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Money Credit cards and travellers cheques are not widely accepted in Bulgaria. ATBs are reliable and located in most major banks. The canny travellor will already have a Nationwide account. The Nationwide is the only Bank / Building Society not to levy a charge for overseas transactions. You can change money at any of the banks (hotels invariably offer a pretty poor rate) but beware the Bureau De Change. Those in the airports are OK but the only major hustle we experienced in Bulgaria was at - and yes, you've probably guessed it already - Sunny Beach. The sign outside quoted, in large letters, a fair rate. We handed over our sterling - and were offered leva worth some 25% less than anticipated. We asked for our money back. This was refused. A local bortsi (en-route to the zoo) intervened and we were told to leave - without our money. Apparently the sign also says in tiny cryillic at the bottom The above is the Central Bank of Bulgaria's official exchange rate. We give nothing like that. And anyway you must be a real sucker for using us. Or something like that. We remonstrated. A large crowd gathered and after several phone calls to her boss by the cashier we agreed on a sum somewhere between that originally offered and the official rate Opiated by the smell of fresh leather goods - and perhaps blinded by their prices - we'd broken one of the cardinal rules of overseas travel - always, before handing over your cash, seek verbal confirmation how much?
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