Local Info
Health
A fully equipped and functioning hospital is located in Samokov. 24 hour medical facilities are available in Borovets. Dental services and pharmacies are also available at the resort.Some medical and all dental services must be paid by cash to the doctors (clinics). They should provide the necessary bills, receipts and invoices describing the service and the cost, so that you can claim back the expense to your insurance company. It's recommended you call your insurance company and inform them in case of injury. Please follow their instructions.
Language
The Cyrillic alphabet is used (named after its founders, Saint Cyril and Methodius). Signs along international motorways, in airports and resorts are also spelled in Roman letters.
Bulgarian is a Slavonic language. English, German, French and Russian is spoken in the country's resorts, hotels and restaurants. For those interested in learning the language, Bulgarian4brits sells a language guide comprising a book and two CDs
Money
Credit cards: Owing to the high commission rates charged for the use of credit cards and travellers cheques, it is advisable to bring larger amounts of Sterling or Euros in cash. Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express might be accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops, car rentals, etc. However, cash payments are the norm, e.g. at petrol stations. ATMs are available at Samokov and Borovets. Accepted are Visa, MasterCard and Cirrus cards
Currency: The monetary unit is the Lev (BGN). Banknote denominations include 1,00, 2,00, 5,00, 10,00, 20,00 and 50,00 leva, as well as coins of smaller denominations. The Lev – Euro exchange rate is fixed at 1.95 Lev to 1.00 Euro. The GBP - BGN exchange rate tends to be more favourable in Bulgaria than in the UK. However, the currency exchange offices at the airport don't offer competitive rates and you are better changing money at the resort (hotels or kiosks). The best rates will be obtained at banks in Borovets or Samokov. Conversion of GBP - Euro can be carried out in the UK at competitive rates at Onlinefx. Euros will be needed if paying in cash for accommodation rental
Telephone
Bulgarian SIM cards can be purchased for less than GBP 10 to eliminate the mobile phone roaming charges applied to UK SIM cards. Several mobile phone shops selling SIM cards are located on the road from Samokov to Borovets.
Discount service providers will enable friends and family in the UK to keep in contact with you in Bulgaria at low cost. For example,
Ratebuster provides a non-subscription service with low cost phone charges from a UK landline to a Bulgarian mobile phone (NOT to a mobile phone with a UK SIM card roaming in Bulgaria). See also
Dialabroad for low cost ways to use a mobile phone for international calls.
The local voltage is 220-240 AC and so a continental adapter is required to charge mobile phones (or use any other electrical equipment).
Travel insurance
Private travel insurance is recommended. You should keep receipts for any medical expenditure for insurance claims, but be aware that most policies have an excess. You must always contact your Insurance company DIRECT on your return. The following web sites offer competitive insurance packages:
Insure Supermarket (price comparison website),
Insure & Go,
Atlas Direct and
Ski Insurance.In addition, you should take your NHS medical card with you. If you do not have your card, you can obtain a replacement (usually free of charge) from your Local Health Authority. Free hospital and dental treatment is available on production of your NHS medical card and passport, although you’ll need to pay for medicines supplied by public pharmacy.
If you pass through any states in the European Economic Area, you should also have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. More details about the EHIC and an online application form are available from the Department of Health.
