Bulgaria Ski discussion board

I visited Bansko last week and altho I have not yet posted my review it would be much the same. I however have only ever skied in Bulgaria, have visited all 3 resorts so cannot compare with canada etc. The main gripe would be the constant short changing/ignorance etc. I am not bing negative just honest. My partner and I agreed that next year we will definately pay the extra and visit Canada.

I think people are very protective of Bulgaria and this is leading to any reports where reviewer has not sang the praises high enough, being bashed down. I think this was a fair review to be honest and I for one am grateful for all reviews.

Steph, you don't have to go all the way to Canada for a great ski/board holiday, we have enjoyed Bansko past 2 years as a second snow holiday but this year chose just to go to Italy as snow conditions were superb there in Jan, we were amazed at how cheap the prices were, to eat and drink on the mountain and in town, only the lift pass was more expensive than Bansko, people, food delightful, pistes excellent on and off, not as much fun as Bansko but really worthwhile for a pleasant holiday, might be worth considering. The snow has to be really good to get us back to Bansko this March as like many people have commented Bulgaria is loosing it's charms.

Well, some of what the lad says is correct. After 3+yrs in Bansko & many more before in alps/USA, the skiiing is generally poorer, but still, with some effort you can run. The piste mgt does require improvement! Beer/food cost is relative,still a cheap holiday for family. As for the touts - what a great crack - HAGGLE to your hearts content, then you will get a good price on the overall eat-out bill, they will throw a couple of botts of wine if you are pushy enough, if not, walk away, there's plenty more in the resort. Overall, a resort that's realised it can act as a resort, not as a town [like bansko] and try it on with you punters.......

Some comments on prices as, lets be honest, that's why a lot of people come to Bulgaria to Ski. To try and pretend the Alps are 'not much more expensive 'is ludicrous. The base price of the holiday is typically £100 plus cheaper. As a benchmark beer is say, £2/pint vs €6/half pint routinely. However the biggest price difference isn't here. I paid £140 for a lift pass, ski/boots/sticks hire, and 24 hours of lessons in a group of 6-8. I would say this is a saving of over £200 on a typical Alps package. Sure the skiing is better in the Alps but for beginners and improvers Borovets offers an excellent value for money experience.

H - You say you hardly saw any snow, yet you were in Borovets at the same time as me. This would appear to some to be a conflict of opinion but it is infact more to do with experience. I dont doubt your comment as I think this is a prime example of finding out what experience level a skier is at before relying on any advise given. As i stated in my original post.

We had two nights when it clearly snowed quite heavily in Borovets as we watched it through the net curtains of the Iglika bar at midnight, whilst being served by the blonde Bulgarian girl in her dark brown dress, whilst the boys wore their smart red santa jackets at reception. (Some on here dispute i was even there).

We also had two 1/2 days of light rain in resort at 1300m, yet at the same time it was snowing quite nicely above 1600m. The snow line going up the gondola was a clear give away.

Clearly, if you are a beginner and remain at 1300m then it may only appear to rain, but at the same time at 1700m in may snow and snow even heavier at 2300m, which it did. Yes it was also foggy later on at times.

Unfortunately these fresh layers of snow were simply left to skiers/boarders who simply spread it around to create mogul type runs with winding channels of ice lanes with mounds of light snow either side which the wind eventually took away, leaving mainly crusty ice for the following day.

This was generally throughout the resort, including the yastrebets 1, which we ran. As too was the 'wall'. This was horrendous when left unpisted but once the layer of fresh snow was allowed to be depleted the amateur piste bashers got at it and scraped it down to ice. It was then deserted, except for a 20 year ski vet, his two sons and his canadian trained ski instructor daughter

waterskikate - It is too easy to disagree with a post from one perspective, as many do on here. Your experience is your experience and in Dec as a beginner will be completely different than that of an advanced skier who goes in Feb.

well . where do i start .. shower head having mind of own .. get a life .you and your group had a choice and chose boro because for 6 people (some prob had ski school)you coukd not go any where cheaper . i am on a par with yourself . age /ski level/ experiance... and after 20 years of experiance you should know most about where you intend to ski ..the above should also tell you to take a good first aid as these things are always pricey.. it is over 15 years since i got a pint of beer in a bar in france for £2.. so please educate us all as to your great find ..i was there the same week as you and ski d every day . all day . and the gondala closed only one afternoon . i was on it and the wind was a lot more than 25 mph .... coke prices .. well what can i say .. this is the same in france . you cannot buy a can of coke up the mountain for 2 euros .. £2... you can buy one i granoble for 50p.. i do wonder if you have ski d in france at all ...... however you have one point re piste grooming . it could be a lot lot better . and is some thing that has to be addressed... please keep the forum informed as to your ski hol,in france next year ... just for the record i ski twice a year .. jan in bulgaria .. march in france...