Tailor-made tours for all
It is a private tour that is fully personalised to your needs, interests, tastes, and budget. We believe that one-size-fits-all travel packages are not the most appropriate option to truly discover a region or country because everyone expects a unique and personal travel experience. Our travel agency takes care of bookings and other travel arrangements for you to save time and travel stress-free. At the same time, you keep control of the planning process and retain complete flexibility of timings and activities. We will always strive to meet your expectations and match your preferences.
Tailor-made trips are for everyone whether you wish to travel as a couple, with family, friends, or in a group. We will design together with you the trip that suits you best.
Do not worry ! You do not need to have a clear idea of your next travel experience. We will guide you through the design of your trip and provide advice and recommendations. To this end, we will ask you relevant and simple questions during a phone or video appointment with you to better understand your expectations. If you already wish to have some ideas or inspiration, we encourage you to take a look at the trip examples and experiences displayed on our website.
At first sight, a tailor-made trip may seem to be a bit more expensive than other standard travel tours. However, the benefits significantly outweigh the costs. Among other things, you will not be travelling with a group of 15, 30, or 50+ participants and sightseeing in a herd. Instead, you will retain full flexibility of your itinerary – i.e., accommodation, transport, restaurants, activities – while travelling at your own pace with your partner, family, or friends only. In addition, you will benefit from the priceless first-hand expertise of one of our travel designers and preferential rates negotiated by Velstana with service providers.
Booking
It is quick and easy. You will find all the steps to create your bespoke journey by visiting the Create your tailor-made trip webpage.
You will find all the details on our Booking terms and conditions webpage.
You will find all the details on our Booking terms and conditions webpage.
You will find all the details on our Booking terms and conditions webpage.
You will receive a quotation by email that itemises everything included in the price of the holiday we have designed together during our phone or video call, namely accommodation, activities, transport, and so on.
Two weeks before departure, you will receive by email a comprehensive travel book, including your one-of-a-kind itinerary, day-by-day schedule, travel advice, and useful information. You can print it at home if need be. It will also be made available online and on a handy smartphone application that you can download and consult anytime throughout your journey, even in offline mode.
Airline tickets are not included in our tailor-made offer. As a result, you will have to arrange your own flights, but we commit to providing you with useful advice about flight booking.
We take care of booking the activities and tours that need to be booked in advance, for example, private city tours with a local guide, hiking tours with a mountain guide, ski lessons, a horseback riding tour, a wine-tasting session, and so on. For more traditional and unplanned walking tours, including self-guided museum or church visits, you will be independent, but you will find useful information in your travel book. In addition, further to our phone or video call, you will receive a quotation by email specifying which pre-booked activities are included in the cost of your holiday.
To facilitate the payment of your trip, we have set up a fully secure online credit or debit card payment service. If you do not have a credit or debit card, you may pay by bank transfer.
Accomodation
During our phone or video call, we ask about your preferences concerning the type and category of accommodation: charming hotels or guesthouses, level of services (from good comfort to luxury), specific facilities (an on-site swimming pool, for example). You may also choose an exceptional place (a monastery or a mountain hut, for example), for one night or more.
B&B rooms are furnished rooms in private homes in order to accommodate tourists, for a fee, for one or more nights, with services.
These are most often hosted by people who love their region, are truly welcoming and wish to share good moments with you (around their table d’hôtes for example). They are also authentic homes, which have a great deal of character and charm while providing a good level of comfort.
These are most often hosted by people who love their region, are truly welcoming and wish to share good moments with you (around their table d’hôtes for example). They are also authentic homes, which have a great deal of character and charm while providing a good level of comfort.
Catering
If you have dietary restrictions such as allergies to certain foods, special diets (vegetarian, diabetic, etc.), you will just have to inform us during our phone or video call. Thus, when meals are planned and included in advance (table d’hôtes, for example), we will inform the restaurant owner.
All breakfasts are included with the accommodation. Concerning lunch and dinner, we will provide you with a short list of local restaurant suggestions to discover local cuisine and regional specialties. Those meals are not included in the final price of your holiday unless you have chosen the table d’hôtes option (where possible) or if you have decided to stay at a hotel on a half-board basis (where possible, too), in which case, this service will be booked in advance and included in the final price.
In any case, further to our conversation, you will receive by email a quotation specifying which meals are included in the price of your holiday.
In any case, further to our conversation, you will receive by email a quotation specifying which meals are included in the price of your holiday.
When you stay at a guesthouse, it may sometimes offer a table d’hôtes. This means that your host offers, in addition to the accommodation, to serve you a traditional, multi-course meal for dinner. In general, it is a single menu of preselected courses composed of local products (unless there are food restrictions).
How my trip could go
Our office is reachable (by phone: +33187420365 or by WhatsApp) in case of emergency throughout your journey.
Together we have built your tailor-made tour. All bookings (accommodation, activities, transport, and so on) have been made and recorded in your travel book. You remain, of course, independent and free concerning self-guided tours and your own pace of visit during your journey. However, it does not mean that you are alone and without help in the event of problems.
Yes, you can have a private guided tour of specific sites or cities. The local guide will generally speak English fluently, but if you would like the tour to be guided in a different foreign language (for example, Russian, German, Spanish, Italian, or French), we will strive to find a local guide with the appropriate language skills.
Yes, of course. We can arrange private transfers or even hire a private car with a driver throughout your journey. You just need to inform us during our phone or video call so that we take this into account.
Yes, you can. We even strongly encourage this, as it will make your trip more fun, exciting, and memorable. All this naturally depends on your personal preferences. From experience, travellers usually like combining a cultural tour with outdoor activities and/or the myths and legends experience. Winter sports and spa & wellness holidays are also a good match. We will advise you better during our appointment.
It depends on the outdoor activity. If there is a third party involved like a guide – who deems the activity is no longer feasible due to bad weather conditions (for example, a hot-air balloon flight), if possible, the activity will be rescheduled to the next available date without altering your stay. If not possible, it will be partially or fully reimbursed. You will find all the details on our Booking terms and conditions webpage.
During our phone or video appointment, we will discuss in greater detail all planned activities and tailor them to your needs. For instance, hiking or horseback riding can be adapted to any level, from novice to expert.
Our destinations
Bulgaria
Citizens and residents from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the United States do not require a visa to enter Bulgaria for up to a 90-day stay. Holding a valid Schengen visa also permits you to enter Bulgaria. For other countries, please check the following list. Note that visas cannot be obtained at border crossings.
Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union and NATO since 2007 and 2004, respectively. It is a very safe country, and the people are friendly and welcoming. Crime level is low. The threat of terrorism is also relatively low, even lower than in Western Europe. However, you should always take care of yourself and your belongings in the same way you would do in your country. Women travellers can feel safe, too, in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is an ideal destination for family holidays. The Black Sea coast and ski resorts are popular spots for travellers with children. During the summer, kids can enjoy nice swimming pools, warm sea, and safe and sandy beaches. There are ski schools, dedicated zones, and fun ski slopes for the kids during the winter. Older children will also enjoy additional activities such as hiking and wildlife-watching. Moreover, many big hotels have playgrounds and clubs for kids while cities always have public parks with playgrounds. In addition, our car rental partner company provides children’s car seats, but need to be booked in advance. Our selection of accommodation usually provides cots upon request.
The short answer is, ‘it depends.’ If you wish to enjoy the seaside, the best period to visit Bulgaria is from June to September. If you come for skiing and other winter activities, the best time is between December and early April, while for hiking, mountaineering, and other outdoor activities, the period between late spring and early autumn is the most appropriate. For a more cultural trip, visiting Bulgaria can be done anytime.
More and more Bulgarians speak at least a little English while their skills have improved over the last few years. You can almost always find people speaking English in major cities and tourist areas. Most of the young people understand and speak basic English at least. However, older people rarely speak English but may have knowledge of Russian. You may also find people speaking German, French or Italian, albeit to a much lesser extent than English.
Fun fact: Bulgarians famously shake their head sideways for “yes” and up and down for “no.” This is confusing for foreigners and can lead to many amusing misunderstandings.
Fun fact: Bulgarians famously shake their head sideways for “yes” and up and down for “no.” This is confusing for foreigners and can lead to many amusing misunderstandings.
Bulgaria uses the Cyrillic alphabet. However, the Roman alphabet is also used on road signs and street names and everywhere in major towns and cities and tourist areas. In addition, menus in restaurants often have pictures and translations, at least in English. As a result, you should not be worried at all. However, a basic grasp of the Cyrillic alphabet would always be welcomed.
Bulgarian cuisine is little-known but tastes delicious. It is fresh and relatively simple. It is a mix of Greek, Balkan, and Turkish-influenced cuisine. It includes a large variety of vegetables, grilled meat, cheese, yoghurt, and fresh fruits. Among local specialties, you should try the shopska salad, tarator (a cucumber soup), the traditional banitsa, kapama and kebabche. As for drinks, you will be able to taste, among other things, good local wines, Bulgaria’s most popular spirit rakia (a fruit brandy), local beers, and Turkish-style coffee.
Car rental in Bulgaria
Our partner company demands that the rentee (and any additional drivers) presents a valid passport/ID card and a valid non-expired driving licence throughout the rental period. Foreigners with a valid European driving licence can hire a car in Bulgaria. However, foreigners (e.g., from the United States) must have an international driver’s licence or a legalised translation of their original driving licence, if issued by a country that is not a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 08/11/1968. The original driving licence must always be provided too.
In addition, the rentee and any additional drivers must be 21 or older and have at least one year of driving experience, except for drivers aged 30 and over. The latter requirement may be stricter depending on the rental car class.
Lastly, the rentee must bring a credit or debit card to pay a refundable security deposit when picking up the car.
In addition, the rentee and any additional drivers must be 21 or older and have at least one year of driving experience, except for drivers aged 30 and over. The latter requirement may be stricter depending on the rental car class.
Lastly, the rentee must bring a credit or debit card to pay a refundable security deposit when picking up the car.
You should be aware of the following speed limits for cars: 50 km/h in populated areas, 90 km/h outside populated areas, and 140 km/h on highways (unless otherwise specified).
In addition, you must leave your headlights on even during the daytime throughout the entire year. Bulgarian laws are very strict concerning drinking and driving: the blood alcohol content limit is 0.5 mg.
In addition, you must leave your headlights on even during the daytime throughout the entire year. Bulgarian laws are very strict concerning drinking and driving: the blood alcohol content limit is 0.5 mg.
We strongly recommend that you drive on the main roads and avoid smaller (unnumbered) roads, which may not be in good condition (many potholes, for example), and off-roads.
We also recommend that you comply with parking regulations when you park the car in cities to avoid fines or prevent the car from being towed.
Lastly, we advise that you go to well-known petrol stations to fill up the tank (Shell, Lukoil, Petrol, OMV, Eko, for example) and avoid smaller rural stations whose fuel quality may be lower. Petrol stations are located every 30-50km on all highways in the country.
We also recommend that you comply with parking regulations when you park the car in cities to avoid fines or prevent the car from being towed.
Lastly, we advise that you go to well-known petrol stations to fill up the tank (Shell, Lukoil, Petrol, OMV, Eko, for example) and avoid smaller rural stations whose fuel quality may be lower. Petrol stations are located every 30-50km on all highways in the country.
Your car rental includes third-party liability insurance, which is mandatory in Bulgaria. It also includes the collision damage waiver (CDW) or theft protection (TP) up to the deposit amount.
For an additional charge, the car rental can include the tyre and glass cover, which releases the rentee from liability for damage to car tyres, wheels, rims, and windows when the car is returned with all the documents and keys. You may also decide to add the full protection option for an additional charge. It not only includes the above-mentioned tyre and glass cover but also releases the rentee from liability for damage to the car exterior certified by a report of the Traffic Police, Police, or any other competent authority.
For an additional charge, the car rental can include the tyre and glass cover, which releases the rentee from liability for damage to car tyres, wheels, rims, and windows when the car is returned with all the documents and keys. You may also decide to add the full protection option for an additional charge. It not only includes the above-mentioned tyre and glass cover but also releases the rentee from liability for damage to the car exterior certified by a report of the Traffic Police, Police, or any other competent authority.
In addition to third-party liability, CDW and TP, your car rental will include unlimited mileage, the vignette (road tax) for Bulgaria, airport fee, and winter tyres (from 1 November to 31 March). The car will be provided with a full tank and must be returned in the same conditions. Otherwise, the rentee will be charged for the cost of the missing fuel plus a refuelling charge.
The pick-up and return location is agreed with you and will be specified in your travel book. In general, our customers pick up the car at the airport upon arrival or have it delivered to their hotel. Conversely, the car can be returned at the airport before departure or at the hotel when it is no longer needed.
When picking up the car, the car rental company will block a security deposit on the driver’s credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard). This deposit is held against any damage done to the car. Its amount will not be charged but only blocked on the card. The deposit will be released when the car is returned in the same conditions as it was picked up. It usually takes up to 2 weeks. The deposit amount depends on the car class and coverage type. It is between EUR 150 and EUR 800. Note that if you are a young driver (i.e., aged 21 to 23), the deposit will be doubled.
You will find all the details on our Booking terms and conditions webpage.
Yes, you can. You only have to tell us in advance so that, in turn, we inform our partner company.