From
$55 / night
Total guests, Nights

The White House – Home 403503 Villa

  • 4 bedrooms
  • 5 sleeps
  • 3 nights min stay

Key Info

  • Nearest beach 220 mi
  • Not suitable for children
  • Car advised
  • Pet Friendly
  • Private garden

Description from owner

Description

'The White House' is a newly-renovated Bulgarian mountain-style villa situated in Bulgaria, on the west slopes of the Pirin Mountains, in the tiny mountain village of Varbite, 1000 metres above sea level. Varbite can be found 15 km east from the town of Kresna, 6km from the village of Vlahi and 160 km south of Sofia. Kresna, the nearest town, can be also be reached by bus or train. Transport can be arranged from here to and from 'The White House'. whilst the villa is accessible by car in reasonable weather, when it is wet 4-wheel drive transport is essential.

Varbite is also a gateway to the Pirin National Park, one of the three National Parks in Bulgaria and the only one which is a UNESCO site of outstanding natural beauty. Varbite has grown as a summer mountain hamlet where local people escape from the heat of summer. In midwinter it is often above the snowline.

On the ground floor of the villa there's a fully equipped kitchen with microwave, electric cooker, fridge with freezer and plenty of utensils. There is one cozy living room with a wood fire and a larger lounge with a splendid view over the surrounding scenery and across to the Macedonian mountains in the far distance.

On the first floor, there are 3 bedrooms, one bedroom with a double bed, one bedroom with 2 beds and a single bedroom as well as a shower-room with toilet. There's also a separate toilet. These are accessed externally in the traditional bulgarian fashion.
On the second floor, there is a twin bed room under the eaves with a panoramic view from the top of the house accessed by an external spiral stair. This is not suitable for children under 12.

In spite of its remote location at 1000 metres, The White House has plenty of modern facilities but is an ideal mountain retreat for those looking to experience an adventure in the wild. It's the perfect setting for mountain rambles or peace and tranquility surrounded by nature. There are no pesticides used in the region so there are many varieties of butterflies and wild flowers.

The area around the villa is forested with black and white pine-trees and there are delightful local walks. Be sure to take a compass, map and walking boots. Mobile reception is available at the villa but not everywhere in the locality, so SATNAV cannot be relied upon. Higher up beyond the tree-line there are plenty of mountain climbing routes and the scenery is breathtaking.

Two famous peaks are accessible from the villa, Vihren and Sinantsa, and if you are a less experienced mountain walker a local guide can easily be arranged. The villa is quite isolated from shops and restaurants, with only few other private residences around it. Unless the weather is dry a 4x4 is advisable because the road beyond Vlahi is not metalled. Drive carefully because the road is steep in places though the views are spectacular as you travel up towards the Pirins.

One of the most beautiful trips you can make from the villa is to the Sini Vrah (Sinanitca) peak. It's a four hour walk from Vihren hut to reach the gully of Sini Vrah (Blue Peak). The peak of Sini Vrah is famous for its beauty. According to local lore it throws bluish glows early in the morning. Deep in the small gully is an 'eye-tear' lake. There is a hostel by the lake so it is possible to stay overnight there, but advisable to book in advance in the summer months.

The White House resolutely resists TV or WIFI (though there is a radio and CD player) because it is designed as a retreat – a space for relaxation, intimacy, family quality time or a stop-over for mountain climbers and adventurous spirits. It is a mountain region so it is vital to take sufficient groceries and supplies for your entire trip unless you are planning to travel further afield.

It takes 3-4 hours to drive to the Halkidi and Sithonia peninsular resorts from the villa. The town of Melnik to the south and Blagoevgrad to the north are worth a visit, as it the magnificent Rila Monastery.

More Less

Bed & bathroom

  • 1 Full bed, 5 Twin beds
  • 1 Attached (ensuite)

Amenities

  • Private garden
  • Central heating
  • Fireplace
  • Stove
  • Fridge
  • Freezer
  • Microwave
  • Toaster
  • Kettle
  • Stereo system
  • Linen provided
  • Towels provided

More Less

Access

  • Parking
  • Not suitable for wheelchair users

Policies

Payment
This rental can only be paid for online through FlipKey using your credit/debit card or PayPal (never by bank or wire transfer).

Damage deposit: ($53.82) €50.00
Smoking
Yes, smoking allowed

Cancellations

Change of plans? No problem. You could receive a partial or full refund, depending on when you cancel.

Booking confirmed

100% refund within 24 hours after booking (provided the stay is at least 60 days away).

24 hours after booking

50% refund of the amount paid (minus the booking fee*) if cancelled at least 4 weeks before check-in.

4 weeks before

No refund if cancelled less than 4 weeks before check-in.

Check-in date

* The booking fee is stated in the cancellation policy information on the payment page. This fee helps us run our secure platform and enables us to provide 24/7 customer support

About the owner

John D.
Calendar last updated:
27 Jul 2023
Years listed:
11
Overall rating:

Languages spoken: English, French, Spanish

This property is hosted by a private host (consumer) and not a business. Bookings of their property may not be covered by EU or UK consumer protection laws. However, the Tripadvisor Rentals companies will provide you with the same customer service as with any other stay.

These are the details provided by the business owner.

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Business Address

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Map

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Reviews

Very Good
2 reviews

Excellent
0
Very Good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0

“We did not want to leave and go back to our real lives, but such is what a good holiday means.”

Reviewed 2 Sep 2016

We have had a truly wonderful 3-week holiday in Bulgaria and our eyes have been opened to a country we had barely thought about before. Our hours have been spent relaxing in the sun at the White House… More

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.

Response from the owner Thanks Torbjorn, I am very glad you enjoyed your stay and your feedback is very valuable.

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not TripAdvisor LLC.

“Excellent for exploring nature and mountains”

Reviewed 27 Jul 2014

The White House is located amid forest to the southwest of the Pirin mountain range. It is accessed by vehicle from Kresna, on the road and rail line from Sofia to Greece, though experienced (fit) tre… More

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.

Review 1-2 of 2

FAQs

How do I find more info about the property?

You can get in touch with John (the owner) through the contact form on this page.

If you’ve already booked, go to Manage your booking to send the owner a message.

What if I have questions before I book?

Send John (the owner) an email through the contact form on this page. Alternatively, if there’s a phone number on this page, you can call them.

How do I contact John (the owner)?

Send an email through the contact form on this page. Or if there’s a phone number on this page, you can call them.

If you’ve already booked, go to Manage your booking to view John the owner's contact details or send them a message.

What's the difference between 'Book your stay' and 'Contact the owner/manager'?

Use the Ready to book? form to pay provisionally online and send John (the owner) a booking request. You’ll find out within 24 hours whether they’ve accepted - no money will leave your account before then

Or send John (the owner) an inquiry through the Contact the owner/manager form if you’d like a quote or more info first.

What is a booking request?

When you pay online through the Ready to book? form, a booking request is sent to John (the owner). You’ll find out within 24 hours whether they’ve accepted - no money will leave your account before then.

Only bookings paid for through our site are covered by our trusted Payment Protection.

How do I know my booking is safe?

To book this property you need to pay through the Flipkey website. Only bookings paid for through our site are covered by our trusted Payment Protection. This means that in the unlikely event that you’re prevented or denied access to the property when you check in, we’ll offer a full refund for the stay.

Find out more about booking safely.

How do I know what it will cost for my stay?

Simply enter your dates in the Ready to book? form to calculate the cost of your stay.
Click Book now to see a full breakdown of the price.

You can also request a quote from John (the owner) through the contact form. The owner will email you the total cost for your dates and a link to book and pay online.

How do I know if my booking request has been accepted?

You’ll receive an email within 24 hours to let you know. Or you can check in Manage your booking. No money will leave your account unless it’s accepted.

How do I pay for my vacation?

Use the Ready to book? form to pay provisionally online. You can pay by credit/debit card or PayPal. John (the owner) will have 24 hours to accept the booking and no money will leave your account before then.

If you’ve been sent a quote, simply accept it and pay online through the email we sent you. You can also do this in Manage your booking.

Only bookings paid for through our site are covered by our trusted Payment Protection.

Why can't I call John (the owner) before booking?

You can exchange contact details with the property owner/manager once your booking is confirmed and you’ve paid in full. Paying and communicating only through our platform allows us to ensure that your booking is covered by our Payment Protection policy.

If you have any questions before booking, you can send the property owner/manager a message via the contact form on their listing. Once you’ve booked, you can discuss the rental and make arrangements for your trip by logging into Manage your booking.

How do damage deposits work?

In most cases, you don’t pay a damage deposit up front. Instead, we save your payment details securely and you’re only charged in the event of damage to the property.

Occasionally, you will pay a damage deposit up front as part of the total rental cost. In this case, the owner has 10 days after you check out to report any damage. If they don’t, we’ll return your deposit. If their claim is successful, we’ll deduct the agreed cost and return the remainder.

How can I view and manage my booking?

Go to Manage your booking to view all your booking details, pay the balance of your booking or cancel it if you need to.

How do I pay the balance of my booking?

You can pay the remaining balance of your booking at any point. Simply go to Manage your booking and click Pay now.

We’ll automatically charge the balance payment to the same payment method 10 days before it’s due. Go to Manage your booking to see when the payment will be taken.

How can I withdraw my booking request?

You’ll need to contact John (the owner) to do this. Send them a message in Manage your booking or through the contact form on this page.

How do I cancel my booking?

Go to Manage your booking to cancel your booking. Here you can view your cancellation policy to see if you’ll be refunded.

How do I make changes to my booking?

You can request to change the dates or number of people on your booking via the Manage your booking page. To change your dates use the Edit booking button. If you need to change the number of guests staying then send John (the owner) a message.

If John (the owner) agrees, they’ll send you a revised quote outlining the changes. You can review and accept/decline this from the Manage your booking page. You’ll have 48 hours to take action before the revised quote expires.

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