Sofia.– Travel writer Pauline Frommer, daughter of the renowned US travel writer and publisher Arthur Frommer, ranks Bulgaria among the top 10 budget destinations for summer vacations in 2008.

The Guide's Introduction to Bulgaria says the following:

"Founded in 681, Bulgaria is the oldest state in Europe, but its roots reach far deeper into history. In the Valley of Kings, in tombs adorned with frescoes and bass reliefs, archaeologists continue to discover mankind's most ancient gold treasures –the beautifully worked objects buried with Bulgaria's Thracian forebears, some dating as far back as 3000 B.C."

Uncovering the countless burial mounds dotted throughout Bulgaria's central "belly" –a process only started in earnest less than a decade ago– has revealed that this was home to the world's most sophisticated goldsmiths, and prompted local claims that it was here, in the shadow of the Balkan Mountains, that Europe's first civilization was birthed.

In addition to Bulgaria, Frommer's 2008 top selections include destinations in the US, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Newfoundland and the Mayan Coast in Mexico.

Bulgaria is, however, the only European location to be listed as a top budget destination for this year.

The guide explains that "the strength of the euro has made much of Europe a budget-buster for American travelers, but it's also an opportunity to explore less heavily touristed areas of the continent, such as Bulgaria."