Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi All

We have decided to go skiing in 4wks, where a family of 2 adults, 3 daughters ages 5 1/2, 3 1/2 and 2 (at the end of this month). My husband has done skiing 10yrs ago in austria and canada, so he's very excited to say the least. Alot of our customers are skiing at the moment in Bulgaria and highly reccomend it, so we thought we would take the plunge, and hopefully make this the start of our regular yearly holidays

We've decided to book things seperately. Out of all the resorts Bansko seems the right one for us?, is this correct do you think??. We will hire a car from the airport, will the rental cars have winter tyres/snow chains at all?.

We are prob going to book an apartment direct with an owner, as finding accomodation for 5 is really hard work

My husband wants to do a couple of days ski tuition, to get him back in2 things, but then intends to go it alone lol, god help him! My 2 oldest I was going to put into ski school, any suggestions on the best for there ages?, and also the best place for equipment and ski pass hire.

I will be spending the time with my 2yr old whilst they are off skiing (dont really want to leave her with a creche etc). Might sound a bit daft but what stuff/where could i go whilst hubby and older girls are skiing?.

Is there anything to do in bansko after skiing, like horses, dog rides, gondolas? things we can do as a family.

This really is very new to me, and it's down to me to plan it all, any info and suggestions would be much appreciated as I havnt got long until we are planning to go.

Many thanks

Rebecca x

Hi Rebecca,

Can't help you with Bansko as we went to Boro after 10 years last year but....

We did the same - couple of mornings private tuition, kids (5, 7, 9) in ski school. Had a FANTASTIC time.

If you go to Boro then let me know and I can give you the gen on Hunters for lessons and the Alpin for accomodation.

If you stick with Bansko then I am sure there are others who know the resort who can help with the details but DONT WORRY. You will have a great time - listen to whatever recommendations you have and just go with the flow. Bulgaria is a great destination and the experts with the local knowledge have no hidden agenda.

Simply down to the great time we had last year and the continued help from stalwarts on this board we are going to Boro again this year and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone resuming their skiing after an the enforced kiddie break!

HI
Just be careful tried to get my little girl into ski school they wouldn't touch her till she was 4. I have been going to Borovets for the past 7 years and all 3 of my kids from the age of 11 months and my youngest was looked after a couple of days only 4 months. the rill hotel creche is amazing they remember my kids every year. The best thing is your two younger kids can spend as little or as much time as you want to give you some alone time. There was no where for the younger kids in Bansko when we were there.

You will have to look at private instruction for any child under 4, and it won't come cheap comparatively, the 2 year old is the problem. Maybe better to look at a creche, the Blue Kangaroo is an option, based in the Kandahar complex...
You should have no problems finding apartments for your party, there are a few here and the prices are very competitive.
Bansko perhaps is the best option for a family, all the bars/restaurants are child friendly (as is the whole of Bulgaria), and there are many places that will help you with hire and instruction, e-mail me and i can pass on some details... Hiring a car is not a problem, i can also assist on the best route from the airport, appreciating that we are experiencing the heaviest snowfalls for a generation, the car will have snowtyres and chains, it has to by law, if it hasn't, highlight it and request them. One consideration is parking here can be difficult, over a metre of snow in the town makes parking spaces difficult to find... As i said, contact me, and i will try to help with advice..
I have lived here for nearly 5 years, and provide transport to and from the airport, and trips to local resorts...

Steve

Hi All

Thank you so much for all your replies, was so chuffed to wake up and see them all, especially as the countdowns on and we will be there in 4 wks .

I'm not sure how to reply to individual posts etc, but I will try doing it all in this, and I havnt a clue how to send my email address or email any of you, but my address is: rebeccamace110@btinternet.com

Hi Jez, I had a look at hunters and it wont take kids under 4yrs old , and there is no way that I'm putting my 3 1/2yr old in a creche, as I want this to be a family holiday, and her and my 5 1/2yr old are like twins both very grown up and I know they would be devastated if seperated. Alpin looks lovely - really nice in fact. I really think this could be the start of something great for our family and I kno the kids will love it.

Hi Ian
Your experience would be much appreciated, Ive tried clicking on your name to message you but I dont know what to do sorry. so my emails above, know i prob shouldnt put it on here but didnt know what else to do

Hi Heapster
I really dont want to put the kids in a creche, they all look great, but i really want this to be the making of our 1st ski holiday. So if need be just to keep my 3 1/2 & 5 1/2yr old girls together I will pay for the private tuition, as they are like best friends, and a lot more grown up than there ages. I dont mind not skiing, being there is enough for me, and to see them all enjoying

Hi Steve
thanks for your tips, as I said above I really dont want to do a creche, and I'd really like to be there if the girls need me, and I'd rather not ski just to be there for them. Your tips on driving are great, we thought of a cra, because we had a price of £100 incl everything, and seeing as transfer is a long time, we though girls may be more comfortable in a car, and expected transfers to be very expensive??, maybe you could give me info on this.

well thanks all for evrything - happy planning ahead

Bek xx

No problem Bek.. we have a just 3 year old, and perhaps its a little more difficult for us as we work, so she will spend a lot of the day at kindergarten, but when we do have time we will take her and her sledge up the gondola, to slide around at the top, and play in the snow, as long as she is wrapped up not a problem, and she loves the activity up there. Bars like the `Friendly' welcome kids, as does the `Queens', and they run around like mad things..
There is not to much for them to do in the winter, no play areas as such, and now with the snow all the parks are closed, so really you are stuck, you could try swimming, our little girl loves that, and many of the hotels have pools, but generally its a case of chasing around after them in the snow.. hard work !
A transfer for the family will cost you around 100E each way, that is from arrivals to the door of your accommodation, no worry about route or road conditions... there are companies who have dvd screens in the buses to entertain the kids, are happy for food to be consumed on-route and supply drinks, and there would be a stop midway for toilet and a break...

Hi steve

It's an awkward age having a 2yr old and wanting to go skiing. And to be honest we was origionally planning on going to euro disney for the week, but when our customers have been telling us about bulgaria it just sounds fantatsic (we run a cattery - look after peoples cats whilst they go on holiday) and it was always a case of putting it off til next year, but we're taking the plunge. I'm sure my girls will be like your little girl and love playing around in the snow, and as you say aslong as there dressed right there should be no prob I hope!, but I will have a look at some private tuition as if I had to put the 3 1/2yr old in a creche we wold leave skiing til next year. The mini bus sounds good and allowing kids to have food, is a must for us, thats what keeps them going on long journeys, so that is something I will definately bare in mind. So apart from going swimming and skiing there arent any other activities to do around the resort?

Bek