Bulgaria Ski discussion board

I bet this gets asked every year...

I am in the process of deciding on my skiing holiday for next year, I have previously been to Borovets (2010), and because of the cost of skiing in other countries am intending to return to Bulgaria; but I am unsure of which resort, whether to go to Borovets again, as I know what its like and it also has a short transfer. As much as I want to go to the other 2 resorts there are things that have put me off going there like in Bansko you need to get the Gondola up to the ski runs/lifts and have heard there large queues, and for Pamporovo the fact that you need to get a shuttle bus to the ski runs/lifts and there are less runs and a longer transfer time than Bansko & Borovets.

I am intending to go out on 25th February 2012... Which do you think is the best resort for me to choose.

Well Dean, it looks like youv'e already answered your question.

1. Bansko you need to get to the gondola early because of the large ques and also long transfer times.
2. Pamps need to get shttle bus to ski runs, there are loess runs and again long transfer times.

Answer is BOROVETS. Short transfer time. Good access to at least 3 lifts and gondola in mornings. Good instructors, plenty of friendly cafes etc.

I've been going to Boro for past 10 yrs, for my sins I go along with the legend of Borovets dbut.

We usually go around your date Jan 21ish but due to recent poor early snow going a week later Jan 28.

Hope other hitters will give you good advice.

S.P.

And here is my vote... Bankso

On the 25th there is a world cup ski race on (and the 26th), so the place will be buzzing. The skiing will be a bit limited whilst the race is on, but the majority of the mountain will be open. Then the place will empty out from the Monday and the conditions will be great.
1. You get to watch a world cup race
2. Conditions will be at there best
3. The queues will not be long because the week before is half term ( when the queues can get a bit messy)
4. The gondola ride is a great experienceand only takes you 15-20 mins. It is perfect for getting in the mood and the views are brill. You also get to end the day on teh gentle ski road back into town.
5. Night life is better and more varied in Bankso. From Clubs to the family orientated mehanas.
6. If you want to do a day trip to Borovets when the racing if it is not your cup of tea, then you get the best of both.

Second choice for me would be borovets and third choice would be Pamps purely because the skiing is limited compared to the other 2.

Cheers
Smag

Dean. Having been to all 3 resorts I have to say Borovets. I skied in Pamporovo 4 times and fell in love with it, then decided to try the others when the flights stopped going to Plovdiv. I went to Bansko which is fine the only reason I wouldn't go back is the gondola queues, then tried Borovets. This year I decided to brave the Sofia to Pamps transfer and go back, but it was like a ghost resort, yes thats good with less people on the slopes but the nightlife was nonexistent, I'm afraid to say as far as I can see Pamps has had its day, yes they are extending the slopes and the available skiing area was much larger than it used to be but unless charter flights go back to Plovdiv it looks like it will remain empty.
So back to Borovets it is. Roll on February

Cheers everyone for your advice...

I think there is flights that go to Plovdiv, but they are From London Gatwick? and coming from Bristol I would just rather fly from the local airport...

and if the week I am deciding to go is a world cup event in Bansko then that's sort of put me off already, to be honest I'm not really interested in a world cup race, but more interested in skiing and I can see that week (well especially the Sunday) being too busy for the gondola as people will be visiting Bansko for the week/weekend to see it, so it's either change date or remove Bansko as a choice... although I would really like to go there seeingas it has the most runs and by the sounds of it more snow cannons that Borovets to keep the runs open.

But otherwise back to Borovets it is then, and trying a later date as seeing a trend from the previous 2 years that February has the most snow, and then March having more than January? so end of February would be seen as the best time to go...

Smag... It's all good that you get the gondola early, but someone in the party will be having lessons and is not confident enough to ski by themselves, and I have heard the ski school meets at the top of the gondola, what time do the lessons tend to start then; or do they start late as people have to queue to get up the gondola, then that means the person having lessons would have to wait up the top by themselves or wait down the bottom till later to get the gondola up by themselves? this is where I start to see a problem, and then makes me want to go back to Borovets as there is no hassle.

Dean....there are not always queues in Bansko...i have not skied the other 2 resorts but skied in Bansko many times over the last few years....there are queues at xmas and it can be a nightmare then if you do not get to the gondola early..although i have walked onto the gondola on a boxing day at 8.30am without queueing..Feb halfterm will be busy as usual...and queues may be long if you do not get up early...but other times the queues are not bad in my experience
the ski instructors who we use meet the clients at the shop first day to travel up the mountain together so the client gets some confidence with it all or we take the clients up in our vehicle if complete beginners to the Chalin Valog area