern lodges and restaurants that have popped up in recent years.

The ski runs are located in two main areas: Chalin Valog (3,600 – 5,250 feet) and Shilgarnika (5,577 – 8,202 feet). Although it does offer one black ski run, this ski resort is more suitable for beginner or intermediate skiers. Snowboarders can try out new tricks at the Balkans’ first snow park, complete with a half-pipe for ripping up the flakes.

Hotels: Rates start as low as $30 for a double room in Bansko. Search for accommodations in Bansko.

2. Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

Slovenia’s best-known ski resort is located a mere four miles from the border of both Italy and Austria, but you can blaze down the slopes here for far less cash. Kranjska Gora, a narrow valley situated between the Julian Alps and the Karavanke, offers nearly 20 miles of ski slopes serviced by 16 ski lifts, as well as breathtaking alpine views.

This family-friendly ski resort has several slopes ranging from around 2,600 to 5,325 feet. Although most of the trails are geared towards the beginner or intermediate skier, the Podkoren trail is more demanding. In fact, some of the world’s best skiers compete on this run every year for the acclaimed Vitranc Cup in men’s slalom and giant slalom races.

Hotels in Kranjska Gora: Rates for four-star hotels start under $70 per night. Search over 250 hotels in Kranjska Gora.

Riding the lift up the trails of Livigno, Italy with the village in the background. Photo: Peter

3. Livigno, Italy

Because of its remote location high up in the mountains of northern Italy, Livigno ski resort is known to locals as “Piccollo Tibet” (Little Tibet). Located near the Swiss border, Livigno makes an excellent alternative for skiers on a budget. Not only are the prices far less than their Swiss neighbors, this area, known as the Spol Valley, also enjoys a duty-free status. This means you can hit the slopes, then shop ‘til you drop, before partaking in a little lively après ski party time. Most suited to intermediate skiers, Livigno does have a handful of black runs as well as a snow park.

Hotels: The village of Livigno is comprised of three original villages that have merged to create a resort town that runs about 2.5 miles long. When choosing accommodation, make sure you have easy access to the ski lift and amenities. Although the village does offer a free ski bus service, the service doesn’t run regularly and stops fairly early in the evening. Search over 500 hotels in Livigno.

Skiing down into the valley at Brauneck Bergbahn. Photo: Sebastian W.

4. Brauneck Bergbahn, Germany

Located just over an hour south of Munich, the ski area on Brauneck Mountain has a lot to offer skiers of all ages and abilities. A family-friendly ski resort, Brauneck has everything from children’s areas with ski schools to cross-country ski trails and World Cup ski runs.

The town of Lenggries has a storybook charm. You’ll find plenty of guesthouses off country roads that serve up local Bavarian cuisine and beer at a nice price. If you want to add some sightseeing to your ski vacation, great sights and cities such as Munich, Salzburg, Oberammergau, Germany’s Romantic Road, and Neuschwanstein are all an easy drive an hour or less away.

Hotels: Find rooms for $100 and up in Lenggries.

Skiers getting ready to hit the slopes of Zakopane. Photo: MoFA

5. Zakopane, Poland

Zakopane is a ski resort nestled in the Tatra mountains, about two hours south of Krakow. An airport transfer bus from both Krakow and Katowice is possible, with prices ranging from $90 for 1 to 3 people. Most lifts in the area offer a pay-as-you-go rate. For beginners, this means lower prices than the more common day pass at other resorts, and more advanced skiers hankering to hit the slopes hard will still pay less than they would at pricier resorts in Western Europe.

Zakopane also boasts plenty of cheap eats and bargain drinks, so be sure and chow down on some pierogi washed down with a Polish Zywiec beer after your day of snowy fun. Check out our guide to Zakopane, Poland’s premier mountain resort.

Hotels in Zakopane: Rooms can be found for $50 and under per night. Search over 1,000 hotels in Zakopane.

Do you have a favorite ski slope that won’t break the bank? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 Affordable Ski Villages in Europe: The best budget-friendly slopes appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any tricks to make the most of your money on the road. Read on for 10 of our best tips to help you stretch your euros farther on your next trip to Southern Europe.

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• 12 Tips for traveling solo in Europe

Tips for saving in Southern Europe

Getting there cheaper

One of the biggest costs when it comes to Southern Europe is getting there. New budget airlines like Norwegian and Wow Air have helped keep prices down, but direct flights in peak season to destinations in Italy, Spain, Greece from the US still cost double — or even triple — the price of flights with stops. To spend less getting there, follow the two rules below:

TAP Portugal airlines taking off from Manchester. Photo: joolsgriff

1. Hub it for cheaper airfare

Hop the cheapest flight you can find into a major hub city (think London, Frankfurt, or Paris). Then book a seat on a European low-cost carrier like Ryanair, easyJet or Vueling the rest of the way to your destination. If you have extra time, you can even take a bus or train for a scenic and affordable ride.

Search for affordable flights with CheapoSearch

2. Travel during the off-peak season

Take advantage of southern Europe’s milder climate and travel during winter (but not Christmas), late fall or early spring. Not only will you get to see the sites minus the crowds, your flights will cost substantially less — you may even be able to get a deal on a direct flight.

Related: 8 Tips for finding cheap flights to Europe

Getting around without breaking the bank

The costs of ground transportation can really add up. Keep expenses on track during your time in Southern Europe with the tips below.

Tourists walking through Dubrovnik. Photo: Chris B.

3. Use your feet whenever possible

This is a no-brainer in sunny Southern Europe where even in winter, the weather is fairly mild and doesn’t get in the way of getting around on your own two feet (provided you bring weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes). That said, in many destinations like Barcelona, when it rains, it pours and drizzles for hours, and sometimes for days, so bring a rain poncho or an umbrella so that a little inclement weather doesn’t spoil your plans for a self-led walking tour around the old town.

4. Make the most of inexpensive public transit

Because of the comparatively low cost of living in Southern European countries, public transit is a serious bargain when compared to the cost of hopping a train or bus in Denmark or Switzerland.

Related: Tips for saving on transportation in Portugal

5. Car share to reach out-of-the-way attractions

Do yourself (and anyone else you might be traveling with) a favor — don’t take a million different modes of transportation to get to something. If the attraction or town you really want to see is hard to get to by public transit, take advantage of the generally lower car rental costs in Southern Europe or grab a rideshare with BlaBlaCar. What’s BlaBlaCar? Read about the ridesharing service, here.

Related: Calculating the “real cost” of a car rental in Europe

Saving on Food and Drink

One of our favorite things about traveling in Southern Europe is the quality to quantity ratio when it comes to the cost of food and drink. It’s one part of Europe where, if you really wanted to, you could probably afford to budget all of your meals out at restaurants — no supermarket runs required. Feast on delicious cuisine and sip local wine without emptying your wallet by keeping the following advice in mind.

Pasta is always a good choice for lunch in Italy. Photo: Flavio E.

6. Eat out at lunchtime

When it comes to great local food for less, the midday meal is where it’s at throughout Southern Europe. Fixed price menus offer cheap multi-course options — sometimes with water, bread and wine included!

Related: Don’t leave Rome without tasting these 5 classic dishes

7. Drink like a local

If you’re eating at a restaurant where beverages aren’t included, or you’re out at the bar, drink like a local. That means sticking to house wine, beer on tap, regional liquors — you name it. Ordering up a Bombay Sapphire and Schweppes isn’t going to save you any money or make you any friends. Try something new and have what the locals are drinking.

Related: 5 Tips for buying and saving on Spanish wine 

8. Munch on street food

When you want something to eat in off hours, or in the evenings when restaurants switch to a la carte menus, skip the fast food chains in favor of whatever street food’s popular with locals. Fill up on churros and fries from churrería stands in Spain, gyros and those tasty sesame bread rings in Greece and treats like panelle (hearty chickpea pancakes) and gelato in Italy.

Related: Eating for cheap at Barcelona’s best street food

Spending less on sleeping

Good news! When it comes to a place to rest your head, you can expect to pay substantially less per night in Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Croatia than elsewhere in Europe. Basic but clean and comfortable accommodations are widely available. With only €10, you can find bunks in shared dorms at most destinations, while private rooms (with a shared bathroom) start at just €20. Even if you go all out for a private room with a private bathroom, you can still find excellent hotels for €50 per night.

Related: When should you book hotels in Europe for the best rates?

Hostal Eixample offers 7 rooms in a lovely residential building in Barcelona.

9. Stay in small hotels and guesthouses

Around Southern Europe, particularly in smaller towns, staying in small guesthouses will cost you less than staying at hotel chains, or even sometimes, a private room at a hostel. These sorts of accommodations are mostly booked by and geared towards locals as opposed to international visitors. We include many of these in our lists for the best budget hotel guides to Barcelona, Rome, and Florence.

Related: Kosovo Houses in Bulgaria: An affordable escape to a scenic mountain village

10. Book a hotel room or hostel with kitchen access

Staying in a hotel, hostel, or apartment with kitchen access is a great way to save on expenses. Even with food and drink as cheap as it is in Southern Europe, you can save even more by cooking occasionally — and you’ll have a great excuse to spend a morning shopping for local ingredients at an open market.

Search for cheap hotels in Europe

Have you been anywhere in Southern Europe recently? Share your money-saving tips with us in the comments.

The post 10 Tips for saving in Southern Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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 European Capital of Culture in 2019, so you can expect to hear a lot more about this magnificent city. Plan a trip now before everyone has it on their European itinerary!

Here’s how to visit Plovdiv on a budget.

Getting to Plovdiv

From London: Direct flights from London Stansted Airport are offered on Ryanair (3.5 hours, one-way fares from $40).

Search for cheap flights to Europe

From Sofia: You can take a train to Plovdiv in 2.5 hours, but most locals prefer the bus because the train timetable is not always reliable. The bus leaves from the Central Sofia Station every hour, and the ride takes 2 hours to reach Plovdiv. A one-way fare is around $10.

Tip: Keep your ticket handy to check for your seat assignment.

Old Plovdiv Guesthouse is a paradise for budget travelers. Photo: Craig Nelson

Where to stay

It’s easy to find good deals on hotels across Bulgaria but Plovdiv has especially low prices. You can stay in a modern luxury hotel for half the price of many European cities, but what really stands out are the cozy and affordable guesthouses. Private rooms in these charming accommodations go for an incredibly low price — under $50 a night. Here are a few of our favorites in the Old Town:

Guest House Old Plovdiv
There’s an appealing old-world feel to this budget hotel with free breakfast. Rooms are furnished with antique furnishings and vintage art. The super friendly staff will welcome you with open arms (and a cold glass of lemonade). Read about our “hotel crush” on Guest House Old Plovdiv.

Residence Art Guest House
Behind the colorful facade, you’ll find modern rooms that feature city views and Wi-Fi. The price is hard to beat with double rooms with a private bathroom coming in under $20 and triple rooms for less than $30.

Guest House Maison 21
You can find double rooms with shared bathrooms for under $30 at this guesthouse in the heart of old town. Cheapos will love the shared kitchen to make meals. Groups or families may want to book one of the apartments for extra space.

Search over 700 hotels in Plovdiv on EuroCheapo

Getting around Plovdiv

If you love to walk, then you’ll love exploring this city. The main tourist areas are very compact and easy to navigate without a car. In fact, the Old Town has gates preventing most vehicles from entering. One of Europe’s longest pedestrians routes runs right through the central city stretching for over a mile.

Tip: Wear comfy shoes because the city is built on seven hills and there are many cobblestone streets.

Enjoy the view from Nebet Tepe, one of the seven hills of Plovdiv. Photo: Craig Nelson.

Free and cheap things to do

Free Plovdiv Tour
This 3-hour walking tour is a fantastic introduction to the history and layout of the city. If you can join this tour on your first day in Plovdiv, you’ll get a good feel for the city. Tours leave at 11 am and 6 pm every day of the week. There is no charge, but you are encouraged to tip the guide if you enjoy the experience. Check out the Free Plovdiv Tour website for more details.

Plovdiv Old Town
Wander the cobblestone streets of this historic district filled with spectacular architecture, churches, museums, and gift shops. Walk through an amazing history that stretches from Roman times to the beautifully preserved houses from the 19th century. Most of the hotels we recommend are based here.

Kapana (The Trap)
Despite its ominous nickname, this neighborhood is bustling with a creative energy. Visit Kapana during the day to check out trendy boutiques, eateries, and galleries, then come back when the sun goes down to explore the nightlife scene.

Discover cafes and galleries in the Kapana neighborhood. Photo: Craig Nelson

Ancient Roman Theater
Holding up to 7,000 spectators, this spectacular landmark is one of the best preserved ancient theaters in the world and a highlight of Plovdiv. Mountains frame the backdrop of the stage flanked by gigantic columns. It makes for a dramatic setting, and yes, they still host live performances (see the culture section below).

Tsar Simeon Gardens
On a sweltering day, the lake and fountains of this public park make a cool spot to take a break from sightseeing. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, you can watch the Singing Fountains light up the night  at 9:30 pm.

Regional Ethnographic Museum
Documenting the rich culture and history of Plovdiv, the Regional Ethnographic Museum features displays on traditional crafts, agriculture, clothing, and much more. Even if you don’t have time to check out the exhibits, the historic house and gardens are an attraction all themselves. The architecture is an outstanding example of Baroque design from the mid-19th century. Entry costs about $5.

Discover local culture at the Regional Ethnographic Museum. Photo: Craig Nelson

The main pedestrian street
Stroll past countless shops and restaurants along “Knyaz Aleksandar”, a vibrant street that stretches over a mile long. Keep an eye out for the Dzhumaya Mosque that dates back to the 15th century and the ancient Roman stadium ruins that are hiding beneath your feet. Grab a seat at a cafe or follow the locals’ lead and just wander at your own pace.

Nebet Tepe
For a lovely view of the city, make a detour from the winding cobblestone streets of Old Town to one of the spots where ancient Plovdiv began. Situated amid archaeological ruins, Nebet Tepe (Prayer Hill) is a sweet little park where you can relax and soak in the view.

Shopska salad and a cold beer at Restaurant Rahat Tepe. Photo: Craig Nelson

Eating and drinking

Old Town is brimming with restaurants — and tourists — so the prices here can be higher than elsewhere in the city. There are a few affordable options, but you might want to wander outside this district to find the best deals. Here are a few cheap eats that we like in Plovdiv:

Restaurant Rahat Tepe
Up the street from the Ethnographic Museum is Restaurant Rahat Tepe, a lively eatery and beer garden. You can sample traditional cuisine like grilled meats or just sip a Kamenitza (a popular beer in Bulgaria) at one of the outdoor tables. A full meal with appetizer, drinks, and main course won’t run you more than $10.

Grazhdanski Klubb
Take a seat on the patio for heaping portions of classic Bulgarian dishes. If the weather isn’t cooperating, head for the comfy dining room. This is one of the most affordable restaurants in Old Town.

Restaurant Megdana
Want a side of Bulgarian folk dancing with your meal? Try Restaurant Megdana for a night of traditional cuisine and fun entertainment. Despite the popularity with tourists, the prices are very reasonable. Be prepared to dance!

Tip: Head to Kapana (The Trap) neighborhood that’s filled with small restaurants and cafes. Pick one where the locals are spilling out onto the street.

Culture on the cheap

Plovdiv has an energetic arts scene with literature events, gallery openings, opera, chamber music, and live theater. Check the Visit Plovdiv Culture Calendar to see what’s going on.

Balabanov House
This architectural gem is open for tours, but the real draw at Balabanov House is the wide range of live performances from theater to classical music. The Balabanov House Music Days festival brings world-class talent to the city every spring and autumn.

A live opera on the stage of the Ancient Roman Theater. Photo: Craig Nelson

Ancient Roman Theatre
On my first day in town, the Free Plovdiv Tour took me right by the theater when they were rehearsing for an opera. I made a note to come back later that evening. Tickets were available ($5-20), but instead, I just grabbed a table at an outdoor cafe that overlooked the stage. A glass of raki (a traditional spirit) and a live performance cost me no more than $5. The surprising fireworks display was a brilliant conclusion to my introduction to Plovdiv!

Have you been to Plovdiv? Share your tips in the comments!

The post A Budget guide to Plovdiv, Bulgaria appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

You can easily find plenty of nice modern hotels for under $75, but I wanted to stay in the Old Town (Stari Grad) where the hotels and surrounding streets have a little more character. One affordable hotel stuck out when I began looking at reviews on Booking.com and TripAdvisor — Old Plovdiv Guest House. The enchanting neighborhood is also great for exploring Plovdiv with a good location for visiting the ancient Roman theater, the lively Kapana district, and one of the best views in the city.

Related: A budget travel guide to Plovdiv

I was happy when I walked up to the front door and found a handsome historic house. After a quick snapshot of the front entrance, I stepped into the lobby and was greeted by a sweet little cat on the rug. A self-described “boutique hostel”, Old Plovdiv has a friendly staff running the show. The clerk behind the front desk pointed out the handmade sign they had made for me that I totally missed on my way in. As we sat out on the patio to talk about the details of the hotel, she grabbed me a glass of cold lemonade. Later on, I met the very friendly owner and we exchanged tales about New York. He also told me how the hotel was once the home of a wealthy tobacco merchant and dates back to 1838.

Guest House Old Plovdiv offers a charming location in the heart of the old city. Photo: Craig Nelson

Spacious rooms with historic touches

The private single room I stayed in cost €30 (including tax) for the night. It was more than spacious with two twin beds on either side of the room, hardwood floors that are over 130 years old, and free Wi-Fi. I was traveling on my own, but if you had two people, there was more than enough room to spread out and enjoy a bit of privacy. The shared bathroom was clean and right outside the door which was very convenient for washing up at night or an early morning shower.

The antique furnishings are a very nice touch, and the bed was surprisingly comfortable. Photo: Craig Nelson

True to its name, there were old furnishings and touches everywhere you looked. I loved the antique details such as the old-time radio and period sitting chairs. On the walls, there were framed historic photos and newspaper clippings from years ago.

When I visited Plovdiv in June, there was a big heat wave across the country with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees. Luckily, my room had one amenity that was very modern — efficient air-conditioning! It came in handy as I popped back in and out to cool down throughout the day.

Cheapo tip: If you want to save even more, you can get a bed in a dorm room for around $10.

A personal greeting was a wonderful way to start my visit. Photo: Craig Nelson

Beautiful common spaces

The 2nd-floor common room felt more like an elegant library in a private club than a space in an budget hotel. Spending a few minutes during the heat of the day reading about Plovdiv was an excellent use of my time. You can also connect to the free Wi-Fi from here.

The elegant common room at Guest House Old Plovdiv. Photo: Booking.com

Free breakfast on the outdoor patio

Your stay comes with a traditional European breakfast that offers a Bulgarian twist. The nice spread of items included your basic meats and breads but also local delicacies like feta cheese and olives. The coffee machine is always on, so you can grab an espresso or latte at any time of day. When I first arrived in the afternoon, it was nice to get a little shot of caffeine before heading out to explore Plovdiv.

Free breakfast on the patio is a perfect way to start your day in Plovdiv. Photo: Craig Nelson

If you have time, it’s worth ordering a beer or glass of wine at the bar to sip on the leafy patio. It’s just one of the many features that makes this hotel an excellent value for your money. Yes, I have a major crush on Guest House Old Plovdiv!

The patio is open all day, and you can order a cold beer from the bar for less than $1.

Want to enjoy your own adventure in Plovdiv Old Town? Search for available dates and book a room at Guest House Old Plovdiv.

The post Bulgaria Hotel Crush: Guest House Old Plovdiv appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Home to only eight permanent residents, Kosovo, Bulgaria is a beautiful but very sleepy place. However, new life is springing back into this lovely hill town thanks to the Kosovo Houses, an affordable guesthouse that offers a relaxing stay well off the beaten path. It’s also the perfect gateway to Rhodope Mountains — a region stretching from southern Bulgaria into Greece that’s filled with natural wonders, ancient fortresses, and regional cuisine.

During a recent three-day stay, in between hikes and sightseeing trips, I was able to soak in the atmosphere of this scenic mountain guesthouse. Featuring rooms with warm traditional Bulgarian design, lovely views of the surrounding hills, and breakfast at the cozy tavern, the prices (starting at about $50 per night for a double room) make the Kosovo Houses a very cheapo getaway for those looking to explore territories off the standard European circuit.

A stone path winds its way up to the Kosovo Houses.

Accommodations

The Kosovo Houses are actually spread around several restored houses in the village, all located within easy walking distance of each other. I stayed in the main guesthouse, The Hadjiyska House, that was named after architect Hadji Georgi Stanchovski, who built the original structure in 1853 as his home. Each of the eight cozy rooms offers little touches like wooden chairs and bedside tables with antique-style lamps.

Each room has several intricate rustic details that capture the spirit of Bulgarian design.

The Wi-Fi worked well in my room and in the tavern, and there’s also satellite TV in each room. But other than my curiosity to watch a few local Bulgarian channels, I had no interest in staring at screens. Getting away from your regular routine is what Kosovo Houses is all about. At night, I opened my window to look out over the hills at the moon and stars. I quickly fell asleep to the sounds of crickets chirping and a few dogs barking in the distance.

The Hadjiyska House is the main guesthouse just a few steps from the tavern.

The modern bathroom has a glass shower cabin with a handheld shower head and a wide sink. My bathroom in Room 8 even had a peek-a-boo view out over the hills (although one night I left the window open and found a giant grasshopper greeting me in the morning!).

Traditional Bulgarian design is prevalent throughout Kosovo Houses like this common room in The Hadjiyska House.

A Focus on traditional design

The friendly Bulgarian owners and hosts, Svetlana and Christo, spent many years living in Venezuela before deciding to come back to their homeland. They searched the Rhodope Mountains looking for a special village to open a guesthouse. They discovered Kosovo and started to restore abandoned houses in a traditional style.

Using the original foundations, they hired expert craftsmen from the surrounding area to reconstruct several homes using their knowledge of intricate stone roofs and Bulgarian design. From the handmade wooden ceilings to the colorful carpets, these rustic details offer a warm and comfortable experience in every room.

Food: Local and authentic cuisine

I didn’t have to go far to find traditional Bulgarian food. The menu at the Kosovo Houses tavern features many local specialties that you can only find in the Rhodope Mountains. From my room in The Hadjiyska House, it was just a 30-second walk across the yard to the tavern.

I started my first morning off with a traditional pancake served with a slab of feta cheese and seasonal berry jam. Breakfast is included in your stay, and the view from the porch is a relaxing way to start your day. The tavern is open throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Wild mushrooms foraged from the surrounding forests on display in the tavern.

And speaking of dinner, the first night I was there, I saw that Christo had been out foraging mushrooms, so I ordered a pork steak with wild mushroom sauce ($6). It tasted as good as it sounds. Other delicacies include a delicious pan-fried trout ($6) that is sourced from nearby local fisheries and classic Bulgarian grilled meats like spiced hamburgers (kyufte) and kebabs (kebapche) for $1 each.

If it’s hot like it was during my visit, order a cold bowl of tarator ($1.50), a refreshing soup that’s like liquid tzatziki with cucumbers, yogurt, and garlic. No matter what you order, start your meal with a classic shopska salad (a mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and peppers topped with feta cheese; $2.75), and save room for the “Light Cake” ($1.75), a delicious homemade dessert.

Pan fried trout from a local fishery is a specialty at Kosovo Houses.

To drink, you can choose from a wide selection of local Bulgarian wines (with bottles starting at $7) or sip an ice cold Bulgarian beer like Kamenitza or Zagorka ($1.40). Or if you’re lucky, like during my second dinner, you can sip homemade rakia, the ouzo of Bulgaria. It was brought by a fellow Bulgarian guest whose father had recently made a fresh batch. Don’t worry if you’re not so lucky, you can still buy a glass of rakia from the bar for less than $1.

The view was just as nice as the company each evening on the tavern porch.

I quickly realized the tavern patio is a wonderful spot to spend an evening. Not only do you get to dine with an incredible view of the Rhodopean landscape, you will also meet a wide array of people. During my three-night stay, I met families taking a city break from Sofia, a Bulgarian/Canadian couple who are restoring an old house up the road, a photographer traveling around the country for a sightseeing guide, and two small walking groups — one from Ireland and the other from Belgium.

The lively discussion about everything from Bulgarian history to US politics flowed well into the night — especially after a few more glasses of rakia.

Enjoying dinner on the porch with other guests was a highlight of my stay.

Activities: Hiking, history, and ancient architecture

When you’re not relaxing in your room or sipping a beer in the tavern, there are several activities and attractions that you can enjoy as a guest. Nearby, you can visit spectacular waterfalls on long hikes or visit famous sights like Bachkovo Monastery, the Wonderful Bridges, and Asen’s Fortress.

But you don’t have to leave the village to get a taste of the true beauty of the Rhodopes. I spent my first evening after dinner wandering around the stone paths of the village taking in the view and marveling at the peace and quiet of the place. I didn’t see a soul, except for one barking dog and a cute kitty cat.

Exploring the paths around Kosovo after dinner.

On my first morning, I set out on a hike through the countryside. You can connect to a hiking trail right outside the main entrance of Kosovo Houses that takes you into the hills on a marked path. I wasn’t always able to keep track of the trail, but that just made the hike even more fun. After all, isn’t travel all about getting a little lost sometimes?

Getting there

From Sofia: You can fly into Sofia International Airport and rent a car for a 2-hour drive to Kosovo.

From Plovdiv: You can take a bus from Plovdiv to the nearby town of Narechenski Bani. From there, the Kosovo Houses will arrange to pick you up.

Booking a room

Kosovo Houses is open year round and it’s a popular destination for weekend getaways and family trips during the holidays. They just opened a new conference center, so sometimes the whole complex can be booked by an entire group. Weekdays are a lot slower in the high season, but it’s still best to plan ahead to secure a room.

Book a room at the Kosovo Houses

Editor’s Note: Accommodations and transportation were provided by the Kosovo Houses.

The post Kosovo Houses in Bulgaria: An affordable escape to a scenic mountain village appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

When we last chatted with Tim back in June at the Travel Blog Exchange conference in Keystone, CO, he was hard at work wrapping up the latest edition of his book, The World’s Cheapest Destinations. We had plenty of questions for him then – as we do now – and love his perceptive, er, perspective on travel. We think you will, too.

Question 1: We’ve been fans of yours for years and appreciate you participating in our Q&A series. Can you first let our readers know a little about you and what led you into such an expansive travel writing career?

Like a lot of your readers, I took off on a round-the-world “trip of a lifetime” and had trouble stopping. My first trip was 20 years ago though, with my now-wife, and we circled the globe two more times, teaching English along the way and in my case, getting some toes in the door with editors as a travel writer.

I kept at it as a part-time writer for many years before finally quitting my day job and becoming a full-time travel writer and publisher last decade. I added a site here, a blog there until one day I woke up and realized I was a real business owner.

Question 2: Congrats on the success of “The World’s Cheapest Destinations.” It must be fascinating to see how budget travel has evolved since its first edition. What have been the biggest changes since the book’s initial publication?

The first edition came out 10 years ago and I’m quite embarrassed now when I look at it. The book is a lot better and meatier now.

The main changes in the world of travel though all stem from one trend: far more travelers. Every place is more crowded with tourists than it used to be, except for a few holdouts like North Korea, and while you can still quite easily get off the beaten path if you want, the flood of images on the web means there are fewer unknowns out there. Everything is easier and more organized.

There’s also 100 times more information about 100 times more places than a decade ago, which overall is probably a good thing. The world is wealthier overall, which is also a good thing, even if it does mean prices have inched up in some of our favorite places.

On the negative side, it saddens me to see four travelers sitting silently around a table, all exchanging messages with friends back home and posting status updates. Sometimes that goes on for a half hour, nobody talking to the person right across from them. There’s less experiencing, more sharing. Less reflection, more blabbering. Get the photo, upload, move on.

People seem unable to let go and just be in the moment, in the place, without immediately connecting to the home they supposedly left behind.

Question 3: Let’s talk Europe. You cover a lot of ground in this book and we’re interested in the trends you see shaping up across the continent. What destinations do you think should be on a Cheapo’s radar these days? Why?

My big destination change this time was removing Turkey and adding Slovakia. Turkey’s still great and I’m heading there later this year, but it’s definitely gotten more expensive as the economy has taken off and more cruise ships dock there—especially Istanbul. A decent value still, but not a great one for backpackers.

In Slovakia you can still feel way ahead of the curve. It’s beautiful Olde Europe with castles and historic architecture, plus surprisingly good wine in addition to the good beer, but it gets a tiny fraction of the visitors of the Czech Republic or Hungary. The main drawback is, because there aren’t many backpackers, there aren’t a lot of hostels and cheap day trip tours.

Although I’ve had Bulgaria in the book from the start, I was relying on third-party info and interviews. I finally made it there this past year and was blown away. It’s as cheap as some places in Asia and Latin America, with incredible scenery and excellent food. I’m itching to go back again and do some longer hiking trips, staying in mountain huts that are priced like hostels.

Cheapness depends a lot on exchange rates too, of course. Hungary felt less expensive this time I visited than it did four years ago, almost entirely because the dollar was stronger.

Question 4: What’s the next big trip for you and how are you doing it on the cheap?

I took my family to southeast Asia last summer, moving around as backpackers for three weeks, and it wasn’t hard to do it on the cheap there. Our budget was $150 a day and for that we really lived it up in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Nice hotels, three daily restaurant meals, frequent massages, etc. In the near future though I’m doing a lot of writing trips for articles, things where it’s not all on my dime. I’m doing a biking trip in Portugal in May though and am curious to see how prices there are looking during the ongoing crisis.

In the summer I’m moving back to Guanajuato, Mexico with my family though for two years and will be doing most of my travel the second half of the year there and in other spots in Latin America. I find Mexico quite affordable if you are in the interior rather than at the vacation resort areas.

I’ll probably get to Ecuador, which is another place you don’t have to try very hard to travel on the cheap. And oddly enough, they even use the U.S. dollar.

Sounds fantastic. Thanks for stopping by, Tim, and good luck with all your upcoming travels!

The post 4 Cheapo Questions for Tim Leffel of Perceptive Travel appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

It is an interesting little tale of Bulgarian manners and the generosity of the Almighty. Though Bulgarians have not always responded to the gesture with any great religious devotion. But the story nicely highlights that punctuality is not a national virtue in this country in the southeastern Balkans. Bulgaria arrived late in the European Union (EU) — it joined, along with Romania, only in 2007.

Hallmarks of identity

On the face of it, Bulgaria really is a place apart. It is the only EU country that overwhelmingly favors the Cyrillic alphabet (not to be confused with the Greek script). That Cyrillic script may often be judged as a hallmark of Orthodoxy, but in fact many Orthodox churches in Bulgaria are markedly less crowded than in neighboring Romania (which, for all its Latin ways, is still one of the most devoutly Orthodox countries in Europe).

The Trigrad Gorge in southern Bulgaria. Photo: Countries in Color

Architectural heritage

The churches in Bulgaria may not be packed, but the country boasts some of the world’s most striking Orthodox heritage. The monasteries of Rila and Bachkovo, easily accessed in day trips from Sofia and Plovdiv respectively, are landmark examples of Orthodox architecture and design. The two are very different: Rila a riot of color, Bachkovo more muted yet a place of perfect harmony. Some of the interior murals in the ossuary church at Bachkovo are almost 1,000 years old.

If Orthodox style is not your thing, then Bulgaria also has some of the finest Islamic architecture in the Balkans. Take a look at the superb Tombul Dzhamiya complex in Shumen (in eastern Bulgaria) to discover how Islam nurtured an entire community, providing a focus for prayer and education. It houses a beautiful mosque with an adjacent school, library and sheltered courtyards for rest and relaxation.

Memorable landscapes

Bulgaria has its gritty cities which could do with a little love and care. It is struggling in the transition to a market economy. But it is has some memorably beautiful landscapes. We like the strange natural obelisks of Belogradchik and the gaunt beauty of the Pirin mountains. The Trigrad gorge is utterly memorable, as too are the coastal wetlands of Dobrudzha.

Catch any of these in the right light, and well might you feel that you have indeed stumbled on a little piece of Paradise.

The post Bulgaria: A place apart appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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 nonsense: “Everyone who has crossed the threshold of this museum enters the Bulgarian temple of immortality.”

So if you want immortality Bulgarian-style, you know where to head.

Mission impossible

It’s hard to say that things are much better at the National Polytechnic Museum, which has as its mission “to collect everything created by our ancestors in the past because in them are contained the signs of knowledge.”

Grand stuff, but that’s another cultural treasure that we’ve somehow missed. Next time we are in Sofia with a month to spare, perhaps.

Museum of Socialist Art

But don’t give up entirely on Sofia’s museums, for tucked away around the city are a few gems. The one that has hit the headlines this fall, and for all the right reasons, is the new Museum of Socialist Art (7 Luchezar Stanchev). It opened in September 2011 and is already attracting very positive reviews in Bulgaria and beyond.

The exhibits

The museum displays about 150 pieces that for the last two decades have been hidden away in vaults and cellars. The country’s transition to democracy has not always been easy, but the authorities have decided that now is the time to show how artists variously suffered and thrived in the socialist period.

Visitors to the museum, which is tucked away in a side street south-east of the city center, are confronted at the entrance with a classic stereotype: the massive five-pointed red star that for many years topped the Communist Party Headquarters in Sofia. There is also a 45-ton statue of Lenin in the museum’s sculpture garden.  Previously it stood in one of Sofia’s central squares.

Lots of splendid late 20th-century art, and more than merely the predictable socialist realism, help make this a top choice for culture vultures looking for an engaging diversion in Sofia.

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Last week I flew from New York’s JFK to Istanbul and connected from there to Sofia. Aside from the duration of the layover in Istanbul (six hours!) the journey was very pleasant. The layover in Istanbul was also a blast, despite my personal jetlag-induced fog. Turkish Airlines has very wisely turned Istanbul into an intercontinental hub. Loads of passengers on my flight were continuing on to places like Tel Aviv and Tashkent, and massive numbers of Dutch and German tourists were heading home. The airport is a thoroughgoing cultural crossing point.

Onboard Turkish Airlines

But back to the Turkish Airlines experience.

Let’s start with the best bit of branding, the showcased food items. Our pre-dinner drinks on the JFK-Istanbul flight came with little bags of hazelnuts, replete with the propagandistic slogan “The Miracle Nut Hazelnut Comes from Turkey.” The question of origin aside, this particular miracle nut is a pretty delicious introduction to a meal service. The dinner that followed was unexpectedly tasty. It included a small tube of very flavorful olive oil and lemon juice packaged to call attention to its Turkish provenance.

Also of note: the yogurt cucumber salad served with dinner and the sandwiches passed out late at night, between dinner and breakfast. We’re talking about airplane food, granted, but everything was pretty acceptably tasty. I can only imagine what sorts of things passengers at the front of the plane were eating.

My second flight, from Istanbul to Sofia, was in the air for fifty minutes or so. According to the flight distances list posted in the back pages of the airline’s in-flight magazine, the Istanbul-Sofia flight is Turkish Airlines’ shortest international journey. Nonetheless, a decent meal and drinks were served in that short window. The meal contained another gorgeous tube of olive oil and lemon juice.

A little reading

The April edition of Skylife, the Turkish Airlines in-flight magazine, continues the work of interweaving airline and national brands. The issue’s best articles: lengthy spreads on Denizli and Ekaterinburg, both with multiple images, and a short piece on a trio of Turkish springtime destinations.

Most exciting of all is the route map in the back of the magazine, with its documentation of Turkish Airlines’ impressive list of routes. The links across Central Asia, the eastern end of the Mediterranean, and the Gulf States will no doubt appear especially suggestive to seasoned European travelers looking to push beyond Europe. The airline’s domestic routes across Turkey are also impressive.

Next week I’ll fly back to New York on Turkish Airlines from Chisinau via Istanbul. Here’s hoping for a similarly enjoyable return journey.

The post Airline Memo: A maiden journey on Turkish Airlines appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Built around three hills under Roman rule in the 1st century A.D., Old Plovdiv (known in Roman times as Trimontium) a very walkable maze of tangled, cobbled streets lined with Bulgarian National Revival Era houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. Some of these houses have been renovated on the inside and are now galleries, restaurants, or museums showing the elaborate furnishings and ornamentation from that time period in post-Ottoman Bulgaria.

The Municipal Institute of Old Plovdiv (+359 032 633 380) is now offering a package for visitors to see Old Plovdiv’s Top 5 in one shot. For BGN9 (€4.50), one can gain admission to the Balabanova House, Hyndlian House, Nedkovich House, Zlatio Boyadzhiev Gallery, and the city’s pride and joy, its Ancient Roman Amphitheater, renovated as a modern-day venue for some of Plovdiv’s summer performances. All of these sites are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, except for the Nedkovich Gallery, which is closed on the weekends.

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