Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi all

Just spent 2 weeks over at Borovets. Believe me everyone is talking about the snow conditions in the resort as well, however I had a fantastic holiday with lots of great times in Bobbys Bar. Thank you to Kas & Bobby for their gorgeous hospitality. I boarded most mornings and actually went off and tried different things like the hot pools at Sapareva Banya in the afternoons. The piste conditions on the slopes that are open is actually pretty perfect in the mornings. They did tend to get busy and chopped up in the afternoon. Suggestion would be 08:30 start and buy a half day pass (30bgn) and then do something else in the afternoon. Then if you want more slope time then take a pass for the night slopes on Rila (22bgn).

I certainly would not be canceling or worrying too much about numbers of pistes open (I did before I went) as once you are there you are on holiday and it's what you make of it. Just try something that you have not done before.

It is very easy to say 'If this had been done' or 'That been done' then things could have been better, however all this will do is screw you up and make you angry. Lets not forget that the main issue here is that, as with lots of European resorts, is that there is a distinct lack of natural snow.

Borovets is a lovely place and has lots to offer other than the obvious skiing and boarding. Not the best time I have had there, however so glad we went and just got on with it.

Enjoy your holidays everyone and try not worry too much.

Any questions please let me know.

Del Boy

Nice report Del and very accurate about the conditions, we have found most people have taken the same stance saying, " OK not the best conditions but we can ski, we are on holiday, and we are going to enjoy it"
As you say there are lots of other things to do that are enjoyable and if it is a one off bad season for snow people will accept it, but if it happens again next year I don't think they will be so forgiving.
The way the weather seems to be changing ski resorts in Bulgaria must have snow cannons on all the runs. Pamporovo used to suffer from lack of snow being lower than Borovets and further south, but they now have cannons on all the runs and everything is working. Same in Bansko, we took guests there last Thursday and all the slopes were open.
Borovets when all the runs are open is a fantastic place to ski, it has it's own special character which makes it different to other resorts, but I fear for the future if there is not significant investment in the infrastructure.

I fell the same reading this:
2 weeks -2 runs and still happy
What can I say?
Wow
If you intended to go on a holiday and by accident this was a ski holiday you may say:- I skied for an hour in the morning at the break of dawn and then tried to kill the time going around snow less places and then back on the slopes in the evening for a limited snow bash ,then that will explain everything.
BUT when you could have booked SKI HOLIDAY NOT JUST A HOLIDAY and enjoying plenty of powder all day long in the Alps this is completely different matter I would say.
It is funny to see comments from people with direct vested interests taking their time and constantly posting and defending The undefendable.
As for the lack of snow anywhere else in the Alps I think it is the opposite and it is been since straight after the NY week :
The too much snow is becoming a tiny logistical problem all over the Alps with plenty everywhere in fact healthy snow base and continuing snowing more or less on a daily basis.
It is easy to get carried away when you are stuck in one place with its problems and no way out strategy.

Hi Popmop

You can get taxis, just make sure you agree a price before you set off. We hired a car though as we wanted to be a bit more flexible. There are lots of pools, I think of differing sizes. It was a really nice experience and you come out feeling very relaxed. Also look at Rila Monastery if you have a car.

To the other comments, I love boarding and of course would have loved more snow, however I did not have the option of canceling so made sure that the holiday that I had saved for and had looked forward for months was as much of a holiday as I could make it. My holiday was fantastic because I made it so!

SP was brill to meet you. See you in 2 years dude.

Del Boy

"re:Borovets - Just back homePlease share how you made a 2 week ski / board holiday with bugger all ski / boarding, "fantastic"

I am not saying you didn't have a good time, but boarding can't be the priority, surely!

I would have been gutted! (And have been). But I would like to know how to turn it around to "fantastic""


Carnage, I don't have a 'vested interest' in borovets but I've been twice last season at the beginning of January and this... the two holidays were very different experiences as last season there was more snow and we had daily lessons as we were just learning...so this season apart from a few private lessons for me we didn't have lessons or a group...only yastrebets runs and rila runs were open this season....BUT I had a fantastic time, I boarded every morning (bar one as I hurt myself before leaving the hotel!) And most afternoons choosing yastrebets over the rila slopes as they were quieter. My other half boarded on a night when he wanted. I also enjoyed the fact that as I didn't have prepaid lessons I could chill when I wanted and get up a little later on a morning sometimes, there was friendly company for me to spend time with when I needed a rest... a great massage, pool, sauna/steam rooms. Numerous tasty restaurants to enjoy and decent variety of bars...

Perhaps I'm not the best boarder but I enjoyed myself and didn't miss out my other half thoroughly enjoyed himself spending nearly every waking hour on the slopes improving his technique and learning new tricks...

We were also going to go riding and for a walk at the top but I guess we were too busy enjoying the slopes that were open...

There is a lot to be said for accepting what you get and 'making the best of It'

I've been to guaranteed snow resorts in the past and to be honest I had just as good a time as I did here. I suppose it's down to personal preference if you love numerous long slopes so you can do a load of different slopes during the holiday then maybe borovets isn't the place to go this season. But like I said it's a personal choice and only the people who have booked can decide whether or not they will be disappointed, there are plenty of honest reports regarding the conditions on here I guess people need to choose for themselves.

Thanks
Ash