We were very happy with all aspects of the tour. I’ve just posted about it on Trustpilot. We were especially happy with Catalin and Stoyan and how helpful and friendly they were throughout. We would definitely recommend the trip to others.
The only change I might suggest are to incorporate a visit to see the Buzludzha site into the Bulgaria itinerary, because it is a striking place and not a big detour. Otherwise it is a great tour!
Stefan and Catalin were fantastic guides, with a great passion for Romania’s history, culture and people. The first two days with Stefan were long, but he did not rush us at all. Similarly Catalin was happy to stop and spend time at places that interested us, even if it meant that we did not keep to the schedule. Both guides’ intimate knowledge of the areas that we visited allowed us to gain a great understanding of the country and people. In our longer time with Catalin we were able to see his close connection with the people of Vadu Izei, the wood carver Teoader Barsan, and the gypsy family, which made our experience even better.
We feel that we have seen a lot of the real Romania, off the main tourist trail with our time in Viscri.
The itinerary was very good, and although there were some long days there was also time to relax. The hotels were good and the stay in Vadu Izei was a highlight. Stefan and Catalin recommended some excellent restaurants and Romanian dishes, and we very much enjoyed the food and plum brandy. Having wi fi in Catalin’s car was very useful and an unexpected bonus.
We will recommend Romania and Balkan Trails to our friends.
Vlad and Zoe certainly deserve five stars for organizing our adventure. Our guides, Dilyan in Bulgaria and Catalin in Romania, were amazing in their depth of knowledge and, more important, with their kindness and help. We became friends and will keep in contact. Bulgaria and Romania are two fascinating countries with rich and varied histories that most Americans know little about. Our adventure educated us for which we are grateful. And we love the yogurt. We give them the highest recommendation without reservations.
I want to thank you for arranging a wonderful trip for Jerry and I and selecting Val as our guide. It was a fabulous itinerary enhanced by many fun and interesting suggestions from Val. It just couldn’t have been any better!
One day we were stuck without a place for lunch in a small community, however resourceful Val managed to pull one out of his hat. We enjoyed a spontaneous meal served by a lovely woman who then decided we needed to try on the native costume.
What an unforgettable experience! Our 3 weeks in Bulgaria and Romania was fabulous, from your outstanding tour guides (Toma and Catalin), fantastic choices of central, beautiful and comfortable hotels, and outstanding professional service both before and during the tour. We could not be more pleased and plan to spread the word about your tour company and the hidden gems of Bulgaria and Romania.
We wish you both continued success with your company and we thank you again for an absolutely amazing experience.
Can’t begin to express my thanks to you, your firm and both my guides. Stoyan and I happened upon a Festival of St. Marko Day in Momina Kliabura with the women attired in their village culture. Truly this was a highlight of the trip and totally out of the blue (a large group would have never done this, but Stoyan did). It was a pleasure to have traveled under your auspices. It was a treat and one I shall never forget.
The tour far surpassed my expectations. I chose to work with Balkan Trails because of the flexibility in creating an itinerary to fit my schedule. Also, Vlad was quick to respond to any question or concern. Catalin was a wonderful guide with just enough facts without sounding like the encyclopaedia. Stoyan was also very accomodating even going so far as to arrive 30 mins early for our departure from the hotel just to be sure he got there on time!! The food and accomodations were all good. I would definitely recommend Balkan Trails for future travellers.
Our trip was really great in every way. Catalin could not have been more accommodating – he added little gems that all five of us really enjoyed. He even tried to work in the salt mines for us and did take us to the airport on Saturday! He’s a keeper for your company. Would have enjoyed meeting you or your wife but he was an outstanding substitute. Please check out our remarks on Trip Advisor. Thanks again for your help in facilitating this.
Your tour company took us to six countries from Bulgaria to Macedonia, Albania, Romania, Republic of Moldova and Serbia. This required lots of planning on your part and it worked out very well. Going through immigration and customs, driving through roads and providing hotels and guide facilities, all were perfect. Only an experienced tour company could plan so well. We must have seen countless beautiful churches, museums, Unesco sights, gardens and cities. Indeed these countries are like heaven. Cultural shows and visit to Gypsy family was great.
We are back from long Balkan tour of 28 days, treasuring memories of Balkan people, customs, way of living and nature. These countries have unique culture and very long history of war and peace. Now that all things are politically stable, it is fascinating to visit and discover Balkan. We think it is very opportune time to visit for anyone.
Among all, I like to thank you for having great team of guides and drivers. They were not only excellent and defensive drivers but with great knowledge of each location visited and they provided us with in depth history. Having access to internet in the cars was very useful. Stoyan , Catalin as well as Zlatan were very helpful and accommodative on all aspect of the trip. For such a long trip, they became like our family friends.
It was also indeed nice of you and your wife to stop by and meet us and take us out for lunch. Wine and chocolates, you left in the hotel shows your generosity and it represents how much you care for each and every client. This only happens when you love what you do and indeed you both do.
Now that we are spoiled by your services, we will only take private tours of the other countries. With tour company like yours it is so easy.
This was a tour I booked at the last minute. What I liked about the process was that I had immediate feedback from your company on any questions
I had. You were also very prompt in letting me know about what was going on such as a Best Western Hotel you booked to replace
Hotel Casa Humor in Gura Humorului because of our late booking. The one small negative on the tour was our 2 night stay in Gura Humorului,
as there wasn’t a lot to do. I would have preferred to be somewhere with a few more shops. However it was no big deal and perhaps with the logistics
Gura Humorului was the best option.
Also, you were prompt in informing me who my guide, Valentin, would be along with his phone number. I felt that you kept up-to-date on meeting me at the bus
station and picking my wife and I up at the hotel in Bucharest the first morning. One of the best things about the tour was the fact that I knew what to expect and the flexibility was also nice. From my viewpoint it is important to keep people informed and you did an excellent job of this.
Concerning Val, our tour guide:
He was waiting at the bus station in Bucharest to pick us up when we arrived from Sofia and each morning always met us at our hotel at the appointed time.
Val went out of his was to accommodate us anyway he could. I needed to drop a package in Bucharest which he helped us do on our way out of Bucharest
the first morning and made sure the package got to the right people and made a follow up phone call. Val was very knowledgeable about everything and
was a good driver, not taking unnecessary chances. He gave suggestions about changing money at banks and each day he selected excellent restaurants
and had dinner with us, which we enjoyed. We were sorry to have the gypsy dinner cancelled but Val, in lieu of that, did buy our dinner that day.
He was very honest in any dealings I had with him. I also like the fact that he kept the car cleaned, gassed each evening and ready to go. Val was a very
knowledgeable person and helped us in and out of the car. (We are an older couple) Val did everything he could for us to have an excellent tour.
Thanks to Val and your company for making this a great experience.
Romania is a beautiful country.
