For many the idea of staying in holiday accommodation described as a
guest house rather than a hotel sends shivers down the spine. Guest
houses have frequently been labelled as being cold, dank places with
overzealous, nosey landladies who serve questionable food. However, if
you want to experience the real Bulgaria and are confronted with the
quandary of whether to stop in a hotel or a guesthouse, head straight
for the cosy atmosphere of a family guest house and experience some
genuine Bulgarian hospitality.
Guest houses are usually refurbished village houses and they exist all
of the country even in the most distant rural areas. You are always
assured of a warm welcome from friendly proprietors who will look after
your individual needs and care for you with all kinds of home-baked
delicacies. They'll happily guide you round the village and its
surroundings, show you where and how to gather herbs or wild fruit,
inform you about their traditional lifestyle as well as recanting local
folklore.

scenic locations

An
increasing number of Bulgarian and international tourists now delight
in the pleasures of country life and enjoy meeting the real Bulgarian
people, who have maintained their values and customs. The guest houses
provide romantic impressions of a bygone era. They are situated in
idyllic locations like at the bases of the mountains, or perched on the
banks of crystal clear rivers, emerald dams or along the Black Sea
coast. Data from the Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism
showed that there are 700 to 800 guest houses in Bulgaria. Some of the
proprietors have received schooling funded by assorted European funds
for sustainable tourism development. Such training has schooled the
owners in the expectations of international tourists and global
standards, which equips them with the skills to make each vacation a
memorable experience. They think that success embodies entrepreneurial
skills combined with dedication and a little imagination.

observing local crafts

If
you want to avoid the downside of  mass tourism and pass your time with
a worthwhile activity, many guest houses arrange or hold courses in a
wide variety of subjects including  Bulgarian embroidery, folk
dancing,  botanic tours, butterfly viewing and many, many more. The
proprietors are superb hosts who can mix and entertain a diverse cross
section of the general public.  Deshka Kroteva a proprietor from Gorno
Draglishte a village close to Razlog,in Southwestern Bulgaria,
maintains, “We want to make our guests feel at home and get a feel of
the Bulgarian traditions. That is why our family pays so much attention
to the food we prepare. These are dishes our mothers and grandmothers
used to make. We grow our own products and offer tourists the typical
local dishes. One such dish is dried green beans with pork that has
been kept in salt. We teach them some of our recipes and we cook
together. Once you prepare the food with love – everyone will be
pleased!”

traditional dancing

Irrespective
of where you go whether its within the Balkan range, the Rhodope
Mountains or Mount Strandzha, local people will be more than happy to 
show you round. Deshka’s house for instance has a little workshop where
guests can learn how to process wool. “We have a genuine loom, which we
call a‘razboi’. We demonstrate how to operate the distaff, how to knit
using five needles, etc. We recreate wedding rituals, for example. We
dress the bride they way they used to do that 100 years ago. We clothe
our guests in traditional costumes and they join the party. So, it’s a
great deal of dancing together, singing together, but also spindling,
weaving together and having great fun," Deshka explains.
One of the
chief aims is to bring the traditional way of life to the world of the
tourists; they can join in local activities like picking grapes or
milking the cows or joining in with local celebrations like alfresco
barbecues and singing festivals. An increasing number of guest houses
rent out mountain bikes and buggies and organise trips like jeep
safaris and horse treks to see some astounding Bulgarian nature.

Source:: Quest Bulgaria Property and Lifestyle Magazine