Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi,guys looking to book a week,staying at the apartments eagles nest.i have a few concerns regarding how busy the queues are for the gondola .ive been to bansko before but it was in mid january and the queues were about 10-15 mins long ,that was before 9 am.
i know half term week will be busy but how busy?
do any other countries in europe decide to take there half term in the same week?
can anyone tell me the location of eagles nest apartment is it near the gondola,restaurants and pubs.
cheers andy

Hi Andrew, I go both mid jan and half term every year. two very different experiences but both good. the first day can be quite stressful getting all the lift passes sorted but if you can get to the gondola the night before your first day skiing, you can get all the lift passes sorted then. i am not one for standing in a long queue for an hour or morewatching people push in so i choose to get up to the gondola for 8am. that way you still have to queue for half hour or so until the gondola opens but at least you avoid most of the hustle and bustle. Have not experienced the really bad queues but have heard horror stories of 2 hour queues. There are some options to avoid the gondola altogether with free mini bus or a few private companies. Nightmuffy and Steve C on this forum may be able to help although they are likely to be booked solid half term. this half term is better than some cos the schools are split over a couple of weeks which might make a little difference to how busy it is. eagles nest is great location, 5 mins walf to gondola. nice pub over the road and a great restaurant nearby although hard to find and really good value. depends what you like, I like the traditional mehanas which serve fab food. more and more modern restaurants popping up, for me, not the best food, reheated rubbish although a couple of gems that we like. Victoria oppositre Kempinski gets my thumbs up for a change from the traditional. pubs, plenty. We like the atmosphere in Happy End after a day on the slopes. expensive beer but if you get there at happy hour 2-4-1 brings down the price. When do you arrive into Sofia? need any other help?

Hi Funski,
El Torito is the name. I have never been though have heard great things. It is slot cheaper than most places. So yes turn left from eagles nest, first left opposite what was Irish Pub(now Axemans) and about 20yards on right down a path. There is another new restaurant just up from you just opened and again have not been but heard great things about it. You turn right up hill and it near the top of that road on the right side. you cannot miss it it is BIG!! Really nicely furnished and looks a little bit like a castle. Chateaux something it is called.

Andrew there are 2 half terms every year in Feb and most half terms have 2 different weeks. The queues will be busy especially the second one. They can be 2-3 hrs. As banskoboy said if you get up early and get the first gondolas up not too bad but otherwise you are looking at nearly 12 before queues die down. This year they do not have the World cups adding on to the problem as Russia have them. Which week is your half term 9th or 16th?? We are pretty much booked for the second one for the gondola bypass but may be able to fit you in the first week. If you email me by clicking on my name I can send more details.