Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Knocking Bulgaria ?
Author:Sancho Proudfoot
posts : 11 (Beginner)Date : 03-09-08 14:34Knocking Bulgaria ?
There's been a lot of knocking of Bulgaria's ski resorts, with wild insults and accusations flying around, so I thought I'd give my view.
Over the many years I've skied - and the first time was 1971! - I've skied Austria, Italy and France before going to Pamps last year.
Despite last year's poor snow, we enjoyed it so much we returned this year.
Ripped off? No way! Prices had risen a little since last year. We stayed (both years) at the Rhodopi Home in Chepelare, and minibussed ...
Over the many years I've skied - and the first time was 1971! - I've skied Austria, Italy and France before going to Pamps last year.
Despite last year's poor snow, we enjoyed it so much we returned this year.
Ripped off? No way! Prices had risen a little since last year. We stayed (both years) at the Rhodopi Home in Chepelare, and minibussed ...
There's been a lot of knocking of Bulgaria's ski resorts, with wild insults and accusations flying around, so I thought I'd give my view.
Over the many years I've skied - and the first time was 1971! - I've skied Austria, Italy and France before going to Pamps last year.
Despite last year's poor snow, we enjoyed it so much we returned this year.
Ripped off? No way! Prices had risen a little since last year. We stayed (both years) at the Rhodopi Home in Chepelare, and minibussed it to Pamsp slopes daily. In the bar at the hotel, a Zagorka last year was 2.2 Lvea, and this year it was 2.5 - still only a quid for a large beer.
We ate out a local restaurant - The Amore, a great little Italian restaurant, and a huge meal for two, with drinks cost all of 27 Leva - hardly a wallet-buster.
OK, the meals and drinks on the mountain are dearer, but I'm there to ski not get sozzled so one beer with lunch and a pizza shared with Er Indoors didn't break the bank.
Only needed a taxi once - after I had dislocated my shoulder and needed to return to the Studenetz clinic, and then get back to Chepelare late morning. Initially I was asked for 50 Leva for the fare, but haggled that down to 20.
Overall cost of the holiday, with ski hire lift passes etc very acceptable, and much easier on the pocket than going to say Selva in Italy.
Unfriendly locals? Nope. Last year we met a friendly Bulgarian guy who drove the minibus up to and back from Pamps. It wasn't him this year, but one evening in the Amore, he was there, remembered us, and came over to shake our hands. We bought him a beer, and he bought us one.
So, I like the Bulgarian ski scene, and (despite my injury - the onyl time I've been hurt in many years of ski-ing )- we're back to pamps for 2009.
Over the many years I've skied - and the first time was 1971! - I've skied Austria, Italy and France before going to Pamps last year.
Despite last year's poor snow, we enjoyed it so much we returned this year.
Ripped off? No way! Prices had risen a little since last year. We stayed (both years) at the Rhodopi Home in Chepelare, and minibussed it to Pamsp slopes daily. In the bar at the hotel, a Zagorka last year was 2.2 Lvea, and this year it was 2.5 - still only a quid for a large beer.
We ate out a local restaurant - The Amore, a great little Italian restaurant, and a huge meal for two, with drinks cost all of 27 Leva - hardly a wallet-buster.
OK, the meals and drinks on the mountain are dearer, but I'm there to ski not get sozzled so one beer with lunch and a pizza shared with Er Indoors didn't break the bank.
Only needed a taxi once - after I had dislocated my shoulder and needed to return to the Studenetz clinic, and then get back to Chepelare late morning. Initially I was asked for 50 Leva for the fare, but haggled that down to 20.
Overall cost of the holiday, with ski hire lift passes etc very acceptable, and much easier on the pocket than going to say Selva in Italy.
Unfriendly locals? Nope. Last year we met a friendly Bulgarian guy who drove the minibus up to and back from Pamps. It wasn't him this year, but one evening in the Amore, he was there, remembered us, and came over to shake our hands. We bought him a beer, and he bought us one.
So, I like the Bulgarian ski scene, and (despite my injury - the onyl time I've been hurt in many years of ski-ing )- we're back to pamps for 2009.
re: Knocking Bulgaria ?
Nice to here a positive review
re: Knocking Bulgaria ?
with you on that one mate, only locals i met in bulgaria were some of the frienliest people i've met, appart from the little old women in bansko old town who i smiled to but i really dont blame them for that.
cheap as chips. good friendly service in the mehana's, apart from one man who nearly dropped his cigaret ash in my food as he served it, but i laughed that one off. I'm off tomorrow and i'm sure i'll have a great time good snow or not.
re: Knocking Bulgaria ?
Sancho - my experience this year was cracking!
I gave tips only when we got really good service - examples include the guys in Skicenter 1 who went out of their way to dry out our personal ski boots, dig out our skis and look after our bags and the White House restaurant staff who gave a us a couple of morning coffees free on the longshot possibility that we just might find time to return for a meal (this time we didnt get time). Also - the prices on the slopes varied widely...we found a ...
I gave tips only when we got really good service - examples include the guys in Skicenter 1 who went out of their way to dry out our personal ski boots, dig out our skis and look after our bags and the White House restaurant staff who gave a us a couple of morning coffees free on the longshot possibility that we just might find time to return for a meal (this time we didnt get time). Also - the prices on the slopes varied widely...we found a ...
Sancho - my experience this year was cracking!
I gave tips only when we got really good service - examples include the guys in Skicenter 1 who went out of their way to dry out our personal ski boots, dig out our skis and look after our bags and the White House restaurant staff who gave a us a couple of morning coffees free on the longshot possibility that we just might find time to return for a meal (this time we didnt get time). Also - the prices on the slopes varied widely...we found a great little cafe near the Studenets lift where we got double expresso and chocolate crepe for 5 lev.
We stayed at the Perelik and the place had a wide range of mixed ages including many of the 'younger generation'.
Yes we might have heard groups of them returning to the hotel in the wee hours (I was that age once!)but we never encountered any bad behaviour.
I've skied all over Europe and each country / resort has its own unique environment( - however my choice is always made on availability, conditions and price ie my budget at the time!)...I then set my expectations accordingly.
I gave tips only when we got really good service - examples include the guys in Skicenter 1 who went out of their way to dry out our personal ski boots, dig out our skis and look after our bags and the White House restaurant staff who gave a us a couple of morning coffees free on the longshot possibility that we just might find time to return for a meal (this time we didnt get time). Also - the prices on the slopes varied widely...we found a great little cafe near the Studenets lift where we got double expresso and chocolate crepe for 5 lev.
We stayed at the Perelik and the place had a wide range of mixed ages including many of the 'younger generation'.
Yes we might have heard groups of them returning to the hotel in the wee hours (I was that age once!)but we never encountered any bad behaviour.
I've skied all over Europe and each country / resort has its own unique environment( - however my choice is always made on availability, conditions and price ie my budget at the time!)...I then set my expectations accordingly.
re: Knocking Bulgaria ?
nice to hear some postitve stuffre: Knocking Bulgaria ?
Maybe, it is because people nowadays just expect to much? Eastern Europe can be a culture shock if you are have only been to the west.I must admit to have been saddened by the amount of negative comments around this season and concerned. Can this really be the place I have had so much pleasure from since 98?
re: Knocking Bulgaria ?
It is sad. I think there is a big learning curve here and hopefully Bulgaria will come though successfully. If they can learn from some other European countries they may find that happy balance for both tourists and the Bulgarian people. Having ousted the communists, life is better for them but the greed of some and behaviour of others has caused different problems. Everyone is having to adapt whilst still maintaining the basic charm of Bulgaria.re: Knocking Bulgaria ?
I had a great time at new year and met some lovely people- and going back next week.g
re: Knocking Bulgaria ?
Pamps is a great place, most people are welcoming, and tourists are on holiday to have a good time. The drinking though is a problem when mixed with skiing, and I did see a couple of people injured by skiers out of control and under the influence of alcohol.
The binge drinkers amoung us need to think about others around them, and then things will improve for the locals and the tourists.
Bulgaria doesnt need to copy western europe, it needs to improve its facilities by spending the ...
The binge drinkers amoung us need to think about others around them, and then things will improve for the locals and the tourists.
Bulgaria doesnt need to copy western europe, it needs to improve its facilities by spending the ...
Pamps is a great place, most people are welcoming, and tourists are on holiday to have a good time. The drinking though is a problem when mixed with skiing, and I did see a couple of people injured by skiers out of control and under the influence of alcohol.
The binge drinkers amoung us need to think about others around them, and then things will improve for the locals and the tourists.
Bulgaria doesnt need to copy western europe, it needs to improve its facilities by spending the profit on upgrades, especially loo's, and stamp out the mafia who were evident in Pamps this year.
I will be going back because it is a beautiful place to ski.
The binge drinkers amoung us need to think about others around them, and then things will improve for the locals and the tourists.
Bulgaria doesnt need to copy western europe, it needs to improve its facilities by spending the profit on upgrades, especially loo's, and stamp out the mafia who were evident in Pamps this year.
I will be going back because it is a beautiful place to ski.
re: Knocking Bulgaria ?
Pamps is a great place, most people are welcoming, and tourists are on holiday to have a good time. The drinking though is a problem when mixed with skiing, and I did see a couple of people injured by skiers out of control and under the influence of alcohol.
The binge drinkers amoung us need to think about others around them, and then things will improve for the locals and the tourists.
Bulgaria doesnt need to copy western europe, it needs to improve its facilities by spending the ...
The binge drinkers amoung us need to think about others around them, and then things will improve for the locals and the tourists.
Bulgaria doesnt need to copy western europe, it needs to improve its facilities by spending the ...
Pamps is a great place, most people are welcoming, and tourists are on holiday to have a good time. The drinking though is a problem when mixed with skiing, and I did see a couple of people injured by skiers out of control and under the influence of alcohol.
The binge drinkers amoung us need to think about others around them, and then things will improve for the locals and the tourists.
Bulgaria doesnt need to copy western europe, it needs to improve its facilities by spending the profit on upgrades, especially loo's, and stamp out the mafia who were evident in Pamps this year.
I will be going back because it is a beautiful place to ski.
The binge drinkers amoung us need to think about others around them, and then things will improve for the locals and the tourists.
Bulgaria doesnt need to copy western europe, it needs to improve its facilities by spending the profit on upgrades, especially loo's, and stamp out the mafia who were evident in Pamps this year.
I will be going back because it is a beautiful place to ski.
