INDEPENDENT BULGARIAN ESTATE AGENTS

  The sad fact is that, unlike Athens, Istanbul or Budapest, there's not enough volume in air traffic to Sofia to have created a discount market: finding the least expensive seat is a matter of scouring newspapers and websites, checking travel specialists and utilizing any student/youth bargains you may be eligible for Peak times for flights to Bulgaria are mid-February. July, August, and around the Easter. Christmas and New Year holidays. At these times be prepared to book well in advance. All the fares given below include taxes.
   Only Balkan, the Bulgarian national airline, and British Airways offer direct flights to Sofia. Balkan has scheduled flights from London Heathrow six times a week (daily except Tues), and the journey takes just over three hours; the food, however, is vile. Balkan airfares are currently the same all year round it you buy a PEX ticket, subject to certain conditions, such as spending at least one Saturday night In Bulgaria. The standard return valid for up to one month (£201) is non-refundable and dates can't be changed, whereas with the three-month version (£231) you can alter the return date tor £35. You can also buy an onward flight next day Sofia to the coastal city of Varna, for 25 extra Alternatively, British Airways flies direct to Sofia three times a week from Gatwick (Tues, Thurs & Sun). Its fares vary seasonally and are far higher (£374-434). but occasional limited-period special offers may bring price down to Balkan's level.
   Discount flight agents sometimes seats on the Balkan or BA London-Sofia service for a slightly cheaper price than the airline itself, but are more likely to offer special deals on indirect flights with other carriers, such as CSA via Prague, Air France Paris or Alitalia via Milan, which can cost little as £156, but more often in the £235-27g range. Scott's Tours and Interchange are often the best sources, while under 26s may get even better deals from youth and student travel firms such Usit Campus or STA Travel.
   Package tour operators may have a few discounted tickets on charter flights to Sofia. Plovdiv, or coastal destinations such as Varna, which work out far cheaper than scheduled flights but are rarely advertised in the press or online.
   You'll have to contact operators direct to find out what's on offer! Balkan Holidays is the obvious place to start, Similarly, you may find packages that fly from a regional airport that's more convenient than London. You could also fly to another destination southeast Europe, such as Budapest Bucharest, Istanbul or Thessaloniki, ant continue to Bulgaria overland. Flights to the Romanian capital Bucharest can be as expensive as those to Sofia, but cheat flights to Budapest. Istanbul and occasionaly Thessaloniki are advertised online and in the press.

Airlines

Aer Lingus in London 020/8899 4747, outside London 0845/973 7747. In Republic of Ireland 01/705 3333 or 844 4777, www.aerlingus.ie.
Air France in UK 0845/0845 111, in Republic of Ireland 01/605 0383, www.airfrance.co.ulc Austrian Airlines ©0845/601 0948, www.aua.com.
Balkan Bulgarian Airlines in UK 020/7637 7637 www.balkanair.com.
British Airways in UK 0845/773 3377, in Republic Of Ireland ©0141/222 2345, www.britishairways.com.
British European in UK 0870/567 6676, in Republic Of Ireland 0870/567 6676, www.british-european.com.
British Midland in Britain 0870/607 0555, in Northern Ireland 0345/554554, in Republic of Ireland 01/283 8833, www.flybmi.com.
Buzz 0870/240 7070. www.buzzaway com.
Go 0870/607 6543, www.go-fly.com
KLM in Britain 08705/074074, in Northern Ireland 0990/074074, in Republic of Ireland 0345/445588, www.klmuk.com.
Lufthansa in UK ©0845/773 7747, in Republic of Ireland 01/844 5544,www.luthansa.com.
Malev Hungarian Airlines 020/7439 0577. www.malev.hu.
Tarom Romanian Airlines in UK ® 020/7224 3693, www.tarom.digirow.net.
Turkish Airlines in UK 020/7766 9300, www.turkishairlines.com.

Courier flights

Ben's Travel 020/7462 0022. www.benstravel.co.uk.
International Association of Air Travel Couriers 0800/0746 481 or 01305/216 920, www.aircourier.co.uk. Agent for lots of companies.

Flight and travel agents

Benz Travel 020/7462 0000, www.benztravel.co.uk. Discount agent specializing in Eastern Europe.
Destination Group 020/7400 7000. www.destination-group.com. Good discount airfares.
Flightbookers 020/7757 2444, www.ebookers.com. Low fares on an extensive selection of scheduled flights.
The London Flight Centre 020/7244 6411. www.topdecktravei.co.uk. Long-established agent dealing in discount flights.
North South Travel  01245/608291. www.nortnsouthtravel.co.uk. Friendly, competitive travel agency, offering discounted fares wortdwide - profits are used to support projects in the developing world, especially the promotion of sustainable tourism.
Scott's Tours 020/7383 5353, sales@scottstours.co.uk. Specialists in discount flights to Eastern Europe and the CIS.
STA Travel 0870/160 6070, ®www.statravel.co.uk. Worldwide specialists in low-cost flights and tours for students and under-26s. though ether customers are welcome.
Trailfinders in UK 020/7628 7628, in Republic of Ireland 01/677 7888. www.trailfinders.com. One of the best-informed and most efficient agents for independent travellers; produces a very useful quartedy magazine.
Travel Cuts 020/7255 2082. www.travelcuts.co.uk. Canadian company specializing in budget, student and youth travel and round-the-world tickets
Usit Campus 0870/240 1010, www.usitcampus.co.uk. Student/youth travel specialists, offering discount flights.
USIT Now in Belfast 028/9032 7111, in Dublin 01/602 1777 or 677 8117, in Cork 021/270900. in Derry 028/7137 1888. www.usitnow.ie. Student and youth specialists for flights and trains.

Package deals

   The main advantage of package holidays to Bulgaria is their low cost. Right-plus-accommodation deals are often cheaper than the price of a scheduled airfare atone, and even the most independent of travellers should consider the package option. Although in theory they tie you down to staying in one or two centres, there's nothing to stop you absenting yourself tor a few days and indulging in a little exploration of your own. The most popular packages are beach holidays on the Black Sea coast, or winter skiing trips in highland resorts. The season for summer packages runs from mid-May to late September, peaking in the first two weeks of August. The winter season runs from December to March, peaking in mid-February.
   There are also a number of other options: Balkan Holidays arranges numerous two-centre trips, combining coastal and mountain resorts, Bulgarian and Romanian, or Bulgarian and Turkish destinations, as well as fly-drive holidays with pre-booked accommodation. For a city break in Sofia, again try Balkan Holidays, or Interchange, a company specializing in travel to Eastern Europe, which will tailor a fiight-plus-accommodation deal to your needs. If you'd rather travel with a group, discovery tours covering the highlights of Bulgaria in eight to ten days arc a good option; compare the deals from Inghams. Balkan Holidays and Worldwide Adventures Abroad.

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