Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi,

Me, my girlfriend and some friends are heading to Borovets for the first time on Sunday 8th of March and just looking for some advice.

I have heard a few nightmare stories about the variety of lift pass prices and getting ripped off, where is the best place to buy them from? we are there for the full week, what should we expect to pay?

Also on one of the many reviews I have scanned a few say that the cash machines dont accepted british cash cards???????

Any other general advice would be great!

Cheers

Ben

Ben

The cheapest way is to prebook ski equipment and lift passes through tour operators. If you have booked independently, you can still prebook or negotiate when you arrive. There are links on this site or do a search for FIONA on here and she usually can help. She is based in Boro and people have been very pleased with her packages and help.

The ATMs take British maestro cards and are usually the best way of changing money. I would suggest taking no more than £50 in levs to tie you over and the rest in newish sterling notes, changing them in the banks in the Rila, Flora and Samokov Hotels. The ATMs are in the Flora, by the gondola and outside the Rila Hotel.

I would also advise that you check prices in restaurants before ordering and check any bills. Food up the mountain is expensive so you could take water and snacks with you.

The Alpina restaurant, near Flora Hotel, happy hour 5-7 is one of the cheapest, I also like Green King and Titanic, near Rila Hotel. You could also go into Samokov Town, where restaurant prices are much cheaper.

Where are you staying and are you self catering or HB If SC, there is a couple of small supermarkets in Boro but it may pay you to go to the large one in Samokov.

Have a great time, there's so much snow on the top, in particular

The Iglika is behind the Rila Hotel, where there's a bank and ATM. In general the Iglika has had good reviews, although some have said that upgrading is well worth it as some rooms can be small.

Snow reports vary but there's so much snow from the other week, over 3 metres on the top, that even if it warms up, only a few exposed runs are likely to be affected. When the temperature is right, all snow cannons are being used. Not sure if they've bought more but there are more working than I've seen in previous years. Lower slopes will suffer first and may get icy or slushy if temps rise more but some reports predict more snow, so it's in the laps of the gods

There's excellent off piste on the top so you could consider hiring a guide for a few hours. I'm sure Fiona can advise you.

If you are considering a night out in Samokov, I can highly recommend the Little House, my favourite in BG You can get the bus or negotiate taxis - around 15-20 lev per taxi each way. It costs 5 lev more to come back to Boro. As there's a group of you, I'd prebook as it's very popular - traditional food, in an oldie worldie atmosphere with excellent prices. There are others in or near the town square or the Chicken Hotel, which is more upmarket.

Take care if you visit the Buzz Bar, there have been stories of spiked drinks and phones, cameras etc being taken. Locals usually steer clear too. If you try the Titanic, I can highly recommend their breakfast, chicken skewers and their specialility, which comes with flames