Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Well that's it for another year! I hope that the following is useful, please ask questions on anything that I have forgotten:

8 of us (4 adults and 4 kids 9,9,8 & 7) stayed in the Samokov for six nights (well five and a bit actually).

Due to flight changes and a delay we did not check in until about 3.30am on Monday morning, luckily it could only get better. Staff were fine and they had a packed lunch ready, to be honest I ate the apple and went straight to bed as breakfast was only a couple of hours away. This was the only downside of the holiday as the kids, in particular, never really recovered.

Samokov was absolutely fine, probably better than the Rila (we stayed there last year) but Rila was fine too. Rooms were smaller than the Rila, kids were on sofa bed and camp bed - if you are going as a couple the rooms would be plenty big enough. TV in rooms, just connected on Thursday to satellite, could get BBC World News, didn't have enough time to check all the channels. No coffee making facilities but is 'on tap' in the restaurant (in open times) and many people brought it back to the rooms. Rooms were very clean and made up every day, plenty of towels which were changed mid week. Only slight downside was that the water could have been a degree or two hotter, it wasn't cold but a hotter soak would have helped those thighs at the end of the day. Shower not much use as the bath was 'placed' against the wall with no sealant so shower on the first night ended up running down and underneath the bath! Toilet was separate from bathroom - handy when there are four of you fighting to get to breakfast (toilet roll was soft). No fridge but balcony made a splendid walk in job for the wine, whisky etc..... - wine about 5.50 to 7 Lev per bottle in the supermarket.

Food - heard a few complaints but I thought it was excellent, plenty of choice and quantity. Fresh fried eggs or omelette for breakfast or dinner. Get into breakfast before 08.10 to avoid congestion although it was never bad at anytime. Our kids are fussy to say the least and they ate well, even ventured into omelettes and soup. Staff were friendly, wine was 15 Lev per bottle in the restaurant. Ate out at Katy's Steak House and Francos Pizza, both excellent. Due to quantities of alcohol consumed I can't remember the details but 8 of us ate in Katy's, adults all had steak (v. good) for the equivalent of about £60 including (another) couple of bottles of wine. Franco's was about the same. Went to loads of places for lunch, all good. More expensive on top of the mountain but still reasonable (Spag Bol 12.80 levs) Soup yesterday at bottom of the gondola was 3 levs - hot choc with brandy, plus hot wine, plus bottle of water increased the bill to a massive 11 Lev, but at least I managed the black run to the middle station without falling once after that!

Skiing - just enough snow and luckily there was a good dump a couple of nights ago. Yesterday all the Jastrebets runs were covered in a few inches of powder. Top runs were closed as it was very foggy and cold. Good news there is that on Thursday we were skiing the 2nd runs on the top and they were planning to open the third yesterday - so as weather improved today they should all be open. We have all been raving about the new chairlift to Sitnyakovo IT IS OPEN, but there is also a new four person lift at Jastrebets - great. Runs above the Rila are OK but in the steeper parts are getting very bare (rocky and icy) - sorry to cause any problems but the less experienced boarders are scraping off what snow cover there is.

Booze - all over the place. Beers c. 3 lev. Buzz Bar happy hour seems to operate all the time, we were getting two large beers for 3 Lev (that is cheap) and then 2 G&T for the same.

Dosh - 2.60 Lev / £1 in the Samokov without commission. 2.70 in the bank at the Gondola station but always used hotel. Didn't use the kiosks, airport was worse rate. Staff in Samokov changed the first £100 when we arrived at 3.30am so no problem there. Family of four ate and drank well for c. £450, bought a couple of bits like googles (49 lev), 'snoods' etc.... Rest was booze, food, tips, DVD of skiing (actually well worth it).

Conclusion - another excellent holiday - experienced skiier in my group reckoned he had some of the best skiing he had ever had. Will go again next year but considering booking direct or through this site and getting scheduled flights - any tips from anyone who has done that before will be gratefully received.

P.S. Instuctors - between us we were in three classes - beginners, intermediate and advanced. All excellent, ours in the advanced class really pushed you which wasn't for some but he was very good. If anyone is going our there say hello to Vesko, Paco and Vladi. Vesko is after some walkie - talkies if you take them out there, they cost about 150 lev each apparently. He coined the phrase 'Kill Bill' or 'Keel Beel' every time he launched me off into oblivion - never bumped into Umw Thurman though, although I bumped into every other tree or obstacle going!).

If you are yet to go, don't worry about a thing - you will enjoy it.

Bill

Have the new runs that were talked about actually been built, or are they going to be ready next season? I know there are 2 new chairlifts, but i'm talking about the new pistes. They are shown on the new piste map on balkanholidays.co.uk

Old piste map (from past seasons):
http://www.bulgariaski.com/borovets/borovetsskiruns.shtml

New piste map (proposed for this season):
http://www.balkanholidays.co.uk/w04/borovetsmapnew.htm

of the obvious changes on the maps, have any been actually done? im talking about the big green run and new blue runs near the top of the mountain