Real Estate & Travel News in Bulgaria from Propertyshowrooms.com

Bulgaria launching tourist campaign

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Bulgarian Ministry of Economy is launching a new international campaign to attract more tourists to the nation.

It will begin next month and will see Euronews, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel and Eurosport airing advertisements about Bulgaria, reports the Sofia Echo.

The clips will be aired 3,166 times in total between September 6th and December 26th and from January 31st until March 27th 2011.

It is estimated that some 608 million European households will see the adverts, which is good news for people with Khaskovo property or property in Dobrich which they hope to rent out to holidaymakers.

The campaign is worth around 7.5 million leva and will focus on the country's summer and winter tourist destinations, environmental and rural tourism and the country's cultural historic heritage.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Sofia International Airport in Bulgaria saw a 12 per cent increase in passenger numbers in July compared with the previous year.

Sofia airport attracts 12% more passengers

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Sofia International Airport in Bulgaria saw an increase in passenger numbers in July, with 12 per cent more people travelling through it compared to the same month last year.

Some 327,100 passengers travelled via the airport, which also marks a ten per cent increase compared to July 2008, suggesting that the region's tourism industry is going strong, which is good news for anyone with Sofiya property.

The number of flights taking off from the airport also increased, with 4,353 flights being registered across the month, a five per cent increase compared to July 2009.

Bulgaria's popularity with holidaymakers was also highlighted by recent figures which show that the number of tourists visiting the Black Sea coast has increased by ten per cent compared with July and August 2009.

According to the Union of Owners of Nesebar, the region is attracting holidaymakers as it offers better value for money than countries such as Greece and Turkey, reports Novinite.

Ryanair flights to Bulgaria confirmed

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Budget airline Ryanair has confirmed that it will be commencing flights between London Stansted airport and Plovdiv in Bulgaria from November this year.

It will be the first time Ryanair has operated flights to Bulgaria from Stansted.

The announcement will come as good news to anyone considering property investment in Bulgaria as it could help boost tourism to the country.

Flights will run between the two cities twice weekly and it has been forecast that if the route is successful, over 200,000 passengers could be travelling via it by 2013.

In a media statement quoted by the Sofia Echo, the airline said: "Ryanair is delighted to announce its first Bulgarian connection from London Stansted to Plovdiv to provide Bulgarian consumers and British visitors the guaranteed lowest fares from/to Bulgaria."

"The new route will ensure that Plovdiv and its regional tourism will develop further," it added.

People interested in Lovech real estate or Gabrovo property in Bulgaria may wish to take advantage of falling property prices in the nation.

House prices fell 0.8 per cent during the second quarter of 2010 compared with the previous three months, according to figures from the National Statistical Institute reported by Property Wire.

Bulgaria offers visitors a 'diverse culture and cheap prices'

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Bulgaria boasts a rich and varied culture and a historical heritage which is sure to make it a popular destination for holidaymakers this year, it has been suggested.

In news that may interest individuals looking to rent out real estate to travellers, the Bulgarian Embassy has encouraged tourists to experience the European destination.

Desislava Naydenova, from Press and Cultural Affairs at the embassy, said that the country offered visitors a diverse mix of culture, while also being one of the best value-for-money places to visit.

Ms Naydenova was speaking in response to recent research from Tesco Travel Money, which highlighted the eastern European destination as a bargain spot for potential holidaymakers.

"The results of the research highlight one of the main advantages of Bulgaria as an attractive tourist destination, namely - the combination between high quality and wide variety for tourism on one side, and reasonable prices on the other," she said.

The news may lead to an increase in the number of investors looking for homes for sale in Silistra, with the region boasting some interesting historic landmarks.

Razlog: Razlog becomes center of golf tourism

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the next 5-6 years it is expected Razlog to to become a center of golf tourism in the southwest Bulgaria . The 1-st golf-course is almost ready in the area Betolovoto. It is owned of Balkanstroy. The company has a project for another ski & golf...

Kableshkovo: Project for biggest BG golf-course near Kableshkovo

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There is a project for construction of biggest in Bulgaria golf-course near village of Kableshkovo ( Pomorie municipality ). Kableshkovo golf-course will be located 15 km. away from the Sea beach in the area of "Hijata" ("The chalet") at the foot of...

Sandanski: Closed borders with Greece obstructs the tourism in Sandanski and Bansko

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The blockade of border checkpoints with Greece hits business of the hotel owners, restaurants and shops in the town of Sandanski . There are no buses with tourists from our southern neighbor in Sandanski this week. " It is same from the last Tuesday...

Varna: Varna and Burgas airports - more flights, fewer passengers

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The two airports of Bulgaria`s Black Sea cities Varna and Burgas serviced 3,4 million passengers and 32 100 flights in 2008, their administration announced Thursday. The Varna Airport got 15 129 flights in 2008, which is a 1,06% increase compare...

Albena: Albena wants to take Airport Balchik on concession for 35 years

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Albena JSC wants to take Airport Balchik on concession for 35 years in order to attract low-budget airlines. The company started negotiations with the Ministry of Defense about the concession, CEO Krasimir Stanev said. Albena uses the airport for...

Pomorie: Country to be divided into 8 tourist regions was proposed at seminar in Pomorie

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Country to be divided into 8 tourist regions with own regional management - this is the idea in the concept of the National Agency for Tourism provided yesterday at a seminar in Grand Hotel Pomorie. There are not exact defined borders yet but the suggest...

Number of foreign tourists in BG ski resorts go down

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the ideal conditions for skiing in Bulgarian winter resorts , the number of foreign tourists is going down. The number of foreign holiday-makers has decreased by 15,000 compared to the same period of 2008, sources from Plovdiv Airport informed...

Sofia: EasyJet flight had to land in Bucharest instead of Sofia

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Redirected airline flights left 140 Bulgarian nationals in the international airport of Romania`s capital of Bucharest instead of Sofia , Darik reports Sunday. An EasyJet flight from London to Sofia with 140 on board had to land in Bucharest instead of...

Bulgaria is prefered travel destination for the Britons

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In 2009 the British would prefer spending their vacation in Bulgaria , Turkey, Egypt, as well as Morocco and Tunisia, says the prognosis of Bob Atkinson from travelsupermarket.com, quoted by "Belfast Telegraph". Atkinson explains that due to the unstabl...

Sofia: Sofia Airport expects a 20% rise in passengers for Christmas holidays

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sofia Airport expects a 20% rise in the number passengers about holidays, airport director Plamen Stanchev said. He noted that the airport had welcomed approximately 18,000 passengers between December 21st and December 31st 2007. This year the number...

Sofia: Consortium will repair railway line Sofia - Karlovo – Zimnitza

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Consortium with leader Repair Restoration Enterprise Koehne JSC (a subsidiary of Railway Infrastructure-Holding company JSC) has signed a contract for the repair of a section of railway line Sofia - Karlovo – Zimnitza , reported by the company....

Gorna Oryahovitsa: Competitions for Ruse and Gorna Oryahovitsa airports open soon

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The transport ministry is ready to start the procedures for granting concessions of small airports. First will be opened the competitions for Ruse and Gorna Oryahovitsa airports. Analysis of experts from the ministry shows that investors will be interest...

Bourgas: Fraport seeks a company to design and construct Burgas Airport

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Concessionaire of the airports in Varna and Bourgas - Fraport Twin Star Airport Management JSC, managed by its CEO Andreas Helfer, seeks a company to design and construct the expansion of Burgas Airport. The candidates may apply up to December 19. Co...

Albena: Resort Albena with 3% growth of tourist number for Jan-Sep 2008

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Resort Albena JSC has welcomed 212,000 tourists during the nine months of the year, which is 3% growth compared to the previous year, said the deputy of the Sales Department – Yovka Strashilova. Meanwhile, the average stay per tourist has decreased and...

Snowboarders Winning Ski Holiday Resort Battle

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Snowboarders are increasing in number and emerging as a large percentage of the ski holiday industry, but are they a welcome addition? Some American ski resorts ban snowboarding, while others are...

Varna: Black Sea resorts try to attract last tourists with low prices

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For the cost of 1-week stay the Bulgarians can now have a two-week holiday at the Black Sea coast - hotel owners try to attract last tourists at Bulgaria`s Black Sea resorts . The ones who venture to sunbathe on the beach in October will pay two times l...

Bourgas: The Low-Cost Air Carrier Wizz Air Launches Permanent Flights Burgas - London

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The low-cost air carrier is launching a permanent airline connecting Bulgaria`s Black Sea city Burgas with the UK capital London. The news was announced Monday by the Director of the Burgas Airport Kalin Barzov, who pointed out the new flights wer...

Another holiday resort springs up at Skorpilovtsi beach

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Varnabased company Albatros Ve EOOD has erected the ground floor of the aparthotel Soley, which is the first concrete construction on the beach of the Black Sea village of Skorpilovtsi between Varna and Bourgas, close to the Stara Planina slopes. The only accommodation on the beach to date was the longstanding campsite but there are also other plans to construct hotels, Albatros office employee Ani Angelova...

Low-cost airline launches new Bulgarian service

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

People in north-west England who own property in Bulgaria are being targeted by low-cost airline easyJet.

The budget carrier has confirmed that later this year, it will begin offering passage between Manchester Airport and Sofia.

This will help open up the Bulgarian capital to leisure travellers in the north-west, a development which could lead to more people choosing to visit the city.

However, easyJet also believes that the route will be useful for many foreign property investors, as Bulgaria is currently a very popular location among this group.

The airline commented: "The service to Sofia is ideal for the growing number of second home owners from the region investing in the Bulgarian market."

Passengers will be able to fly between Manchester and Sofia three times a week from December 2008.

This comes after analysts at Amberlamb said a number of strong fundamentals are supporting the Bulgarian housing market, such as the country's growing tourism industry.

Central railway station in Plovdiv to be renovated

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Plovdivs architectural studio ArkontA won the tender called to pick a design for the renovation of the citys central railway station, mediapool.bg reported.The National Railway Infrastructure Company NRIC has said, as quoted by Dnevnik daily, that the investor selected to do the renovation will also be granted building permission for additional construction in the area as compensation...

British tourists flock to Bulgaria

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Rental investors in Bulgaria are seeing a surge in demand for tourist accommodation this summer, it has emerged.

Online travel agency Lastminute.com revealed that the number of June bookings for the country is 151 per cent up on 12 months earlier.

This means that some owners of holiday accommodation in Bulgaria will see higher occupancy rates this year, as well as greater rental returns.

According to Lastminute.com, the increase in the number of bookings is partly because consumers in the UK want to avoid Euro 2008, which kicks off in Austria and Switzerland this weekend.

John Bevan, managing director of the firm, commented: "It would appear that it is too painful for fans to stay home and watch Euro 2008 without their team competing."

This comes after the Times said that Bulgaria is a much more affordable holiday destination than places such as Italy, Portugal, France and Spain.

British tourists pointed towards Bulgaria

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

British holidaymakers have been advised to consider travelling to Bulgaria by a national newspaper.

According to the Times, the eastern European country offers a number of attractions which would appeal to the whole family.

In addition, Bulgaria was said to be much more affordable than places such as Italy, Portugal, France and Spain.

This is because the pound has slumped to a record low against the single European currency - falling by nearly a fifth in the last year.

As a result, travelling to a country inside the eurozone may not offer the value for money Britons have enjoyed in the past.

The Times commented: "It's been a bad year for the pound.

"Last summer, a €20 meal would have set you back £14. Now it would be £16.50."

By contrast, Bulgaria was said to offer bargain prices and comparable leisure facilities.

This comes after the Association of British Travel Agents revealed that emerging economies and mid to long-haul destinations are becoming more and more popular with tourists from the UK.

Bulgaria named the cheapest country in Europe

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Leisure travellers from the UK could find that their pound goes a long way in Bulgaria, according to experts.

The Post Office carried out a study to compare relative prices across the world, as the pound has recently got much weaker against other currencies.

In fact, it is now at an all-time low against the euro, which means it will cost Britons much more to spend time in places such as Italy and France.

However, the Post Office found that other countries across the world offer more favourable exchange rates which allow a person's money to go further.

And not all were long-haul destinations, as countries such as Bulgaria were flagged up as highly affordable locations.

The eastern European nation was named as the cheapest destination in the whole of Europe, just ahead of Turkey.

This comes after similar research by Teletext Holidays which found the cost of food and drink in places such as Sofia is much less than in many other European cities.

Holidaymakers look at exchange rates

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Exchange rate movements are becoming more of an issue to holidaymakers, industry analysts have revealed.

According to currency specialist Travelex, leisure travellers are becoming "increasingly savvy" with regards to financial fluctuations and taking them into account when booking trips abroad.

John Nicholas, director of the organisation, said that this has led to people travelling to places where they can get more for their money.

This has become particularly apparent in recent weeks, as the pound has fallen to a record low against the euro, which means general expenses in eurozone countries will cost much more.

Mr Nicholas commented: "People [are looking] outside the traditional eurozone holiday hotspots to make their money go further this summer."

He highlighted eastern European countries such as Bulgaria as places which are benefiting from this trend.

The region was recently recommended to leisure travellers by Helen Warburton of the Post Office, who told the Independent that it currently offers very good value for money.

Bulgaria to attract more Irish tourists

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Overseas property investors could be set to benefit from growing tourism in Bulgaria.

According to the Novinite news agency, the eastern European country is becoming especially popular with holidaymakers from Ireland.

Petar Kandilarov, governor of Varna, was quoted as saying that the number of Irish visitors could possibly double in 2008.

This is likely to be a positive development for owners of rental accommodation in popular Bulgarian holiday resorts such as Bansko.

Increased tourist numbers will lead to greater demand for temporary lodgings across the country, which in turn allows investors to collect higher returns.

Official figures cited by Novinite show that 90,000 Irish holidaymakers visited Bulgaria last year.

The predictions comes just officials in the UK forecast that more British tourists would soon head for eastern Europe.

Helen Warburton of the Post Office told the Daily Mail that lots of holidaymakers are opting to visit destinations with more favourable exchange rates, such as Bulgaria.

This is because the pound has fallen to a record low against the euro, which means people face much higher costs if they visit countries such as Italy, Spain or France.

Bulgaria offers good value

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

People who want to enjoy reduced living costs could find Bulgaria a suitable place to live, new research has revealed.

According to Teletext Holidays, the cost of food and drink in places such as Sofia is much less than in many other European countries.

For example, a pint of beer in Bulgaria was said to cost an average of 49p, compared with £1.56 in Spain.

In addition, the study found that a three-course meal in Spain costs £17.50, which is more than the double the amount it would cost in Bulgaria.

The figures could be of interest to people who are planning to buy a property in Bulgaria, as they suggest it offers good value for money.

Ash Makkar, spokesperson for Teletext Holidays, commented: "People are becoming more adventurous when it comes to booking a trip abroad."

Bulgaria, which joined the European Union in early 2007, was recently found to have seen the largest rate of house price inflation in the world.

The Global Property Guide revealed that last year, property values increased at a higher rate than in any other country.

More people to fly to eastern Europe

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

More people are expected to fly to eastern Europe over the next four years, which could boost opportunities for overseas property investors looking to take advantage of demand for holiday accommodation.

According to figures from the International Air Transport Association, the number of passengers taking overseas flights worldwide will rise from 760 million to 980 million by 2011 and it says eastern Europe will benefit greatly from this increase.

International flight demand in Europe is expected to rise by five per cent a year over the period and while traditional western European destinations will continue to be popular, countries such as Poland, Latvia, Romania and Ukraine are likely to see a significant boost in visitor numbers.

This will bolster the appeal of eastern Europe among overseas property investors as the increase in tourists will lead to extra demand for short term rental accommodation, particularly in the major cities as people take city breaks.

The Association of British Travel Agents believes the festive period will attract many visitors to eastern Europe as people book shopping trips to visit traditional Christmas markets.

Bulgaria popular 'for the whole year'

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Bulgaria is a popular holiday destination for consumers all year round, according to an expert.

Investment specialist Amar Sodhi stated that the eastern European country offers attractions to both winter and summer holidaymakers, meaning that rental accommodation is in continuous demand.

Therefore, he has recommended that overseas property investors consider the Bulgarian market as a viable investment option, as they could get higher than average rental returns in a consistently popular market.

Mr Sodhi highlighted mountainous regions as one area to consider, as they were popular during the summer, while winter sports fans tended to visit them at other times of the year.

Speaking to the Telegraph, he commented: "There is huge demand for accommodation in the main mountain resorts, as they are year-round lifestyle destinations."

This comes after easyJet stated that Bulgaria was one of the most countries for fans of winter sports such as skiing.

Eastern Europe 'boosted by EU membership'

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The economies of many eastern European countries have been boosted by EU membership, experts have stated.

Indian travel website MakeMy Trip said that entering the EU had triggered a new period of economic growth in the region.

This was said to have had a knock-on effect on their tourist industries, since people were increasingly starting to consider eastern European countries as holiday destinations.

Sachian Bhatia, head of MakeMyTrip, told Express Travel World: "All these destinations are famous for their immense natural beauty and historical monuments including castles and churches."

This comes alongside comments from David Lewis of Hodge Insurance Brokers, who said the region was becoming highly sought-after by overseas property investors.

Speaking to the Western Mail, he stated that emerging markets in eastern Europe were widely seen as having more investment potential than more established countries, due to the potential of earning higher capital returns.

Christmas tourism 'could benefit investors'

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Overseas property investors in countries such as Bulgaria could benefit from increased tourism at Christmas.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), many people are travelling to eastern Europe in order to do their Christmas shopping.

The organisation stated that people were visiting the region for various reasons, such as acquiring bargain goods and enjoying the local culture.

Christmas markets were said to offer both of these, hence them growing in popularity with foreign travellers in recent years.

Sean Tipton, a spokesperson for ABTA, commented: "It's as much for the cultural experience as for the shopping."

Increased tourism is likely to lead to further demand for rental accommodation in the region, potentially opening up new opportunities for foreign property buyers.

World Investment Services recently stated that emerging markets in eastern Europe could be highly lucrative for buyers and generate strong returns.

More tourists set to visit Romania

Fri, 5 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The popularity of Romania as a holiday destination is set to increase in the next few years, an airline has predicted.

Low-cost carrier Wizz Air said the country offered a range of attractions to visitors, potentially making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe

Natasa Kazmer, the airline's head of corporate communications and public affairs, commented: "It has a booming capital, picturesque countryside and the beautiful beaches of the Black Sea."

She added that since budget carriers had made travel to Romania quick and affordable, it was now well-placed to become the new "must-see place of Europe".

The country's growing popularity with holidaymakers could also boost its appeal as an overseas property investment spot.

This week, Wizz Air announced the launch of a new service between the Romanian capital Bucharest and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

According to the American Automobile Association, Romania experienced a 700 per cent increase in the number of US tourists this year.

Bulgarian economy boosted by service sector

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Bulgaria's popularity as a holiday destination has become a key driver of economic growth in the country, new figures have shown.

According to the country's National Statistics Institute, the service sector has expanded by 8.8 per cent in the last year, reports the Sofia Echo.

This has largely come about as a result of the emergence of Bulgaria as a highly popular tourist destination, as it has led to the creation of new jobs and business opportunities across the country.

Figures showed that Bulgaria's gross domestic product (GDP) for the first half of this year was 6.4 per cent higher than at the same time in 2006.

The increased GDP, which was placed at 24.5 billion Bulgarian leva (£8.8 billion), could be welcome news for overseas property investors, as growing tourism has encouraged many to invest in rental accommodation in the country.

Recently, investors were advised by Property Secrets to consider buying in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, as it had millions of potential tenants on hand all year round.

Python's travel log could draw investors to eastern Europe

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The latest travel documentary from Michael Palin could trigger of surge of interest in eastern Europe, according to an expert.

Daniel Pawlyn of adventure holiday website Intrepid said the new BBC2 series would raise the profile of eastern European countries in the UK and lead to more people visiting them for their holidays.

This could potentially have the knock-on effect of people choosing to invest in rental property and holiday homes in these markets.

Mr Pawlyn commented: "The great thing about the way Michael Palin travels is that he really gets under the skin of a country; travelling on local transport, staying in traditional accommodation and generally doing what the locals do."

Across seven episodes, the former Python is seen visiting many countries behind the old Iron Curtain, including many former Soviet countries.

The first episode of Michael Palin's New Europe was shown on BBC 2 yesterday.

Russians and Britons 'lead Bulgarian investment'

Wed, 5 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Investors from Britain and Russia are increasingly showing interest in purchasing Bulgarian holiday homes, new research has found.

A study by Green Life Property Development added that investors from other countries such as Romania and Kazakhstan were also looking at entering the market, reports Focus.

Specifically, the Black Sea region was highlighted as a hotbed of activity, as it was a popular tourist spot.

However, the influx of buyers from other eastern European countries was found to have placed English-speaking investors at a relative minority.

Although the number continued to grow, English speakers accounted for only 20 per cent of people buying into the region.

This is down from 80 per cent a year before, suggesting a sudden surge of interest in property investment among eastern European nationals.

Recently, Off Plan International recommended capital city Sofia as another good place in which to invest.

Montenegrio property market 'rising fast'

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Real estate in Montenegro is set to revival the impressive property prices seen in smaller states such as Monte Carlo, claims one leading expert.

Predrag Drecun, an economic analyst, speaking to the Sofia Echo, is predicting that any investing in Montenegro is set to benefit from strong demand for holiday rental accommodation, especially as real estate space is already limited.

"Montenegro is small, and it lacks space for developers. As it moves towards the European Union, prices will go sky high. In Monte Carlo, one square metre of an apartment costs 100,000 EUR," explained Mr Drecun to the newspaper.

Recent years have seen property prices in the country grow by as much as 200 per cent and given that the country is working towards membership of the European Union, investors are already snapping up property ahead of the predicted boom.

In particular, coastal resorts such as coastal hotspots like Kotor, Budva and Herzeg Novi are attracting strong interest from overseas buyers and increasing transport links to the region are helping to boost tourism and drive the local economy.

Low living costs in Bulgaria 'pulling in the tourists'

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Bulgaria is becoming a popular choice for British travellers because of its low cost of living, a new study has shown.

According to the Post Office Holiday Costs Barometer, Bulgaria is significantly cheaper than most other European holiday destinations.

Items such as a cup of coffee, a bottle of beer, a packet of cigarettes and a three-course meal are far cheaper in Bulgaria than they are in Cyprus, France or Greece.

According to the Post Office, foreign currency sales for Bulgaria were up 83 per cent in the two weeks before Easter, when compared with 2006.

Kevin McAdam, head of travel services, said: "You have to be careful when comparing costs in different countries. It all depends on their relative cost of living and it pays to be aware of favourable currency rates.

"It is clear that there are savings to be made depending on where you choose to holiday in Europe."

According to Moneycorp, the popularity of Bulgaria can be attributed to a number of factors ? including cheap flights, winter skiing and summer sun.

BULGARIA PROPERTY TREND

Wed, 9 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Bulgaria tops many lists when it comes to property investment and emerging markets. While the tourist trade is in full swing and many holiday operators are switching from markets like Spain and Portugal to cheaper locations like Bulgaria, buy-to-let properties in some areas of Bulgaria are nearing saturation levels.

It is important therefore to be aware of current trends within the Bulgarian market.

Sofia, one of the oldest capitals on the continent, has a very attractive future for investors with apartment prices starting at around £65,000 and increasingly investors are looking to the city for profitable returns.

The highly developed coastal resorts are slowly giving way to ski regions, chiefly the town of Bansko, although Pamporovo and Borovets are also now popular. Bansko in particular is attempting to lengthen its tourist season by installing year-round facilities in addition to the 65km of Pirin Mountain skiing. Developments are improving in quality, too, drawing in better builders and established estate agents. Property prices in the main Bansko area have risen by some 30 per cent in the past three years.

Basically, choose the right location and you are likely to see some great returns on your investment, provided you play the long game and do not rely on short-term capital gains. Try to ensure you get a guaranteed rental with specified yields on the contract and that your property has not been overpriced as a result.

Bulgaria "Top Country for Holiday Makers, Property Investors"

Sun, 23 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

A new report has placed Bulgaria in the top three countries for expected growth in 2006, reported news.assetz.co.uk, managed by a group of property investment companies delivering selected UK and overseas property and investment solutions. "Basing its league table on the number of searches on its website, cheapflights.co.uk found that there had been a 50 per cent increase in interest in Bulgaria, with both holiday makers and prospective property investors all eager to learn more about the country." The article points out that in recent years, property investment in Bulgaria has become increasingly common as individuals and businesses alike have looked to make the most of a rapidly improving economy and a burgeoning tourist industry. "Many experts have suggested that Bulgaria's accession to the EU would be the final factor in opening the floodgates to a property boom similar to that enjoyed by Spain during the last 25 years." The article points out tourism as yet another factor to instigate a general rise in house prices in Sofia and beyond and it is this basic assumption that has led many UK residents to invest already in the still remarkably cheap property around the capital. "Ski resorts including Borovets and Bansko have also proved popular as many investors look to capitalise on the fact that houses can be acquired at a much cheaper price than corresponding property in France." The country is also witnessing a sharp rise in the number of commercial property projects in Sofia as worldwide businesses look for a base in Eastern Europe, news.assetz.co.uk adds.