Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Sorry, just catching up on Crimbo pressies and as Mrs Bill is completely knackered and in bed I took the opportunity to watch Ned Kelly on DVD.

Answers as I think of them:

Water - fine to drink, came out a bit brown one day, probably more to do with mineral / iron content. 500 ml bottled water from bar in front of webcam (probably expensive) was only 2 lev. I didn't hear of one dicky tummy all week - well nothing to do with water or food anyway!!!

Smokes - L&B in duty free at Sofia (maybe in resort), I'm an ex smoker but I believe everyone in resort was quite happy with the local 'Victory' brand. All V. cheap I believe.

Ski School - started 9.15 / 9.30 and went on to anything between 3.00 and 4.40. Lifts close at 4.30pm. Night pass (especially for beginners) well worth it, 13 Lev for adults and 10 Lev for kids, loads of skiing with no lift queues at the bottom (webcam lift).

Phone - as per previous post. Vodafone is £1.69 / min to call Uk and £1.25 to receive. Texts are 35p plus normal tariff. Bulgaris networks 'support' MMS but couldn't get one off for the whole week, sent it from Gatwick this afternoon in the end.

Pool & Jacuzzi - I believe both exist but didn't get a chance to look between skiing and going to bed early

Open Pistes - haven't had a chance to look but I believe that there are a couple of maps around that show 'under construction' runs. I only went up Sitnyakovo a couple of times to catch up with the kids but I think there ia only the long track (blue?) and a bit of red/ blue at the top. Great for beginners or early intermediated though.

Well 'tis 0200hrs BG time so off to bed now, will log on for any questions at some stage tomorrow.

Bill

Hi Bill.
Thanks for all that info. Brilliant!
Just a couple more questions please.
Do I just need to take a standard 2 pin travel adapter?
At breakfast, do they have rolls, cheese, ham etc that you can make up a sarnie with to take out with you? And do they have fruit at breakfast?
(We're staying at yagoda, so may be different but I'd imagine they are all similiar)
Can you buy fruit readily there?
When you purchase a ski package, do you have use of the skis/boots forthe duration, or do you have to hand them back after lessons?
If we are all beginners, can we all learn to ski together? Dont want the kids to have to be taken off somewhere for hours.
Cheers Bill
Hope you've caught up on your sleep a bit!

Music Lover

If you are staying at the Yagoda then you are alittle way our of town and to be honest you really will not want the hassle of carrying skis and boots on the bus each morning and evening. When we stayed there we used the depot at the Gondola which is opposite where the bus stops so very convenient. After the first day there are no queues and it is no hassle.

Last year I stayed with the children (6 & and we were put into a family group with 3 families altogether which was great as we could all look out for each other and understood where we were all coming from. The previous year the kids were in kindergarten and the youngest in our group was 14. To be honest I felt he missed out a bit not being with others his own age. Everything is very flexible so ask and in general you get!!

We self catered when we were at the Yagoda but don't go expecting to do this as the facilities in that respect are poor. Seem to remember fruit was available in the small supermarket under the Rila.

I personally wouldn't worry about making a sandwich for lunch. The snacks available in the bars/restaurants are all great value and it means you can sit inside by a nice warm fire!

Have fun

Ellie

Thanks Ellie

We wanted to know if we could keep hold of the skis and stuff so we could have a go at night if we wanted
And i thought it may save a few bob if we took some rolls from breakfast for our lunch! We are half board.
I also wanted to make sure there was fruit for the kids. They always have their 5 portions a day so didn't want them suddenly going without esp whilst they are in a diff country etc. Wondered whether i needed to take some.
Do they not do them in with the breakfast/ dinners??
Tjanks for your help anyway

Musiclover,

There was plenty of fruit at morning and evening meals.

As for lunch I would go with Ellie, it is so cheap you may as well eat in any of the many restaurants. As I mentioned earlier Tomato Soup cost me 3 Lev, with hot wine, brandy & hot chocolate and mineral water he whole lot cost 11 Lev. It is nice to sit down somewhere warm and loosen your boots for half an hour, instead of rolls I would perhaps pack a couple of choccy bars to keep the energy levels up.

Standard european 2 pin adaptor is just the job, £2.65 in Gatwick departure lounge.

Ski depots are open until the lifts close after night skiing so we tended to stop for half and hour (more brandy & hot choc), ski until the kids had had enough, normally a couple of hours and then go back and have dinner.

Bill