Trips, Tips & Travel

07/12/2025

We stayed at the Sofia Balkan Palace, Sofia. Don't rule it out when I say it is a great '5 star' hotel. The price was great, 3 nights for €440 including buffet style breakfast in a deluxe double room with a roof terrace (that's €70 per person, per night). After 3 nights we were still pushing buttons on the control panels trying to work out the curtains, roof, lights, air con, housekeeping etc.
We did have an issue which was rectified straight away and when we returned to our room we had a bottle of bubbly, a bunch of grapes, 4 sweet treats and an apology note, how lovely. Hospitality at its best!

07/12/2025

We landed 2hrs late. It was buses to the terminal from the plane and passport control was empty when we got there, may have got lucky. Baggage reclaim is right after passport control if you need it and there are toilets there too. Top tip: DO NOT USE THE ATM AT BAGGAGE RECLAIM. They are Euronet ATM and will charge you. Instead, when you come through to arrivals, turn right and there are 4 ATMs there. We used the Postbank one to withdraw local currency, second from right and didn't get charged. Another note here: Bulgaria are switching to the Euro in January 2026.
The metro stops running late at night so we were forced to get a taxi. Beware it was mayhem, no organisation. People started a queue but then others came along and decided queuing wasn't for them and it was a free for all. Not much fun in the pouring rain! 25 minutes later we got a taxi. Our hotel was 12km away right in the centre of Sofia and cost us €11 or 22BNG plus a tip

06/12/2025

Weekend to Sofia. We choose destinations with cheap flights. Dublin to Sofia was €71 each return with a small carry on bag booked with whats not to love!
Terrible wind and rain on the way to the airport slowed us down. We were delayed 2hrs which allowed us to get dinner in . We picked up a sandwich from Pret as we weren't going to land until midnight. Turns out there was a bakery place still open on landside in Sofia airport. Unusual but I prefer to be prepared then hungry.

06/12/2025

Lets get ready

05/12/2025

New city, New country ❤️

05/12/2025

Always dreamed of an Irish Castle wedding? This place is stunning. Personally, I loved it with the Christmas decorations. Cabra Castle, Co Cavan, Ireland.

04/12/2025

The stunning Cabra Castle, booked through Rory’s Travel Club. An amazing deal and its only €12 to join for 12 months membership.
Cabra Castle is a stunning hotel in equally stunning grounds. It also has a creepier side to it.

Cabra Castle is considered haunted and has a reputation as one of the most haunted hotels in the world, having been ranked the second scariest hotel by TripAdvisor in 2010. Guests have reported numerous paranormal experiences, such as hearing unexplained sounds and seeing shadows, although the hotel's management describes the ghostly residents as playful or friendly.

Did I see anything?....no I didn't however the hall light came on by itself after midnight 💩👻 needless to say, my mind went into overdrive and I slept with the light on 😂
I would definitely go back and stay again.

03/12/2025

I booked Cabra Castle 🏰 through Rory’s Travel Club for an over night stay in a superior double room with dinner and breakfast the following day 🍽
It did not disappoint! Saw Oscar and Guinness, the resident Irish wolfhounds on arrival at 1pm for 3pm check in. Got lucky as the room was ready. Beautiful room (57) however it was chilly 🥶 After exploring the castle and the grounds, I called reception, they sent a lovely housekeeper who rebooted the heating. She called back to check but it still wasn't great. I popped to reception and they asked us to leave it with them while we had dinner. Within 10 minutes the receptionist found us and offered us a room change to the Bridal Suite 👰‍♀️
They moved our bags for us.
The mulled wine 🍷 was a hug in a glass! The 5 course dinner was amazing. I chose the lamb for my main course. We rolled out of there to find the Bridal Suite.
Omg! It even had a bar and a hot tube.
Winding down to sleep the hall light came on by itself 😳 I then googled if the castle is haunted.....big mistake 🙈😂 it is said to be the second most haunted place in the world 👀 needless to say I slept with the light on 😂 it was very creepy.
Breakfast was a feast. Help yourself to the cold buffet and they take your order for cooked breakfast.
Highly recommended even with the resident ghost 👻

There are 4 hotels in this family run group. Ballyseede Castle ✅️ Cabra Castle ✅️ that leaves Markree Castle and Bellingham Castle to do.

27/09/2022