Bulgaria Ski discussion board

we are heading for the rila on 3rd jan from gatwick - there will be 9 of us in total - four adults and five kids ranging from 9 to 13.... 3 can ski (1 adult and 2 kids) i personally failed at my first attempts of skiing last year in france... how are the instructors in borovets? will they have patience with a mad british woman who can only turn left and cant stop?? and the rila - have we picked a good 'un? if i fail on the slopes can i make up for it in the bars? is there enough to occupy the kids in the evenings?

Instructors are excellent, really helpful and sort out groups of people into levels of ability on the first day. If you feel you are in the wrong group after day 1 tell them you want to change, if you leave it until the end of the week they can get a little worried you won't give them a tip which is what they rely on.
The Rila, great location, comfortable and the place where I always stay. Food isn't great although breakfast is fine. Its so damn cheap you will eat out every night I guarantee. Stuff for kids...... no idea, don't have any..... most of the bars are kid friendly and if they like a bit of karaoke you'll have no problem!!
Top tip, take ear plugs, The Rila is so central and the bars stay open so late that it can get noisy. Either drink yourself to near death and wait for the mountain air to revive you in the morning, or, take ear plugs....... seriously!!

Further to what Rian has said, I first went in 2002, and there were a lot of hookers about. In January this year, they had gone !. We spoke to the bar manager about it, and he said that the management had taken on board the complaints they had received, and sent them packing. The food was acceptable, but it is so cheap to eat out we never ate dinner there. I can't comment about the earplugs, because it was probably us that were rolling in at 4 am !!!. The instructors are fantastic, and will give you every bit of help they can. I don't know what the kids will do, as I've never been with any. I'd like any suggestions myself, as my girlfriend and Daughter are coming with me this year. Normally we eat out and then find a nice quiet bar to sit and chat while trying the delicious local wine. The rila hotel is right at the base of the slopes, if you can't stop yourself, there is a good chance you'll ski right up to reception

Phil

By the way, the only miserable Bulgarians we met were those receptionists !!!!!

We went during Feb half term this year with a 5 and 7 year old. We stayed at the Yagoda Village so can't really comment about the Rila.

The Bulgarians love the kids and in each and every restaurant they were made most welcome and went out of their way to ensure it was as much their holiday as ours. Even when Simon and I walked down the "High Street" on our own the little men outside the bars asked where Alister and Rosie were or shouted "Where are your babies??" When thekids had gone past during the day with the kindergarten our 7 year old had negotiated seats for tea and they basically decided each night where we would eat!!

We hired toboggans on the nursery slope and also did a spot of bumboarding most evenings. There is also the ice rink which we didn't use. One night we watched the ski show - wrap up well it was freezing and they loved the party on the last night and raced about with their new friends. A couple of evenings we ate out with our ski instructor and others from our class and the kids did puzzle books or played with their gameboys until we had finished eating. The restaurants and bars were fine with them being there and most had TVs.

The Yagoda Village was a little out of town which rather restricted our Apres Ski as the kids needed to go to bed. This year we are staying at the Alpin Hotel which means - hopefully - we can take advantage of the bar once they have gone to bed!

Have fun I'm sure you will,

Ellie