Ел Еф Травел

I regret not reading the reviews before we went on a three-day trip to the Rila Lakes! I will share my impressions, or rather disappointments, as well as those of the other 3 people we were with. Let's start with the fact that three days before departure, I was sent a contract in pdf format, which I neither signed nor wanted to sign and send back - something that is mandatory and was required by the other travel agencies we have traveled with! Upon our arrival at the Samokov Hotel in Borovets resort, we were left in front of the hotel to fend for ourselves - you get off the bus, take your luggage and look for the reception and check in yourself. The walk to the lakes themselves was a total lack of organization, as was the rest of the trip - at 16:00 you should have caught the lift down and that's it! There is no guided tour that you paid for, no explanation of which object is which, which lake is called, depth, volume, etc. - you just have to figure it out on your own from the lift up. Not an excursion, but a hike! Even on the bus, the "tour guide" Tanya told us that our "guide" up there would be no one, but the bus driver himself - something extremely frivolous. And in general, apart from where we were going, we didn't understand anything else from it, although there is only one path and following the other people you can't go wrong. The third and last day was like the previous two - rushing and no time to enjoy the places you visit! Getting off at the village of Stob and according to the "tour guide" - in 30 minutes we should be back at the bus! Just the hike to the panoramic terrace itself is no less than 30 minutes. and only up/in one direction! I assumed that at least at the Rila Monastery we would have a little more time, but alas we only had an hour and thirty minutes, which is extremely insufficient if you want to see the entire monastery, take some photos and buy something. Overall, the driver was great, we have no complaints about him. We found it a bit strange with the huge column and the dance at almost every stop, but at least it didn't bother us. I've been on a lot of excursions with real guides and I know very well what I'm talking about! There is a total lack of one here and the organization is under all kinds of criticism! I'm giving one star simply because I can't give less. They don't even deserve it.

I'm sharing my 3 days spent with this company in Istanbul. The organization is absolutely beyond criticism, no explanations from the tour guide, be it for anything, unless a question is asked. The bus driver drove very inconsiderately. As far as I understand, most excursions from our Bulgarian companies proceed in the same way, night hike, arrival at the hotel at 6 am, if you're lucky they'll accommodate you, if not you leave your luggage at the reception and at 8 am you leave for the chosen destinations. Everything happens super fast, you don't even have time for the toilet, you don't have time to enjoy the moment, the place where you are. From excursion to excursion, you wait for people who are late because some were told to be at the departure point at 9 am, others were told at 9:15 am. The day we were supposed to return, we passed through the city of Edirne in an hour and 30 minutes, and we were explicitly told that if we were even 5 minutes late, the bus would leave and everyone would have to find something to take to the border. The city itself is beautiful, the tour guides we were with there were unique, but the attitude of the driver and the tour operator was arrogant, irritating and unnerving.