Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi all who are travelling out to Pamps shorlty and to dona and lizzisnow, will try and get to the Thomson's quiz night to see all fellow skiers, depending on how many bruises and aches and pains!!!no worries will be there.

Looks like the snows is on its way!!!

Bill F - thank you very much for the info on the Finlandia, already laughing at the names, looks like we're in for some friendly and helpful staff!!!. Thank you for your the tips re sledging etc, any info on the food, don't worry bracing myself for your comments but be truthful. Just another thing Bill F, is there anywhere in the hotel to store your ski's and boots. We are in ski school all week as we are not brilliant skiers and would therefore be grateful if you could let me know what time the courtesy bus goes, don't fancy having to walk up to the mid station with our skis and boots. Thanks for the info.

Hi jacksprat

On your first day, your rep will collect you around 9.30ish and take you to the ski centre. After you pick up your equipment, you'll ski a few easy runs with one of the instructors. After lunch, you do a short 'ski test' - then you'll be put in a group of similar ability and allocated an instructor.
If you're hiring equipment, then you'll keep it at the ski centre. When you get there on a morning, you leave your own footwear on the shelf where your ski boots are kept. Your skis and poles are stored in a rack - they are numbered so you know which ones are yours. From the back of the ski centre, you ski directly down to the chair lift - so no walking at all.
At the end of the day you replace your skis and boots, then collect your own footwear for the short walk to the bus park.
The first ski buses set off at about 8.30, then there are several more at ten minute intervals. The last bus back leaves the ski centre at around 4.45.
Look forward to meeting you!

Hi Jacksprat

No need to keep skis etc at hotel, as Lizzi says, and the courtesy bus times are as she said - last one leaves hotel at about 9.45am. They also run into town in the evenings, 3 Levs per person each way.

Food is... er, average, shall we say. In evenings, main course is usually a choice between pork/fish/chicken - though often not as we know them! Try the soup starters, they are usually quite good. Oh, and if you see a dessert that looks nice, grab it at the start - they don't get replenished once they're all gone! And guard it carefully - Ugly Betty is a deadly plate-remover. She whipped away one plate while my daughter's boyfriend had his fork in mid-air with his last mouthful - I kid you not!

The rather weird thing is that they serve up piles of the same salads, cheeses, cold meats etc each day, lots of which is never eaten. However, they never seem to take the hint and do anything different - it's like "You WILL eat this!"

Also in the evenings, don't sit too close to the "musicians", (a male/female duo, although sometimes I couldn't tell which one was singing), but I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing Elvis songs in a Bulgarian accent. And listen out for "When the saints go marching in", sounding like Rolf Harris demonstrating the Stylophone (sorry if that's before your time).

Harry, in the lobby bar, is a good guy, I had quite a few of the local brandies there, OK at just 3 Levs. I also recommend hot brandies on the slopes, again 3 Levs at most places.

I forgot to mention the person whom we named "Igor", who hangs around the lobby and bar area. Apart from occasionally and seemingly randomly holding the front door open, we couldn't work out what his function was.

I really hope there's enough snow for you, and that you have a great time - you too, Lizzi!