Really easy to navigate website; clear transparent pricing and add on options (i.e. accommodation upgrades, flight changes etc) very simple booking process with clear steps. Good value for money. Wa... See more
Company replied
While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more
To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more
See what reviewers are saying
My first visit to Bulgaria, and the ski resort of Pamporovo, could not have gone very much better at all. Brilliant staff at the airports, and Margarita, our rep, handled everything the week thre... See more
Company replied
Faultless from start to finish. Amazing to find they charter Jet2 as this is our go to summer holiday provider and from East Midlands. Transfer was a bit slow on the way out but that is expected... See more
Company replied
great website, good booking flow, clear information at each step exactly what you need to know, good photos and links to reviews. Good follow-up emails after booking made to give reassurance that holi... See more
Company replied
Company details
Written by the company
Balkan Holidays is an independent specialist Tour Operator with 59 years of experience in planning and arranging memorable holidays so you can be sure you are in safe and competent hands. We offer great value for money holidays to Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Northern Cyprus and Malta. We also operate low cost flights to Bulgaria. Book online and save with the Specialist tour operator.
Contact info
Sofia House, 19 Conduit Street, W1S 2BH, London, United Kingdom
- 020 7543 5555
- res@balkanholidays.co.uk
- www.balkanholidays.co.uk
Fast refund but wish they still did…
Fast refund but wish they still did holidays from Aberdeen
February 7, 2025
I booked a reservation
I booked a reservation, but they canceled it in under a week, citing they’re no longer functioning in the UK. I'm yet to receive my refund.
January 9, 2026
Unprompted review
We booked Sunny Beach from Belfast…
We booked Sunny Beach from Belfast international for this September only to be informed they've folded in Northern Ireland. This happened about three months ago and we're still awaiting our refund of all the money we've paid into the account. No correspondence at all except to say they've closed operations. 😔
May 24, 2025
Unprompted review
Balkan Holidays have ceased trading
Balkan Holidays have ceased trading. They took my money and announced this the following day. I thought they were too god to be true. And now they have sent me a feedback request??
What's the point of leaving a review of a travel agent that has gone bust. Are they taking the Michael?
Zero stars.
April 23, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Balkan Holidays made the difficult but necessary decision to close voluntarily after 60 years in the UK market. This approach was taken specifically to guarantee all customers a full refund on their bookings. You are not alone in being affected, and while we appreciate that this is frustrating, we ask for understanding — many others are impacted, including our own employees.
We trust you will be able to make alternative holiday arrangements promptly, and our greater concern remains with our dedicated staff, who are now seeking new employment.
Balken cancelled all bookings only 2 …
Balken cancelled all bookings only 2 days after booking and still took our money waiting for a refund they must have known something was afoot
April 22, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Balkan Holidays made the difficult but necessary decision to close voluntarily after 60 years in the UK market. This approach was taken specifically to guarantee all customers a full refund on their bookings. You are not alone in being affected, and while we appreciate that this is frustrating, we ask for understanding — many others are impacted, including our own employees.
As clearly stated in our previous communication, refunds are being processed strictly in order of departure dates. We respectfully request that customers allow the process to be completed without unnecessary pressure or repeated queries, which only delay the overall progress.
We trust you will be able to make alternative holiday arrangements promptly, and our greater concern remains with our dedicated staff, who are now seeking new employment.
I booked on Tuesday
I booked on Tuesday. They took my money. 2 days later they shut down. How wrong is that?
April 21, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Balkan Holidays made the difficult but necessary decision to close voluntarily after 60 years in the UK market. This approach was taken specifically to guarantee all customers a full refund on their bookings. You are not alone in being affected, and while we appreciate that this is frustrating, we ask for understanding — many others are impacted, including our own employees.
We trust you will be able to make alternative holiday arrangements promptly, and our greater concern remains with our dedicated staff, who are now seeking new employment.
Unlikely to receive a good review after…
Unlikely to receive a good review after cancelling my holiday
April 21, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Balkan Holidays made the difficult but necessary decision to close voluntarily after 60 years in the UK market. This approach was taken specifically to guarantee all customers a full refund on their bookings. You are not alone in being affected, and while we appreciate that this is frustrating, we ask for understanding — many others are impacted, including our own employees.
We trust you will be able to make alternative holiday arrangements promptly, and our greater concern remains with our dedicated staff, who are now seeking new employment.
Holiday cancelled and still no refund and no communication
After seeing the post that our holiday has been cancelled with no further contact on when we will receive our refund do you not think you could at least let us know when we can expect our money back we don’t have a money laying about to go and book another holiday we’ve paid this off over the months put our holidays in at work and for what to not being going away absolutely disgusting
April 24, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Balkan Holidays made the difficult but necessary decision to close voluntarily after 60 years in the UK market. This approach was taken specifically to guarantee all customers a full refund on their bookings. You are not alone in being affected, and while we appreciate that this is frustrating, we ask for understanding — many others are impacted, including our own employees.
As clearly stated in our previous communication, refunds are being processed strictly in order of departure dates. We respectfully request that customers allow the process to be completed without unnecessary pressure or repeated queries, which only delay the overall progress.
We trust you will be able to make alternative holiday arrangements promptly, and our greater concern remains with our dedicated staff, who are now seeking new employment.
No longer operating from UK
Took my booking then less than a week later cancelled it saying no longer operating from the UK. Still waiting on refund.
April 20, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Balkan Holidays made the difficult but necessary decision to close voluntarily after 60 years in the UK market. This approach was taken specifically to guarantee all customers a full refund on their bookings. You are not alone in being affected, and while we appreciate that this is frustrating, we ask for understanding — many others are impacted, including our own employees.
As clearly stated in our previous communication, refunds are being processed strictly in order of departure dates. We respectfully request that customers allow the process to be completed without unnecessary pressure or repeated queries, which only delay the overall progress.
We trust you will be able to make alternative holiday arrangements promptly, and our greater concern remains with our dedicated staff, who are now seeking new employment.
Balkan Holidays Ruined My Trip – Lost £687 Flight and More
Balkan Holidays Ltd has, as of 24th April 2025, closed for business in the UK and cancelled my booking without warning. I lost £687 on my flight, plus extra money for hotel, rental car, and parking. No help or support — absolutely shocking treatment of customers.
April 27, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Balkan Holidays made the difficult but necessary decision to close voluntarily after 60 years in the UK market. This approach was taken specifically to guarantee all customers a full refund on their bookings. You are not alone in being affected, and while we appreciate that this is frustrating, we ask for understanding — many others are impacted, including our own employees.
As clearly stated in our previous communication, refunds are being processed strictly in order of departure dates. We respectfully request that customers allow the process to be completed without unnecessary pressure or repeated queries, which only delay the overall progress.
We trust you will be able to make alternative holiday arrangements promptly, and our greater concern remains with our dedicated staff, who are now seeking new employment.
Booked and paid deposit even spoke to…
Booked and paid deposit even spoke to them on phone then we get a email saying they have cancelled the holiday as pulling out of UK didn't they know that before taking me money every bad now don't know when I'm getting the money back as telephone is now answer phone
April 16, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Balkan Holidays made the difficult but necessary decision to close voluntarily after 60 years in the UK market. This approach was taken specifically to guarantee all customers a full refund on their bookings. You are not alone in being affected, and while we appreciate that this is frustrating, we ask for understanding — many others are impacted, including our own employees.
As clearly stated in our previous communication, refunds are being processed strictly in order of departure dates. We respectfully request that customers allow the process to be completed without unnecessary pressure or repeated queries, which only delay the overall progress.
We trust you will be able to make alternative holiday arrangements promptly, and our greater concern remains with our dedicated staff, who are now seeking new employment.
You cancelled my holiday
You cancelled my holiday. OK thanks for the reply I appreciate how difficult it will be for staff
April 24, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Balkan Holidays made the difficult but necessary decision to close voluntarily after 60 years in the UK market. This approach was taken specifically to guarantee all customers a full refund on their bookings. You are not alone in being affected, and while we appreciate that this is frustrating, we ask for understanding — many others are impacted, including our own employees.
As clearly stated in our previous communication, refunds are being processed strictly in order of departure dates. We respectfully request that customers allow the process to be completed without unnecessary pressure or repeated queries, which only delay the overall progress.
We trust you will be able to make alternative holiday arrangements promptly, and our greater concern remains with our dedicated staff, who are now seeking new employment.
Review updated
The only issues we had was with the luggage. As we are in Northern Ireland your Belfast flights don't start until June. We always leave for Bourgas in 1st week of May so we travel to Dublin and fly from there.
Aer Lingus allow us to put in the hold a 10kg suitcase for nothing. When coming home with Balkan to Belfast we have to pay £30 each to put our 10kg case in hold. Why can we not get it free the way Aer Lingus do? Also there are so many Northern Irish people going out to Bulgaria in May would it be worth you while considering early May flights?
I am sorry that my above review offended you. I meant no harm at all just stated how I felt. I should also have added that whenever I did fly with Balkan it was a very good experience. Very sad that you are no longer flying within the UK.
April 23, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Dear Mrs Williams,
We are at a loss how we can be given a 3* review for a service we do not provide. The purpose of Trust Pilot is it comment on the services that we do provide. Belfast to Burgas is a seasonal route and always has been. If the load factor was at a satisfactory level then flights would be arranged earlier but to date this has not been the case. There may well be considerable demand from Northern Ireland but not to the level required to operate a flight.
Regards,
Balkan Holidays
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Thank you for your kind comments.
Travelled with Balkan Holidays before
Travelled with Balkan Holidays before. Great company, easy to deal with. Great holidays, well planned out. Reps are brilliant. Would book with again. Long established company with a great reputation and offer great holidays at a reasonable price.
April 23, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Thank you for your loyal custom through the years to Balkan Holidays.
Amazing customer service, efficient, helpful and polite.
I rang Balkan holidays twice on 23/04/2025. Once to check the returning customer discount was still available, the second time to claim the discount having booked an holiday for 2026.
On both occasions the call was answer very promptly with hardly any waiting time.
The assistants I spoke to were cheerful, helpful, knowledgeable, polite and extremely efficient. My discount was added within minutes, email confirmation sent and the holiday was successfully booked.
First class.
April 23, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Hi Keith,
Your kind comments are very welcome and appreciated.
Regards,
Balkan Holidays
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Thank you Mark for the kind comments.
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Hi Brian,
Thank you for the kind feedback.
Regards,
Balkan Holidays
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Thank you Beverly for the kind feedback.
Holidaying with Balkan Holidays.
Having travelled to Bulgaria 43 times
with Balkan holidays, we knew what to
expect when ringing to book holiday 44!! The booking agent was as friendly
and efficient as usual and nothing was
too much trouble. Looking forward to
returning to Bulgaria with Balkan.
April 17, 2025
Reply from Balkan Holidays
Thank you Elizabeth for the kind comments and loyal custom through the years.
The Trustpilot Experience
Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.
Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.
Learn more about other kinds of reviews.
We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.
Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.
Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.
Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.
Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.