Bulgaria Ski discussion board

lol. Thanks Queenie I have just replied to another thread I thought was yours! I will copy and paste it here!! Thanks for all your input. It as been much appreciated. I was very poorly sadly. ( Am still not 100% now. It was a very very bad bug) Had to spend a whole day in bed. Haven't done that since 2000 when I had flu and was bedbound for over a week. Shouldn't really have skied at all, but hey, I only get the 6 days a year to ski! I missed 3 days but managed the other 3 just about. Only really felt half right on Saturday, but I meandered down the blues. The main thing was though The kids ( and hubby) explored the whole region and did all the blacks and reds. There was only one red off, I think, so they made the most of it.
On the downside, the ski school is a joke. As I had booked with Balkan, you got a ski package which included tuition. We told them that the kids were red and black skiers and hubby & I am red and blue. We were happy for the kids to go in a faster group and meet us at lunch. They refused and said they'd have to keep the kids all day. We are a family. I don't have kids to offload them for a day. So, we decided the kids' d stay with us and do reds and blues. Where did they take us? The little iglika nursey slope. After going up and down we asked if we were going to the top of the mountain next go and were told no, we're staying here. So, we left in disgust and informed the rep. She said, it'll be sorted next day. I had retired by lunchtime Monday, as I couldn't stand up, but hubby and kids went off the next morning, waited 45 mins for an instructor, who took them in the gondola ( and took forever getting there and on) They started skiing at 11.15 am!!!!!! He then proceeded to bring them slowly, 100 metres at a time down the masala pathway. This is a confident red skier and confident black skiers. So hubby said, we are going, as this is a joke. The kids are black run skiers. The cheeky b****** said, "No, they are not good skiers" Hubby said there was a plume of smoke coming from his helmet! LOL The instructorasked where they'd skied and when he was told, Austria, France Andorra and Italy, laughed and said, Then they are not good skiers unless they learned here. Anyway hubby went, and after 2 wasted mornings, the rest of the week the kids were bombing down blacks and a few reds and having a whale of a time. I had thought they may benefit from lessons as it may tighten up any techniques etc, but I wish I hadn't suggested it now as they lost 2 whole mornings. BUT- they did make up for it, as they were out from 9.30 until last ride to the top each day after. They had a great time. But we are all agreed we will not be going back to Bulgaria again I am afraid. It's just not a very good place compared to everywhere else.
Thanks for your help and advice, and I am just so glad there was lots of snow and my kids had such a good ski. xxx

Sounds like you're ruling out Bulgaria due to one ski instructor at one ski school in one Bulgarian resort. There are other instructors, and other schools, and other resorts in Bulgaria other than the one you chose. Being red runners and wanting to spend time as a family, I wouldn't have taken lessons in the first place. Since I've been able to get down a mountain on my own, I've just took on the principle of 'practice makes perfect', and taught myself. I may not be the best technically on the mountain, but I sure as hell have fun. Beats waiting around for the rest of the class all day.

Hi Skatergirl,

Sounds like you had a mare but don't write off Borovets and Bulgaria on the basis on that experience. We are about to go back for our third year running and are very pleased with Bulgaria and Borovets. We've always used Hunters and not had any bad experiences with them - they are a smaller outfit than Borosports and have a good set of instructors.

I know from talking with all sorts of people in Boro that Borosports have good instructors, but since they are so big it's a bit more pot luck as to who you get.

ATB

jez

Hi there
Firstly Stu83, It cost £160 for a ski package which included lessons. It'd have worked out dearer to take lift pass and equipment separately. So, as it was there I thought it would benefit the kids who are excellent skiers (black runs not just reds!) but even the best skiers always have more to learn and I felt they could have benefited. However, totally agree with your principle "I may not be the best technically on the mountain, but I sure as hell have fun. Beats waiting around for the rest of the class all day." That's why after the second morning they went off alone. There was no reason anyway why they couldn't have taken the kids in the morning and met up with us.

It was 2 instructors who cocked up and wasted TWO mornings and also the ski school itself, as they had been explained to TWICE, what our level was. Our kids came down every black several times and actually felt the slopes there were not as challenging as ones they're used to.

It wasn't just the instructors. We just feel that the hotels and the food and all the beggars etc are not our cup of tea. To be fair, I would go back to ski as it is cheap yes.
We have previously skied in Austria France Andorra and Italy.
In answer to TonyCot we chose Bulgaria as we got a last min deal with Balkan for £1400 for the 4 of us, half board with a ski pack each.
However last year we paid £1500 for the 4 of us to Italy, half board, with skis boots and LP. Shorter flight, transfer, better slopes and far better place. year before, Austria, paid £1400 for same as above except went Self Catering, took all own food in suitcase and cooked all our own meals.
This year i couldn't find a better deal anywhere else so we thought we'd try it. I would go back if it was cheap but stay somewhere else, but hubby really is disgusted and doesn't want to!

Hi SkaterGirl,

Sounds like you got good deals to Italy and Austria. Where did you go in each of those countries? Was that last min bookings? What time of year as well. We are thinking of next year already and have thought about trying somewhere else (just for a change) but cannot find anywhere that comes close to the value of Bulgaria with 3 kids. We do really like the welcome at Bobby's and other places as well. Many of the locals, especially Kas & Bobby, are really helpful and have really made our trips something special.

Cheers

jez