Snowsure: 3.7
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Borovets is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Borovets Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
November 17, 2008
Deb Fletcher from
Bulgaria
Deb Fletcher from
Bulgaria
Borovetz
My family and I really enjoyed Bulgaria for our first ski holiday. My husband and I are mid to late 30's and the children are 13 and 15. It was like having 2 holidays in 1 with the children in ski school from 10 - 3 my husband and I got to ski together all day, then ski the last couple of hours with the children. The ski school instructors the children had were great and both girls really enjoyed it.
Although we didn't have lessons we managed most of the red runs by the end of the week but the scope of runs was great. The food was fine even for my fussy 15 year old. The hotel was great. The rooms, although not huge, had everything you needed. Fantastic showers that massaged the tired muscles after a long day on the slopes. We were in bed by 11-12 every night so didn't see the late late night life but enjoyed a few beers after supper.
When we asked the girls this year if they wanted a Christmas present or to go skiing again they both said skiing.
Cant wait to go back:)
November 14, 2008
Evgeni from
Bulgaria
Evgeni from
Bulgaria
The general negativity of people who went to Borovets in March is understood... and still unfair. The best skiing there in my opinion (and I'm from Sofia so I got my fare share of skiing in Borovets) is down the Yastrebets slopes, using the newly built Yastrebets Express chairlift, which currently is the best in Bulgaria. It takes out the necessity to use the old gondola, which as some have noticed closes down when conditions are not perfect. The Yastrebets Express takes only 8 minutes to take you from top to bottom, and the queues there are rarely even half the size of those at the Gondolla. The slopes are for intermediates/experts, and having been to Bormio, Solden, Axams, Livigno, Stubai, St. Anton, etc. I must say that one of the two slopes, Yastrebets 2, or as it recently was renamed - "Popangelov" is up to the level of most FIS World Cup slopes.
And to be fair, what can people expect coming to Borovets in March... Of course there will be rain and snow, it's the end of the season, and the slopes are at a very low altitude. This year my last skiing on the Yastrebets slopes was on March 29, and there was still snow for a week or so.
All things considered, I must admit that for beginners Borovets is a great resort... until February. After that, it gets really difficult for people trying to learn, but for those who have already learned there are always opportunities. You just have to know where to look ;]
November 07, 2008
Tim from
United Kingdom
Tim from
United Kingdom
I feel I must right in response to the review below. I was there in March 08 and conditions from resort to 1900m were absolutely horrendous. Over half the runs in this area were closed and the other half should have been closed. Above 1900m conditions were fine but that meant that in March 08 over half the resorts runs were closed or in terrible condition.
You have to be careful reading positive reviews for this resort because the amount of Brits and Irish who have invested in this place and other Bulgarian resorts,and continuously come on the internet and different forums speaking positively of these places, lying about snow conditions, the ski infastructure, ski pass price etc etc. I was there in March 08 and the conditions were awful, 14 degrees at the resort and it also rained extremely heavily when I was there. If you are going here take everything positively that you have read with a huge pinch of salt
November 03, 2008
Linda from
United Kingdom
Linda from
United Kingdom
Visited Borovets in March 2008,had a wonderful week skiing with superb conditions. Stayed in the newly built complex called Royal Plaza which was located in the centre of the resort; highly recommended.
Food was ok in most restaurants and as we stayed in an apartment, we self catered for breakfast.
Will be going again this season.
October 31, 2008
Gemma - UK from
United Kingdom
Gemma - UK from
United Kingdom
I went on holiday for a week to Borvets in January this year and it was fantastic, one of the best holidays I have had. I am only a beginner and it was my first time skiing but everything was great. The instructor, Emo, was fantastic, really thorough and supportive. My partner who is an experience skier and has been to various places enjoyed it too, there were plenty of different and challenging slopes. We just wanted a cheap ski hol and we were not disappointed at all. There were some stunning parts to the area and at times it was like being in a winterwonderland. The town centre did have some questionable places which looked a bit seedy, but common sense says to stay away from these places. There were lots of good places to eat and drink. We stayed in the Lion Hotel this year and it was lovely. Big modern clean rooms, nice lobby with the odd nights entertainment, log fires etc. The food as well was good. Plenty of choice, lots of fresh fruits at breakfast and a good mix of pastas, meats , salads etc at tea time. We are going back in Jan 09 as wel liked it so much. Staying at the Rila this time as closer to the town centre and literally at the bottom of the slopes.
October 10, 2008
Steve from
France
Steve from
France
Word of warning to anybody considering a holiday here this ski season. If you think that it is a cheap alternative to the Alps it is not. It is miles behind the Alps in terms of the skiing it has to offer, but generally works out at the same price for a package holiday. Therefore you are being tricked into skiing here as it is the same price as the Alps but no where near it in terms of skiing. The only advantage it has is that around the town it works out slightly cheaper for drink and food but this will not make up for the sheer disappointment of this resort. It is tacky and dirty, with hookers and strippers everywhere and people harassing you into their bars and restaurants. If you have experienced proper skiing before i.e. Alps, America, Canada, please do not waste your money and time going here as you will be shocked and so annoyed with your decision to ski here. If this is your first ski holiday you will not be able to compare it to proper ski resorts and find it okay but I can only say look around as the Alps can work out at the same price or cheaper. Again, if you have experienced proper ski resorts please take my warning and do not ski here, the disappointment is not worth it, believe me, I experienced it last year.
August 05, 2008
Bulgarijonline.com from
France
Bulgarijonline.com from
France
As you can see the comments are different depending on date/temperature and amount of snow. Of course when there is lack of snow skiing is bad but that’s everywhere and making snow can only be done and be effective with good temperature. When it's too cold none can be made and when too hot none can be made either. Prices can be better, yes, and it seems that they try to rip only UK people. The resort is good but development has been on hold for years and just since 3 years there is new money put in the resort and believe me the future has some great new options to give. If you love the Alps stay there then the people that love the Balkan has smaller waiting time at the lifts. Last, the lifts are good for skiers and yes, little hard for snowboarders but those that are good at snowboarding will have no problems with the lifts. I love Borovets and come back every year.
March 27, 2008
John from
United Kingdom
John from
United Kingdom
Don't go. There is a website bulgariaski.com and if you write anything negative about any Bulgarian resort on the threads, your post is deleted and you are prevented from writing anything else on the website in future, it happened to me. It's so they can trick you into coming to Bulgaria and that alone pretty much sums up this place. I could go on a big rant about this resort, how disapointing it is, what a rip off it is, how it is not one bit cheap etc etc but I won't as it has been done so extremely accurately from the previous posts.
March 27, 2008
Paul from
France
Paul from
France
Went first week of March 08 and I want a refund from Crystal Ski. It was an absolutely awful experience. Word of warning to anyone who is contemplating a ski trip here, if you have been to the Alps, Canada, US or any PROPER ski resorts, simply do not go. I read a lot of reviews on this website before I went and although a lot were quite negative, I had an open mind and expected to be pleasantly surprised, instead I left vouching never to return, which is sad because I like discovering new places. The lower slopes were in awful condition, probably should have been closed but weren't. Upper slopes had lovely snow, and a lot of it but is simply not developed. The gondola that brings you there was closed 3 out of my 6 skiing days, and the runs are so short: probably would take the average skier about 2 minutes to get down. Then there was the ski to the mid-station gondola, probably the best on offer but the ratio of waiting to ski is so unbalanced. Match that with an extortionate ski pass price, (more expensive than Livigno in Italy) and you are being robbed, simple as that. They haven't changed the web cam for over a month, I wonder why? Maybe its the patches of muck and grass where it points at. Just to clarify one other thing, this is not a 'cheap alternative' to the Alps. Ski pass, more expensive than a lot of Alpine resorts, snow is a lot worse, eating and drinking is cheaper, only just, but balance that against all the negatives and you can only be disappointed. In comparison, while I was there it was 18 degrees and rained. At the same time I was there, resorts in the Alps of the same altitude were getting dumped on and are doing so now as I write this. Some have had two metres in two weeks. I may seem negative but this review is not aimed at those weird people that seem to love this resort but those who have experienced proper skiing and proper facilities. If you are thinking of booking here do not do it, a bit more research than I had done can get you a deal to the Alps for the same price or even cheaper. Believe me, the disappointment is not worth it, I now have to wait until next year for my next ski trip, something I am still so disappointed about.
March 24, 2008
John & Sarah from
United Kingdom
John & Sarah from
United Kingdom
Ok, basically the place is a dump. It left us both with a pretty bad impression of the country sadly, which is a shame because surely it can't all be as bad as Borovets?
Went 16th-23rd Mar'08.
2 parts to this review, first the resort then our hotel (Zodiac)
The Resort:
Limited piste and hardly worth the effort unless you are comfortable on fast, long drag lifts (if you are a boarder and you are ok with the lifts then you must be a reasonable standard, and this means you'll cover the whole resort in under a day and get bored anyway).
There were a couple of runs from top to bottom of the gondola with a chair lift to get you half way back up again, but the chair lift was closed and so were the pistes (went down it anyway and the snow was knee deep all the way down, they were simply too lazy to piste it).
When the gondola closed for high winds (25mph or stronger on the 'mid' 6 day forecast above means it is closed) there are 2 reds and 1 blue to choose from. The blue has a long walk at the end if you are a boarder and for 2 days one of the reds was closed for slalom races. Imagine how busy & icy it got. Plus there were loads of beginners at the bottom of the slopes, bad for them and bad for everyone else.
We were lucky to get a reasonable amount of snow: the only good thing on the holiday.
As for the resort itself, it isn't cheap, it isn't big, it isn't clean and basically it isn't much fun. If you go in a big group you might find it ok, but personally I got pretty sick of the people trying to get you into the bars. Everyone trying to rip you off (apparently 2 + 2 + 5 = 10 Lev - if you are going to rip me off at least make it worth your while, that's just insulting!).
Chilli peppers bar was ok and they have free internet for you to use.
Ate out once at what was meant to be a good restaurant (Marmacitas?) - food was good at the time, but suffered for it the next day so didn't dare go back! Best food we did have was some local goulash, at one of the cafes!
Hotel Zodiac:
Oh dear. To be fair the place was clean, it was just empty. All the resort facilities were closed - no 'disco' or karaoke. The 'leisure' area (2 broken table tennis tables with the lights off & a dodgy looking sauna room) were never used by anyone I don't think. The food varied from ok to awful. It was just as well the free bus ran (but only 3 times in the morning and 3 times at night!) because the 10 Lev (£5) taxis soon mount up. On top of that was annoying little things like how they kept turning all the lights off in the stairs & halls on our floor and it was really difficult to talk to the staff as their English is bad (yes I know, better than my Bulgarian - but I'm not the one setting up a business and taking money off Bulgarians). And to top it off we left at 6.30 am on the Sunday. When we got down to reception there was an old fella down there but no receptionist which made it difficult to get our passports back (they keep them to register you with the police, They promised us they would be kept securely in a safety deposit box). We tried to tell him we needed them, showed him someone elses passports to get through to him and he just looked blankly at us. Our Bulgarian driver turned up and explained to him in Bulgarian that we needed to get our passports to leave and he just looked blankly at us. After about 10 minutes I went behind the desk myself and had a rake round, eventually finding keys to break into the safety deposit box (really secure then!!) and get them back so we could leave 15 minutes late! Then he went and woke the receptionist up from somewhere else and they both looked round to see if I had stolen anything and gave us dirty looks!
Home now thank goodness, but I'm off work today and I'm writing this between visits to the loo. I don't miss the food and I won't be back.
If you are going “cos it's the cheap option” then I'd say don't – it really isn't as cheap as you'd think. If you are as stubborn as I regretfully was in thinking ‘it cant be that bad’, then stay at the Samakov or the Rila, their facilities were better and were near the slopes.
Nearest