Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Got back from Borovets on Saturday after what was in all a great week.


Hotel Samokov was decent enough for the money we paid to stay there. Rooms cleaned and clean towels every day.
Food was more than edible and if you can't find something to eat everyday, then sorry but you must have an eating disorder.
We had very fussy eaters in our group and they always found something they ate.
The prices in the hotel are very reasonable and the pancakes in reception are amazing and the pizza's from behind the lobby bar are a decent snack too...and possibly the cheapest pizza's in resort.
The Spa facilities and pool are pretty good too, although you will have to pay extra for the Sauna, Steam bath, etc etc (8 lev).
The pool is free of charge and whilst I was there I heard people complaining it was too cold. So you'd think that after coming out of the sauna it would be even colder for me...it wasn't cold...not in the slightest so goes to prove some people will just complain for the sake of it.
40 lev for a massage is worth every penny too.

The staff are generally friendly, although there was one on reception who we nicked name 'the dragon' who was either suffering from pmt or was menopausal...but as they say there is always one right?

I have stayed in the Rila and Zodiac in the past in Borovets and would say that the Samokov overall is a better hotel than both of them.

The resort for me still holds it's overall charm for having everything right there on your doorstep and I didn't find the touts that annoying as apart from saying 'no thank you' I do not engage them...after a couple of days they know just to leave you alone.

Places to eat: Katy's, Joy (pizza's) , Hunters, Titanic.
Places not to eat: Mama Mia's, expensive and poor quality food; Eagles Rest for the same reasons as above, although the bloke singing in there was pure comedy gold.

Places to drink: Franko's (cheers for the free champers for my mates b'day); Black Tiger (although be warned it seems to be permanently happy hour i.e. 2 for 1 in there and the measures are huge and most definitely no watered down), BJ's; Salt n Peppers.

Places not to drink: Funky's (used to be my favourite place to eat and drink in Borovets...unfortunately the prices are no longer justified)

Skiing was over all good enough, but very disappointed that the runs at the top of the gondola were closed due to what I was told was 'Politics'. the equipment hire from The Samokov was probably the bad part of the holiday.
It is seriously dated and worn and I have heard all of the excuses about how cheap it is to hire and the type of country Bulgaria is etc etc etc...well I ski'd in Poland last year and for £5 per day you can hire excellent standard Ski's and Boots that look like they have just come out of the packet...so it doesn't quite add up. If you are an intermediate ski'er than I would seriously consider buying and taking your own equipment. I know I will be next time.

The flights to and from resort on Thomas Cook Airlines were painless enough although in bound and out bound they messed up our meals in the sense that we didn't get one even though booked.

Now for the ugly part. One of my friends was attacked by a Bulgarian bloke outside the Buzz Bar on the last night for no apparent reason. The guy who attacked my friend came unstuck though as my friend can handle himself. The fight broke up and we headed back to the Hotel..when suddenly a jeep pulled up and 3 Bulgarians jumped out with baseball bats and again tried to attack us. The police were there and they had actually witnessed the initial attack on my friend and did nothing, but then got involved and chased off the guys with the bats apologising to us and seeing us safely back into the hotel.

Once again we enjoyed our stay Bulgaria and Borovets, but not sure if we will be returning next year...maybe it's time to try somewhere else again to remind of us of just what a great little resort Borovets can be.

Well the warning about the Black Tiger was tongue in cheek...great bar to start the night I reckon.
We were downstairs in Franco's on the last night.

Never been to the Happy Duck Jon but will try it next time...tip regarding the pancakes...when you are on your way up to your room after a day's skiing you for an extra lev make your order and the pancake man will deliver to your room...also pay a few extra lev and have them with ice cream...delicious.

And for a Few Dollars More it could have been a 5 sum right snowlover?