Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Like the the report, pretty much sums up the week. Returned yesterday, a group of 19 of us went 17 skiers (All beginners) 2 snowboarders.

the group was 2 big and those who struggled got frustrated and bored. 2nd day we had different instructor (Bobby) who was according to the guys who stuck at it 5 was good but the ladies did get a bit upset on being shouted and sworn at. give the school there due they did provide another instructor but she was just as aggressive and eventually the remainfer gave up after 2 1/2 days. the conditions did not help muc being so warm (12 degrees C not F!), icy then the rain came which just walking an art.

stayed in the Rila, rooms ok bar ok except the seemed to make up the prices (beer 3.50 leva or 5 after 9 - learnt to specifiy Bulgarian drink very quickly) food was basic a couple of reasonable dishes, the new years eve gala dinner had to be seen to believed - if it had been served fresh it may have had a chance but after a couple of hours in a warm resturant the salmon did not look or smell to healthy. the main equally as bad and at that point we left.

there is nothing to do in this hotel if it rains or in evenings (we had 5 bored teenagers) there isn't a games room or anything the day it rained we went to the samokova hotel to play pool

the moura hotel is also cheaper to drink in beer was 3.5 and happy hour was till 23, the bar in the basement did bottled beers as part of happy hour - has sky sports

good places to go:
Mamacitas - breakfast was good - has sky sports
Senor Frog - excellent food, 2 of us had kervarma although we order the same (chicken) they were completely different (staff did not know it was either!) steaks were excellent, fajitas also good. they do a litre of wine for 10lv which although "this is watered down" the 4 women who drank 2 litres of it (not each i hasten to add) were quite loud oustide. down side was it took ages (there wre 15 of us)
Titanic Bar - didn't eat there but food did look ok. spent NYE there truly excellent
Kamita - food ok (i thought it was over rated), friendly, sky sports
Black Tiger - Karaoke good if you like that sort of thing happy till 21 then again from 23

places i'd think twice
Buzz bar - NYE 21:58pm closed - would not let us in till 22:00 there were 10 of us (6 women)
later my daughter & 2 friends (male) were charged 10lv each and weren't allowed near a clear area of the bar as it was "reserved" they were "moved" on by a minder, they didn't stay as they didn't feel safe.
the 11 erotic bars don't do Borovets any justice from my room i could see at least 4 of them.

other comments. Bulgaria was not as cheap as we were lead to believe did not find that 50p beer cheapest was Titanic at 3.50. food was the same everywhere - western food cooked badly - Senor frog was the only place we went to that did more Bulgarian food than western food.

if you are going definitely go up the gondala the views are spectacular. at least go up a chair lift (went up & down again) the new one past the titanic

didn't bother with the Balkan Holiday trips - kids bought bumboards (you have to try this so much fun) try a 5 board train - best done when it's not trying to thaw !!
daughter wanted to sleigh ride but glad we didn't after seeeing the "sleighs"
skidoo - thought this was too expensive to try there 19 of us and wouldn't commit to a discount - kids hired those mini skidoo/sledge things for 5lv - good value - saw someone going down the green run on one them!

would we go again? probably not