Mafia in Bulgaria! How bad is it???

• I’d like to go for a holiday to Bulgaria for several weeks in May – not planning on staying in any hotels or other “bourgeois” institutions. I want to travel around by hitchhiking and staying at local’s houses, and therefore meeting lots of new people (and making friends).
  
  I already visited Uzbekistan and Ukraine that way – but this time I want to be more careful and do some research before I leave. Cause sometimes it was quite a hassle getting around in Uzbekistan since EVERYTHING seems to be controlled by mafia groups – and the police is corrupt too. (I ended up bribing almost everyone almost everyday!!!)
  
  Now I heard stories that the mafia is pretty active in Bulgaria too and that it’s not wise to travel alone. I don’t mind the Mafia being around cause I know more or less how to deal with this, but it would be nice if somebody could give me some advice of the Do’s and Don’ts when travelling around in Bulgaria.
  Stories and personal experiences would be very much appreciated! Also, if you know some great places, must-sees or if you know people in Bulgaria who are open to foreigners and maybe offer a place to spend the night, let me know!
  
  Thanks a lot,
  Haune from Austria
  

  08 Mar 2007, 11:40 Haune

Replies

• hitchhiking in bulgaria

  Hello Haune!
  
  I´ve never been to bulgaria myself but I can recommend you a website about hitchhiking and travel stories:
  www.digihitch.com
  
  they also have discussion forums for eastern europe and russia - that´s where you´ll find info on bulgaria.
  
  good luck!

  francis 13 Mar 2007, 10:11 - Report

• Hitchhiking

  Hi Haune
  
  I live in Yambol in Bulgaria I have been here for 12 months now and I have never had an trouble with the mafia or the police. Everybody has been really helpful to us. If you do come to BG you will find the people are very nice and helpful. We are setting up a Caravan & Camp site. Its not ready yet, but you would be wellcome to hire the caravan or stay in one of our bedrooms. In this area there is some really beautiful scenery and views of the mountains and if you like walking, you can walk anywhere in BG as long as you do not damage any crops

  Kind Regards, Yambolgirl 14 Mar 2007, 08:11 - Report

• Cultural difference

  Remember that nodding your head means no and shaking your head means yes.

  marge 27 Mar 2007, 11:30 - Report

• Not really!

  Is there no organised crime in Bulgaria?
  
  Well, the simple answer is no! But organised crime is not really that interested in hitting on the tourists as they bring in the cash (much easier to squeeze the people taking the money). Petty crime is present (where isn't it) so you need to be careful with your belongings and use common sense about where you go and what you do. However, this is now an EU country with rising standards and not the wild west. Most holidaymakers will not have or even see a single problem in this area - you just need to look at the way the tourist industry is exploding.

  Jim 29 Mar 2007, 05:07 - Report

• caravan site

  dear yambolagirl
  
  while looking around sites with intrest to buying property in bg i came across ur reply to some one and noticed that you r set up a caravan site? we are coming over towards the end of july with our caravan an dneed to park it up for a few weeks, while scouting round for properties can you help?

  garry 01 Jun 2007, 05:28 - Report

• Seeking

  Hi Friends,
  
  i m from pakistan and i m looking work in Bulgaria in any field.i just recently finished my diploma in Travel and Tourism and now a days i m working in a hotel at reception in Cyprus. pls if anybody can help pls send me email on [email removed]
  
  thanx for everybody

  Ali 18 Jun 2007, 03:04 - Report

• hi m8

  travelling to near veliko turnovo on the 1st october 2007 with my caravan also, how did it go.
  Wayne
  Any tips

  wayne forster 04 Sep 2007, 06:39 - Report

• Veliko

  Hey, I'm traveling from Maine to Sofia...then Sofia to Veliko Turnovo...what is the best way to get from SOF airport to Veliko Turnovo? I'm going to go visit some friends of mine going to school there, and I kind of want to suprise them and also don't want to seem childish and in need of assistance...I'd rather that 'the internet' think that :-P.

  Alex 04 Oct 2007, 11:01 - Report

• carvan

  hi can i put my carvan in bg where how

  dave 24 Dec 2007, 04:56 - Report

• New Caravan camping site

  hi would love to hear how the camp site and caravan park is going!
  We are looking at properties in Bulgaria.
  Veliko Turnova - anyone know that area? and any other nice rural areas please?
  Thanks
  [email removed]

  Hey Jude 16 Feb 2008, 01:09 - Report

• Boyan

  Hi, Bulgaria is a nice place. Yes there is a mafia but it is on a high level and they carre about real money. So I mean if you come you will not have a problem just be carreful with your belongings at some pleces. I recomend you to visit this place www.balkanski.free.bg It is wonderful place in the mountain. Also there are many many beautiful places that you can visit in the see and in the mountain but I prefer mountain. The BG mountains are virgin!

  b0b0 13 Mar 2008, 05:33 - Report

• Haune don't GO

  I'm from Greece and I was in Romania crossing Bularia. On the Bulgarian road I was stoped by a fake Police man which stealed my money and my mobile phone...they have chop my car tires. I'm happy that I'm still alive. My advice...DON"T GO TO BULGARIA...stink !!!!!!!

  Stelios 10 Apr 2008, 07:57 - Report

• bulgaria

  Hi,
  yes in Bulgaria have mafia in all levels-police,politics,in the streets...Now I"m in Greece,and believe me people,Greece have big problems.All foreigners have big problems with greek institutions-police don"t work,people which work in the services don"t work and sleep......Greece is bad country.

  Kiro 11 Apr 2008, 02:49 - Report

• Planing a business visit to Bulgaria

  Dears, could you please help me how could I get Macedonia via Bulgaria? I am in Kabul, needs to go to Bulgaria then to Macedonia, anybody could show the way of getting Bulgaria, Cause I am not sure from Kabul I could get direct flight to Bulgaria. Any nice options. As well as let me know any health insurance company in Bulgaria.

  Anosh 13 Apr 2008, 09:21 - Report

• yambolgirl

  If you're still reading this blog how is the campsite venture going. We are visiting the area in July and would like to see. One of the ideas we have is for a campsite but don't know how successfull it would be, things I have read give me mixed feelings. Where do you main customers come from.

  David Fifiel 24 Apr 2008, 12:07 - Report

• Bul(gay)ria

  Bulgarian mafia is not interested in robbing or injuring tourists. As I know, most of the big hotels and rest places are owned by mafiots, so they take your money by providing you legal services. So you can fear only from psychopats, pickpockets, robbers, drunken idiots and idiotic car drivers.
  If you plan to have business then have in mind mafia. May be sounds absurd, but now a days Bulgaria is owned by mafia i.e. mafia have territory called Bulgaria.

  Nestoroff 25 Apr 2008, 11:24 - Report

• Bulgaria Travel

  Hi I am native Bulgarian who live in USA.This is true, there were mafia mostly in the past,now not so much.If you want to travel there you can ask me.I am currently studying for Travel Agent here in USA.

  Darina Cvetkova 07 Jun 2008, 08:22 - Report

• Mafia

  Im goin to bulgaria this year, at sunnybeach and i have heard many comments about the mafia, i never thought it was as bad as it was, and im regretting booking the holiday now, will someone please put me out my misery and just tellme how bad it really is so i no what to expect if i come across any , as i would not have a clue how to react.... thankyou
  
  Jaydee Kanishia Frm Mexico

  Jaydee Kanishia 25 Jun 2008, 01:14 - Report

• mafia

  all kind of drugs and prostitutes are in bulgaria.they are controlled by macedonian mafia.even some married women at the sea side resorts are seduced by mafia men.they are drugged and became sex slaves.every night after 11 pm they have to meet costemers,to give them sex and drugs.
  bulgarian police is corrupted.but interpol is not sleeping.soon or later it will happen a lot of arrests in bulgarian sea resort cities and in sofia.

  hikmet tatar 08 Jul 2008, 01:34 - Report

• MAFIA

  SOFIA,BURGAS,VARNA,AND THE REST OF THE BLACK SEA RESORT CITIES ARE CONTROLLED BY MACEDONIAN AND ALBANIAN DRUG DEALERS.THEY DO CLEAN THEIR BLACK MONEY BY MAKING HOTELS AND APARTMENTS THEY TARGET NICE LOOKING WOMEN.MOST OF THESE WOMEN WORK IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES.WITH THE TIME THEY SEDUCE AND USE THESE WOMEN FOR THEIR DIRTY JOBS.CHILDREN ARE IN DANGER IN BULGARIA.WAKE UP BULGARIA.WAKE UP EUROPE.

  DON PEDRO DE CAVALIERO 08 Jul 2008, 01:51 - Report

• Mafia

  2. I never heard of Albanian or Macedonian mafia in Bulgarian sea Resorts. Bulgarians (+Russians?) build and own properties, not Albanians. Am I wrong? It is quite imposible for foreigners to take over the country of Bulgarian people. It wouldn´t even happen during Ottoman period.

  Djinghis 18 Jul 2008, 12:44 - Report

• Albanian & Macedonian mafia in Bulgarian sea cost

  I personally, if I knew that some SCUM people were bothering my family with forced sex “duties”, I would get weapons and kill of the evil man as many as possible. I would never accept such things. I don´t think Bulgarians are nicer than me, so I am confused about previous statement.

  Djinghis 18 Jul 2008, 03:58 - Report

• Respons to: stelios

  I think you greeks stinks!!!

  Djinghis 18 Jul 2008, 04:01 - Report

• Respons to: Jaydee Kanishia from Mexico

  Hello dude!
  Mafia in Bulgaria is not that bad as some people say - don´t forget that there are many HEARSAYINGS on this planet of ours. And what about American and Latin American (Mexico) mafia, gangsters, criminal gangs and drugs, shootings on the streets, kidnappings,mass murderers,robbery, etc. I who am from Europe never considered to visit America because of a lot of crime in those parts.
  I would be more safe in Bulgaria, but you have to watch out for thieves like in any other places. And in Bulgaria you cannot have big mouth to somebody, cause guaranted you can be beaten and that goes even to Bulgarians themselves - due to mentality, temperament and old historical background of the people. Other than that...

  Djinghis 18 Jul 2008, 04:12 - Report

• I would never go there

  My bf is there right now, and on his first night last night he got mugged and beaten up by 3 guys. He said he thought he was going to die as they was kicking him in his head.
  
  He went to the police but they arent bothered of course.

  oioi 18 Jul 2008, 07:50 - Report

• I would never go there...

  I forgot to say that he was abducted after getting a taxi, and once he refused to pay 200 lev he drove him to somewhere a bit out where 2 other guys were.
  
  I just cant explain how I feel about it.

  oioi 18 Jul 2008, 07:52 - Report

• Response to: oioi

  It is important to know that we talk about the Bulgarian mafia and not about simple criminals or a gang of criminals. True mafia does not operate like these SCUM. Further more, are you sure that these were Bulgarians were not Gypsies or others from a minority group. Sometimes even Bulgarians have big problems with, for example Gypsies, who do a lot of crime and Bulgarians many times cannot do anything about it(And Bulgarians do complain). Cause it would be called discrimination of minorities if Bulgarians would treat them severe as they once used to. Secondly, I don´t know what happened in reality. Did these guys provoked them before and fell later victims to revange, or did they simply stay in wrong place and made acquaintances with wrong people,... Anyway, normal mafia do not play small pathetic gangsters or SCUM, that tries to be like mafia or to be something at all. Anyway, I wasn´t raised before in this kind of "Bulgaria" which is difficult to recognize by all bad publicity. Yet, Bulgaria has the lowest criminal rate in Europe.

  Djinghis 19 Jul 2008, 07:09 - Report

• Respons to: oioi

  First of all, taxi drivers are not members of true Bulgarian mafia. 200 leva for taxi-cab? Are you sure it isn´t 20? 200 is a lot of money. Did your friends travel many miles, like 60km or more? And what place are we talking about - the capital Sofia, other big city or Black sea? You say that he was beaten but you say nothing about being robbed by the taxi driver. There also exist misunderstandings between taxis and travellers. It is usual to make a deal before any trip, since Bulgarian taxis mostly don´t use taxameters. So was even during communist times.

  Djinghis 19 Jul 2008, 07:25 - Report

• Correction to: oioi

  You say he was abducted (I think he might have been beaten up as well?)but...

  Djinghis 19 Jul 2008, 07:29 - Report

• bah

  No the taxi driver demanded 200 lev from him, not for the trip, but as in trying to rob him. when he refused he took him somewhere where two other people were waiting.
  
  Dont shoot me, Im only saying what happened! Im not psychic, I dont know who is mafia and who isnt! All I know if I would never ever go to Bulgaria!

  oioi 20 Jul 2008, 04:53 - Report

• omg

  That sounds horrible! I heard this summer the number of mugged tourists was increasing and this happens quite often in Sunny Beach resort. You can tell the name of the place where he was. This can help people being careful in this area. On the other hand the owners of hotels might be interested in such cases and do something to keep tourists in their hotels and in Bulgaria.

  shade 21 Jul 2008, 12:50 - Report

• i know i know

  I am just dying for him to get home now! The night after that some people went into a bar where they was and demanded money off every1.
  
  I am sooooo glad his holiday is nearly over, and I can safely say we will never go there together! I had been desperate to go there, but he went with his friends, now I am so glad I didn't go! It makes me so mad that people can get away with it. He cant even get a new camera on his insurance as the police were not interested in hearing anything!
  
  It was Sunny Beach resort too!

  oioi 21 Jul 2008, 12:01 - Report

• Response to: oioi

  - Shit happens and not only in Bulgaria. So when my friend was attacked and robed here in Sweden in a small town, then I should leave it and fly somewhere else? And did you know that in Sweden taxi drivers have raiped several girls who tried to get home after a dicoteque? That would mean your female friends will never visit Sweden. And not long ago in France a taxi driver both raiped and killed a Swedish women
  - I don´t deny that there is crime in Bulgaria, like in all other places, but I think the topic was "Bulgarian Mafia". Not general criminal stories. I agree that these crimnals shouldn´t get away with it. I hate this kind of people too. But there are also those who travelled with taxi and never had problems.
  - I hear about criminal acts all over the world, and for that I have to stay at home completaly, where people also are attacked 50 meters from their own entrance.

  Djinghis 21 Jul 2008, 10:29 - Report

• response to Djinghis

  Did you not read my other posts or was you too busy getting on a high horse.
  
  I said that 'Im only saying what happened! Im not psychic, I dont know who is mafia and who isnt!'
  
  And no it wouldnt usually stop me from going somewhere, as I have had bad experiences in Spain, but when you look at reviews from other Tourists at Bulgaria, at the holidays uncovered website, it looks like very well organised crime, not one offs where it was the wrong time and place.

  oioi 23 Jul 2008, 10:35 - Report

• Response to: oioi

  - I red what you said before, but I don´t answer only to you since others can read also, these or newcomers, about the topic. I spoke generally. And I believe that poeple (not you)exagerate and lie - I saw it myself many times and we call it "bulshit-talk". Even if crime happens there.
  - I am interesting myself in reading that uncovered webside about complainings... What is the title of these pages?

  Djinghis 25 Jul 2008, 04:03 - Report

• respons to: oioi

  Her comes on e example from Swedish Forum that I translated:
  "I have heard mixed opinions about Royal Park, but two of our acquaintances said that it was not that bad as they say on Internet. Inlay on Forums with disappointed guests that have lived in Victoria Palace. It was same for me, but the reality was completely a dream".
  What I want to say is that people seem to have very different eyes about things. But the majority is satisfied since there are not many who complains all the time. These people on Internet are not milions and milions are (more then 8 )who visit Bulgaria every year.

  Djinghis 25 Jul 2008, 04:39 - Report

• sunny beach

  We got back from a family holiday sunny beach yesterday. We all had a great time. We neither saw or heard of any trouble.

  Charlie 27 Jul 2008, 02:20 - Report

• all this silliness

  I am an American who has been living and working in Bulgaria for almost 5 years. I have a Bulgarian wife and our wonderful son and I will be going on vacation along with a few thousand other people to the Black Sea in a few days.
  
  The posts here are some of the most rediculous things I've ever heard of.... It's a beautiful place.... safer then the south side of Chicago any day of the week.
  
  If you're worried about it, don't go as your fear will attract every street thug within sight as you will look like an easy target.
  
  Just use some sensibility and enjoy yourself in this world. You get what you give.

  practical 28 Jul 2008, 01:58 - Report

• response to Djinghis

  my friend you read all above statements and complaints and the only answer you can get is "shit happens" and "Greeks stink" you said that it is normal that taxi drivers do not use taximetres and we should rather negotiate our trip.....this makes them professional thieves!!! I do believe that mafia doesn't rob tourists in bars or taxis or 50 leva on the street however civilization is far beyond your perspective. I work with bulgaria and have plenty of experiences. believe me the true is much much harder. people starving and others getting rich by keeping this country in the dark and uncivilized. It will take much longer till overall economic standards in Bulgaria reach European levels. I am not talking just for Sandanski, Sofia, Plovdiv and two - three more big cities.
  Since mafia maintains so huge power it might be useful....at least if they start cleaning the streets and make Bulgaria an attractive tourist destination.

  dimitrios 30 Jul 2008, 12:11 - Report

• 8 million

  when Bulgaria hosts this amount of FOREIGNERS and not domestic tourists, then we will be talking about a developed pure tourist oriented destination. until then it is more important that you study some statistic reports first.

  dimitrios 30 Jul 2008, 12:16 - Report

• response to Djinghis

  http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk/bulgaria/sunny-beach.html#
  
  Obviously if you reorder them to lowest rating you will see the ones with the crime in them.
  
  Also, an update on the situation, a pal my bf was out there with also got robbed...by the police!

  oioi 30 Jul 2008, 07:40 - Report

• response to practical

  I am believe it or not, streetwise, and do not go round smelling of fear. In fact, I used to always be told off for thinking I am invincible!
  
  Its just common sense, but when you get in a taxi you expect to be safe, not to be robbed by the taxi driver or by a police man!

  oioi 30 Jul 2008, 07:42 - Report

• $18 million at stake, please help me

  In my search for a reliable and God fearing person and having gotten your contact through prayers and painstaking efforts I have decided to seek your help in carrying out my last wish. My name is Mr. Abdulla Hassan.
  I'm a 59 years old man and a Western Saharan.I am presently in Kingdom of Bahrain. I was a merchant and owned businesses in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. I was also married with two children. My wife and two children died in a car accident six years ago.
  Before this happened my business and concern for making money was all I lived for. I never really cared about other values in life. But since the loss of my family, I have found a new desire to assist helpless families. I have been helping orphans in orphanage, motherless homes. I have also donated some money for humanitarian needs in some Asian countries.Only recently, I saw on television the colossal loss of properties and livelihood of people in Canberra, Australia through Water flood.
  I was moved with great pity and compassion that I decided to make a contribution on assisting people over there. Before I became ill, I kept $18,000,000 Million in a long-term deposit account in a finance company in Europe.Presently, I'm in an hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for oesophageal cancer. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see this money distributed to needy and other charity organizations. Because relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness, I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them.
  Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me collect the deposit and the interest accrued from the finance company based in Europe and distribute it accordingly. Use your judgement to distribute the money and keep 20% of it to yourself. Feel free to reimburse yourself when you have the money for any cost you incur during the process of collecting and distributing the money. If you are willing to help, please reply as soon as you can. Endeavor to send me your full contact details like your name, address, telephone and fax number so that I can refer you the security company where the funds is lodged.
  
  Remenber, I have big Chavez support, in my Current ACCOUNT a lot of money to pay everything.
  I´m waiting for your response.
  
  
  May God Bless you and your family.
  Regards.
  Abdulla.
  Email:[email removed]

  Abdulla Hassan 01 Aug 2008, 09:32 - Report

• Response to Dimitrios

  You are not the only one with experience in New Bulgaria. You say one thing and others say another thing. You complain and many others do not complain. And I dont´t think you have the Monopol on the truth. And why your truth/opinion should be more true than the others? The topic is stil "mafia" - not ordinary criminality. And Dimitrios, criminality in Bulgaria is actualy lowest in Europe. And in Greece there is certainly a lot of crminality. So I was told.

  Djinghis 02 Aug 2008, 11:20 - Report

• Respons to Dimitrios

  My statistic reports say that Bulgaria has the lowest criminal rate in Europe.

  Djinghis 02 Aug 2008, 11:23 - Report

• Response to: dimitrios

  "you said that it is normal that taxi drivers do not use taximetres and we should rather negotiate our trip.....this makes them professional thieves"!!!
  
  When I lived in the beautiful and safe country Bulgaria during the communism taxidrivers didn´t use taxameters and I always asked before how much it will cost. I have never been cheated or robed despite possible overprices. I don´t care because I am not touchy and spoiled. Simply I do not complain about my good times in Old Bulgaria and taxis without taxameters for that matter, and I do not understand and agree with anti-communistic peoples views about Bulgarian "life-style". Besides, taxidrivers molest girls in Sweden on regularly basis. They also manipulate taxameters and cheat whenever possible. Most people are not robed by taxis, so please stop propagate against Bulgaria.

  Djinghis 02 Aug 2008, 11:36 - Report

• Response to: Charlie

  Thank you that you witness about your holliday in Bulgaria. Everythnig is not Black as some people whant to make it seem to be. Some group of people tend to paint the devil on the wall, if you know what I mean.

  Djinghis 02 Aug 2008, 11:44 - Report

• Response to: dimitrios

  "my friend you read all above statements and complaints and the only answer you can get is "shit happens"
  
  Yes, exactly my friend. Shit happens, even in your country. What I said is objective. The others comments are not. These bad statements are from minority of peopple not majority. And the majority doesn´t complain. How many are they here out of millions??? Most people who enjoy Bulgaria are not on Internet and paint the devil on the wall. Simply as that.

  Djinjghis 02 Aug 2008, 11:59 - Report

• Response to: dimitrios

  WHAT COMPLAINTS? You make it as all are complaining. Here comes quotations from this very sajt that you probably have missed:
  
  "I live in Yambol in Bulgaria I have been here for 12 months now and I have never had an trouble with the mafia or the police. Everybody has been really helpful to us. If you do come to BG you will find the people are very nice and helpful".
  
  "Petty crime is present (where isn't it) so you need to be careful with your belongings and use common sense about where you go and what you do. However, this is now an EU country with rising standards and not the wild west. Most holidaymakers will not have or even see a single problem in this area..."
  
  
  "Hi, Bulgaria is a nice place. Yes there is a mafia but it is on a high level and they carre about real money. So I mean if you come you will not have a problem just be carreful with your belongings at some pleces"
  
  "Hi,
  yes in Bulgaria have mafia in all levels-police,politics,in the streets...Now I"m in Greece,and believe me people,Greece have big problems.All foreigners have big problems with greek institutions-police don"t work,people which work in the services don"t work and sleep......Greece is bad country"
  
  "Hi I am native Bulgarian who live in USA.This is true, there were mafia mostly in the past,now not so much.If you want to travel there you can ask me.I am currently studying for Travel Agent here in USA!"
  
  "We got back from a family holiday sunny beach yesterday. We all had a great time. We neither saw or heard of any trouble"
  
  "I am an American who has been living and working in Bulgaria for almost 5 years. I have a Bulgarian wife and our wonderful son and I will be going on vacation along with a few thousand other people to the Black Sea in a few days.
  The posts here are some of the most rediculous things I've ever heard of.... It's a beautiful place.... safer then the south side of Chicago any day of the week.
  If you're worried about it, don't go as your fear will attract every street thug within sight as you will look like an easy target.
  Just use some sensibility and enjoy yourself in this world. You get what you give".

  Djinghis 02 Aug 2008, 12:11 - Report

• Response to: shade

  "That sounds horrible! I heard this summer..."
  
  Exactly, you have HEARD. Didn´t your parents teach you not to listen to what people say. I promise you that people use to say a lot of shit all the time.

  Djinghis 02 Aug 2008, 12:15 - Report