Bulgaria Ski discussion board

We went to Borovets 3 years ago and stayed at the Rila using the kindergarten there and have just been again this year 5th - 12th March, this time with Inghams who run their own kindergarten at the Ela Hotel with British nannies. I would recommend going with Inghams and using their nursery. The children are provided with activities, lunch and ski kindergarten run by the Albena ski school (2 sessions/day). I don't know what the Ela hotel is like to stay at, but it's central and would save you time and hassle if you stayed there as well, alternatively the Samakov is across the road and the Rila about 5 -10 mins walk. We stayed at the Edelweiss, a cab ride away; a plus point was rooms with interconnecting doors and 2 bathrooms!

Mike

Stayed at the Rila, and 4 year old daughter was at the ski kindergarten, 12/3/05-19/3/05 - she cried every day and hated every minute of it - which meant my husband and I had to take shifts at skiing! She was not alone nearlly all the children seemed upset there. There was a portable TV a basket of old plastic toys, and Bulgarian ladies who seemed disinterested if the children were upset. The children were taken outside to ski or sled for 2 hours a day, but by the end of the week my daughter was refusing to go outside. This did spoil my holiday as it was my first time skiing and I thought my daughter would be well cared for and have some fun with children her own age, but she doesnt want to go skiing again now, so we will probably not go til she is older and can come to ski school with us. Sorry, but really would not recommend Rila kindergarten.

Dave

In answer to your question we went to Borovets for 2 years on the trot 2003 & 2004. In 2003 our children were 7 & 5. The main reason I chose Borovets was that Inghams run their own kindergarten. It is the only resort where they offer this service. It was excellent and we could not rate it highly enough.

It is based at the Ela hotel and is run exclusively for Inghams guests by British nannies. The children are well supervised by the nannies and the ski instructors from the Albena Ski School. The kindergarten runs from about 9.00am to 4.30pm. In the mornings they play a while indoors with a plentiful supply of toys, games and videos. They they go out for 2 hours which includes an hour and a half ski lesson on the nursery slopes. They return to the hotel for a lunch (mine are fussy and we didn't get any complaints - always the way when you aren't with them!!) After lunch they have a rest and then returned to the slopes for another lesson or to go bumboarding etc.

We went during half term so the kindergarten was full - 15 children. There were 2 nannies and a minimum of 2 instructors and usually 3 on the slopes. No children were forced to do anything they didn't want but all were encouraged to have a go at skiing in the morning. In the afternoon the younger children in particular had the choice of staying in the hotel to play - most went out. We saw our children out and about on several occasions and they were having a great time making new friends. They looked great skiing with their faces painted. They also learnt to ski enough to be better than me - not difficult! and well enough to join ski school the following season.

For under £100 a week for each child the Inghams kindergarten offers excellent value for money and the opportunity for you to have a great time during the day without worrying about your loved ones.

I hope this helps.

Ellie