CNN ranks Bulgaria in top 9 recommended destinations for 2011

The edition states that the New Year brings the customary yearning for a fresh start and the promise of new people and places, the right time to plan a journey. The travel editor Robert Reid from the Lonely Planed describes Bulgaria as safe and beautiful country.

Reid's favorite choice on that list is Bulgaria, which has the best Black Sea coastline for beach enthusiasts and offers great skiing in the mountains in the winter, he said.

"I love doing road trips in Bulgaria. It begs for it. It's beautiful, and there's not much traffic. It feels very safe," said Reid, who rode around the country last year in a Soviet-era 1972 Moskovich, which he bought for $500.

Reid also recommended visiting Veliko Târnovo, an ancient capital, and the picturesque city of Plovdiv, home to Roman ruins.