VIP Tour Varna: Our “Slightly Chaotic” Struggle Through Time

The Starting Point: Suitcases, Sunny Skies, and Sanity

Let’s be real: working for 15 years as travel representatives sounds like a dream. Constant sunshine, meeting wonderful people, and living abroad. But after a decade and a half of living out of a suitcase and moving every six months, the “glamour” wears thin. We realized our kids were growing up faster than we could unpack, and it was time to finally trade the nomad life for some actual roots.

So, we decided to settle down. But what does a pair of lifelong travel junkies do when they stop moving?

The “Aha!” Moment

During our 15 years as reps, we didn’t just sell excursions—we listened. We heard the feedback (the good, the bad, and the “why are we on a bus for six hours?”). We realized there was a massive gap in the market. People didn’t want another generic, crowded bus tour. They wanted to know the real Bulgaria.

They asked us: “How much do people actually earn here? What is the health insurance like? How much is a house?”

We decided to “stick to our knitting” and stay in tourism, but with a twist. It definitely helps that Filip was born in Belgium; he can perfectly bridge the gap between your Western lifestyle, background, and expectations with the local Bulgarian way of thinking. We built a Varna day trip that showed the daily life and soul of our home, without the tourist-trap fluff.

We Get It: You’re on Vacation

Let’s be honest—if you’re staying in Golden Sands, you probably didn’t come to Bulgaria for a 14-hour military-style sightseeing marathon. You’ve earned your week by the pool with your feet up.

That’s why we designed our VIP Tour to be short, punchy, and packed. We wanted you to see the very best of the region in a single day, so you can be back at the hotel in time for a sundowner.

Building the Circle (and the Restaurant Hunt)

We mapped out a perfect route around Lake Varna. We included the heavy hitters: the ancient Roman Baths, the Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani), the Magic Spring, and the stunning Museum of Mosaics in Devnya. We even added a visit at the oldest functioning church in Varna.

But we had one massive problem: the food. We tried every restaurant in the region, and honestly? Nothing felt “right.” Everything felt too… commercial.

The breakthrough happened during a particularly drive through Beloslav as my wife, frustrated by the long search, asked me:

My Wife: “Where do you actually expect to eat?”
Me: “Just something local. Like… that house over there in Beloslav!”
My Wife: “Which house?”
Me: “You know, the typical old Bulgarian one on the corner. That vibe.”
My Wife: “You mean Dom Kasata? Well, I went to school with the guy who owns that. Let’s just ask him.”

To our huge surprise, the family agreed to let us bring our guests into their world. They became the “cherry on top” of our tour, offering an authentic Bulgarian experience you simply cannot find in a brochure.

Growth & The “Full Team”

By 2018, we were ready. We set up our meet-and-greet point in St. Constantine & Helena so our guests across different minibuses could meet the full VIP team. We were proud to launch with partners like AllTours and W2M, and by the end of the season, Thomas Cook had joined the family too.

We finished our first year with glowing reviews and the realization that people actually liked our way of doing things.

2019: Growing the Fleet and the “Thomas Cook” Shock

By the time 2019 rolled around, we were ready to level up. Our goal was to significantly improve both our quality and capacity, which meant it was time to renew our fleet. While we dreamed of three brand-new top-tier vehicles, we had to be realistic—so we hand-picked two fresh minibuses to lead the way.

To ensure we could handle high-attendance days without breaking a sweat, we kept one of our original vans (which we had to buy in a rush to beat the initial Bulgarian bureaucracy) as a dedicated backup. This gave us a solid three-bus rotation with a reliable spare in reserve. We were finally set to show off the beauty of Bulgaria in total comfort.

Our reputation was growing. Big names like MTS, FTI, and DER Tour joined our partner list, and we finally dipped our toes into the world of Viator and GetYourGuide. By June, we were firing on all cylinders.

But then, September 2019 hit.

Out of the blue, Thomas Cook—a brand I had spent 15 years of my life with—went bankrupt. It was a gut punch. Seeing lifelong colleagues suddenly out of a job was heartbreaking. It has to be said, I could not live with myself without mentioning one thing here: it speaks volumes about the people in this industry that even though those reps were unpaid, they stayed on the ground, helping every last guest until they returned home safely.

Resilience: From Setback to 2020

As with any bankruptcy, there’s collateral damage. For us, it meant a stack of unpaid invoices and a massive financial hole. It would have been easy to throw in the towel right then.

But we looked at our reviews. We looked at the smiles on our guests’ faces. We knew what we were doing was working. So, we kept our backs straight, sold those first two original buses to cover the losses, and reinvested in another brand-new minibus to keep our quality standards high.

We entered 2020 with big dreams and a new major partner: TUI stepped in to fill the gap left by Thomas Cook. We were ready for anything… or so we thought!

2020–2021: No Introduction Needed – The Lockdown Years

Then came 2020. I think everyone on the planet remembers what happened next. Initially, we all thought the lockdown would just “fly over,” but as the weeks turned into months, the reality set in. While many others in tourism threw in the towel and searched for a new direction, we decided to stick to the plan. Call us stubborn, but we weren’t ready to let go.

For two years, our yearly visitor numbers were what we would normally manage in just a single month. To the people who visited us during this time: Thank you. Being part of your escape from staring at four walls at home is what kept us happy and, more importantly, helped us survive. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Out of the Ashes: New Horizons

Until that point, we only operated one excursion: our signature VIP Tour Varna. But with tourism at a standstill, one tour wasn’t going to cut it. We had to adapt.

Out of the “ashes” of the pandemic, we saw the birth of our Nessebar Tour, the Varna City Walk, and our Balchik Tour. Since we worked with minibuses rather than giant coaches, we had one stroke of luck: we didn’t need “the masses” to run. Believe it or not, we often drove with just a single guest; on a “busy” day, we might have six.

Unfortunately, if you read between the lines, we were handcuffed by the situation. This was especially tough for our team, like Marian. As sad as it was at the time, we simply couldn’t provide the work he deserved. We can’t thank him enough for “returning to the nest” once the storm finally passed.

The Winter Survival Strategy

Now, you’re probably thinking: “How on earth did they survive the winters?”

Well, remember how I mentioned we used to be travel junkies? The only way we made it through was by returning to Belgium every winter to find work until the Bulgarian summer returned. Yes, we even took the children with us each time. As they say: once a nomad, always a nomad. We did whatever it took to make sure our “Varna dream” was still there waiting for us in the spring.

2022: New Partners and a “Backyard” War

With the lockdowns finally behind us, we headed into 2022. Finally, Schauinsland decided to partner up, and with Marian rejoining the force, everything was set for the greatest summer ever.

Until, well… global events took a turn, and a war broke out in our backyard near the Black Sea. (A territory that, ironically, originally belonged to the ancient Bulgars—but history is funny like that).

Having a conflict in the “backyard” of the Black Sea didn’t exactly help the start of the season. People were nervous. However, as guests realized that Bulgaria remains as safe as it always was, the season began to repair itself. We finally got to raise a glass to a season that, despite the rocky start, eventually flowed exactly how it should.

2024 Onwards: The “Strange” Calm

Finally, from 2024 onwards, the skies cleared for our very first “normal” years of business. For the first time, nothing major happened in the world—no lockdowns, no sudden bankruptcies, no problems due to the backyard war. It actually feels strange writing that down now!

But now, heading into 2026, global conflicts on the other side of the planet have started affecting fuel prices worldwide. Because apparently, everything is connected.

So, we enter an uncertain 2026 where we don’t even know where fuel prices will end up. But rest assured: we will always be your trusted partner for your Varna excursions. We love what we do too much to stop. Being part of your long-awaited holiday and your family memories is the most gratifying thing we can do.

And don’t worry—we always offer an honest and open price. Just because fuel is expensive doesn’t mean we need to overcharge you.

Hoping to welcome you for the 2026 season!

See you soon,