Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi all,
Just back from out first visit to Pamps. Had a great time! Snow conditions just like a visit to Scotland - if the runs weren't icey, you had to dodge bare patches and rocks or walk the last part!! But at a big plus was all the glorious sunshine - blue skies, no wind - wow!!

We were at the Snezanka Hotel - bit like a youth hostel with all the kids from schools that were there, but we just sat at the far end of the restaurant were it was quieter. Food was excellent - plenty of it and hot (unlike the reports we were hearing about the Pamporovo where others in our ski group were staying!!) Had a look at the Orlovetz - it looks really lovely inside, especially the apartments.

We found the prices in Pamps alot dearer than we were led to believe. (We got 2.79 lev to the pound at Ilkeston Co-Op before we left and Alaska in Pamps was giving 2.76). There was quite a difference in price between the bottom of the mountain and at the top.
Here is a brief comparision.
Can of coke 3lev - 4lev (only 1.20 lev in Alaska!)
500ml bottle of coke 5lev
Bottle of water 2lev
Beer 4lev - 5lev
Hot chocolate 4.4lev from the Nescafe Bars at the bottom of the Studenet 2 lift or with rum in for 8lev at the bottom of the 3 man lift (lift 5?).
Pizza down on the nursery slopes 8lev or up on the mountain 12-15 lev.

Where's the 50p beer and 30p cokes and £2 pizza's guys!!
Other people who regularly use pamps were complaining that the prices had gone up and some were saying it had doubled since they were there 2 years ago.

Our children were in ski school and at the end of the week you could get a video of their progress - about an hour long which was shot on the 1st day and on the fith (it also includes a promo about Bulgaria). This was 55lev!!

What do you think Pamporovo Pete - is this rise in prices something to do with joining the EU?

Overall though, we thoroughly enjoyed our week and are looking at going back. All the locals say this warm weather is a one off. One local said that their grandmother remembered a winter like this in the 1930's! So this is not unique, it just hasn't been seen for a long time.

Nice report my friend.

I don't think joining the EU has made any difference at all yet, the price rises are just a natural progression as with any country. The price rises are due partially with the tourist. The Bulgarian people are not stupid and every year they hear people saying how cheap everything is - and it doesn't take a buisness guru to realise that people will pay higher prices if they think everything is really cheap.

The exchange rate difference you quote is so minimal it isn't even worth bothering about. 2.79 as apposed to 2.76 equates to less than 1p difference!!!!
The cheap beer etc. is available more in the less populated areas such as Chepelare and Smoylan and not in the main resorts.

Hope to see you all back next year to experience the real Pamporovo covered in snow.

PP

Prices have gone up, a problem is that cost to visit is one of Bulgaria's key selling points which they may lose if things carry on this way. I love pamps for many reasons however the cost of living is a key reason I go there. I now wont eat or drink around studenets as it costs too much (6L for a hot chocolate) and head down to the Markony.

I worry that resorts will push for higher prices as much as poss which will result in people giving BG a miss. If we're realistic most visitors do not go to Pamps for the quality of sking; its because it beautiful yet afordable