Bulgaria Ski discussion board

I have just returned from my 4th year at Borovets and am sad to say i shall not be returning. The resort seems to be losing it's identity a little. I have always understood that Borovets was a cheaper alternative for families and groups and you get what you pay for but increasingly this year i paid but didn't get. Prices have risen considerably but the standards of facilities/food in restaurants etc haven't. The resort is now dominated by large male groups and the atmosphere on an evening can be intimidating by both tourists and local "heavies" ( if youv'e been before you'll know what i mean). Previously frequented bars seem to be less friendly and intent on taking as much money off you as they can even if it means ripping you off i.e saying the draught lager was off and bottles only were available. When you say you're leaving the draught lager miraculously comes back on!! (5 levs differnece between draught and bottles). We were even told by our instructor not to go to the karaoke bar as there is often fighting there (mainly British) and no security staff present to deal with any situation.
On the positive side the Rila Hotel still delivers value for money and the instructors remain extremely friendly and helpful.
Borovets is is danger of losing trade because the price difference between that and other similar european resorts is now minimal but quality/standards vast.

just got back myself, first and last time, sorry to say , never seen or had any trouble (apart from 2 skiiers rolling around at the top of the short 4 man at the top), we were a group of 5 lads (all in our 30's) and had a fair few drinks but nothing over the top.
i have been to pamps over 15 years ago and have been to bansko twice (again in 4 weeks) and prefer bansko, boro's set up isnt the best, the lifts beside the rila; one is so fast (not that i had any probs) its quite entertaining watching the masses crumpling at the top. the other you had to do a black to get to it without walking.

the gondola is fine as long as it goes to the top station, apart from the hour long queue after 10! but if it shuts halfway its a nightmare to get to the 4 man lift, which is a taxi ride out of town as one of the runs was shut, (went down it once and it was sheet ice top to bottom).

you cant walk down the street with out being asked to come in for drinks or food, not that i found it threatening, just more annoying than anything else. there is lots of erotic bars, we got on with one of the lads in revolution and he warned us not to go (not that we had any intention ) as you would be lucky to leave with your watch or wallet.

it is still cheap if you compare it to france, i was paying £5 a beer in val t last year and had some great food for around £15-20 per head. best was the white horse, mamasita's and chilli peppers.

first time i was in bulgaria was in 1989 so i am not spouting after one holiday but as a learner or a drinking holiday or on a budget its fine but if you have been riding for a while there is better places, albiet more expensive but worth paying that little extra.

anyway we still had a good week regardless and had some good conditions (at the very top) and hopefully will have some snow in bansko in march

regards

russ

Just got back myself after fifth visit. Stayed at the Moura hotel which has just been refurbised to a good standard only problem the food wasnt the best.Found the nightlife excellent went in most of the above mentioned didnt feel intimadated but found the best bars to be white magic and the happy duck. Snow conditions at the start of the week where excellent but by midweek temps rose to 14 dgrees melting a lot of the snow at the resort but up gondola conditions where excellent. Ripped off up top 6 Levs for small bottle of water ( at least Dick Turpin wore a mask ) anyway will be returning next year all being well

Very good observations....
Boro does need to do something, there are opportunities, a decent nightclub ?? a reasonable late night bar other than strip clubs ?? reasonable restaurants on the mountain ??
We have to accept that the pound is rubbish against the lev at the mo, but that cannot wholly contribute to the prices in Boro. There are exceptions, the Alpina, 1.50lv happy hour beer, reasonable food prices..
I was there a couple of days ago and Ari told me that a few bars had actually dropped their prices, perhaps the coin has dropped ?? time will tell

Went Borovets last week. First time in Bulgaria. Have boarded the Alps numerous times. Went because of the state of the euro/pound.

Would agree with the above comments.

For what you pay and get, we would not go back. The resort doesnt inspire snow sure, it was so hot that everything below the middle station was slush & mud. If the Gondola was shut the resort was just not worth snowboarding. The amount of injuries caused because the ski schools had to go higher up to find snow was amazing. One day it was shut so we hired skidoos with guides and went up to the top and boarded back down. I have been in the Alps when conditions were ten times worse and lifts were still working. it made me feel that maybe at the start of the day it was windy but once it died down the lift workers preferred the rest of the day off.

We did have a good time but feel that for the extra money you would need to go to somewhere like the 3 Valleys is worth it. We met alot of people who had been twice and were not returning on the basis that the resort was not cheap enough anymore to justify going.