Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Pamps - 24 Feb – with children.
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posts : 13 (Beginner)Date : 03-14-06 14:09Pamps - 24 Feb – with children.
A late report due to all the unpacking, washing, & looking wistfully at the Webcam….
Overall, a great holiday but one MAJOR concern – the children’s ski-school…
Flights & Transfer.
2pm outward flight from Gatwick to Plovdiv.
8pm homeward flight from Plovdiv to Gatwick.
Both flights & transfers excellent - we were offered beer on the transfer to Pamps which went down very well!
Due to the late flight home, we had the day to kill – It was nice to have a late night followed by a ...
Overall, a great holiday but one MAJOR concern – the children’s ski-school…
Flights & Transfer.
2pm outward flight from Gatwick to Plovdiv.
8pm homeward flight from Plovdiv to Gatwick.
Both flights & transfers excellent - we were offered beer on the transfer to Pamps which went down very well!
Due to the late flight home, we had the day to kill – It was nice to have a late night followed by a ...
A late report due to all the unpacking, washing, & looking wistfully at the Webcam….
Overall, a great holiday but one MAJOR concern – the children’s ski-school…
Flights & Transfer.
2pm outward flight from Gatwick to Plovdiv.
8pm homeward flight from Plovdiv to Gatwick.
Both flights & transfers excellent - we were offered beer on the transfer to Pamps which went down very well!
Due to the late flight home, we had the day to kill – It was nice to have a late night followed by a late breakfast and the morning to pack – we spent the afternoon sledging down the nursery slopes with a sledge hired for 10 lev from the cabin at the top of the Nursery Slope – Skielite I think.
Accommodation.
We stayed, half-board at the Malina Bungalows – these were lovely and warm, had a twin bed room & a double bedroom (actually a huge triple bed) upstairs and a small kitchen, shower room and lounge-diner downstairs. It was magical - just like living in a Wendy house in Narnia!
The food in the restaurant was good – a good range (even for veggies), plenty of it, most piping hot, some luke-warm and some intentionally cold.
The staff were good – the waiters Ivo (Wayne Rooney look-alike) and Plamen entertained the children and the other staff were very attentive, polite & friendly. We always received the change (apart from the Stutinkis!) for any additionally drinks we had and in fact, were given back any tips we left!
The surroundings were lovely and the children had a ball, wading through 2 to 3 foot deep snow, sledging, bum-boarding, snow ball fights, snow angels & building snow houses!
Reception would book a taxi (only 8 levs) to get you into the main resort at night.
Equipment Hire.
The boots I had were excellent – the first time in 6 weeks of skiing that my feet didn’t go numb. Skis were fine, but there were no checks that the boots fitted the skis, or that the bindings were at the correct setting!
Ski-School – Adults - Intermediate
Hi to Petya and her crew – Paul & Emma, Paul, Gill, Dom & Danny, Laura, Louise, Jane & Ella, Gill, Shona & Bethany, and Lisa.
Limited tuition but we had a great time with all that snow, ski-ing & piling-up in the trees and our confidence, after an 8 year rest, was restored.
Ski-School – Children – Beginners.
We booked our 2 children (6&9) on a “Learn to ski” package and had an emailed confirmation from the tour operators that this was OK for both the 6 & 9 year olds.
Day 1 – Advised by Rep that they should go to Kindergarten, as group lessons would be with adults. We opted for kindergarten, as they would have 2 hours of tuition.
When we picked them up all they had done in the way of ski-ing, was to put their skis on and touch their toes!
We spoke to our Rep (Anastasia) who organised with the ski-school for them & 5 other children to have proper lessons during kindergarten.
Day 2 – Children had a proper lesson with Ellie, which they enjoyed.
Day 3 – Children did not have a proper lesson. Organised with our Rep for our 2 children to have 3 x 1 hour private lessons over the next 3 days (approx £40 in total). Ski-school said lessons would be at 1:30pm
Day 4 – We skipped our afternoon lessons and met the children for their lesson – they had an excellent lesson with Ana. She said that although it would not be her teaching them the other lessons we did not need to be there.
Day 5 – Kindergarten left the children, unsupervised, in the boot room at 1:30pm. They were found at least an hour later by another family, still waiting for their lesson. An instructor was found and they had a ½-hour lesson.
Day 6 – We skipped lessons and kindergarten, informing both & saying that we would still be having the private lesson, and took the children up the mountain ourselves, had a lovely time with them. We waited in the boot room until 1:50pm and as no instructor turned up and we couldn’t find one decided to head up the mountain ourselves.
The private tuition the children had (when they got it) was excellent but…
Why do the ski school not run children’s lessons – lessons for adults & children can’t be fair on either party (unless it’s a family) – they learn differently, have different priorities (apart from learning to ski), and have different ideas of fun, jokes, drink breaks etc & of course fear & danger!!!
The children are very keen to go skiing again, thanks to the private instructors and their day out with us, but they could so easily have been put off (or worse – see Day 5).
I would recommend Pamps as a good-value ski destination but if you are taking children…
only book group lessons if the whole family is of the same standard, or there are enough children in your group to make up a class.
or if you are different standards book 2 sets of private lessons for you and the children and get your instructors to leave you in the same place at the end of it.
only book your children into kindergarten if they are happy touching their toes!
Thanks to Anastasia for all her endeavours!
MAJOR
Overall, a great holiday but one MAJOR concern – the children’s ski-school…
Flights & Transfer.
2pm outward flight from Gatwick to Plovdiv.
8pm homeward flight from Plovdiv to Gatwick.
Both flights & transfers excellent - we were offered beer on the transfer to Pamps which went down very well!
Due to the late flight home, we had the day to kill – It was nice to have a late night followed by a late breakfast and the morning to pack – we spent the afternoon sledging down the nursery slopes with a sledge hired for 10 lev from the cabin at the top of the Nursery Slope – Skielite I think.
Accommodation.
We stayed, half-board at the Malina Bungalows – these were lovely and warm, had a twin bed room & a double bedroom (actually a huge triple bed) upstairs and a small kitchen, shower room and lounge-diner downstairs. It was magical - just like living in a Wendy house in Narnia!
The food in the restaurant was good – a good range (even for veggies), plenty of it, most piping hot, some luke-warm and some intentionally cold.
The staff were good – the waiters Ivo (Wayne Rooney look-alike) and Plamen entertained the children and the other staff were very attentive, polite & friendly. We always received the change (apart from the Stutinkis!) for any additionally drinks we had and in fact, were given back any tips we left!
The surroundings were lovely and the children had a ball, wading through 2 to 3 foot deep snow, sledging, bum-boarding, snow ball fights, snow angels & building snow houses!
Reception would book a taxi (only 8 levs) to get you into the main resort at night.
Equipment Hire.
The boots I had were excellent – the first time in 6 weeks of skiing that my feet didn’t go numb. Skis were fine, but there were no checks that the boots fitted the skis, or that the bindings were at the correct setting!
Ski-School – Adults - Intermediate
Hi to Petya and her crew – Paul & Emma, Paul, Gill, Dom & Danny, Laura, Louise, Jane & Ella, Gill, Shona & Bethany, and Lisa.
Limited tuition but we had a great time with all that snow, ski-ing & piling-up in the trees and our confidence, after an 8 year rest, was restored.
Ski-School – Children – Beginners.
We booked our 2 children (6&9) on a “Learn to ski” package and had an emailed confirmation from the tour operators that this was OK for both the 6 & 9 year olds.
Day 1 – Advised by Rep that they should go to Kindergarten, as group lessons would be with adults. We opted for kindergarten, as they would have 2 hours of tuition.
When we picked them up all they had done in the way of ski-ing, was to put their skis on and touch their toes!
We spoke to our Rep (Anastasia) who organised with the ski-school for them & 5 other children to have proper lessons during kindergarten.
Day 2 – Children had a proper lesson with Ellie, which they enjoyed.
Day 3 – Children did not have a proper lesson. Organised with our Rep for our 2 children to have 3 x 1 hour private lessons over the next 3 days (approx £40 in total). Ski-school said lessons would be at 1:30pm
Day 4 – We skipped our afternoon lessons and met the children for their lesson – they had an excellent lesson with Ana. She said that although it would not be her teaching them the other lessons we did not need to be there.
Day 5 – Kindergarten left the children, unsupervised, in the boot room at 1:30pm. They were found at least an hour later by another family, still waiting for their lesson. An instructor was found and they had a ½-hour lesson.
Day 6 – We skipped lessons and kindergarten, informing both & saying that we would still be having the private lesson, and took the children up the mountain ourselves, had a lovely time with them. We waited in the boot room until 1:50pm and as no instructor turned up and we couldn’t find one decided to head up the mountain ourselves.
The private tuition the children had (when they got it) was excellent but…
Why do the ski school not run children’s lessons – lessons for adults & children can’t be fair on either party (unless it’s a family) – they learn differently, have different priorities (apart from learning to ski), and have different ideas of fun, jokes, drink breaks etc & of course fear & danger!!!
The children are very keen to go skiing again, thanks to the private instructors and their day out with us, but they could so easily have been put off (or worse – see Day 5).
I would recommend Pamps as a good-value ski destination but if you are taking children…
only book group lessons if the whole family is of the same standard, or there are enough children in your group to make up a class.
or if you are different standards book 2 sets of private lessons for you and the children and get your instructors to leave you in the same place at the end of it.
only book your children into kindergarten if they are happy touching their toes!
Thanks to Anastasia for all her endeavours!
MAJOR
re: Pamps - 24 Feb – with children.
Hi, I'm facing a similar dilema for next year
6 and 11 year old having skied this year and knowing the basics but wanting to learn more as part of a ski school. Next year we'll be away during Feb half term so i guess there maybe more kids around which will perhaps mean separate kids tuition groups. Anyone know if this'll be the case
B.t.w what tour operator were you with
cheers,
Russ.
re: Pamps Report - 24 Feb – with children.
We went with Directski.com who in all other aspects have been excellent. Other families we met with similar problems were with Balkan Holidays.re: Pamps - 24 Feb – with children.
Hi
We went with Balkan Holidays and they were excellent with our three children aged 9, 9 and 6......Girls were in a group with adults who enjoyed their company and looked after them....the girls were better skiers than their group which gave them great amounts of confidence. Andrew joined kindergarten and had three private lessons with Ellie, absolutely brilliant. He then skied with us and we all had the best time ever. Please don't be put off by one bad experience, people tend only ...
We went with Balkan Holidays and they were excellent with our three children aged 9, 9 and 6......Girls were in a group with adults who enjoyed their company and looked after them....the girls were better skiers than their group which gave them great amounts of confidence. Andrew joined kindergarten and had three private lessons with Ellie, absolutely brilliant. He then skied with us and we all had the best time ever. Please don't be put off by one bad experience, people tend only ...
Hi
We went with Balkan Holidays and they were excellent with our three children aged 9, 9 and 6......Girls were in a group with adults who enjoyed their company and looked after them....the girls were better skiers than their group which gave them great amounts of confidence. Andrew joined kindergarten and had three private lessons with Ellie, absolutely brilliant. He then skied with us and we all had the best time ever. Please don't be put off by one bad experience, people tend only to post their nightmares and not so often the good times. We were so pleased with our holiday we have already booked for next year.
Diane
We went with Balkan Holidays and they were excellent with our three children aged 9, 9 and 6......Girls were in a group with adults who enjoyed their company and looked after them....the girls were better skiers than their group which gave them great amounts of confidence. Andrew joined kindergarten and had three private lessons with Ellie, absolutely brilliant. He then skied with us and we all had the best time ever. Please don't be put off by one bad experience, people tend only to post their nightmares and not so often the good times. We were so pleased with our holiday we have already booked for next year.
Diane
re: Pamps - 24 Feb – with children.
As I said before the overall holiday was great, but I was trying to make people aware that ski-school for children seems to be run differently here. You cannot rely on kindergarten to teach them to ski (probably fair enough as normally only under fives go to kindergarten) but we didn't think that 6 & 9 year olds should be taught with unknown adults - why should those adults have to look after them - if they are beginners, are they capable ? & anyway they are on their own holiday. If we go ...
As I said before the overall holiday was great, but I was trying to make people aware that ski-school for children seems to be run differently here. You cannot rely on kindergarten to teach them to ski (probably fair enough as normally only under fives go to kindergarten) but we didn't think that 6 & 9 year olds should be taught with unknown adults - why should those adults have to look after them - if they are beginners, are they capable ? & anyway they are on their own holiday. If we go to Pamporovo again, which we would love to do - we know now that for our family, private lessons & family time is the best option.
I'm glad you & your family had a good time & were happy with ski-school - plenty of others have been too, quite a few we met were not - those who have yet to go have now got extra information for deciding what to do for the best for their families.
I'm glad you & your family had a good time & were happy with ski-school - plenty of others have been too, quite a few we met were not - those who have yet to go have now got extra information for deciding what to do for the best for their families.
