Where are the cheapest resorts in the Balkans?

Backpacking is cool but it's not for everyone. Somehow when people think about travelling through the Balkans images of hippy hikers comes to mind, hitch-hiking around and living on a dime. People, budget holidays don't always have to mean lacking in lustre and luxury. Backpacking has its pros and its total cons and we also like to book an all-inclusive jaunt every once in a while. 

Where to go for cheap?

The UK Post Office surveyed almost 40 countries around the world to calculate the cost of holidays. While European hotspots like Portugal and Spain took the top spots, followed by the Czech Republic, the fourth spot belongs to a Balkan country, Bulgaria. The study took into consideration the price of eight regular tourist items including suncream, dinner for two, a cup of coffee, etc.

When choosing a holiday destination on a budget, you should know how much it's going to cost to stay there, on a day to day basis. On top of that, you have to find the cheapest flights, this is where you can really save a lot. If you're thinking of the Balkans, then Bulgaria is the place to go this year if you want to see your pound stretch a little bit further. 

For trips to the seaside, look for hotels and flights to Varna or Burgas, the two biggest cities along the coast of the Black Sea.


For more information check out the Holiday Costs Barometre.

Strikes in Greece, trains delayed

It is no surprise that Greece is in the midst of another round of strikes that are causing delays to travel, greatly effecting tourism. A two-day strike is under-way, upsetting international train schedules between Greece and Bulgaria.

Those travelling between Sofia and Thessaloniki by train on January 26th and 27th, 2011 will have to make different arrangements as the morning international service will not run. Trains running to Bucharest, the Romanian capital, will only travel to Kulata (not Sofia), along the Greek-Bulgarian boarder. There will be a charter bus to transport passengers during the Greek leg of the journey from Kulata.

There are refunds available to all passengers who purchased tickets for these trains, available at the train stations in both Thessaloniki and Sofia.

The strikes will affect most all travel between Greece and other destinations, including Cyprus. Your best best for arriving in Athens is to grab flights to Greece rather than to travel by train, likewise if you are travelling onwards from Greece.

The strikes do not just effect the Greek Rail Service, but also many other industries in the debt-plagued country like lawyers associations, labour and civil servant unions, and pharmacists.

Have you been effected by a strike before? Was it easy to make alternative plans, did you ever receive compensation?

Unfortunately, when travelling through Balkan countries, you never know what will happen. Fortunately that is a major part of the fun, being able to go with the flow, so to speak and enjoy it!