The Balkans Planner for Travelers 55+

1 The trip you've been dreaming of

Slow mornings. A local guide who knows the stories behind every old town. Long lunches, local wine, and coffee on a square where nobody is in a hurry. And a part of Europe most of your friends haven't seen yet.

That's the Balkans: the Adriatic coast, Roman and Ottoman towns, Orthodox monasteries, lakes and mountains, all within a few hours of each other. On a small-group trip you see it without driving and without planning.

2 Three sample trips

Our three most-booked trips. All run in 2027 from spring to autumn, and every date is guaranteed to run.

Prices are in euros; dollar amounts are approximate (1 € ≈ $1.15). Your card is charged in Serbian dinars at the day's rate, and your bank converts that to dollars.

3 Getting there

• To Belgrade: Air Serbia flies nonstop from New York JFK to Belgrade, about 10 hours. The Serbia, Romania & Bulgaria trip and the Hidden Balkan trip both start in Belgrade.
• To Ljubljana: for the Balkan Extended trip, you connect through a major European airport.
• Going home: the trips end in another city (Dubrovnik or Sofia), so book a multi-city ticket: into the start city, home from the end city.
• On arrival: your airport pickup is included. Send us your flight number. If your flight is late: what we do TBC.
• At the end: the transfer to the airport is not included, but you can add it when you book.
• Jet lag: Belgrade is 6 hours ahead of New York and 9 ahead of Los Angeles. Arriving a day early helps; we can book an extra night at the first hotel.

4 Health and insurance

• Medicare usually doesn't pay for care outside the US. Some Medigap plans (C, D, F, G, M and N) pay 80% of emergency care abroad, after a $250 deductible, up to $50,000 in your lifetime, if the care starts in the first 60 days of your trip. Ask your plan what you have.
• Buy travel insurance with medical cover and medical evacuation.
• Add trip-cancellation cover. Our refund depends on how close to departure you cancel (full refund 60 days or more before), and the same rule applies when the reason is medical.
• Medicines: bring enough for the whole trip in their original packages, with a copy of your prescriptions.
• Walking or health needs: tell Ana before you book, so she can tell you honestly which trip fits.

5 Safety, honestly

The US State Department rates Serbia at Level 2, "exercise increased caution" (advisory of August 27, 2026). The reason it gives is crime, mostly petty crime such as pickpocketing and purse snatching in busy tourist places. Many popular European destinations carry advisories too.

What that means on a guided trip: you travel with a local guide and your own vehicle, your bags ride in our vehicle, and you spend the nights in 4- and 5-star hotels. Keep your wallet and phone close in crowds, as you would in any big city. Before you go, read each country's current advisory at travel.state.gov.

6 Passports and paperwork

• No visa needed. With a US passport you can visit all of these countries without a visa for a trip like these.
• Passport: it must have been issued in the last 10 years and be valid at least 3 months after you leave the EU countries. To be safe, travel with 6 months or more left.
• New EU border checks: Slovenia, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria use the EU's new Entry/Exit System. The first time you arrive, it takes your fingerprints and a photo, which can mean a wait at the border.
• ETIAS: a new €20 online travel permit for the EU, expected in 2027. It is not needed yet, and nobody can apply yet: don't pay websites that claim otherwise.

Money in each country

7 What's included, with no surprises

Included on all three trips: 4- and 5-star hotels, breakfast every day and the other meals listed, a professional English-speaking guide throughout the tour, our vehicle, your airport pickup, and the entrance tickets and Experience More moments (small local experiences, like tastings) listed for each day.

Not included: international flights, tips and porterage, the transfer to the airport at the end, meals not listed, and travel insurance.

Booking: a 30% deposit holds your place; the rest is due TBC before departure.

If you cancel

Percent of the total trip price, counted from the day we receive your cancellation in writing.

8 Your next step

2027 dates are open now. The most popular dates fill first.

Talk to an expert. Ana Žugić leads our sales team in Belgrade. Tell her when you'd like to travel; she'll help you choose. The call is free, with no obligation.

Book a free call with Ana: balkan-more.com/talk-to-ana · office@balkan-more.com