Bulgaria Ski discussion board

I've never been Pamporovo before, but looking to go 7th feb, so just after a bit of advice... looking at the castle apartments as it's on the ski slopes apparently, just wondering how long it would take to walk into the village, and if anyone knew whether they provided free ski storage, or alternatively which ski centre for storage do balkan holidays use.

Any other info to persuade me to go pamporovo over bansko or borovets would be appreciated... considering i'm going borovets 24th jan, and been bansko the last 3 years, pamporovo was the cheapest option so just going by that really.

thanks

The Castle Hotel is ideally located only 10 metres from the ski run in Pamporovo.

The hotel consists of 11 separate buildings and accommodates spacious, elegantly decorated rooms in a cosy and comfortable ambience. It is right next to the station where all the lifts and trails start from, so a great daily starting point.

The Castle Hotel is 1km from the centre of Pamporovo.

Having skied all resorts in Bulgaria Pamporovo remains my favourite. Well groomed runs, great restaurants, brilliant ski school, and very relaxed friendly atmosphere.

PP

The castle sounds good then... a 1 km walk doesn't sound too bad, is it lit up at all?

A bit worrying why most of their runs aren't open yet when they claim to have something like 90% snow cannon coverage... what's that all about?

you'll probably hate me... but what is the resort like for snowboarding (is it full of flat areas like bansko's ski road which is putting me off going there snowboarding)... as my friend who i'm going to go with wants to snowboard and i can now just about snowboard as well so will do both, but it will mainly be a snowboarding holiday.

Thanks again

Dean,

It is possible but a little awkward to walk to town. The Castle is on a piste and you can walk round the back of the building where you will find it. Walk down the side of the piste for about 400 yards where you will come to a car park and a chair lift station. Hang a left and the town is about another half mile slightly uphill. I reckon it's about a 20 min walk, but taxi is far easier.

DO NOT attempt to walk down the main road. It winds around and is far longer, but you will surely be run over as there is no pavement and several blind bends.

I have a flat in the same access road as the Castle and I have also stayed at the Castle myself, although about 8 years ago now. We had a great time and it's pretty much ski in ski out.

Can't advise about the other resorts, only ever been to Pamporovo.

Cheers,

Mark

I snowboard most of the time in Pamporovo and there's hardly any times I have to unclip. The main flat area is the main green from mid station, you reach a flat bit so walk 100m and off you go again. Rest of the time it's cracking.

Really wide runs for carving and lots of trees for tree runs should you get powder. Limited off piste but you can drop in under lifts etc to get some powder. There's also a fun park with rails, jumps etc and they build some massive kickers off the wall black run at mid station. Have some good national freestyle comps on too.

You can also drive a few Km down the road to neighbouring Chepelare with a massive red run, worth a day there.

On the runs open at the movement I've guests out there at my chalet who said yesterday most runs are open.

I will say about the walk from the castle - it is downhill but you'll be on the main road and it will be covered in snow, I'd just grab a taxi if there's a few of you. Lovely apartments though and the restaurant used to do discounts for forum... Is Powder Seeking Phil lurking? He's got a gaff there so know the score.

Thanks for all the info, appreciate it... I'd just rather be by the slopes than get a bus to the ski slopes every day, although paying for a taxi isn't ideal... is there anything around the apartments like restaurants or bars, we're going for the winter side of it, not going out til the early hours every morning, so just somewhere to eat and chill is ideal really. The ski resort sounds good though, i can ski anything pretty much, but only recently done lessons and am now recreational standard, so don't think i'll be in the fun park

I seen the conditions looks good, just wondering/worrying why the site shows only 7 runs open when there is a lot more than that, it's the same case with bansko and borovets it seems