He added: “If you want a bargain destination, then I would head for the Balkans – Bulgaria is always very good value for package holidays.”
Situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea, Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey – meaning it also benefits from those ideal hot summer temperatures.
In 2023, Bulgaria saw just 8.6 million tourist arrivals – a peak for the country and an increase of 13% from the previous year. Still, this is nothing compared to the 33 million that headed for Greece and the over 49 million to Turkey during the same period.
Tourism is still a significant contributor to economic growth in Bulgaria, with Sofia, Plovdiv, coastal resorts Albena, Golden Sands and Sunny Beach and winter resorts Bansko and Pamporovo among some of the locations most visited by tourists.
For the history lovers, Bulgaria has been home to many civilisations, including the Thracians, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans, leading to a plethora of historical artefacts and sights, including the World Heritage sites of Boyana Church and Madara Rider and the 10th century Rila Monastery.
It also has a pristine coastline with sandy beaches and clear seas, which are guaranteed to be far quieter than the likes of Greece and Turkey.
Calder also shared: “I’ve also got my money on Albania as an up and coming destination – fantastic beaches, friendly people and prices back to the 20th century”.
Home to stunning mountain scenery, crumbling castles, a boisterous capital and dreamy beaches that rival any Mediterranean country, it is a wonder why only 10 million foreign tourists visited Albania in 2023.
Albania is one of the most affordable countries in Europe. A luxury hotel room can cost as little as 50 euros (£41.50), while a full meal costs around 10 euros (£8.30).
Just across the Straits of Corfu, a similar hotel room on the popular Greek island is likely to cost £86 per night, based on current Booking.com figures.
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Publish date : 2024-12-15 02:00:00
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