DISTINCTIVE DESTINATIONS EXPLORES BULGARIA

The Fall issue of Distinctive Destinations, Newsletter for Sophisticated Travelers, travels to Eastern Europe and former Soviet bloc countries Bulgaria and Romania and here at home to Philadelphia. Also included are special savings offered by hotels and cruise lines in regular feature Luxury for Less and CommuniquГ© that quotes travel excerpts from leading national and international publications.

Still in a transition stage from state collectivism to free market economy after nearly 50 years of Soviet domination, Bulgaria and Romania are welcoming tourists with open arms. That means friendly smiles, great food and excellent accommodations.

Distinctive Destinations editors Dan and Anne Miller traveled for a month in the two countries visiting historic sites, interviewing hoteliers and restaurateurs and seeking out places for readers to visit. In Bulgaria they drove some 1500 kilometers and in Romania more than 2000 kilometers.

Some general observations are that people are courteous and friendly, English is understood, but not spoken fluently, there are few luxury goods stores and in Bulgaria many signs are written using the Cyrillic alphabet. In both countries cell phones and cigarettes are omnipresent.

Both Bulgaria and Romania are scheduled to join the European Union in 2007.

- Now is the perfect time to visit these two countries. according to the editors, -as prices are sure to escalate after both countries join the EU, just as they have in Ireland.?

The Distinctive Destinations profile of Philadelphia has prompted Rittenhouse Hotel general manager David Benton to comment that, It’s the best article on Philadelphia I’ve read in 10 years.

The City of Brotherly Love will be celebrating the 300th birthday of adopted son Benjamin Franklin on Jan. 17, 2006, with many special activities planned.

Philadelphia is enjoying something of a renaissance as the National Constitution Center with its state-of-the-art multi media presentation and Liberty Bell Center housing the 2,000-pound bell has recently opened. Philadelphia has a wealth of new restaurants from small neighborhood cafes where everything is cooked to order to the recently re-opened Bookbinder?s which first opened its doors in 1865.

Distinctive Destinations is available by subscription for $39 per year for four issues. Contact: Distinctive Destinations, P.O. Box 125, Rockland, DE 19732. Telephone inquiries: 302 655 1363.

July 26, 2005   Posted in: Bulgaria