Bulgaria Ski discussion board

First of all this is not a critisim, I have been twice, both times loved it and will defno go back again (as long as there is snow). My best mate owns a beautiful apartment in the grand monestry. The 2 times I have been there (4 and 2 years ago) was feb 1/2 term, whilst both times we had good conditions after that week the skiing was more or less finished. Infact 2 years ago by the last day the conditions were better for a surf board than skis. On the web cam this afternoon it looked very sad indeed.

So -

1.Balkan don't fly to plovdiv any more.
2. Last year was quiet (even during holiday times). To quote visitors who posted on here.
3. Very little snow (now) when the place should be very busy. Even on the web cam at students not many people coming down the green run when busy this last week.
4. Talk of holiday transfers over recent years to other resorts in bulgaria.
5. Prices & service (not even going there).
6. Building stopped (even partically finished).
7. People (most anyway) do not have much spare money these days

Will it come to a point where travel agents will draw their strings in and not even offer it as a resort in BG?

sadly if the snow just comes out of the heavens and the snow conditions r good.there is far less critisim of pamps.
give it a week r 2 and see how much people r enjoying it then.
as with regards to the slopes being quiet the last couple of days, the resorts depend on local bulgarian visitors at xmas, but if there is a lack of snow the locals dont go .i have been their at xmas with lods of snow and the place is over crowded with locals

the attitude on this board goes upbeat when it snows, lets wait and see

As far as I'm concerned it's had its day! Last year the snow conditions weren't great. (Mid Jan) plus the rip off prices that are now being charged in the bars and the rip off taxis! Has put me and my family off ever returning to Pamps The guy that owns all the main bars in town may be making a killing, but he is also killing off the resort.

In Fact if they don't get a grip soon this may very well be its last season. Poor snow conditions rip off bar prices (compared to what they realistically should be) and long transfers, will put lots of people off.

We can't be the only ones that have vowed never to return to Pamps.

A bit of perspective. The resort opened last week. It is a low resort so early season will always be a bit hit and miss.However, there will probably still be people who had 5 good days Ski-Ing in that first week despite the high temps. It is now forecast to get very cold across Europe for the forseeable future so there will be lots of natural snow and the snow cannons will be able to work overtime. There will be a good base and the season will be set. There has been a lot of good investment in facilities and the resort still offers exceptional value for money. I skied there last April and there was a lot snow about so don"t get the razorblades out yet!

Some perspective!!!

It is still very early season chaps!!! We have been here a week and when we got here it was white over and blizzard conditions - Had a couple of great days on the slopes and have to say it is the best we have seen the slopes managed since buying back in 2006.

More cannons, more piste bullies and better all round infrstructure. It will take time to wash through after a couple of bad seasons but it will be a goodun - Bet Ya!!!

As i said - we have always known as apartment owners in Pamps that boardin at Xmas is an early season bonus. People who come once a year must book later in the season!

PSP - biased but experienced!!!

It was debated on here some weeks ago that the season seems to have moved back at least 4 weeks in Pamporovo based on the last 3 years. People go this time of year for obvious reasons to enjoy the festive atmosphere and hopefully get in some skiing, but it is always a huge risk to ski a low resort before January at the earliest.

I disagree with a lot of what Daniel has said purely because he has not been there for several years. New slopes have been opened which has made a huge difference to the resort. Snow cannons have been added to protect the snow once it has arrived, and new restaurants meaning you could eat in a different place every night if that's what you wanted.

I do agree that Bansko has a better snow record and has a larger town centre, but as others have stated, once the snow does arrive most of the negatives disappear.

Travel time? I have always maintained that wherever I go on holiday it will take me the best part of a day to get there and get settled in, whether that be America or Bulgaria - it still takes a day from when you lock your front door until you unpack your cases. Many ski resorts have a 3 - 4 hour transfer purely because the slopes tend to be up mountains

Keep the faith