Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Having skied in BG beginning of the year, we decided to get another weeks skiing in this time in Andorra. I have seen many posts about which one is best so these are my thoughts.

Slopes.
By far superior to that at Boro, with slopes to suit all abilities with the added bonus that your lifts pass covers Arinsal, Pal and Arcalis so the amount of skiing is fantastic. There are plenty of runs for all abilities and all runs are graded higher than Boro. We only saw one drag lift located at the top of Arinsal, a gondola links Arinsal to Pal but unfortunately it is a bus to Arcalis. With the vast area and very wide runs skiers and boarders have loads of room to ski together. There is even a half pipe located at the top of the six-man lift at Arinsal for those willing to show off their skills.

Ski School
Our 10 year old daughter went into ski school this I would say was one negative in that it is only 3 hours a day 12-3pm for 5 days. This is the same for beginners to, so must be frustrating for new skiers to collect their gear and hang around for ski school at 12. The level of instruction seemed good and the instructors were wearing very vivid green Schoffel jackets so could easily be recognised. But my daughter did say that she would rather have had Galia from Borosports as she would have learnt more. Also all children under 12 are advised and it is recommended to wear a helmet. Under tens have to wear a pink bib to.

Hire Ski’s
This was one major plus the skis and boots looked by far better than BG the boots were all Head, Atomic and Salomon and the skis were in excellent condition again Atomics, and they were all kept in heated conditions in proper storage racks etc all very professional.

Prices / Apres Ski / Hotel
We spent the same as we did in BG so I would say considering it was the € it wasn’t that bad. Food at the top of the mountain on the nursery slopes was good and filling you could get a massive Bacon Baguette for roughly £3.50 or a burger. Beer was San Miguel and was about € 3 for a half litre glass.
Our hotel was the Crest located at the very top of Arinsal and had the added bonus of the chair lift right next door. It was a 10 min short walk into town downhill so a bugger coming back. It was clean and tidy and the food good. The Après ski looked a lot quieter than Boro but that could be as it was the end of the season. There seemed a few places to eat that were good and again reasonable. We found a steak house and for 3 including drinks was 40 euro,s the steak on my plate would have fed two it was that big! But personally we think Arinsal is more geared up for families, but saying that we meet some lads in the hotel and they seemed to be having a good time to! I should imagine height of the season it would be different again.

Our thoughts were if you could put the excellent slopes together with the Après ski of Boro you would have a fantastic resort. Would we go back to BG yes, Andorra yes but probably Andorra first just for the amount of skiing there is to do that we still have not done.

Pheww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Couldn't let this one pass.

I took my family skiing in Arinsal a couple of years ago(and stayed in the Crest, which I liked). The link to Pal wasn't open due to lack of snow which meant that everything was funnelled down through the Nursery slopes, my youngest was in Kindergarten and as I watch him for 15 minutes from a distance as he struggled to put his skis on by himself with 'carers' standing around doing nothing... I took him out. My wife was in a group of 15 adults who has THREE different instructors in a week ... There was a choice of ONE restuarant for beginners and because they has a 'captive audience' didn't even try to be nice yet constantly (jokingly - yeah right) demanded tips... The fitting of the boots and skis was one of the most horrendous experiences I've ever had (people in huge queues nearly fighting) ... and that's not even mentioning the horrendous transfer from Toulouse.

I managed to persuade my wife to come to Pamporovo and (she has no bias) she said ... no competition... Pamporovo wins hands down. Every one of my children (5 of them) who have all been to Bulgaria twice agree without exception.

Overall, I enjoyed Arinsal (a holiday is what you make it) ... and confess to having rose-coloured specs re: Pamporovo .... but if you're thinking of Andorra as an alternative to Pamporovo, think carefully. I'm sure there are plenty whose experiences are 'reversed' from mine... who loved Arinsal but hated Pamporovo ....just thought I'd contribute.

regards

Woodsyni