Here is an itinerary I have been planning to do this summer in the Balkans: <BR> <BR>1)Romania-5 days <BR>2)Bulgaria-4 days <BR>3)Turkey-2 days <BR>4)Greece-8 days <BR>5)Albania-2 days <BR> <BR> <BR>Do you think these countries will be safe in the summer. Is there a chance that the war in Yugo. could spread to these countries. I have heard horror stories about some of these countries. Help!!!!! Need advice!!!! Thanks

I would avoid Albania period. They have just absorbed more refugees than any other counry in the region and it was a pretty unstable place before that. After that I would worry about Turkey. The rest of the countries require some care, but shouldn't be directly affected. <BR>

I totally agree with the previous poster to avoid ALbania and Turkey anyway. Regarding the other countries, time will tell. No-one can predict what will be going on there in the summer. You will have to wait and see.

I suggest you vacation somewhere else. <BR>

Hi All, <BR> <BR>The Balkans is the most beuatiful region in Europe. Aspecially North West Romania if you like mountain, the Bulgarian beaches if you like beaches and the Turkish markets (watch your wallets). It is unfortunate about the war now. I am planning a trip there this summer for two weeks. Hopefully, by than it will all be over.

Vacation elsewhere or ask CNN for a job. <BR> <BR>I seriously and sadly doubt this is going be over by this summer.

Romania is safe

Pargo, maybe I'm missing something here and you could explain it to me? If you have heard horror stories and have doubts, is there some reason you have to go to these countries? Have you already been everywhere else? I'm not really being sarcastic. I just wonder why people plan things like this. Are you locked into a tour? <BR> <BR>It's going to take years for Yugoslavia and Albania to recover. Kind of makes you think carefully about how you vote for your leaders, doesn't it? <BR> <BR>Yikes, now I'm going to get blasted!

Hi Pargo, <BR> <BR>I am not an expert on these countries, but after reading what the others had answered I felt I had to make a comment. <BR>If anybody here are following the news they should know that the war is over. Yugoslavia and NATO has signed a peace treaty. <BR>If you all take a look at the map you will see that Italy is just as close to Yugo as Turkey, but no one is worried about going there this summer. While the war went on there was a lot of tourists in Greece and Turkey and there where no reports of any problems because of the war. I bet you will be safer in the Balkan countries than you will be in either New York or Los Angeles! <BR>I guess I would skip Albania, go to Croatia instead. The area at the border to Italy is a nice place to visit. <BR>Have a nice trip! <BR> <BR>

Old adage: he who travels most sees the least. My advice: go to Slovenia only and enjoy a safe, interesting, and low-cost vacation that is not jam-packed with tourists and day-trippers. And no nut cases who just might turn you into a target.

On a more mundane level, Turkey has a lot more to offer than do Romania and Bulgaria. I enjoyed Romania and, if you know any Italian, you can get by because the languages are similar. It is true that Bucharest is not that great but I would add that I found it more interesting than Sofia, which, apart from the alexander Nevsky Cathedral had nothing to offer (other than some OK restaurants).<BR>Istanbul is one of the great cities of the world, with many things to see and do. It is a great travel experience. Outside of Istanbul, there are many other places worth seeing, Troy, Ephesus, etc. Even if you can get into albania, I imagine the going will be pretty rough. I would at least re-prioritize the destinations. Incidentally, many Greek islands have ferry connections with Turkey and you can then take very nice buses to Istanbul or other desitnations.

!