February 22, 2004
Clive Allsopp
from
United Kingdom
Just got back. Hotel Iglika was excellent with good food but no hot water between 5.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m.
The single chair lift is out and has been all season!!!!!! (in other word 1 third of the resort is not in use. This caused cues of up to two hours as everyone was trying to get up to get up the Gondala (nightmare). However some good skiing on the T-bar section when you get there. Food and Drink very cheep. If you fly into Provdiv a trip into the City on the way home is well worth a visit.
I mainly echo Lisa's comments below. Best skiing is to be found at the top of the Gondola but unfortunately they seem to shut it at the slightest hint of wind, apart from two very busy nursery runs the lower slopes are mainly Red or Black and difficult if it's your first time skiing. One good cross country / green run fron top of chair lift but gets heavily used by beginners snowploughing resulting in a lack of snow on it. Don't bother going half-board, hotel food crap (Olymp) and best place in town is defo the Happy Duck. Not quite as cheap as they make out but not a bad intro into skiing if it's your first time.
Very much enjoyed my last two ski trips to Borovets, and looking forward to going again end of Feb 2004. Stay in Iglika and found very friendly service and pleasant surroundings. All hotel food is not fantastic, but its cheap enough to eat out in the village each day. The Dragon chinese is good, and a couple of Italian eateries are good, so is the steak house. Past 2 years I have spent max ?180 for the week incl lunches, evening meal and drinks, and the drinks after hard day skiing!! Good value for money! Say hi to instructors Dimitri and Tony Todorov for me - I'm coming back!!
Superficially the people are no nonsense and stoic in manner and I much prefer that to the insincere US manner of customer service. Get to know them, it's worth it. Exceptional value, 70s style cabaret in most hotels is a compelling experience in itself. Honest but basic food; all facilities/hotels/ski lifts/ vendors of Glu wine are centrally based so not too much trudging around in cumbersome boots. Visit the Panorama restaurant at the top of the Samakov hotel - very friendly and helpful. Remember where you are, change takes time so put aside petty bourgois expectations! I'm going back for a 3rd visit. Recommend tour of Sofia on last day - especially for those with an interest in WWII memorabilia...but I won't go on
WEBCAM is available at bulgariaski.com
Went there last year in February with my 2 kids (11 and 13 Y.O.). Stayed at Hotel Rila. Was a great vacation. Snow was good, even though slopes not kept to 'Western' standard, lots of sun, all lifts working apart from one day. Enough slopes to make it interesting and different from day to day. Wind can be a bit agressive, masks adviceble. Hotel good, rooms a bit basic, but breakfast great. Nice swimming pool. Ski shop very fast and flexible. Ski school relaxed in the good way; it's not only teaching. Restaurants around of very different quality food-wise; service better than in Denmark. Is it inexpensive? Well, flight/hotel/skipack/lift/ski school at around 1/2 price of Austria, Norway, France. Restaurants etc. more expensive than expected, but not critical. We are going again this year and expect to have one more great vacation!!
Just returned from a stay in Borovets...what a waste of seven days of my life!! SKIING-Not very good for intermediates or above,gondala was closed every time the wind blew. They do have good floodlit slopes HOWEVA you have to pay an extra ?7 per night to ski after 4pm,which they may forget to tell you b4 you book!The slopes were not very well looked after either, in 7 days we saw the piste basher out twice! FOOD-after paying HB at Hotel Rila we decided to opt out and eat out, although they had a lot of food out it didnt really look edible. The best place to eat is THE HAPPY DUCK (which is just out of main area) unfortunatley we found this on day 5!!Say hello to Kate in the restaurant...The worst place we found was White Magic,and thats all i can say! VALUE FOR MONEY-Not as cheap as everyone makes out...1 Lev is approx 40p.
If you get a chance to visit Rila Monastry-do it!! Its worth the 4hour round trip,plus you get to see the real Bulgaria on your travels! Only saw one begger and the most entertainment at the hotel was watching him in the bins from our balcony!! Prostitutes were rife and are not shy!! Heard many stories from other guests bout there brushes with the ladies of the night(some can be found in The Lobby Bar, Rila Hotel after 10pm)
Would we go again...not if it was the last ski resort on earth, and wouldnt recommend it either!
January 08, 2004
Vicki Partridge
from
United Kingdom
Brilliant resort brilliant country!This resort is a great place for beginners particularly. The instructors are great and if you don't enjoy it the bars are really cheap. After a weeks holiday I came back to work here for 3 years. Would recommend it for you fun loving types that aren't looking for 5* luxury. The hotel food is not great but the restaurants serve amazing food and it is so cheap to eat out it is well worth it. I will be back there myself for a holiday at the end of January. Another great week of boarding and partying, see you there. Mine's a tequila!
This resort is fabulous for families, beginners and early intermediates. There are floodlight slopes so that you can continue ski-ing / boarding in to the evening. Instructers are open and friendly (even if youa re not taking lessons they offer assistance and advise)There is not too much of a challenge for competant skiers.
You can queue for some of the lifts as the ski schools love the lower slopes.
There are not too many lifts, ans so it is possible that you may end up having to ski some distance to get to one, however the slopes are clearly detailed.
The locals are great and very welcoming, they will assist you as much as possible. Food is a choice of european or traditional, depends how adventurous you feel.
If you are new to skiing or returning for a second try then give Borovets a go.