Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Is Pamporovo finished?

1) All tour operators have switched the majority of their programmes to Sofia Airport (much longer transfer).

2) Poor snow (again, 3rd season in a row).

3) Smallest ski area out of 3 major resorts.

4) Disputes over water supply for snow cannons.

5) Tourists being ripped off

Do you think their is a future for the resort?

Snowy Norman

As far as Christmas goes yes. Pamporovo has always had periods of sketchy snow 1987, 1997 and 2007 were poor, even in January. There has usually been enough snow to get by though and more often than not I have had some great skiing there over the past 17 years. Pamporovo's big draw was always the quality of their ski instructors and the affordable prices.

As key instructors like Basko and Stoyan have left the main ski school things are not the same and definitely not as good.

As to prices... having to pay more than £6 for a meal and drink on the mountain or more than £1 for a beer is putting people off. While some would argue that it is still good value it is not good enough value to compensate for all that is wrong.

While I can't argue that the hotels have dramatically improved I miss the old Bulgaria of 20 years ago when Bulgaria was Bulgaria and tourists were welcomed with greater sincerity.

Another scare monger post with little or no substance.

People have been moaning for years about Plovdiv, and then people moan when it is withdrawn. Pamporovo has survived without water cannons for 3 decades so why the fuss now? And the size of the resort has grown year on year for several years now.

Why do people just sit at their computers thinking up any idea they can just to draw attention, and put people off. The resort has been open less than 2 weeks and the current conditions are disappointing, but to suggest that the resort is 'finished' is purely attention seeking nonsense!


Pete

I was expecting such a post from PAMPOROVO Pete, naturally a highly unbiased opinion.

So the resort has been open for less than 2 weeks. Is this an excuse for the poor conditions? These two weeks, bar the half term in February, are the two most important in the season for making money.

No snow cannons? The fact that they have not had any for the past 30 years is not an excuse for not having them now. Pamporovo has fallen far behind Bansko and Borovets in this respect.

Yes Plovidiv Airport is basic. However, Pamporovo's biggest attraction was the close proximity to this basic airport. Pamprovo, is far less attractive as a result of the 4 hours transfer. Fact.

Yes the resort has grown over the last few years, but so have all the others. All the resorts have simply prospered in this respect by the greedy developers and buyers hoping to make a quick buck, (which they haven't). Furthermore, and sadly, the infrastructure of the resorts, especially Pamporovo, has failed to keep up.

My initial question was for everyone's view, PP, I respect yours, but as stated it was expected. Lets here everyone else's, especially those that are just returning.

Snowy Norman

I have been loyal to Pamporovo for 21 years and love the place. I know those who work in the resort well and those that I have known for the past two decades agree that many things are wrong..its just that tourists don't know all that is going wrong.

In 1987 we had no snow and no skiing for a week. The climate is changing however and those that have been there either working or as tourists know that the snow is not what it was.

Lower prices always compensated but in the last five years tourists have been asked to pay inflated prices for watered down drinks and a lower quality of service.

The Bulgarians of 20 years ago treated visitors like old friends knowing that the money would come. Many of those working in the resort have forgotten that and only see money.

As an old friend of Pamporovo I am worried and disheartened to see the resort empty. Long gone are the nights when the old White Hart BJs and Daks were all full, or at least two of them were.

Looking at it as an outsider with NO vested interests in the place, it's not looking good, is it............

Lucky enough to be looking for a cheap deal for first week in Jan '09, as going out to Canada end of Jan, so want something just to get my legs together. Something cruisy, laid back, and above all cheap.

Been to Bansko three times previous, and would prefer a change, though can't fault Bansko as such.

Guess what? Yes I know there are smaller resorts to choose from, but really the choice is between Boro and Pamps.

And there's the rub. Pamps is not even on the radar, for the reasons mentioned, mostly NO SNOW. Not for the first time in recent years. And it's small, and it's low. And a lot of the flights go into Sofia, not Plovdiv.

Seems I'm not on my own either. Loads of deals to Pamps, not so to Boro.............But I'll keep looking.

Like I say, I've genuinely no axe to grind, just voting with my feet. Just wan't enough snow, a shortish transfer, warm clean hotel, and cheap food/pint.

And Pamps just don't tick the boxes. Shame.

Ruprecht.

No where near as predictable as Mikey's (sorry, X,Y Z's) usual 'I told you so - gosh arn't I clever letting everyone know I was the only one in the world who didn't think Bulgaria ski resorts had a rosy future and I'm feeling really smug' posting.

Yes, the lack of snow is disappointing but hey - look what happened to Phuket and the other Thai holiday resorts a few years ago on boxing day - far more devastating and with such tragic consequences, yet they pick them selves up, regroup, rebuild and re-emerge stronger than before. Pamporovo will undoubtedly do the same. Maybe not as a 1st class ski resort but maybe as a mountain retreat, a hiking centre, who knows?

The lake district in UK has no skiing (to speak of), is overpriced and has unpredicatble weather yet has countless forms of attractions which bring the tourists flocking in their droves. Bulgaria is still unspoilt, beautiful and relatively low priced compared to many Western parts of Europe.
Finished? what do you suggest Mikey? drop a nuclear bomb on the place? That's great comfort to all those who live and work there. Of course its not finished - you cant 'finish' a town - it just needs to change and morph with the times.

Pamporovo Pete
Pamporovo has survived as you say JUST
something like Alitalia, Woolworths of todays.Or maybe NOT.
You can not make Pamporovo higher-Fact.
You can not produce on a massive scale man made snow-Fact
You can not build an airport close by-Fact
What you can do is: make sure the infrastructure is top,
the prices are relevant to what's on offer(cheap resort with cheap everything and only very limited skiing as a side thing solely preserved for the first timers)and then maybe amateurs will try it at least once before they head off towards the real SKI RESORTS.
At the current situation -even the first timers are with question marks in their heads
Correct?