About me
Welcome to my travel blog! My name is Milena Yordanova and I am the face behind Beyond The Guidebooks.
I’m a full-time travel blogger based in Sofia, Bulgaria (a lovely small country in Eastern Europe). Travelling has always been my passion and I love to discover new places, cultures and food.
I fell in love with travelling when I visited Vienna in 2007. I have been to other countries before (mainly Greece and Türkiye), but these were organized group tours, which I honestly didn’t enjoy much. Then everything changed when I visited Vienna with a group of friends in 2007. I fell in love with the city and with the freedom to choose what to see and do (without being stuck with a big group). New destinations followed year after year until 2017 when I left my corporate IT job and became a full-time travel blogger.
My trips usually vary from a weekend getaway to a few weeks exploring a new country. And if I am not travelling at the moment, you’ll find me planning my next trip!
About Beyond The Guidebooks
I created my travel blog at the end of 2013. I wanted a space where I could share all my travel experiences, knowledge and my favourite places. I want to show you that you don’t need an agency to plan your dream vacation. You can do it all by yourself! I want to inspire you to travel more, to see the beauty of the world we are living in.
Before visiting a new place, I always do complete research about it. I want to know everything – the history of the country and the city, which landmarks are worth visiting, which are the best restaurants and the most convenient hotels. It takes a lot of time, but I love the process! Knowing all this information I can experience the place to its fullest and know that I won’t miss anything interesting. You can find all this useful information gathered here, on my blog. Find out more in my Europe travel guides and my Asia travel guides.
I only share my personal experiences on this blog, and I always pay for my trips, hotels, and tours. I’ve never been sponsored or paid to promote any brand, so everything you read here is based on my honest opinions and real experiences.
About the itineraries
My itineraries usually focus on the most popular attractions and historic sights. Usually, I try to combine the sights in such a way, which will allow you to see most of the city in a short time. I also include the average amount of time you’ll need to see each attraction, as I find this quite important.
In the “More Ideas” section of each itinerary, you’ll find unique, off-the-beaten-path spots. I love exploring these places – not only do they offer a break from the crowds, but some are true hidden gems. This is where the name of my blog, Beyond The Guidebooks (formerly My Vacation Itineraries), comes from.
Every restaurant I recommend has either been personally visited by me or my friends, or has excellent reviews. I usually try to update these often, though, with hundreds of posts, it’s not an easy task. Therefore, always check the recent reviews of the restaurants, which you plan to visit.
About the hotel guides
These posts are broken down into sections, highlighting the best areas and places to stay for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, short stays, and more. My goal is to make it easier for you to choose the perfect area for your trip. You’ll also find recommendations for the best hotels near the main train station and airport, in case you need to stay close to either.
I usually recommend 4-star or 5-star hotels with plenty of reviews and excellent ratings. I also include the hotel where I stayed during my trip.
For any comments, travel inquiries or suggestions, visit my contact page
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