Travel conditions deteriorate during the winter as roads become icy and potholes proliferate. The U.S. Embassy in Sofia advises against night driving because road conditions are more dangerous in the dark and because there have been many reports of travelers being stopped for shakedowns by bandits clad in police uniforms after nightfall. Heavy truck traffic along the two-lane routes from the Greek border at Kulata to Sofia and from the Turkish border at Kapitan Andreevo to Plovdiv creates numerous hazards. Motorists should expect long delays at border crossings. Persons operating vehicles with foreign license plates frequently complain of being stopped by police and fined on the spot for offenses that are not clear.
Buses are inexpensive but crowded and deteriorating in quality.
Bulgaria is largely a cash economy. Most shops, hotels and restaurants still do not accept travelers' checks or credit cards. Where credit cards are accepted, their use is not recommended because of pervasive fraud. Visitors should exchange money at Change Bureaus. People on the street who offer high rates of exchange are confidence tricksters intent on swindling the unwary traveler.