Bulgaria Ski discussion board

My three friends and I returned from a week at the Hotel Pamporovo yesterday, Sunday 16th Jan. We stayed for a week and had a brilliant time. We were all beginners and due to being taught by a great ski instructor called Rumen, we all skied a red run by the end of the week!

The conditions during the week were not the best. Apparently there hadn't been any snow for quite a few weeks when we arrived and on most runs there were quite a lot of ice patches and stones coming through in places which made things difficult. However it snowed all day Saturday and was still snowing, although lightly, on Sunday morning when we left. So hopefully this fresh snow will improve the slopes.

The green run is great for beginners and the blue and red runs offer a good challenge! I really enjoyed the skiing until I attempted a stupid manoeuvre on the last afternoon and damaged the cartilage in my knee leaving me in a lot of pain and unable to walk properly. That was my own fault for messing about without the ski instructor though and it hasn't put me off!

The hotel was good, had no problems with overbooking at all. Our room was gorgeous, clean, warm, plenty of towels and bedding. Our hairdryer and minibar didn't work but this wasn't really a problem to us. The pool was nice after a day on the slopes although you have to pay for the Jacuzzi, about £4 for ten minutes and it only seats two people.

The food in the hotel restaurant is edible and good in parts (lovely cake) but not a great selection and not to everyone’s tastes. We had some good food in the Irish bar one night and drank in there most nights. We also ate at the barbeque restaurant next to the Murgavets. The food there was superb as was the service and atmosphere and I would highly recommend a visit.

As for food on the slopes I would recommend The Ranch at the mid-station, The Lodge on the summit and Brothers half way down the top part of the green run.

We walked to and from the ski centre most days rather than waiting around for a bus, it’s only about 1km away if that.

Overall I had a brilliant holiday and would definitely consider returning next year.

I’m happy to answer any questions anybody has as I found the information on this board invaluable before my trip.

The price of beer varied really, I think it was about £1 a pint in the hotel for the local stuff, more for imported I think. Its less in restuarants outside the hotels and less in places outside the resort. I didn't drink on the slopes so not sure about there, about the same I would imagine.

The food on the slopes I found to be quite cheap. I usually ate pizza or burgers or some other junk and this with a drink came to about an avergae price of 10 or 11 levs. Not expensive at all in the places I went to.

Have a good time in March, wish I was going back then!