{"id":147253,"date":"2025-07-29T14:28:21","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/29\/the-balkans-travel-guide-how-to-plan-a-multi-country-trip-itinerary-visa-other-tips\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T14:28:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:28:21","slug":"the-balkans-travel-guide-how-to-plan-a-multi-country-trip-itinerary-visa-other-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/29\/the-balkans-travel-guide-how-to-plan-a-multi-country-trip-itinerary-visa-other-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"THE BALKANS Travel Guide \u2022 How to Plan a Multi-Country Trip (Itinerary, Visa &#038; Other Tips)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>When folks consider <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/2019\/11\/europe-scams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Europe<\/a><\/strong>, the primary locations that always come to thoughts are France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and perhaps Switzerland. However, Europe is house to dozens of nations, and <strong>some of the underrated areas<\/strong> for vacationers is <strong>the Balkans<\/strong>. While there\u2019s no common settlement on which nations belong to the Balkans, the area usually consists of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, with Romania and Slovenia generally thought-about a part of it as nicely.<\/p>\n<p>Despite being neglected by many vacationers, <strong>the Balkans supply gorgeous landscapes, wealthy historical past, and vibrant cultures<\/strong> \u2014 all at a fraction of the fee in comparison with Western Europe. While some locations should be expensive by Filipino requirements, they&#8217;re <strong>usually extra budget-friendly than their Western European counterparts<\/strong>. If visiting the Balkans is in your journey bucket listing, maintain studying as we share how we deliberate our unforgettable Balkan journey on this article!<\/p>\n<p><noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"EAPK9rm8naI\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Plan a Trip to the BALKANS (Visa, Backpacking Route, Itinerary) \u2022 The Poor Traveler Europe\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EAPK9rm8naI?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">WHAT&#8217;S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/svg><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav\/><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Secure_the_right_visas\"\/>1. Secure the precise visas.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p>As talked about earlier, the Balkan area usually consists of 11 nations. However, not all of them are a part of the Schengen Area. <\/p>\n<h4>Schengen Balkan Countries<\/h4>\n<p>Only 5 nations within the Balkan area are included within the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/2020\/01\/sample-cover-letter-visa-application\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Schengen Area<\/a>. These are the next: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Greece<\/li>\n<li>Croatia<\/li>\n<li>Slovenia<\/li>\n<li>Bulgaria<\/li>\n<li>Romania<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Bulgaria and Romania at the moment solely settle for Schengen visas at their sea and air borders.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"UhhpX-Omz7c\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Top 10 VISA Application MISTAKES to Avoid (PART 1) \u2022 Taglish \u2022 The Poor Traveler Visa Guides\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UhhpX-Omz7c?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Among the Schengen nations within the Balkans, <strong>Greece is essentially the most sensible selection for Filipino vacationers<\/strong>. Here are the explanations: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Greece has its personal embassy within the Philippines, making visa processing extra simple.<\/li>\n<li>Athens Airport is well-connected, with reasonably priced flights out there from many locations.<\/li>\n<li>Greece is a shocking journey vacation spot, so it\u2019s nicely price including to your itinerary!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Alternatively<\/strong>, you may also apply for a Schengen visa via Slovenia, which is processed by the Belgian Embassy within the Philippines. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>TIP!<\/strong> Design an itinerary that requires a number of Schengen entries, making your multiple-entry visa software extra justifiable. See pattern itinerary within the subsequent part.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h4>Non-Schengen Balkan Countries<\/h4>\n<p>Here are the Balkan nations outdoors of the Schengen Area:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Albania<\/li>\n<li>Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/li>\n<li>Kosovo<\/li>\n<li>Montenegro<\/li>\n<li>North Macedonia<\/li>\n<li>Serbia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re touring to any of those nations, you\u2019ll want a separate visa particular to that nation. For occasion, should you\u2019re solely visiting Albania, you\u2019ll want to use for an Albanian visa. Fortunately, there\u2019s a workaround: <strong>in case you have a multiple-entry Schengen visa, you gained\u2019t want a separate visa for a lot of Balkan states<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p>To make the most of this, you possibly can apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa via Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, or Romania \u2014 so long as your itinerary <strong>justifies a number of entries<\/strong>. Additionally, <strong>many non-Schengen Balkan nations settle for a used multiple-entry Schengen visa<\/strong>, that means you will need to enter a Schengen nation not less than as soon as earlier than utilizing it to go to different Balkan states.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Plan_your_route_wisely\"\/>2. Plan your route properly.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Careful route planning is important<\/strong> \u2014 not solely to save lots of time, cash, and power but in addition to justify the necessity for a multiple-entry Schengen visa. <\/p>\n<h4>Creating Your Itinerary<\/h4>\n<p>As talked about earlier, solely 5 Balkan nations are a part of the Schengen Area, whereas the remaining require separate visas. However, with a multiple-entry Schengen visa, you possibly can enter many non-Schengen Balkan nations with no need extra visas.<\/p>\n<p>This is why <strong>the itinerary you undergo the embassy is essential<\/strong>. Below is a simplified model of our Balkan journey route. It was extra difficult in actuality, however this offers you an instance of how one can plan your itinerary.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Greece<\/li>\n<li>Romania<\/li>\n<li>Bulgaria<\/li>\n<li>North Macedonia<\/li>\n<li>Kosovo<\/li>\n<li>Albania<\/li>\n<li>Montenegro<\/li>\n<li>Croatia<\/li>\n<li>Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/li>\n<li>Croatia<\/li>\n<li>Spain<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>This itinerary required us to enter the Schengen Area thrice<\/strong>, which strengthened our justification for a multiple-entry visa.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_59797\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-59797\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"Athens Airport Arrival\" width=\"1200\" height=\"698\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59797\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-300x175.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-1024x596.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-768x447.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-350x204.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-1042x606.jpeg 1042w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival.jpeg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival.jpeg\" alt=\"Athens Airport Arrival\" width=\"1200\" height=\"698\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-300x175.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-1024x596.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-768x447.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-350x204.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Athens-Airport-Arrival-1042x606.jpeg 1042w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-59797\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Arrival at Athens Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>First Entry:<\/strong> Arriving in Greece (Schengen).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second Entry:<\/strong> Exiting the Schengen Area from Bulgaria to North Macedonia, then re-entering when arriving in Croatia.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Third Entry:<\/strong> Taking a aspect journey to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, then re-entering Croatia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With three Schengen entries, <strong>a multiple-entry visa was justified<\/strong>, permitting us to journey via the non-Schengen Balkan nations with no need separate visas.<\/p>\n<h4>Choosing the Best Mode of Transportation<\/h4>\n<p>Beyond visas, planning your route properly additionally means contemplating <strong>transportation availability<\/strong>. Google Maps is a superb instrument to verify essentially the most logical route between the nations you wish to go to. Researching bus routes may help you keep away from pointless flights, making your journey extra budget-friendly and environment friendly.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_59798\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-59798\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"Sofia - Skopje Bus Balkan\" width=\"1200\" height=\"805\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59798\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-1024x687.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-768x515.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-350x235.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-1042x699.jpeg 1042w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan.jpeg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan.jpeg\" alt=\"Sofia - Skopje Bus Balkan\" width=\"1200\" height=\"805\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-1024x687.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-768x515.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-350x235.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Sofia-Skopje-Bus-Balkan-1042x699.jpeg 1042w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-59798\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bus from Sofia in Bulgaria to Skopje in North Macedonia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During our Balkan backpacking journey, we primarily traveled by bus. Not solely was it essentially the most reasonably priced possibility, however it additionally made for a extra immersive and adventurous expertise.<\/p>\n<h4>Checking the Political Landscape<\/h4>\n<p>Another vital issue when planning your itinerary is the <strong>political panorama of the Balkan area<\/strong>, as some nations have border restrictions because of diplomatic conflicts. For instance, Serbia apparently doesn&#8217;t enable entry from Kosovo because of conflicts. While this coverage might change over time, we took further precautions when planning our route. Instead of touring from Kosovo to Serbia, we entered Serbia from Bulgaria first, then later traveled to Kosovo from North Macedonia to keep away from potential points.<\/p>\n<p>By being strategic together with your route, you can also make your Balkan journey smoother, cheaper, and visa-efficient \u2014 all whereas having fun with the unbelievable variety of this fascinating area!<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Search_for_affordable_flights\"\/>3. Search for reasonably priced flights.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p>When planning our Balkans journey, <strong>we selected Greece as our entry level as a result of it supplied the most cost effective flights<\/strong>. If you\u2019re reserving nicely prematurely or throughout seat gross sales, some of the budget-friendly choices from Manila to Athens is SCOOT, which operates flights with a stopover in Singapore. In truth, we\u2019ve flown to Greece with Scoot on earlier journeys.<\/p>\n<p>However, <strong>don\u2019t restrict your search to only price range airways<\/strong>. It\u2019s at all times price checking full-service carriers too. Sometimes, you\u2019ll discover flights which are both cheaper or solely barely dearer than low-cost airways however include added advantages. For instance, after we booked our flight for our Balkans journey, we selected Etihad with a cease in Abu Dhabi. At the time, it was solely about \u20b15,000 dearer than Scoot, however that worth already included add-ons.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"Etihad MNL-AUH-ATH\" width=\"1200\" height=\"765\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59799\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-300x191.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-1024x653.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-768x490.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-350x223.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-1042x664.jpeg 1042w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH.jpeg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH.jpeg\" alt=\"Etihad MNL-AUH-ATH\" width=\"1200\" height=\"765\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-300x191.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-1024x653.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-768x490.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-350x223.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Etihad-MNL-AUH-ATH-1042x664.jpeg 1042w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you seen in our pattern itinerary, <strong>our remaining cease earlier than returning to the Philippines was Spain<\/strong>, although it\u2019s not a part of the Balkan area. <strong>The purpose? Flight costs.<\/strong> At the time, the most cost effective flight again to Manila was from Barcelona. Even after factoring in the price of a connecting flight from Croatia to Barcelona, the overall expense was nonetheless decrease than flying immediately from the Balkans. That\u2019s why we determined to incorporate Spain in our route!<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s necessary to notice that when making use of for a Schengen visa, you don\u2019t have to ebook your flights but. Instead, <strong>you\u2019ll want a flight reservation<\/strong>, which serves as a brief reserving with out requiring full cost. Some folks check with it as a \u201cdummy ticket\u201d, it sounds phony so we keep away from utilizing that time period. But no matter you name it, what\u2019s necessary is that embassies acknowledge flight reservations.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"Flight Reservation for Visa\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-56174\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-1042x586.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-150x84.jpg 150w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa.jpg\" alt=\"Flight Reservation for Visa\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-56174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-1042x586.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Flight-Reservation-for-Visa-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>For our visa functions, we get our flight reservations from <strong>Gazelle Travel and Tours<\/strong>. If you want one, you possibly can go to <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoortraveler.net\/flight-reservation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this web page<\/a>, fill out the order type, and verify the pricing and turnaround time. Once your visa is permitted, you possibly can proceed with finalizing your precise flight reserving.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Consider_the_season_and_the_weather\"\/>4. Consider the season and the climate.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Timing performs a vital position when planning a visit to Europe<\/strong>, together with the Balkan area. We\u2019ve traveled to the Balkans throughout late spring to early summer season and once more from late summer season to autumn, and we will confidently say \u2014 the distinction in worth is large.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>summer season months (June to September) are thought-about peak season<\/strong>, that means larger costs for flights, lodging, and excursions. For instance, after we visited Croatia, we seen that as quickly as October arrived, tour costs dropped considerably. This pattern applies to lodges and flights as nicely.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-40511\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-1042x695.jpg 1042w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-40511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Best-Time-to-Visit-Europe-1042x695.jpg 1042w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Out of all of the seasons we\u2019ve skilled, <strong>autumn was essentially the most breathtaking<\/strong>. The climate was comfortably cool \u2014 neither too scorching nor too chilly \u2014 and the landscapes have been painted in gorgeous fall colours, making it an unforgettable sight.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond pricing and surroundings, <strong>seasonal climate additionally determines what it is advisable to pack<\/strong>. The Balkans have numerous climates, so temperatures can fluctuate tremendously relying on the place you go. For instance, the climate in Romania is totally different from Croatia\u2019s Dalmatia Region.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <strong>coastal cities<\/strong> alongside the Adriatic and Aegean Seas \u2014 like Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia \u2014 have a Mediterranean local weather. <strong>Inland areas<\/strong>, similar to Sofia in Bulgaria and Bra\u0219ov in Romania, expertise a damp continental local weather, that means colder winters and extra important seasonal modifications. <\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re backpacking via a number of nations, count on the climate to shift from place to put. Be positive to <strong>analysis every vacation spot\u2019s local weather prematurely<\/strong> and <strong>pack accordingly<\/strong> to remain comfy all through your journey.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Dont_assume_everythings_the_same\"\/>5. Don\u2019t assume every part\u2019s the identical.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p><strong>The Balkan area is extremely numerous<\/strong>, not simply when it comes to local weather but in addition in tradition, language, historical past, and governance. While there are similarities between nations, every nation has its personal distinct identification. The alphabet, faith, political techniques, and even cuisines can fluctuate dramatically as you cross borders.<\/p>\n<h4>History<\/h4>\n<p>This variety can also be mirrored within the <strong>area\u2019s complicated historical past<\/strong>. Many neighboring nations have long-standing political tensions, which generally turn out to be evident when talking with locals. Even historic excursions can current conflicting narratives, relying on the place you&#8217;re. For instance, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, Serbia and Bulgaria, Serbia and Kosovo, and even Bosnia and Herzegovina all have totally different views on historic occasions \u2014 and also you\u2019ll probably sense this when visiting heritage websites or participating in conversations.<\/p>\n<h4>Cuisine<\/h4>\n<p>Each nation within the Balkans provides a novel <strong>delicacies<\/strong> as nicely. For instance, in Dubrovnik and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/kotor-things-to-do-montenegro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Montenegro<\/a>, seafood dominates the delicacies, whereas Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia favor meat-heavy dishes. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_59800\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-59800\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"Balkan Dishes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"780\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59800\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-300x195.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-1024x666.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-768x499.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-350x228.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-1042x677.jpeg 1042w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes.jpeg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes.jpeg\" alt=\"Balkan Dishes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"780\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-300x195.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-1024x666.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-768x499.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-350x228.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Balkan-Dishes-1042x677.jpeg 1042w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-59800\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Some of the dishes we tried in Brasov, Romania (Top and Bottom Left) and Kotor, Montenegro (Top and Bottom Right).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>Religion<\/h4>\n<p>When it involves <strong>faith<\/strong>, nations like Kosovo and Albania are predominantly Muslim, whereas Croatia is basically Catholic. Meanwhile, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania comply with Eastern Orthodox Christianity, every with their very own branches \u2014 Greek Orthodox, Bulgarian Orthodox, and Serbian Orthodox.<\/p>\n<h4>Language<\/h4>\n<p>The <strong>linguistic variety<\/strong> can also be fascinating. For instance, Romanian is a Latin-based language that makes use of the Latin alphabet, whereas Bulgarian is a Slavic language that makes use of the Cyrillic script. Greek, in fact, has its personal distinct Greek alphabet.<\/p>\n<h4>Vibe and Personality<\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46681\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-1042x586.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-150x84.jpg 150w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-1042x586.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Dubrovnik-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Every vacation spot has its personal persona.<\/strong> Beyond cultural variations, every metropolis or city exudes its personal distinctive appeal. Bra\u0219ov (Romania) seems like a quaint, fairy-tale city. Sofia (Bulgaria) and Tirana (Albania) have the bustling power of huge cities. Meanwhile, Split and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/dubrovnik-things-to-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dubrovnik<\/a> (Croatia) are straight out of Game of Thrones, serving severe King\u2019s Landing vibes. And Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Prizren (Kosovo) appear to be big, open-air museums with their well-preserved historic websites.<\/p>\n<h4>Affordability<\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46597\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-1042x586.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-150x84.jpg 150w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-1042x586.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Things-to-Do-in-Split-Croatia-150x84.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Prices additionally fluctuate between locations.<\/strong> While a lot of the Balkans is thought for being budget-friendly, there are notable exceptions. Dubrovnik and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/split-croatia-things-to-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Split<\/a> are among the many most costly cities within the area. When we first visited these elements of Croatia a number of years in the past, they have been already expensive, however throughout our most up-to-date journey, we seen costs had skyrocketed, probably as a result of inflow of vacationers. If you intend to go to, be ready to spend extra in comparison with different Balkan locations.<\/p>\n<p>The extra locations you discover, the extra you\u2019ll respect the area\u2019s unbelievable variety. Every cease reveals one thing new, making the Balkans a really fascinating place to go to.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Inspect_your_accommodations_online\"\/>6. Inspect your lodging on-line.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p>One of one of the best issues about touring within the Balkans is the <strong>abundance of budget-friendly lodging<\/strong>. However, worth isn\u2019t the one issue to think about when selecting the place to remain. We at all times use two key standards when reserving: <strong>central location<\/strong> and<strong> accessibility<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p>We favor lodging <strong>close to the Old Town or metropolis heart<\/strong>, inside strolling distance of key points of interest and beginning factors for strolling excursions. It\u2019s additionally necessary that our lodging is <strong>near main transportation hubs<\/strong>, similar to prepare stations or bus terminals, for simpler transfers between locations.<\/p>\n<p>Finding lodging that match these standards was pretty straightforward, besides in Dubrovnik, the place we confronted a novel problem: most budget-friendly rooms solely accommodated two folks \u2014 we have been a bunch of three. As a end result, we ended up reserving residences for many of our keep. <\/p>\n<p>By the way in which, these are all of the promo codes that you should utilize. We have reductions for lodges, excursions, and eSIM for web connection. We even have particular charges for journey insurance coverage, unique for TPT subscribers.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"The Poor Traveler Codes\" width=\"993\" height=\"741\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59598\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes.jpg 993w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes-350x261.jpg 350w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes.jpg\" alt=\"The Poor Traveler Codes\" width=\"993\" height=\"741\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes.jpg 993w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Poor-Traveler-Codes-350x261.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Beyond location and affordability, it\u2019s additionally essential to <strong>verify the constructing\u2019s amenities<\/strong>, particularly should you\u2019re staying in an residence throughout the Old Town. Some buildings are older and lack elevators, which generally is a downside should you\u2019re carrying heavy baggage or have mobility issues. <\/p>\n<p>For instance, in Bra\u0219ov, Romania, we stayed at Zinne Apartments, an enthralling place simply two blocks from the principle sq.. However, it was on the second flooring, which is third flooring for us Pinoys, and because it was in an older constructing, there was no elevator. Similarly, in Skopje, North Macedonia, we booked Apartment Emilija, which had a tremendous location \u2014 we may see the principle sq. proper from our window. The unit itself was spacious and cozy, however it was on the fourth flooring, which is fifth flooring by our requirements, with no elevator.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_59801\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-59801\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"Zinne Apartments Brasov Romania\" width=\"1200\" height=\"780\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59801\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-300x195.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-1024x666.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-768x499.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-350x228.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-1042x677.jpeg 1042w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania.jpeg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania.jpeg\" alt=\"Zinne Apartments Brasov Romania\" width=\"1200\" height=\"780\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-300x195.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-1024x666.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-768x499.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-350x228.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Zinne-Apartments-Brasov-Romania-1042x677.jpeg 1042w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-59801\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zinne Apartments in Brasov, Romania.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Before finalizing your lodging, at all times verify which flooring your unit is on and whether or not the constructing has an elevator. This small element could make an enormous distinction in your consolation, particularly after a protracted day of exploring. And, once more: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>If Klook is your go-to reserving web site<\/strong>, please use our promo code <strong>THEPOORTRAVELERKLOOK<\/strong> for as much as P300 OFF or <strong>TPTKLOOK5<\/strong> for as much as P500 OFF. These codes may change sooner or later so greatest to only go to thepoortraveler.web\/klook to redeem up to date low cost codes!<\/li>\n<li><strong>If you favor to ebook by way of AGODA<\/strong>, use our promo code <strong>AGODATPT<\/strong> for 10% low cost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Beware_of_scams\"\/>7. Beware of scams.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Like many main cities in Europe, scams exist within the Balkans.<\/strong> Although they don&#8217;t seem to be as rampant as in Paris, Barcelona, or Berlin, scams nonetheless exist right here. The commonest sort of rip-off vacationers encounter right here normally entails taxis.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"Im4jHEpEWVc\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"15 TOURIST SCAMS TO AVOID IN EUROPE | PART 1 (Filipino w\/ English Subs)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Im4jHEpEWVc?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>We personally skilled a <strong>taxi rip-off<\/strong> in North Macedonia. We normally favor public transportation, however generally, particularly when arriving late at evening, taking a taxi is the one possibility. Since there have been three of us, we figured splitting the fare wouldn\u2019t be too dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>Before getting within the taxi, we agreed on a worth with the driving force. However, after we arrived at our vacation spot, he immediately demanded more cash. When we refused, different taxi drivers surrounded us, attempting to intimidate us.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, taxi scams occur in different cities too. If you think a driver is <strong>overcharging<\/strong>, stroll away and discover one other taxi. To keep away from this, you possibly can ask your lodging host for an estimate of the same old fare from the station to your keep. Many hosts even advocate a trusted switch service to make sure you\u2019re not overcharged. For instance, our host in Skopje went the additional mile to personally take us to the bus station so we wouldn\u2019t must cope with taxi scams.<\/p>\n<p>In our six weeks of touring within the Balkans, we solely encountered two scams and fell for one. However, there are different scams that vacationers have reported, similar to because the <strong>cash collector rip-off<\/strong> and <strong>overpriced menu rip-off<\/strong>. Thankfully, we didn\u2019t encounter these, however researching widespread scams earlier than your journey may help you acknowledge and keep away from them.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Secure_mandatory_travel_insurance\"\/>8. Secure obligatory journey insurance coverage.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p>Since we\u2019re speaking about security, keep in mind that <strong>when making use of for a Schengen visa, having journey insurance coverage is obligatory<\/strong>. Not simply any insurance coverage \u2014 it should be Schengen-accredited. For dependable protection, you possibly can ebook <strong>TravelPleasure Plus<\/strong> via <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/traveljoytpt\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">PGA Sompo<\/a>. This ensures you\u2019re protected all through your journey.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pgasompo.com.ph\/products\/traveljoy-plus\/quotations?utm_source=thepoortraveler&amp;utm_medium=online&amp;utm_campaign=traveljoy&amp;pcode=CL0000854\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"TravelJoy PGA Sompo Code 2025\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58908\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-1042x1042.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-50x50.jpg 50w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025.jpg\" alt=\"TravelJoy PGA Sompo Code 2025\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58908\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-1042x1042.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.thepoortraveler.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/TravelJoy-PGA-Sompo-Code-2025-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Updates_Log\"\/>Updates Log<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p>2025 7 21 \u2013 First uploaded<\/p>\n<hr\/><\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] When folks consider Europe, the primary locations that always come to thoughts are France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and perhaps Switzerland. However, Europe is house to dozens of nations, and some of the underrated areas for vacationers is the Balkans. While there\u2019s no common settlement on which nations belong to the Balkans, the area usually [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":147254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[12545,1384,5717,12546,3686,3446,1383,2623,723],"class_list":{"0":"post-147253","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"tag-balkans","9":"tag-guide","10":"tag-itinerary","11":"tag-multicountry","12":"tag-plan","13":"tag-tips","14":"tag-travel","15":"tag-trip","16":"tag-visa"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147253"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147253\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}