Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Got back last weekend from a great weekend in Pamps. Already have the brochures to book for next year.

However I have a note of warning for anyone booked with Balkan.

Balkan now have two equipment hire depots. One for skis and one for Snowboards.

The Snowboard depot is at the Malina, same as in the past.

However the Ski depot is a km or so away. There are two different ski buses that service these two depots from the hotels. There is no bus between the two depots

This isn't a problem if all members of your party are skiers or all boarders.

Our group was split half and half. This made meeting up at the end of the day a nusciance. In the past we've met up in the Markony once people have returned their hire equipment .
Now if the skiers take their stuff back they are stuck with a 12lev taxi ride to the Markony.

Pleae note this did not ruin the holiday.

There are plans for next year I believe to increase the size of the ski depot . At the moment all there is there is the hire shop, a small cafe and a four man lift up to the mid station.

Next year if things haven't changed it could cause a big problem as both my partner and I are boarders but want to take his 10 year old along and put her into ski school. For one of us to take her to the ski depot would mean not making boarding lessons.

This is only a problem with Balkan holidays - but I would still book with Balkan rather than anyone else given the choice. Many years of holidays in Pamp and proved that they really are the best.

For all tour operators apart from Balkan all Ski and Snowboard school is still at the Malina depot.

For Balkan Snowboard equiment hire and school you still go to Malina

For Balkan Ski equipment hire and ski school this is now at the new depot. All the ski school for Balkan start here.

My sense of direction isn't too good to tell you where this new depot is in relation to anything else - but it is down a turn off on the road between the town and the malina depot.

Two buses run round the hotel circuit with different labels
"Ski Depot 1" goes to the Balkan Ski Depot
"Ski Depot 2" goes to Malina for all other schools and equipment hire

Hope this helps. I'll be around this evening periodically to answer anymore questions

Hi,
I have just read your email and found it very informative, we are going to Pamporovo for the first time in three weeks. What I wanted to know is if the buses that are laid on run regularly as we have four teenagers going with us and don't see them getting up very early. Did you use a ski school if so what time is that on from? Also my son wanted some timberland boots to take with him but has been told by a school mate that he can get fake ones cheap out there do you know if that's right? Sorry for all the questions but it seems that you are a good person to ask.
Deb

I was boarding so was finishing at Malina.

My brother did one of a fewthings if he wanted to meet us as he was skiing and needed to return to Depot 1.

Ski down to Malina - have your few drinks and then get a taxi (with skis) to Depot 1 (12 levs). Then get bus back to hotel (have to remember time that ski depot shuts - so not too many drinks!)

Ski to Malina - have your few drinks and then get single man back up to mid station and then the four man back down to Depot 1.

Ski to Malina - have your few drinks and if still wanting to ski, go back up three man lift and ski back down to mid station and then get the four man down to Depot 1.

Go to Depot 1 - drop off skis and then get taxi over to Malina to meet up for few drinks.

Not unsurmountable - but not as easy as it used to be when we said - see you in Markony's when you've finished!
I also think that Markony's was quieter than it used to be.