travelling to bulgaria in 2020

[truckyboy]

Hi Folks, its very quiet on My BG as of late, I wonder if any of you are travelling this year..i have a ferry booked for june 22nd..so am waiting in anticipation of the lifting of restriction across europe. Bulgaria are saying that the EU should debate and state travel across europe, which borders have restrictions etc, they also state they want to have a summer season, albeit not so busy this year, Restaurants are open if they have outside chairs/tables so long as they follow the distance rules, the beaches are also getting ready, and are thinking of offering a free holiday to those paying into the system. Corona cases are not as high as other countries but are stating a 2 week isolation for non residents..i should be ok as i have long term residency, and am also married to a bulgarian..my wife is wishing to fly, but no flights as yet to bourgas, only sofia by wizz.
I wonder if you have any views on this..stay safe everyone..btw, only one brit has died, but lives near dobrich.

[houseman]

Hi Truckyboy, haven't been on here for ages, but being locked down I'm getting around to doing stuff I wouldn't normally think of or have time to do. I think it's interesting how little the coronavirus has impacted BG; presumably the embargo on flights into the country has helped, and the enforcement of travel restrictions within the country. We're missing the old place, having been there at this time of year for 14 years. Can't see us flying this year, unless things improve a lot by September. We miss the warm sunny weather, the amazing variety of countryside, the delicious food, the folk events and other traditions; it's become a bit of a home from home. Hopefully the ants, woodworm and spiders etc. won't have totalled the house while we're away, and the roof is still watertight. Probably best if we don't know...

[houseman]

BTW not sure how you have gleaned that "only one Brit has died" in BG so far. If you have a breakdown of covid deaths by nationality I would be interested to check it out. Meanwhile, here's a place where the number of deaths can be seen of everyone in all countries (as reported by them). Haven't yet found one that sets it out in terms of deaths per 1000, so the bigger the country in the case of the table shown, the larger the number of deaths is likely to be, all things being equal..
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/geographi ... ncov-cases

[truckyboy]

Hi Houseman..yes all doing jobs the wife wants us to do ha ha ..done a few jobs on my car, ready for my journey hopefully on June 22nd providing restrictions are lifted, recently read that British nationals cannot enter Bulgaria at the moment, ( so even as a long term resident ) I cannot enter because I am a brit..hey ho..The brit who died was reported on a familiar website I use NOVONITE ( but you need a google translate ) as its Bulgarian, BUT can opt for the English version, my wife is Bulgarian which is why we use the one I said. btw, I usually travel alone and my wife flies later, because of her job ( school teacher ) and I get time to party with my mates in Pomorie till she arrives..this year could be different as she wants to avoid closeness on the flights..as many will not use the distance rules..but pack em in like sardines. i wish you well on your journey and hope it will happen..i believe many restrictions will lift at the end of this month, and BG wants to open its tourist business as ap..lets wait and see. good luck..regards bobby ( aka truckyboy )

[houseman]

Wow, driving eh? Don't think I'd be up for that myself: constant comfort breaks, distracting sights en route, weather anxiety... oh, and a RHD car! Six days off the time to spend in BG...no wonder people fly. Yours is now the safest way to go as regards social distancing, but I'd take lots of hand sanitiser etc. if I were you: you never know who's been opening those rest-stop doors and so on. Hope it all works out for you. Come back and tell us all about it

[truckyboy]

I drive over most years, on average 3 days with 2 hotels en route..but I normally stay for 2 months..its obviously better to fly, buy having been an international trucker for over 40 years, I love the thrill of it all..i don't go mad, a nice steady 60mph with the odd 100 mph for good measure..fuel is around £300 return..hotels at around 80 euros, road taxes around 10 Austria, 7 Romania, and 30 lev for 2 months in bg..plus coffee/snacks so it is more expensive, but especially now I would feel safer in my bubble..don't forget if there are 2 of us or more it becomes cheaper..i might add international breakdown cover, + the ferry too..car has to be up to scratch, and as I paid for a gearbox rebuild a month ago, I now have the added pleasure of having the oil cooler replaced, as its leaking into the water system..so another grand to be spent..better to burn it and fly eh..