Hi Chris still got them trying to get you to change money on the street.Last year we had them in our hotel and going round the pool asking if you would like to change money ,they got put out of the hotel.That was in G/S .We always go to the bank or to the the exchange desk in the hotel as they were giving the same exchange rate as the bank.There is now quite a few banks so you will have a choice of where you want to go .You will find a lot of changes when you go back . June

You wouldn't recognize it now, but you've brought back many memories of meal vouchers and the Seacom shops.

The resorts are much more modern but have lost a lot of the character in the process

Patka

Hi Chris,

You will certainly still find the old ladies in some of the toilets (complete with plate for collecting the 30/50 Stotinki charge).

If I don't use my Bulgarian bank account, I tend to use my Nationwide Flex Account Debit Card in the ATMs - interbank rate and no charges for withdrawals - I got rates of up to 2.94BGN to the Pound last June/July.

Avoid the street money changers & booths, you will almost certainly be 'ripped off' (possibly even receiving a handful of the obsolete Leva notes which were replaced by the new Lev, at a rate of 1,000 to 1 - beware ).

yes the meal vouchers & the shops
full of Russians queing & looking at the empty shelves
those were the days

Hi nogbert as you have been told the changes are everywhere but yes it is good to remember meal vouchers you did not spend real money till about the second week of your stay ands the Russians sailors used to be great for bargain buys of binocculars telescopes and caviar, but that was as they say the good old days