Hi there.
First, please excuse the dry nature of my post—I’m going to talk about insurance and credit cards!
I’m renting a car in Bulgaria using my "Gold Mastercard." I know the benefits, and in this case, I don’t need to take out additional insurance from the rental company.
However, the assistance booklet states:
"The insurer cannot, under any circumstances, reimburse the insured for the amount of the CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) or LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) insurance paid to the rental company if the insured forgot to decline it or if it’s automatically included in a package the insured accepted."
The issue is that when I look at different rental companies, it’s often specified that "insurance is included" (non-declinable because it’s part of the package), and I’m worried there might be some minimal CDW or LDW coverage that would prevent my Gold Mastercard coverage from applying if needed.
Since it’s difficult to contact or communicate with rental companies (most bookings are made online) and Mastercard’s responses are pretty vague, I’m turning to you all for help.
Here are my questions:
- How can I be sure the rental company’s insurance doesn’t include CDW or LDW?
- Do you know of any rental companies where this is clearly stated?
- Does Gold Mastercard coverage work with local agencies?
- Is it possible for a rental company to refuse Gold Mastercard coverage?
I assume travelers who can answer have already had this experience.
A tip: call Mastercard and you’ll get the answers.
Otherwise,
- Is it possible that a rental company refuses Gold Mastercard coverage? I’d be surprised—you’re paying, so the rental company doesn’t really care how you’re covered.
The rental company makes a lot of profit on the insurance they sell themselves (it's often self-insurance, by the way), and this kind of issue comes up often.
I can't comment on Bulgaria. In Romania, several rental companies have a reputation for inspecting the car very thoroughly upon return, just to penalize those who didn’t take their insurance. I didn’t see this personally—I took their insurance, which wasn’t too expensive.
Hello.
First, please excuse the rather dry nature of my message, as I’m going to talk about insurance and credit cards!
I’m renting a car in Bulgaria with my "Gold Mastercard."
I know the benefits, and in this case, it’s not necessary to take out additional insurance from the car rental company.
However, the assistance booklet states:
"The insurer cannot, under any circumstances, reimburse the insured for the amount of the CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) or LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) insurance paid to the rental company, if the insured forgot to decline it or if it is automatically included in a package that the insured accepted."
The problem is that when I look at different rental companies, it’s often specified that "insurance is included" (non-declinable because it’s part of the package), and I’m worried there might be some minimal CDW or LDW coverage that would prevent my "Gold Mastercard" coverage from being used if needed.
Since it’s difficult to contact or communicate with rental companies (most reservations are made online) and Mastercard’s responses are rather vague, I’m turning to you for help.
Here are my questions:
- How can I be sure the rental company’s insurance doesn’t include CDW or LDW?
- Do you know of any rental companies where this is clearly stated?
- Does the Gold Mastercard coverage work with local agencies?
- Is it possible for a rental company to refuse the Gold Mastercard coverage?
I assume travelers who can answer me have already had this experience.
Thanks in advance for your help.
So, I did a bit more research, and here’s what I (hopefully) understood: basically, you have to pay with your card and clearly mention the name(s) of the driver(s) who will be driving—that’s the normal part, but it has to be done properly.
The paragraph that’s confusing is that they won’t reimburse the "fee" for the CDW or LDW insurance included in the rental package, just as they won’t cover the full price you paid for the rental.
The advisor told me that it’s indeed not very clear, but in any case, when it comes to the deductible or repairs for "DAMAGES," regardless of whether they’re below or above the deductible required by the rental company in case of an accident—even if you’re at fault—the card’s insurance covers it according to the terms of your contract.
This paragraph only concerns the daily amount you paid for the CDW and LDW insurance to the rental company.
Hi there,
I’m not directly answering your question, but I’ll share some additional details about certain Bulgarian rental companies. Here’s my firsthand account of renting a car in Bulgaria (2023):
Regarding your question about supplementary insurance, I’d advise you to first contact your Mastercard insurance provider to ask whether taking out additional coverage with the rental company affects your protection under the card’s insurance.
Their rental terms specified that when paying with a credit card, the deposit (750 €) wouldn’t be debited from my bank account but simply "blocked", unlike with a debit card, where the deposit is systematically deducted on the first day of rental. I’ll note that I paid the deposit with a VISA PREMIER CREDIT card—a card I’ve used for over 30 years with no rental company in any country ever deducting the deposit amount.
I had a choice between several vehicle providers and went with the cheapest: "Yes Rent a Car". However, this company systematically deducts the deposit on the first day of rental. It’s written in fine print in their contract, which you sign when picking up the vehicle, and I didn’t notice it... Even if I had, I would’ve rented the car anyway—I had no other choice.
At the end of the trip, I returned the vehicle in perfect condition, and the "Yes Rent a Car" agent confirmed it in front of me but refused to give me a signed document attesting to it (which is standard practice with all rental companies). The deposit was supposed to be credited back to my account in the following days. A week after returning to France: still nothing! After several emails, they finally replied that I had to wait 14 business days—the time needed to thoroughly inspect the vehicle and check if I’d received any fines... The whole ordeal dragged on for a month and a half, and I had to have a specialized dispute management company draft a formal demand for the return of my deposit and threaten to file a complaint before I finally got it back.
I’ll also note that DiscoverCars acted dishonestly by telling me they weren’t responsible for their suppliers’ business practices, even though their rental terms clearly stated that the deposit wouldn’t be deducted but merely blocked.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend that travelers looking to rent a vehicle in Bulgaria **avoid at all costs** the rental company YES RENT A CAR. While I eventually got my deposit back after a month and a half of negotiations, many others are still waiting. (Check out Trustpilot to see the number of complaints against "Yes Rent a Car"—you’ll be shocked!)
Final takeaway: In Bulgaria, beyond the insurance issue (CDW, LDW), make sure the deposit isn’t deducted but simply "blocked" on your account. Also, insist on getting a document at the end of the rental confirming the vehicle wasn’t damaged during your rental period.
PS: If you’re heading to Romania, I have a contact for a professional and trustworthy rental company where everything goes smoothly. They’re very honest, will deliver the car to your hotel for free, the vehicles have under 10,000 km, and the rates are half the price of Bulgaria’s.
Hello.
First of all, thanks to everyone for all the details you’ve shared.
The CDW and LDW insurance issue is resolved (only third-party liability through the rental company I chose), and Gold Mastercard confirmed that the condition for coverage is that the agency be "professional" (with no distinction between local or international).
However, after my post, I also realized that renting a vehicle abroad (at least in Bulgaria) is becoming really complicated.
Here’s why:
My new bank is Fortunéo (an online bank) which offers a free Gold Mastercard (under certain conditions).
I then noticed that the vast majority of "international brand" rental companies refuse to be paid by a "neobank"!
I had never seen or read about this drawback when signing up with my new bank.
(Even though this neobank has been around for over 20 years!!)
Total dismay!
On top of that, most rental companies refuse "debit" cards (immediate debit) and only accept "credit" cards (deferred debit).
Debit cards are far more common in France.
I don’t understand this, because during my last trip (Azores), the deposit/excess was blocked on my account with a debit card without being deducted (just a hold).
In the end, I found a local professional rental company (YourBGcar), at prices that beat all the competition, and which, according to some reviews, is very reliable. (I’ll let you know how it goes when I get back).
Thanks again for your feedback, and see you soon on the Forum.
PS: Dajlma, maybe my rental company is the one you mentioned? (Though I’m sure there are plenty of professional and trustworthy rental companies in Bulgaria.)
My new bank is Fortunéo (an online bank) which allows you to get a Gold Mastercard for free (but under certain conditions).
I then realized that the vast majority of "international brand" rental companies refused to be paid by a "Neobank"!
I've had this card for 3 or 4 years. I've rented with it in Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, and recently in Romania without any issues. I think I also rented with this same card in Bulgaria...
In the end, I didn't have any major problems except in Bulgaria where the agency Yes Rent a Car is to be avoided because they immediately deduct the deposit amount and take a long time to refund it to their customers' accounts (1.5 months for me). They kept telling me there was no problem, that it would be done "within 14 working days," but it really dragged on a bit longer!
Make sure to check the rental agency's rating before paying the deposit. Yes Rent a Car was indeed a bit cheaper but had a worse rating...
My new bank is Fortunéo (an online bank) which allows you to get a free Gold Mastercard (but under certain conditions).
I then realized that the vast majority of "international brand" rental companies refused to be paid by a "neobank"!
I've had this card for 3 or 4 years. I rented with it in Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, and recently in Romania without any problems. I think I also rented with this same card in Bulgaria...
In the end, I didn’t have any major issues except that in Bulgaria, the agency Yes Rent a Car is to be avoided because they immediately deduct the deposit amount and take a long time to refund it to their customers' accounts (a month and a half for me). They kept telling me there was no problem, that it would be done "within 14 working days," but it really dragged on a bit longer!
Be sure to check the rental agency's rating before paying the deposit. Yes Rent a Car was certainly a bit cheaper but had a worse rating...
I’m back from Bulgaria, and after all my questions about car rental agencies and payment methods by card, I feel I should give you a little rundown.
Bulgaria is a wonderful and charming country that you absolutely must visit.
We rented a car from http://yourbgcar.com/ and were delighted with this very dynamic and efficient local agency.
No matter what credit card you have (debit or credit), you won’t have any problems renting a vehicle from them at a price that beats the competition.
One of the managers at this friendly agency speaks impeccable French, which was a plus for me.
Yes, Bulgaria is a lovely and charming country where the people are really friendly.
Glad everything went smoothly with your car rental.
If you ever go to Romania, I recommend renting from Francrocar in Bucharest. Several people at the agency speak French, and it’s easy to remember—they’re on Paris Street! They’ll bring the car to your hotel for free and pick it up the same way.
To book, you just email them (in French), they prepare the contract and send it to you on request, and you don’t pay any deposit. You sign on the spot the day you pick up the vehicle, and the security deposit (no more than 300 €) is simply held.
I’ve rented from them three times already.
Hello,
I’m looking for a snowy destination in Europe that’s accessible by car from Lille, not too expensive, and family-friendly. We have two kids aged 4 and almost 9. We don’t ski—we just want to soak up the Christmas vibe, go on short walks, and sled right outside our rental.
We’d considered Slovakia (the Tatras—but that’s 15 hours by car) or the Czech Republic (closer—Jizera Mountains, Korenov). We’re also hoping for some sightseeing (castles, monuments) and that festive Christmas atmosphere.
Do you think the Czech Republic would work for us for a week?
Thanks,
Hi there,
We're heading to Crete at the end of September, staying in a hotel near Agios Nikolaos—Zeus Premium Mirabello Bay.
Has anyone stayed there before, or at least in that area?
What are the possible outings?
Are there buses to get around easily?
Is the weather still pleasant then?
Thanks for your feedback!
Hi there, the island of Limnos (or Lemnos) looks like a great spot for a September trip: not too many tourists at that time, plenty of hiking opportunities, beaches, villages, etc. That said, guidebooks mention an airbase on the island, with some sources saying there are more or less frequent aircraft flyovers. For those who’ve been there—how’s the situation with this? Lots of air traffic or noise issues?
Thanks in advance
I'm currently planning a trip to Cyprus for late October. I have a few questions:
- I plan to visit Nicosia, Paphos, and Ayia Napa. What do you recommend in Ayia Napa?
- Is it easy to get around by bus from one city to another? Or do you have any private drivers to recommend?
- Do you have any hotels to recommend?
Any tips or advice is welcome!
Thanks in advance
Hi! I'm torn between these two destinations. If we go to Crete, we'll probably head to the Chania region and the south, which seems wilder. With 10 days and a car, it should work out. If we choose Sardinia, we haven't figured out the exact area yet. We love hiking, swimming, and eating well. We have 10 days at the end of September and prefer to avoid crowds this year. In May, we went to Menorca and really enjoyed it—great hikes, beautiful beaches, good food, and not too many cars.
Hi,
I'm looking for a private transfer from Istanbul Airport to the historic center of Sirkeci. Does anyone know a company? I've found a few:
GetYourGuide,
Istanbultour24.fr (more interesting because they offer round-trip transfers at a lower price).
If you've used any of these services, I'd love to hear your feedback.
Thanks in advance!
Hi,
I'm looking for info on the Pristina–Skopje bus route.
Can you leave from the main bus station in Pristina?
I’ve also heard about a bus station near the theater...
If anyone has details, I’d love to hear them—thanks!!!!
We want to book our tickets to visit the Acropolis site and the associated museum. For these reservations, we need to specify entry time slots.
For the Acropolis alone: the first slot is at 8:30 AM.
For the museum: 10 AM? 11 AM?
We like to wander around, so here’s our question: if we haven’t finished exploring the site after 1.5 hours, is it possible to go back in after leaving the museum?
We’ll be buying tickets from the official websites—audio guides are mentioned. Any feedback on those? On sites like Get Your Guide, the prices are much higher with the audio guide included, but does that mean better quality?
Hello,
We're heading to Istanbul from October 7th to 12th. I’d love to do a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus on a more intimate boat (no show) with a private table and alcohol (wine, since it’s a birthday dinner). Could anyone recommend a reliable company (I’m not looking for a private yacht either) that organizes this kind of evening?
Thanks in advance,
Hi, I’d like to buy a ticket to go to Terezín from Prague using the Pid Litacka app, but I don’t know which zone to get the ticket for. Thanks for your help! 😊
Hi there,
After booking an Airbnb last January for this summer’s vacation in Sarajevo... My "host" canceled our reservation without any reason—this has never happened to me before.
Of course, now it’s impossible to find a place to stay at a "normal" price in Sarajevo with parking...
So we’re falling back on the capital of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, which had already crossed my mind before I booked Sarajevo.
I already have quite a few ideas in mind, without having dug too deep into the region yet.
But if anyone has already been there and has suggestions? Even for restaurants—I’m all ears!
And even if it’s not right next door, I’m planning to spend a day in Sarajevo!
Hi, I’m going to Turkey for 3 weeks. I’ve heard that you can’t book through Booking.com once you’re there and that everything has to be reserved in advance. Is it true that Booking.com doesn’t work in Turkey? Thanks to anyone who’s already been or is there—if it’s true, how do you handle bookings?
I’d love to get your opinions and advice on a destination.
It’s actually for my 19-year-old son who wants to go to Greece with his cousin, who’s the same age.
They’re looking at leaving on October 24th for 7 to 10 days.
For their trip, they want gorgeous beaches where they can swim, beautiful typical villages and historic cities, stunning landscapes, but also lively spots for their nights out. In short, they’re not just going there to laze around—they want to make the most of it...
But here’s the thing: will the weather be too iffy at that time, especially for swimming?
Also, would Crete be the best choice for what they’re looking for?
Then, a travel agent suggested Tenerife instead because of the weather at that time of year—he said the climate there is the same all year round. But will they find landscapes and beaches as beautiful as in Crete?
Hi there,
Our first trip to Greece as a couple. We're planning to spend 7 days in Greece from August 30th to September 5th. We'll reserve 2 days for Athens at the end of the trip. For the remaining 5 days, we want to visit an island—any recommendations? Thanks for your tips and details, we really appreciate it.
Hi,
What tips can you give me for dealing with a car rental scam attempt in Lithuania?
In our case, it’s the Avis-Budget agency in Vilnius trying to scam us.
We rented a car at Vilnius Airport for 2 weeks on July 28, 2019, to return it in Tallinn on August 11.
We brought it back on August 11 at the airport, in perfect condition, and with a full tank at the gas station right by Tallinn Airport.
On the parking lot, the receptionist’s booth was closed. So we had to leave the car in the lot and go to the counter inside the airport. The person at the counter told us their colleague had gone for lunch!
But they refused to come out and do the inspection with us because they were alone at the counter.
They told us we could leave and that everything was fine!!!!
Two days later, we got an email from Avis-Budget with two invoices saying the car was damaged—scratched on both sides—and charging us for a full tank of gas. That’s two bills totaling 800 €!!!! Coincidentally, the deposit was 900 €!
It’s clear this isn’t over!!
Have any of you been through the same nightmare? How did you handle it?
Thanks in advance!
I’m spending 2 weeks in Crete in September and will need a rental car.
I usually go with Europcar, but comparing their offer to what Aegean Rentals has, I see Europcar is charging no less than 400 € more for the same car and similar insurance!
I’d love to hear if others have experience with Aegean Rentals, and if so, whether it was a good one?
Hi,
We’re heading to Greece in early October and will be staying in Kineta, north of the Saronic Gulf, and renting a car.
Is it feasible to visit Acrocorinth, Mycenae, Nafplio, and Epidaurus in a single day?
Thanks for your recommendations!
Hi there!
I’m sharing our itinerary for May/June 2027—23 days. This is our first time in Greece, so we’re starting with the must-see spots. We’re planning another trip later to explore the north, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, and some islands.
- Athens, 4 nights
- Corinth area, 2 nights (Heraion of Perachora, Canal, Acrocorinth)
- Nafplio, 3 nights (Mycenae, Epidaurus, Methana peninsula)
- Gefira, 2 nights (Monemvasia)
- Areopoli, 2 nights (Mani). Maybe add an extra night and stay on the peninsula??? Based on my calculations, the Mani loop is about 100 km—doable in a day, but it’d be a quick trip.
- Sparta or Pikoulianika, 2 nights (Mystras)
- Dimitsana, 2 nights (Lousios Gorge, monasteries)
- Olympia, 2 nights (via Lagkadia?)
- Delphi or Arachova, 3 nights (via the west coast, Galaxidi bridge) (Delphi, Hosios Loukas Monastery)
- And back to Athens.
This is just a rough draft for now. We’re planning to stay in hotels or book through Booking.com. What do you think? Thanks for your feedback and suggestions!
Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve traveled the roads between France and Moldova a good ten times, sometimes via Central Europe, other times via the Balkans.
It was while traveling like this—what I call "hitting the road the slow way"—that I realized something simple: our neighbors' neighbors are very clearly our neighbors too. And that’s not insignificant.
After a break of a few years, I’m planning to hit the road again in September, this time heading to Kosovo, crossing through Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Having gotten a bit older, I’ve no intention of rushing—no need to speed ahead of the music! 😄
I’d rather take my time.
I’m not looking to see everything, but to soak in the atmosphere of the places, always leaving room for the unexpected and for encounters.
I’m especially drawn to culturally immersive, authentic, and welcoming regions: lively villages, backroads, preserved landscapes, markets, local festivals, traditions that are still very much alive... and, why not, a few offbeat, forgotten, or slightly secret spots.
If any of you know Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, or Kosovo a little, I’d love to hear your suggestions for itineraries, stops, backroads, homestays, village festivals, or local contacts, for example.
Planning to return to Belarus in mid-August, I just realized that since last September, Poland has reopened several border crossing points, and for buses, this means connections like Białystok-Grodno.
Several bus company routes, like on infobus.eu, take between 3 and 4 hours.
Trains from Warsaw to Białystok take about 1.5 to 2 hours.
This has the advantage of allowing comfortable train journeys with minimal time spent on a bus.
Also, the Terespol-Brest border might have shorter queues if you still prefer a Warsaw-Brest bus.
Note that another route to Minsk, if you have a paper Russian or Belarusian visa, is the Kaliningrad-Minsk train. It’s long—around ten or eleven hours—but you can lie down and sleep. An option if you fly into Gdańsk and then take a short bus to Kaliningrad.
There are also Belavia flights from Minsk to Kaliningrad, but they’re expensive. The route is scenic:
In any case, this adds a few more options compared to what’s been available over the last four years.
Hi there.
I’d like to know what the daily budget is for Greece in December. I’ll be landing in Athens and staying there for a week, then heading to some other islands—I don’t have a set itinerary yet. Also, I’ve heard that in December, or early January, the temperature is around 11–16°C. Is that accurate?
Finally, does anyone have a good recommendation for a cheap but clean hotel near the tourist sites? I don’t need a TV or any other extras. Also, is Greece gay-friendly?
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week trip in late September with our camper van to explore Bulgaria and Romania.
What routes would you recommend, starting from the South?
Is there an option to take a ferry in Italy, and is it worth it?
Thanks for all your tips!😊
Hi there, we’re a young couple and we’d love to go to the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) between today (26/06/26) and tomorrow (27/06/26).
Is anyone heading there and could give us a ride? We’re super friendly!
Thanks so much!
We're back. It's still a bit tough to get precise info, so here's a quick trip report!
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth.
In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well.
Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027.
Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer.
Initially, I had planned this itinerary:
Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture.
That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Hi there!
We bought our tickets to Greece at the end of November 2025, and let’s just say the geopolitical climate has really taken a turn since then with the war started by the United States against Iran. Not to mention all the other conflicts happening around the world 😕... Anyway!
Our flight from Montreal is on May 1st, and I was wondering how things are currently being experienced in Greece.
We were planning to rent a car and had already booked accommodations on three Cyclades islands!!
The oil shortage is also worrying us...
If you could share some insights on this, that would be great!
