Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi Barbara

Welcome to the forum.

I learned in Borovets and I have been back on quite a few occasions over the last few years. The thing about Borovets that I love is that the slopes come right into the centre of the resort and the gondola to the higher slopes also leaves from the centre. There are loads of restaurants in amongst the pine trees which makes it feel magical. There are lots of places for beginners, even on the highest section of the pistes, which is great because the view up there is fantastic. I have made loads of friends in the resort and I find everyone is welcomed. The resort is very kid friendly and lots of my friends bring their children with them. I see loads of kids in Ski Schools having fun on the slopes so your 2 could join one of them.

There is a group where you can ask questions specifically about Borovets this coming season 'Borovets 2016 - Snow, Skiing, Boarding & Everything Else - Information Group' so check that out if you have more questions. Or even better ask my friends Kas & Bobby who are on here or Facebook. They are in Borovets so are always really good at helping, especially if you have not been before and have lots to ask.

Feel free to ask anything else, we were all beginners once

Best regards

Del-Boy

Hi Barbara,

As everyone has said, welcome to the forum. It is very quiet on here at the moment but normally as the season kicks in , the forum picks up and it is a great way of getting to know loads of information (and people) before you come!

We live in Borovets so all my advice and knowledge will be about there and it is very good for beginners & families and also benefits from being a ski in, ski out resort. Saying that and not wanting to be biased, Pamporovo is the same and also has a very good reputation for families - it is just the transfer time is longer. Bansko also gets good reports!

As you can see above you have 3 different opinions with everyone recommending a different resort so in the end it will really be down to you. We know people who have been to Bansko and hated it but loved Borovets. We know people who loved Bansko and hated Pamps and in the same way, people who hated Borovets and loved the other 2 resorts!

If you end up choosing Borovets, then I will be happy to help with any info we can on accommodation, best ski schools / restaurants / things for children to do etc. Also, Steve / Wendy live in Bansko so they have upto date info on that resort and Snow White or Pamps Pete is best for information there - they are on here all the time.

In terms of Easter, you are probably aware that Bulgaria is predominantly Orthodox Christian hence their holidays are different so it won't affect you, in fact Easter Sunday actually falls on May 1st - my setp-son is at school here so if you want the full holiday dates, just let me know and I will send them to you.

If you need anything else, just click on my name to send a message and we will try the best we can to help - alternatively just post more questions on here and there will be lots of people to help you out and give advice.

Good luck wherever you choose and I hope you all enjoy your first ski holiday!

Kas

Well I'm a mature parent (in my 50's) and have a 9 year old son. I also have twin stepsons and a daughter. My 9 year old started skiing in Borovets when he was three, the twins when they were 10 and my daughter as a teenager. My partner who is scared of heights when she was in her 30's. I have been going there for about 14 years. I have also been to Bansko. In my opinion whilst there may be more skiing in Bansko, the place is more like a town rather than a village. Despite the hotels, Borovets definitely has more of a village feel to it and the slopes are more easily accessible and depending on the time of year, may have less queuing for the higher slopes. Unless getting a cab or bus you have to get a Gondola to the slopes in Bansko. There are two skiing areas in Borovets and the lifts to one of them is in the village. It's just my opinion of course but I would suggest Borovets as the best place for families as to me it feels more family orientated and there are bars/restaurants, for example Bobby's Bar, that caters very much for families. Which ever you choose, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Having skiid in other areas, I found Bulgaria to be the best to learn and so very friendly and reasonably priced

Hello there ive been to Borovets and Pamporavo its worth considering that if you fly into sofia it,s only about an hour,s transfer time to borovets whearas it is four hours to Pamporavo, unless you get a flight to Plovdiv, most flights are to Sofia also the nursery slopes are right behind the Rila hotel , but in Pamporavo you have to get a bus down to the slopes and back. be warned the food in the cheaper hotels isn't brilliant adults might put up with it but kid,s probably won,t ive stayed in Borovets at the Iglika palace the food was pretty good there with quite a good choice , I stayed at the Mura hotel ,food there more basic ,chips ,potatoes , rice and achoice of a beef or chicken stew the same at the Breza hotel, it aint courdon bleau but its not courdoned off. anything else I can help with ,leave a message here on this board. cheers Dave

Hi Barbara!
As said welcome to the forum, I am sure you will enjoy your time in any of the Bulgaria resorts , although I have only skied Borovets and Bansko, I prefer Borovets due to it being the closest resort to Sofia and the people that I have meet in Borovets.

I know that you will get all the information you need from this forum, please do not be put off by the banter on here! It is all part of the Bulgaria ski experience. I can honestly say that you will enjoy your holiday, and if you decide to go to Borovets there is normally a forum meet up each Sunday evening, You even might catch a glimpse of the most rarest sight in the wild ! That of Snow Plough buying a round.

Tom.

Welcome.

Firstly Easter is going to be busier in every resort Europe wide
Second you'll have a good time no matter where you go
Three as your novices /kids are then a pricy resort as nice as it could be would be wasted as such value resorts are good - that said Bansko is good in its own right
Fourth snow conditions - lap of the Gods everywhere but Easter is early ish there will be plenty.

Skiing on snow is so much better than dry slopes plus the pistes are long .


Try Bansko you will have a good time. We've been there lots and enjoy it as a family destination - sure it's no Gstaad but then a weeks skiing for 4 isn't £15k