Bulgaria Ski discussion board

I’ve just returned from pamps to all I can say was a very interesting holiday.
I am a long time skier and I took my two daughters to teach who were first time skiers so I wasn’t to fuss about the amount of runs, I just wanted a bit of snow to teach.
From all the postings I did get an insight into the country and was prepared for the worst.
These are my views on what I found.

The Good
Cheap it’s an understatement for the place. I felt like I was a millionaire! Cheap cabs to and from the slopes no waiting. It was beyond me as to why people used the busses like cattle at those them prices. It was worth the money to avoid 80% of the bell sellers in the car park as we drove passed them.
Spiders Bar on the slopes. Good food and great prices. The kids were fully occupied with the dogs outside. Which they had two rides; this must be the bargain of the holiday at £4 each.
General drinking in most bars was cheap as well as enjoyable.
The hotel Perlick rooms was a lot better that expected (thanks Pamps Pete for the warnings we pre booked a room away from the noise from BJ’s so therefore no problems.
This web site for directing me out of trouble of several areas before I arrived.

The Bad.
The food in the hotel was OK but my youngest daughter did not eat a plateful in total for the whole week in that restaurant. I mean there is only a certain amount of pizza or chips they can eat out side in other restaurants in a week as for me I ate fine.
The après to say the least was a little disappointing. I was expecting a buzzing nightlight. The only reason I can come up with is that there was so many beginners that they were to tired at the end of the day to go out because it certainly was not the price of the drinks. Maybe it just was a quiet week?
Bell sellers-best advice was given to me on the first morning and it worked a treat all week. DO NOT make eye contact. Problem sorted if that what you want.
Being charged 10 times the amount to the locals on the games machines in the Perlik to which the locals were always on the games my children wanted to play.

The Ugly.
Ski hire equipment was to say the least very poor as was the service. Any beginner who was skiing last week on that snow using that equipment will do well anywhere. You are not as bad as you think. It was hard for all of us.
Weather- I have never seen rain like that in 30 years of skiing. I was just adding to the water with my tears as I watched the snow being washed off the mountain. (I still can’t get over that some people force their poor instructor up the mountain to get their monies worth.
Tight British people- It winds me up that some British people have to extract the last penny out of every thing we do. I overheard that one person would not tip the waiter in the hotel who served him 14 meals in the week. He stated he would not give a 10Lev (£3.50) whip, as it would affect their economy. What the F*** was all that all about. How strong does he think the pound is? There were too many incidents like to record here and now (I’M sure you must have your own story you can remember). Its no wonder in some of the Bulgarians are tricky with us they have to be.
Fair play to you Pamps Pete to do a grand spending money in two weeks. All I can say is you must have a very large family or a very big drinking problem?
The snow- what can I say, I was expecting a little better seeing I was going in Feb.

Overall a good 1st skiing holiday for the girls but I wouldn’t come back unless it was a very late booking to guarantee the snow. (Sorry I can only go half term week so don’t bother telling me about January) But prove me wrong about the après and I may return in numbers.

Nice one Tony, seems that the food is always an issue for first timers but it is surprising how quickly you get used to it.

Nighlife during half term week is always quieter than usual being that there are so many young kids there, and parents tend to stay in more.
As for spending a grand, well that did include new skis for me and the current Mrs Pamps Pete, and drinking is not a problem. I drink, get drunk, NO PROBLEM!!!!!!!

Hope to see you return in the future and thanks for the frank posting.

Pamporovo Pete