Bulgaria Ski discussion board

We were there this time last year and the snow was poor - it was still one of the best holidays we've ever had (although not a skiing holiday). Its still a beautiful place and the people there make it for us, plus there is still lots to do but yes, I guess if you are going for a ski holiday you would undoubtedly be disappointed if the snow was bad.
Doomed? no. How can it be? I think its great to see more and more places staying open throughout the summer months and more activities for tourists in the summer so even if the ski season shortens there is still a tourism market there in my opinion.

Ok here is my opinion, i have skied in Pamps a few times from the Communist Iron Curtain days to Present time, the resort has changed immensly, i have always loved Pamps, they seem to have listened and installed Snow Cannons etc, Here is a quote from this website about the resort "Pamporovo has an exclusive climate featuring a soft winter with about 120 sunny days during the skiing period. The significant influence of The Aegean Sea appears here and the skiing season starts from mid - December to mid - April. The average air temperature is - 3 ° . "
Now i understand that snow cannons operate at -3 °c, so if you look at the stats plus add the sunny days well.......
Dont get me wrong its a beautiful resort, but i never experienced great snow in all the times i went, i used to work in the Alps for 10 seasons obviously there is no comparison, i love Bulgaria, but afraid i went to BAnsko and fell in love with the place, altitude is much better, lifts great, loads to do etc etc, my advice is if you want to go to Pamps, never trust Xmas and New Year, end of Jan onward would be my recommendation
Nick

We were there last Jan, some of the runs were still closed due to the fact they had not been cleared from the summer they were still full of saplings and fallen trees "Disgusting" Some adventurous skiers did try to ski them but found they had to take their skis off to climb over fall trees. Why were they not cleared?

By the end of our trip, the finale bit of the run down to the bottom lift was more like a skating rink than a ski run.

The bars prices have shot up since we were last there in fact they had doubled! We had to ask for our change as it wasn't alway forthcoming, In one bar the the server was so annoyed that i dare ask for it, she slammed it down in a pile of Ten Stotinki coins How rude!

Needless to say. "Yes I think Pamps is doomed"

I don't think it's completely doomed.... I do think that they are screwing people over though in regards to opening the resort this early!

I went to pamps in March this year 09 and it was great, cost me under £350 aswell, was the first week of March and it snowed a few days (small amounts) but the slopes were generally pretty damn good, and also very quiet. The only bad points were that the new runs had not been completed properly, they'd opened them but clearly hadnt prepped them very well at all.... all sorts not cleared


imo, after the last few years poor early starts they shouldn't be selling people holidays there until January... but then I guess they'd lose the xmas and new year bookings and money

RE Pamps. Its not doomed, its a wonderful place. Snow conditions are a factor however. In the past people didn't mind as much as Bulgaria was Bulgaria and prices were good. Now that the bosses owning bars are charging extortionate rates for leases prices are ridiculous, people know they are being fleeced for drinks etc. Its a combination of factors that is currently doing the damage. Lower holiday costs, make prices in the resort for food & drink more 'Bulgarian' or have snow on the slopes. Any one or two will solve the problem but you still need snow to have a ski resort. The people I care and worry about are those that actually live there and rely on the resort for their livelihood!