‘Fantastic guide’ in Bulgaria

I loved all three of the countries that a friend and her daughter and I visited in June 2018: Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania.

For Bulgaria, we got connected with a fantastic guide, Martin Semerdjiev (phone +359 883372115, martinert@yahoo.com). I had contacted a guide in Bulgaria whom I learned about through ITN, Patrick Peneff, but he was booked, so he sent me Martin's name.

For $300 for all three of us, we used Martin's services for two days. We paid him when we got to Bulgaria, on June 28, so there was no need to send money.

Martin first gave us a ride from the airport to the hotel. (Because of a long delay in London, we had missed our plane, but he waited for us the entire time at the Sofia Airport. I was able to keep in touch with him through email.)

The next morning, he picked us up at 7 to go to a traditional breakfast and then tour many famous places. Martin speaks fluent English and knows his country.

I would have liked to have done a longer trip with him, but we were already signed up to do a tour with Gate 1 Travel (Fort Washington, PA; 800/682-3333, www.gate1travel.com). In the evening, Martin took us to the meeting place for that tour.

My friend and I try to do a tour with Gate 1 once a year, and, in case of delays, we always arrive a few days early, also giving us the opportunity to take a private tour.

SABINE JOYCE
Annapolis, MD