Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Don't worry you hear all sorts of rubbish. I would say go with an open mind. I went twice to Borovets last year early Jan and Late Feb (mainly because it was so cheap to get there) be warned it is still cheaper to drink and eat out but I think the couple of Levs and buckets of beer days have long gone, in resort anyway. The skiing is OK in Jan there was not too much snow on the lower slopes but up on the Gondola it was fine. Week in Feb loads of snow. If this is your first time skiing I am sure you will love it. The Rila has prime position in Borovets so that a good start. Food in the Rila don't know didn't stop there but I have heard that you will always find something that you like to eat even if it is a bit unusual. Medical treatment with no anaesthetic well I haven't heard that one hopefully you will be like most tourists and not require any. I enjoyed my time in Boro and would go again. Just deciced to go to France this year more comfortable with the childcare my daughter is only three.

First of all, don't believe everything your read. Bulgaria is not the 3rd World! But also don't expect to stay at the Ritz. The hotels are very good and very comfortable. They are exactly what you need and nothing moe. As a broad brush guide, take a star off the Bulgarian rating to get an idea of the British rating. So a 4* hotel there is more like a 3 * hotel here. The food in the hotels isn't good. But you don't need to eat there. In fact, I would recommend not eating there. There are loads of restaurants in the town and they all give very good food and very good service and at very cheap prices. As a guide, you can expect to get a decent 3 course meal, with wine, for around £10. Its great value for money. I'm always loathed to force my opinion on people, but I would recommend places like Hrima (opposite the gondola and up the hill a bit) or Green King for exceptional Bulgarian food (which is great, by the way)and wine and superb service.

As for medical treatment, you need to remember that Bulgaria is an ex Communist country. For all the negative aspects of this sort of government, one of the positives is the quality of medical care (and dental - but hopefully you won't need to concern yourself with that). The quality of medical care is very good and very professional. Certainly it is no worse than NHS cover over here and, in my experience (I've been going to Bulg for a number of years now) it is actually quite a bit better. If you do need medical care, ask your ski instructor where to go and who to see. They'll steer you in the right direction moreso than any tour rep.

And finally for my favourite topic. The Bulgarians. Treat them with respect and manners, as you would expect to be treated yourself, and they will treat you the same. I have travelled all over the World and skied in every major skiing country in Europe and I have never come across a more friendly, warm and welcoming race. It is purely because of the warmth of the people and the great friends that I have in Bulgaria that I have gone back to the country 10 times in the past 6 years. I am proud to say that amongst my best friends are a number of the Bulgarian people that I have met in the years that I have been going there. At the risk of offending anyone on this website, and apologies if I do, if you are going to go there with the same aggressive, arrogant and beligerent mindset as most English people have when they go abroad, then you can expect to be treated in the very same way. If, on the other hand, you plan to go there to experience the qualities of Bulgaria and the Bulgarians, then rest assured you will come back feeling exactly the same warmth and affection for the place and the people that I do.

the rila is basic but good the food might not be to your taste in the hotle but try it and if it inst eat elswhere its cheap enough
we stayed in the studios before and are again in feb and the kids love it mine will be 10+9 when we go back they were happy enough int he room at the rila and the food and kids can be fussy they too tried different food and made many friends
it is a great place basic for the hotel but the people wow they are wonderfull the kids have friends that they can not wait to see and email quite often
enjoy your holiday

Amanda, don't worry, we went with our boys aged 16,14 and 12 to Borovets this feb for our first skiing holiday and stayed in Rila Studios. We had a great time.
The studios were fine, plenty of room,warm, clean, hot water etc. and a great view of the slopes - request rooms facing slopes. The food was fine, breakfasts were good, dinner was ok, yes some was cold but plenty of choice - and my boys are fussy, but we only ate out once although I budgeted to eat out all the time having read reports. Ski school was excellent - we are going back in feb 06. Luckily we didn't need medical attention, but met people
who had and they said they had no complaints. Go with an open mind and enjoy yourself!

If it's that bad, then why do we keep going back. I'm going to Borovets for the third time on 21st Jan and can't wait.

You'll have a fantastic time - go out to eat - it's not that expensive and enjoy yourselves. You'll ski with the Borosport ski school and the instructors will speak English.

You can ski as a family if you wish, but the girls may have more fun being with their own peer group - it may be nice for you and hubby to have time without them too, meeting up at the end of the day for a bit of practice.

You'll start the week at the nursery slopes opposite the Rila, and by Tuesday, hopefully you'll be going on the gondola up to the top of the mountain to practice on the blue run up there.

YOU'LL LOVE IT

J

People = excellent

Food = Good, no probs, and i am a picky eater!!

Medical = haven't used......yet (going back so still time)

Don't believe everything you read, a lot of rubish is posted by biased people who think France is the be all end all of ski places, I think a lot is written by people with a vested interest in certain places so they use scare tactics to make you spend more!

You will have a great time, I was sceptical when I went in Jan this year, but once I arrived I was plesently relieved!

If you go with an open mind and don't expect Whistler or the 3 valleys you will have a wonderfull time, And may i recommend having a couple of Hot chocolates and brandys, it really hits the spot!

Enjoy