Bulgaria Ski discussion board

This year the Borosport instructors have to visit a different reataurant each day to ensure that the restaurant/instructor "agreements" as in past years is avioded. It also means that all restaurants get a fair crack of the whip. Each instructor has to get a signature from the owner. However, if as a group you want to eat somewhere in particular your instructor should allow this. Last week we did exactly this and although it caused a bit of friction between George our instructor and the ski school director, all was fine. In any case, your instructor shoild not be paying for food...they are a great bunch (most of them) and deserve their perks so dig in your pockets and buy him/her a lunch.

I was in Boro last wek too and was surprised at the cost of food at certain places. Pizza especially was expensive at most places between 12 & 15 lev. Best place on the slopes was the modern place at the bottom of the Popangelov red run, cracking cheese burger for about 7 lev if my memory serves correctly. It got very busy mind you at times and service was incredibly slow one day. Didnt find beer expensive, especially the local brews, usually 3 or 4 lev. Missed out on the Alpina, walked past it every day to and from te Flora, always looked very quiet to me! As an indicator, we took £260 of levs with us (family of 5 staying half board) and came back with 12 lev.

Just back from Borovets yesaterday (also went last year) and I would agree that in general, the combination of the worse exchange rate and increased prices in many bars means the prices are more like you would pay in a cheaper UK place, e.g. Weatherspoons, rather than a big bargain. A few tips though if you are on a budget -
Shop around and ask prices of drinks before you order. In our hotel (Iglika) a good measure of Bulgarian brandy or vodka plus ice was just 2 lev but imported was much more and for some reason a house red wine was 6 lev for a small glass. Also paid between 3.5 and 6 lev for a large beer at various places so big differences.
Give the hotel food a good go if you are half board - there was always something on the Iglika buffet that I thought was really nice (both breakfast and dinner) and you could have as much as you wanted (also fantastic cakes, fruit etc for desert). Maybe some hotels are not so good but it's worth finding out as if you eat in, then go out for a drink, you save a lot.
If you eat a good breakfast and dinner at the hotel, for me a small lunch was enough. In the town, the salads I tried e.g. Shopska and Shepherds salad were very nice (I think salads are a bit of a Bulgarian speciality) and good value (7/8 lev in Eagles Rock).
If you know you will be up the gondola for lunch you could take something up from the Rila supermarket to eat while waiting for a ski lift and just have the smallest snack of even just a drink at the cafe on the top with your group. I was not so impressed with the price or quality at the top last year so did this.
Overall I was very happy with the holiday, the skiing and our instructor were good, equipment seemed fine, the 4 hour lesson packages spread over lunch mean you get to know your group well, the Iglika room was basic but the food and bar area were good, location very good and whilst not such a bargain now, a few beers at a nice bar e.g. Titanic was not too expensive by UK standards either.
It would be nice to think that if you are paying more, all Bulgarians working in the resort benefit but it looked a bit to me like a few get rich and others don't get paid so much. It's a personal thing, but for this reason I think a reasonable tip direct to anyone who has looked after you well is worth budgeting for.
Different subject, but take care on the icy paths (I wish they would put a bit more grit in places).
Have a good time - I did.

exactly, but even if the price is the same as last year, say 3 lev for apint its got nearly 20% dearer, so if the prices rise even a small amount the knock on effectespecially to uk tourists is to seem to be a very steep rise.
I would suggest staying away from the restaurants at the top of the gondola, theyre prices are ridiculous, but if you shop around, the small bar at the juntion of yastrebets 2 and 3, 5 lev for a hot choccy and brandy, the yastrebets hotel at the bottom of yastrebets 3 very good value and much better quality than anything on the mountain, on the rila side alpina as mentioned very cheap 1.80lv for 500ml beer, food cheap as well, georges hut up the mountain hot wine gorgeous, 5 lev if you come down the blue run at the bottom as you cross the road, try the bar on the left again very good prices. In fact with the temporary caravans you will get a cheaper price. Also see the 'other side' for some discounts weve negotiated with some bars/restaurants. As Tescos like to say.....'every little helps'