Bulgaria Ski discussion board

well went to pamps two weeks ago and have just got back.

when we arrived in resort snow was very thin on the ground around our hotel which was worrying. anyway after landing in a cow shed at plovdiv and the 2 hour transfer all we was bothered about was bed. the hotel was nice (evridika). woke up for breakfast and ate cood food, picked up our lift passes from Rob the Rep (the coolest rep in the world) who informed us that skiing from mid station down was impossible.

any we got on the mountain to find sheet ice!!!! piste maps ok but have seen far better and very poor amount of runs, struggled to ski in the morning (and we're good skiers). in the afternoon the ice had melted to slush and puddles. then on the walk from 3 man chair to ski center2 lisa starts being sick (8 hours from a cold breakfast sickness and diarehea that last around 24 hours hmmm wonder what that could be!!((i microwaved my breakfast)).

this was the story till tuesday when late morning the clouds gathered and low and behold it snows all day till about 2am the next morning.

wednesday was a good day skiing all slopes open but the temp had risen to about 70oF so in the afternoon runs near the bottom started getting patchy.

thursday same story, friday back to sheet ice and half a mountain.

the temp kept around 70oF from then till well the minute we left. A family that came the second week we were there decided enough is enough and arranged (through rob the ace rep) a mini bus to borovets on the wednesday, our uncle was there and we were fed up of asking people why they had their arms in a sling (according to one person the insurance company said the had loads of claims from pamps) so we jumped at the chance and we had given up on pamps skiing, so off we went.

got to boro and it was amazing loads of snow and skiing from top to bottom of the mountain. the family said they were coming back on friday so with our uncle stopping there we booked into the rila hotel (the same as him) and had the best 3 days of the holiday. the mountian, runs and nightlife makes pamps look like a morgue.

Also in pamps I was attacked by a british solider on the second sunday (their first night out), nightlife in pamps is poor and unless your stopping in one of the few hotel in the so called center its miles away from anything.

According to several people the locals keep putting prices up and several who had been loads of times before said this was their last trip.

When we left yesterday conditions were un-skiable but the lift operators refused to close the resort (greed), temps are set to stay the same (we have a better tan than what we got in greece last september).

so if you can change to boro (or somewhere else in europe) not only is the snow rubbish in pamps the resort itself is poor the locals are getting greedy and the nightlife is terrible. Even if it snowed everyday next season there is not enough money in the world that would make me go back

sorry its a bad write up but i speak the truth had i been a first time skier in this resort i would never have skied again and never again am i to be a cheap skate when it comes to holidays so at least i learnt something whilst i was away, you really do pay for what you get.

stevenlisa

i was there the same time, i had a good time but like you say you get what you pay for, i would have liked to see pamps with snow next year but i will be going else where, i agree greed was the thing that spoilt it, they cant do anything about the weather but the state of the streets in the resort and the prices compared to outside the resort is terrible, you expect to pay more in resorts but this was too much inflation, ski gear was wery cheep to buy compared to UK, not alot of choice for ski runs, when you hit the mid station it was a case of back up after a 1/2hr wait for the chair lift or go down on a warn green run then get a lift up to the top, but on the plus side the red runs on the far side from top to bottom were great as they are in shade all day so the snow is good and slope was well groomed, over all i had a great time but i will be paying a bit more and heading else where next year, if you are going out to pamps soon hope you have a good time and remember its your holiday so make it a good one, its what you make it.

So, it's greed that they didn't close the lifts is it? Just what would they gain by that?

Skiing was possible so that's why the lifts were open - good god they just can't win can they!

Bulgaria was no different this year to half of Europe - yet you blame Bulgaria.

You are of course entitled to your opinion - but you reasons are very unfair - and prices are still amongst the cheapest anyehere in Europe. Too many seemed to want the best of everything yet pay peanuts - Bulgaria had a bad years snow, of that there is no doubt. But it's the first time almost in living memory that this has happened and that's not Bulgarias fault - it just happens sometimes.

Nightlife is brilliant in Pamporovo...... Daks, DJ's, Planet Spyders, White Hart, Apres Ski Bar - every one open till 4am and full of happy people. All within 2 minutes walk of each other.

Sorry you got beaten up by a BRITISH SOLDIER!!!!!
Bulgarians don't do that sort of thing!

PP

so many people in pamps last week were saying they would never return to bulgaria but if pamps last week was there only experience of the country then i would agree with them.it was a bit of a mess with building work everywhere. i would not go back to pamps as i think borovets is just a better resort. pamps lacks something which i cant put my finger on. it is a shame that the snow conditions were so poor but without it ,pamps has very little to offer.i do agree you get what you pay for so im heading to canada next year. i like my ski holidays to have snow at least.! time to start saving i think.

Just back from first trip to Pamps.
I too would never return to Bulgaria for sking in the near future- Pamps has not inspired me to return. We were able to ski every day but probably on runs that we were not ready for but were the only ones open. Main complaint is:
The staff at the hotel Pamporovo need to take serious lessons in customer service. They have none!!!!!
The bars all charge different prices and the staff, apart from the Irish bar in the hotel, were rude, arrogant and ignorant.The bowling bar prices in the hotel differed by 20 levs with one of the more arrogant and greedy staff.She argued with me when I had a calulator and worked out the price of the drinks!!!
We actually saw one maid push a guest out of a lift so she could get in. Incredible.
Also barter with the taxi drivers if you have to use them as they will lower their prices.
The hotel whilst it looks very nice, it appeared that it was not cleaned on a regular basis, the carpets in our room had never been hoovered in weeks. Don't ask me how I know.The restaurant, we called the Naffi as it had the same feel as a army cookhouse. Get them in, get them fed and get them out. The Food was varied and edible although 3 of our party and many others had a food or water bug. Couldn't be linked to this restaurant as half of our party were not effected.
The ski school class we went in had 16 in and whilst the instructor did her best the conditions meant a large number of schools all on the same areas of snow.
The Balkan Holdiay reps were helpful and actually determined to give some form of quality service. The staff at the Ski centre were also good and got through fitting huge numbers of people quickly and efficiently.
One of our party had been to Pamps about 6 years ago and reckons we skied only 1/10th of the runs and most are getting really bad. No snow being the main culprit. Not the Bulgarians fault just that it happened this year. Pity really as this could have made a great difference to our holiday.
There needs to be more emphasis on the whole sking infrastructure and not just building places to get the money in from Foreign buyers. There is a great deal of building going on so the future may look great for this beautiful area of the world.
Sorry to be negative but apart from being with great friends and making the best of the snow that we had this could have been one of those holidays you want to forget quickly. Did get a tan though!!!!
Good luck to those brave souls going in the next few weeks. I agree with everyone else, pay a bit more and give Bulgaria a few years to get things right before you try again. You really do pay for what you get and whilst you can't argue that it is a cheap place at the moment I feel their prices will rise and the service they offer may not go with it.

I am just back from Pamps to and sorry to hear that so many of you didn't enjoy it. Yes the snow conditions were poor and skiing/boarding wasn't great but then the whole of europe has been experiencing the same sort of conditions I have friends who have been in Italy and Austria who have experienced the same thing no snow. I think some people have to remember that skiing and snowboarding are extreme sports and injuries are not unusal especially when you are a beginner. The locals maybe putting the prices up however it is still a damn sight cheaper than France, Austria etc. should they be giving away food and beer to keep everyone happy??? They have to make a living to.
I have been in Pamps the last 2 years when the conditions have been brilliant and won't let this year tarnish my experience. Imade the best of it and had a wicked time yet again met some great people.
I will go again.
Can any one help me I am trying to track down a snowboard instructor from Pamprovo ski school?

I too got back from Pamparovo early yesterday morning. There were 20 adults & 9 children in our group who all had an absolutely fantastic holiday. We stayed at three different hotels and none of us found anything major to complain about apart from the snow which is not the fault of Bulgaria as it is the same in most of Europe. I have stayed in Borovets and yes it is a fab resort but it depends on what exactly you want from a skiing holiday. Borovets has a better nightlife than Pamps but I think Pamps is more suitable for families. One of our party also got a beating from a BRITISH soldier and suffered a black eye and needed stitches, Apart from that and the lack of snow I will still return to Pamps as we all had a fab time.