Bulgaria Ski discussion board

HI All,

Well we have taken the plunge and going to Barovets 27th Jan- 3rd Feb. We have been skiing once before to Hafjell in Norway. So hopefully we have made a good choice. As my wife is a little worried about the childcare so any advice info would be apreciated.

We have lots of questions:

1) Are Helmets for childeren provided? or available?
2) Kindergaten (Rila) can you take them out and return them later.
2) Is ski's etc provided in the kindergarden or do we need to hire?
3) If Sara(5) wants to ski outside of kindergaten do we need to hire gear?
4) When do we pay each day at start at end?
5) Any other child care available creche for shorter periods?
6) We are flying with Thomson (Gatwick 14:45) is food provided on the flight or is it to purchase?
7) Is there any entertainment on the flight (just hoping )
Clothing is it worth having thermals to ski in.

Thanks

Andrew, Tina and Sara

HI WE WENT TO BOROVETS 23RD DEC FOR A WEEK.
WE HAVE GOT A 8YR OLD WHO WAS WITH US ALL THE TIME BUT THE 3 YR OLD HAD TO GO INTO A CHECHE AT THE RILA WHERE THE SKI KINGERGARDEN IS. IS YOUR CHILD IN THE SKI KINGERGARDEN OR THE CHECHE?

wE HAD TO PAY FOR THE CHECHE ON THE FIRST MORNING FOR THE WHOLE WEEKSOMETHING SILLY LIKE £80 FOR THE WEEK.
UMM WE DROPPED OUR DAUGHTER OFF BETWEEN 8.30 -9AM EACH MORNING BUT THEY WERE SO FEXIBLE THEY DID NOT MIND WHEN SHE GOT DROPPED IN AND WE PICKED HER UP BETWEEN 3 AND 4 EACH DAY BUT ONCE AGIN THEY DID NOT MIND WHEN YOU PICKED THEM UP.
BUT THE CHECHE TIMES WERE 8.30 TILL 4.30 EACH DAY.

SHE HAD MEALS AND SNACKS THERE AND REALLY ENJOYED HER SELF OUTSIDE EVERYDAY.

I DID SEE THE SKI KINDERGARDEN ON ONE DAY AND THEY WERE ON THE NURSERY SLOPES THE TEACHERS/LADIES HAD ALL THE EQUITMENT FOR THE CHILDREN. bUT DO NOT REALLY KNOW ALOT ABOUT THIS AS MY DAUGHTER WILL BE GOING INTO THERE NEXT YEAR, I THINK THEY MAY ONLY SPEND AFEW HOURS ADAY ON THE SLOPES.

YOU CAN HIRE HELMETS OUT THERE FOR KIDS JUST ASK WHEN YOU COLLECT YOUR SKIS.
I THINK YOU MAY NEED TO HIRE THE GEAR WHEN SHE IS NOT IN THE GROUP.
UNSURE ABOUT YOUR FLIGHTS AS WE WERE WITH BALKAN HOLIDAYS.

THERMALS WELL MY HUSBAND WORE THEM LONG JOHNS AND TOP AND SOCKS
ALL I WORE UNDER MY SKI SUIT WAS A LONG SLEVE TOP SO I COULD TAKE MY JACKET OFF WHEN WE HAD LUNCH.
IT REALLYS DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOUR SKING AND THAT AND HOW MUCJH YOUR WALKING AROUND.

HAVE A GREAT TIME WE WILL BE BACK THERE IN JAN NEXT YEAR.

I would only pay for one day to start with. My 4 year old grandaughter went to the ski Kindergaten in the Rila
last year and hated it. She refused to go back for the second day. They did refund our money tho. There didn\'t seem to be lot for the children to do, a few games and colouring pencils. Also hardly any of the staff spoke English and I think she found it all a bit frightening. We also watched her standing on her own at the side of the slope crying because she didn't want to ski. She sounds a wimp, but she's a really outgoing little girl and we have left here in creches in the UK (shopping centres etc) with no problem, she has loved it. I think it's just a bit daunting when it's all strangers who speak a different language. They did let us borrow the equipment after creche in the evening. Just see how they go on the first day. We are going with Inghams this year and have booked there Kindergarten with English speaking nannies. so should be ok I hope. Oh & yes I would def. take thermals. I wore thermals, fleece & Ski Jkt and took fleece off if I got hot.

Hi Slayden,

Many thanks for that information. Sara is 5 and can ski a bit from last year. From what you are telling me I now understand better. The Creche runs two schemes it appears Crech/Ski Kindergarden.
1) Day Care Creche 1-3
2) Ski Kindergarden 4-8 year olds also get ski initiation for 2 hours a day ourside.

Daily program for the Ski Day Care.

08.30 – 09.00 Check in
09.00 – 10.00 Free play/arts & crafts
10.00 – 10.30 Get ready to go outside
10.30 – 11.30 Ski lesson
11.30 – 12.00 Get ready for lunch
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch
13.00 – 14.30 Free play /àrts & crafts/
14.30 – 15.00 Get ready to go outside
15.00 – 16.00 Ski lesson
16.00 – 16.15 Get ready for snack
16.15 – 16.45 Snack – hot drink and sweets
17.00 Pick up

Do mobiles work on the moutain OK?

With the Ski Kindergarden did it look organised?
As my wife worries abit about that aspect.

Thanks

Andrew

hi yeah that is right two groups.
yuo will understand the lay out when you get there but i think they are mixed for part of the day as my 3yr old did make older friends.
the women who run it were really nice most of them did speak english to me every night when i collected her.
also there is a lady called ellie she was a english nanny over here and i know for a fact that she was part of the ski kindergarden as i saw her with the children on the slopes, she is really nice, and helpful.
from what i saw it looked organised right ratios and the children all seem to be happy, i think its really depends on what the child wants to do, as my daughter did not want to go outside on a couple of days so one of the women stayed in and played games with her.

honest my daughter walked out of there each day really happy and tied.

mobiles work fine on the slopes make sure you do your networks.
she will love it

Hi Andrew, There were hardly any children in the kindergarten, it was out of the school holidays maybe that was why.The hardest part was when we seen her stood on her own crying no one was comforting her it was horrible, she was really upset. We are using the Inghams Kindergarten this year which has qualified English nannies, but you have to have travelled with Inghams to use it. It may better at the Rila this year, I just think it would be best to pay for one day and see how you go. Your little one might love it.