Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi there

Me and the wife returned yesterday from our first ever ski holiday and I thought we would feedback on our experiences as I learned a lot from this forum before I went. We went with Balkan Holidays and were lucky to be one of the last planes to land before they shut Sofia!

The Rila Hotel - Good points

The hotel is huge, has a good pool and jacuzzi and could not be closer to the slopes. Literally ski up to the door to drop the gear back off. Good exchange rates at the bank there too. The restaurant is good for breakfast (although don't expect English breakfast like we have here) and ok for tea. We ate out most nights but wouldn't say it was really bad and a lot of friends ate there.

The Rila Hotel - Bad points

The noise. Drunken Russians. Drunken Brits. Paper thin doors and walls. Six out of seven nights we were woken up by drunken revellers at least twice a night, usually around 2am with the Brits and 4am with the Russians. It felt like we were in the middle of an 18-30 holiday. I wouldn't recommend it unless you intend to be a drunken reveller, families would be better off avoiding. The 2 different groups we skiied with had all the families complaining except one who were stopping at the Ela. I would never stop here again, the convenience is not worth losing that many nights sleep over, especially spending so much time on the slopes and needing a good nights kip.

Smoking is rife. Downstairs reaks and this can spread to the bedroom, especially if any of the neighbours smoke. This also applies to non-tobacco related smoking, if you get my drift, one of our party was subjected to 2 nights of passive smoking the Jamaican Woodbines.

The Resort - Good points

The Bulgarians are friendly people. We drank in nearly every bar over the course of the holiday and got to know a lot of people, especially the "promotors" outside. The "come into my bar" rouse doesn't bother us, it's the same in Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia, just smile and laugh with them, talk to them, they are nice people working 14 hour days in sub-zero temperatures, cut them some slack.

Some of the bars are lovely and snug with nice open fires. We particularly liked Sunski (the hot wine was the best by a mile). Chris in White Magic is a character that is worth visiting, he's mad but great. The Red Lion were very accommodating, especially as our Welsh counterparts had the Ospreys match on the big screen by request. Mamma Mias is also a bit mad but also a bit blue so watch the young uns in there.

Sunny's (a big red pizza sign opposite the Samokov) was the best for food we thought, it's all subjective though. It is also a nice bar to sit in whilst having a pint.

The Resort - Bad points

Some of the bars at the bottom of the slope are expensive, move down the strip for cheaper drinks and better quality. It's not a big resort by any means, so you can shop around before spending. The cafes at the top of the slopes are also expensive, but really, you have to expect this, it would be no different here were there a cafe on the top of Snowdon I suspect. Captive audience you see. Oh yeah, have a Lev handy if you want a jimmy at the top of the mountain.

The skiing - Good points

We went with Borosports as part of the package, they are massive there, they probably own all of it!

The people in the groups we were in were brilliant. Really friendly, down to earth good people. So much so we made friends with them and socialised with them outside the ski school (shooting and bowling in the Samokov is cool).

Once in the swing we loved it, probably me more so than my wife. I moved into an intermediate group after the second day and progressed really, really well, even to a couple of reds by the end of the week.

The slopes are great for beginners although there are not too many green runs and could possibly get tedious. The instructors we had, Alex Alexiv and George were excellent, highly recommended. I went with Alex later in the week and he is a nice, patient, friendly instructor who was really good with the kids.

The scenery is beautiful, especially on top of the Gondola (cable cars to you and me). Take a camera if you have never experienced it, it is an incredible sight and feeling.

The skiing - Bad points

We started the week with an instructor who was useless. After day 3 she had lost 8 out of 11 students who all met up about it and asked for a new instructor. In fairness, Borosport didn't even question it and had a new instructor there the next day for them. At this point I had moved group but I watched my wifes frustration grow and grow as well as the rest of the groups. We paid for a morning of private tuition for my wife it was that bad. I hope no-one here gets the short straw.

In places the snow had thinned out to grass, rocks and ice. It wasn't so bad when you're proficient but early on you tend to slip a lot and fall on it. The vast majority was good though, don't take this too badly, and they were groomed every night. Some more snow and it would be great.

Queue jumping. Not wishing to pigeon hole but the Russians seemingly have a God given right to go to the front of the lifts, as do a lot of the children. Prepare for a grunt if you deign to challenge them. It is frustrating to say the least.

Borosports dinners. You have to stay with the instructor for dinner, they really don't like it if you don't. This means you go to a cafe that's expensive and spend lots of money, especially if you are with kids.

Would I go back?

Yes, definitely. It was good value for money overall, the skiing was brilliant. As a first timer it was incredible and we felt we came on really well during the week.

Would I stay at the Rila?

A resounding no. The convenience really wasn't worth it. Maybe we just had a bad week, it happens, we are not naive enough to think it happens all the time. The lack of sleep, especially after such physical efforts during the day, came close to ruining the holiday. Had the skiing not been good it would have put a huge downer on the whole holiday.

The summary

All the people we met (with the exception of the Russians) were great. We met new friends, enjoyed the skiing, enjoyed the bars and learned loads. I really must book another skiing holiday.

Feel free to email me any questions you might have.

Happy skiing.

Hi Sambam,

Can i ask if the problem instructor was called Ellie?

I had her my 1st year in Boro all she did was shout at me for doing things wrong.... problem was she hadn't explained what to do in the first place, just said ' follow me'!

I had a private lesson and changed groups, best thing i ever did!

Went again last year and saw her shouting the same thing she did to me ( CONCENTRATE!) to some poor bloke collapsed in the snow.

All i can say is if any beginners get her as their instructor ask to change groups asap.

I must mention that i think there is another instructor called Ellie who is ment to be very good. The one i had the problem with works for Borosport.

Can i finally add she is the only bad instructor i've had and i've booked again with Borosport this year.

Amanda

Great report.

Unfortunately, you were there at the peak of the Russian holidays, next week will be much quieter. We found the same last year.

I have always found the Rila too hot - perhaps they were conserving fuel! The Rila's main good point is the location, especially with children but agree that the front rooms can be noisy due to the revellers. You can always request a room facing the back - much quieter but not such good views. The swimming pool is usually the warmest in Boro.

Both Ellies worked for Borosport last year - 2 completely different characters. If you or your child gets the 'abrupt' one, I agree about not hesitating to ask to go in a different group. In fact don't hesitate asking for a different instructor if your not happy. It can make or break your holiday to get put with someone you are not happy with.

Hi all

Hilly, the instructor wasn't Ellie, although it sounds like a very similar experience. More than anything it was a breakdown in communication. There was very much of "watch, you follow" and when a question was asked, the response was again "watch, you follow". Borogirl, you are absolutely right, if you are not enjoying the instruction, it will more than likely put you off forever, challenge it, they are very accommodating and will put you with someone else.

One couple we were talking to did use earplugs with good success, something I will take with me next time I go away. We actually were at the back of the hotel, but I think that it was Russian Christmas that really kept the spirits flowing.

Patricia, don't let my review put you off, if you don't get the noise you will really be in for a treat, maybe try some earplugs? By the end of the week in the queues, we started to sort of lock/cross poles stopping the pushing in as best as we could. Seemed to work to an extent. Sounds like you will get less Russians anyway.

The hotel was neither too hot or too cold. There is some sort of problem at the moment with Russia and Bulgaria and the heating (gas is supplied by Russia) which seemed to make them switch it off for periods of time. It flitted between comfortable and light covers needed, never went too much either way.