Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hello everyone

Been reading this forum for a while and appreciate everyone's advice and tips.

Arriving next Wednesday (good timing hey!) with a friend for a week staying at the Rila on Half Board basis. It will be our first time to Borovets (and Bulgaria), and my friend's first time skiing. I've been to Scotland, Andorra, Tignes (x2) and Souze D'Oulx before, so fairly competent. Will also be scouting the resort as I'd like to bring the family along next year (kids have never been, ages 9 & 6).

I have a couple of questions to those in the know out there:

1) Where is the best place to hire good ski gear? I hear Hunters is good and see they have some packages, but will their prices come down to take into account the reduction in lift passes after 15 March? Do I arrange lift pass and hire now or when we arrive in the resort? Do we need passport photos for the lift passes?
2) We are on a fairly tight budget, where are good places to have lunch and dinner (if Rila is as bad as some reports suggest) and not pay typical tourist prices? I see some restaurants get good reviews but their prices seem to reflect that!
3) As I'm also scouting for next year, which apartments should I look at if we want to come back on a self-catering basis.
4) How much would a taxi be to Samakov and back?
5) Do we need to take towels for bathing & swimming or will there be at the hotel?
6) Is there an official pub crawl? :-)

Random questions, I know, but thanks in advance for your advice and guidance!!

Many thanks
Madiba

Hi Madiba,

We are just back from Borovets and hired from Hunters. They were fine as were borosports who we hired from last year. Go with who ever is cheaper in my opinion. You don't need photo for lift pass.

For lunch I would strongly recommend a lovely little place called Salamander. Extremely reasonable and very friendly service. Most on this forum will try to get you to go to Bobbys but I went in there and thought it had the feel of a typical British social club. Its actually twenty metres down the road from Bobbys but is far more authentic in my opinion. Sunski is also worth a visit at 3 lev a pint. It is half way between Rila and gondola.

Flora appts worth checking out for next year.

Enjoy your trip

Taxi to Samokov is 15-20 lev each way. But there are some great restaurants in Samokov, which will cost you less per head than the taxi fare! Try the Old House (Starata Kushta) (Should really book in advance if you are going here- ask at your hotel reception for them to make you a reservation) or Target. A more upscale option is Kokoshkova Kushta.

Re renting an apartment, there are not that many 2 bedroom options. Most seem to have one bedroom and then sleep 2 on a sofa bed. A few years ago I rented a 2 bed-2 bath apartment in the Royal Plaza, right in the centre of Borovets, you'll see it as you walk from the Rila towards the Gondola. It's on your right side. However, we had the one at the front with the balcony, and I would say it is quite noisy, though a terrific apartment in a great location (sleeps 6 as well so good for a family). Take earplugs!

I've only booked with Borosport one year, and used Hunters for 4 years now. Their equipment is better, but it is further to walk in the morning! However, for your friend, I do believe the instruction at Hunters is much more individual than Borosport can offer. I don't want to be rude here, but I would never use Borosport again.

I hope you have a wonderful trip - you will certainly have a great time following the recent snowfall. Don;t forget to post back here and let us know how it goes, we like trip reports!

All reasonable answers. I wouldn't opt for Borosports myself unless a total beginner and if you don't fancy an all in package at Hunters because of a 5 min walk then 15 yards in front and to the left of the Rila Hotel is a bar call The Titanic Bar and next door to that is a ski depot imaginatively called Titanic Ski Depot and this is run by a guy called George Jarev, you can get decent equipment and if you want private tuition from him. You would need to get lift passes separately. If you do go into Samokov town for a meal, try to get to
Kymakonovata, fantastic place but be careful in these Bulgarian restaurants as you may end up ordering for 3 times as many people as are actually eating. Think you should treat them like Indian or Chinese where you order a few dishes for the centre of the table and then tuck in and share and sometimes things like the potatoes are a course in themselves so don't go overboard but ask for them at the same time as the meat

By the way Borovets is a great place for a family ski holiday, your kids will love it and I don't know how old they are but Bobby's Bar caters brilliantly for kids