In an effort to help others planning to travel or explore overseas, I will document my expenses for each country I lived in during the 2023 year. I didn’t keep records for the first 2.5 months in Mexico as almost everything was paid for in cash. Beginning with the next destination, here are my budget travel expenses for Plovdiv – 55 days. (Bulgaria)
Things To Note
All prices are in Canadian dollars and these destinations were ones I stayed at for more than one week. I consider myself a budget traveller and am frugal as I can be without forgoing too much comfort and privacy. I will always stay in my own place, for safety, I don’t book ‘room only’ or multi dorm hostels.
Food costs included in ‘groceries’ are everything purchased from a grocery store or market, so wine, beer, all food, toiletries, cleaning products, water etc.
Accommodation
I stayed in an Airbnb within 15 minutes walk of the touristy area and Old Town. The neighbourhood was okay, the host was great, but I would not stay there again. The condo was filthy, reeked of cigarette smoke and had no privacy. Even though it was on the 3rd floor and had a tiny balcony, a huge condo was under construction next door. And by next door I mean there were workers about 12 feet from my balcony.
I desperately wanted to have the windows open to air out the place and let in some light, but with workers there from 7am to 5pm and working weekends as well, I had very little precious time to let the sunlight and fresh air in.
Breakdown
Flight from Split $405
Accommodation (55 nights) $1,566
SIM card $22
Food (groceries) $936.53
Food (restaurants) $77.85
Beauty Products $40.84
Museums & Attractions $22.84
Train $11
Buses $6.67
Jewellery $10
Postcards & stamps $12.15
Total expenses with accommodation $2,705.88
Average cost per day $49.20
Would I Return?
No. Groceries were the most expensive of anywhere I had travelled to date. But what affected me the most was the people. I have never been treated so rudely and unkind as I was there. It broke my heart, it was depressing and for someone who is sensitive, it really affected me badly. The stoicism and frigidity are astonishing. I received dismissive hand gestures when I didn’t speak the language, I was actually hit by males on two occasions and I was miserable much of the time.
It hurts me to be blunt and honest and speak poorly of anyone or anything but my experiences in Plovdiv were unpleasant. Its important for me to show the good with the ugly. Awareness would have helped me, for I would have been prepared with my mental shield all the way up and locked.
Tomorrow I’ll post Nessebar down at the Black Sea in Bulgaria
