We loved Bulgaria!
Canadians do not need to be particularly baby sat like some - we are actually very comfortable with the accommodation and hospitality we found there. Especially in the smaller towns because it was cheaper than most places we have traveled - in the big town, Sofia, we found very comfortable housing, good food and people who looked after us in restaurants and helped us find our way around the city. We avoided the Coast (we live on the coast here and have no need to "hit the beach") but just stopping on a back road [...]

Read the full comment and looking about at three mountain ranges rising higher than each other - Magic
Sure if you want to please a bunch of spoiled brat penny pinching weirdos you could "improve the service" but Lynne and I like you just as you are!
Got burned in Bansko - I assume that restaurant will go out of business soon. It was not even a bad experience - the food was good and (TOO) plentiful but the charge was a bit extreme. We had supper the night before at the place so close we assumed the pricing would be similar. In fact we had left without paying and came back the next day to pay (Lynne woke up in the night and asked me if we had paid - I had no recollection because I love Raki)
In some ways things could be easier for the "Spoiled Brat" but I got to ride in a Horse cart with a fast horse pulling and Yorgie at the reins!
Bulgaria looked good to us!

interesting comment from a reader:

And also the westerners are not coming because of severe corruption and grotesque customer service!!!

Soon most balkans countries will be in the likes of GREECE. Their country is falling apart because of the severe CORRUPTION and uncontrolled crime!

GREECE and the likes deserve to fall. The west had given numerous warnings over the course of 10+ years! I think 10 years is enough time to tackle severe corruption!

Tourists come tourists go. The big companies build their resorts and finally they will bring the money they earn to the next cheap country where the sun is also shining. This is the real problem. Almost no Bulgarian profits really from the tourism. Small towns away from the big tourist centres, small nice little hotels, bars and restaurants where the owners and their family and employees give the service one really wants. This is the tourism that will bring money to Bulgaria that will stay there. When is coming a government that is supporting this? Look at the “rich” countries [...]

Read the full comment – I live in Holland – like Germany, France etc. They have a huge quantity of smaller entrepreneurs the big “middle class” that makes a country rich and strong.

And then you will see people coming back with pleasure. You do not need people that just go to the beach and party, they can do it in every country. There are so many places and things that Bulgarians should be proud of. Promote it!!!! Money lies with the baby boomers now between 40 and 65 years old. They have 80% of the capital and 70% of the income. So focus on that. They do not need “Sunny Beach”.

Always complaining aren't you?
Just start walking!

My feet are great thanks its a bit of a long walk.

Something wrong with your feet?

Bulgaria has attracted the wrong kind of tourists it is known as a cheap destination so Cosmos you get what you paid for.

Cheap service.

I cannot get home there are no flights. boom boom.

What comes around goes around was it?

Maybe if all the Brits start treating the Bulgarians with some respect instead of pissing them off they will get back some respect.

"We the British have to have first class service" how can you expect that for 3rd class prices?

Go home if you don't like it here!

Yes I am arrogant and with money,but we are talking about tourists that will not return unless they are treated better and get value for money.

So my question is does the goverment of Bulgaria care about tourists.

"do you not think that Bulgaria needs more british with the money this then may put Bulgaria on the rich list of desirable places to visit. I do think that the Bulgarians who work in the tourist sector need more training and better manners after all we are paying there wages."

Cosmos,

I'm unclear about why you didn't take your tourist and investment money elsewhere when you knew the service wasn't up to your standards. Instead you went ahead and bought property then moan about the service on this site. It's a [...]

Read the full comment case of you knew better but didn't heed your own reservations about the country. Strange behaviour.

Your attitude also comes across as arrogant. Are you the type of brit that treats them like dismissively when they don't satisfy your needs because you sound like you have a a huge sense on entitlement because you're the bloke with the money.

After visiting Bulgaria for about 5 years I decided to buy property on the coast the area is upmarket and the price was right,not cheap do you not think that Bulgaria needs more british with the money this then may put Bulgaria on the rich list of desirable places to visit. I do think that the Bulgarians who work in the tourist sector need more training and better manners after all we are paying there wages.

Cosmos, Didn't you do your research before buying? As you know, the UK has an obsession with property including places abroad, it's a national pastime, so many TV property shows (Grand Designs, 60 minute maker over, a place in the sun, etc, etc).

What the TV presenters on those shows often say before buying is spend some time in the country and area to gain a feel of how things are? Surely you did that?

If 'first class' standards of service are important to you Bulgaria should not have been your first [...]

Read the full comment choice country for a property abroad or a holiday.

The service I gained from buying property in BG was second to none and the property is luxery top end I have no complaints about that.But the British on holiday want a good service with clean accomadation,good food and the need to feel pampered.I do tune into watchdog but I speak about first class and not the bottom end.

Cosmos, Really. I'm a UK resident. Ever watch Watchdog and other consumer affairs programmes? Cowboy builders anyone? How about the way banks treat their customers? Ever been into that national high street electronics store looking for advice?

How about the out-sourcing of UK based company help-centres out to places like Mumbai? The service has really improved. Sure it has. They understand me and I them perfectly plus surely they're not following scripts when dealing with customers.

"We the British have to have first class service"

Then why have [...]

Read the full comment vested interests in Bulgaria? Surely Switzerland for example would be a better choice for you?

Ah but wait you wanted something cheap and now feel disgruntled about your purchase.

Well said Cosmos, the Bulgarians do not understand yet that if they want tourists money they will have to work hard for it and treat people with respect.

We the British have to have first class service.

"1 Good service does not exist not at the standard we expect."

Cosmos, Isn't it about time you left the country then, for good? Oh wait... you can't really leave for good until you sell the property you stated you had bought, in another post.

Why do you write 'we' when you meant to write 'I'?

Maybe the Brits went home? Let them stay there if they have nothing better to do than piss people off and complain about service. Something must be good here since they all leave their "great" country.

If Bulgarians would improve their manners, and stop ripping every foreigner off, perhaps the tourist industry would take off. Good question, what ever happen to the Brits?

I'd take Russians and Serbs anytime.
Western tourist aren't "richer". They may technically make more money, but between the cost of living, (and taxes in your case Michael) in their countries, they just can't spend much in BG.
Russians almost never ask for the cost...

Perhaps more tourists but reveue will not increase and there is the important part. Bulgaria only replace richer tourists to less wealthy tourists from neighboring countries.

2 Tourist resorts filled with stray dogs & prostitutes.
3 Road and footpath network is a disgrace.
4 Overcharging IE ripping people off that do not speak the native lingo.
5 Rubbish piled high in the streets.
6 Beggers in the city waiting to pounce on anyone that looks well dressed.
I can think of a lot more but cannot be bothered to write it down.

We are not all broke.

Lets see why the Brits are not coming in the same numbers.

1 Good service does not exist not at the standard we expect.
2

"Meanwhile, the number of Turkish tourists was 10 per cent higher than last year, while British, Romanian and Greek tourists marked a growth of between two and four per cent."

Now why would anyone mention British and Greek tourists in the same sentence?
Oh wait! Because they are both broke, so they are not coming! Or was it the service... probably;))