THE INDEPENDENT PARENT: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED *(WITH EXCERPTS)
The Independent, 17 January 2004
Q I would like to take my family skiing over February half-term (we have three children aged between four and 16). We are all fairly novice, so the slopes don't have to be expert. Somebody suggested Bulgaria as offering good, relatively cheap skiing as we're not on a lavish budget. What do you suggest?
M Coe, via e-mail
A Bulgaria would certainly be a viable option. This Balkan state has appeared in mass-market package companies since the Eighties. It is now gaining in popularity because of improving infrastructure and low prices (a three-course evening meal costs as little as £5 a head), particularly compared with ski destinations within the euro area. Snow cover tends to be good, especially later in the season, and the weather is usually sunny. But don't expect the efficiency of Swiss or French resorts. Power cuts after heavy snowfalls are not unheard of and hotel food can be, er, interesting. You should all enjoy the warmth of the local people, some great mountain scenery, and plenty of undemanding skiing but it is worth remembering that you are visiting a country still emerging from communism.
For a comprehensive, if slightly biased, overview of what's available, see www.bulgariaski.com, the website of the Bulgarian travel agency Profi Tours (00 359 2 980 3051). This has descriptions of all the resorts, up-to-date snow reports, and a message board with reviews from recent visitors. It's also a good place to save money by pre-booking your ski passes. Typically, it charges £54 for an adult six-day pass; buy in Bulgaria and you'll have to pay twice as much - around 55 Levs (£19) a day.
I'd suggest two resorts for beginners. The first is Borovets, 1,350m up the Rila mountain, with seven easy and 15 intermediate runs. With more than 50 hotels, it is large enough to have a lively, busy atmosphere. As in most Bulgarian resorts, the standard of ski instruction is high, and you will have no problem finding English-speaking instructors. Borovets is about 150km south of Sofia airport.
Going further south and east along the Rhodope mountain range, you come to Pamporovo, 1,600m high and with 11 beginner runs. It's a modern, lively village with plenty of après-ski in bars and restaurants, which all stay open late. The resort is usually accessed via Plovdiv airport, about 100km south.
One final tip: take plenty of cash in sterling or dollars. Travellers' cheques and credit cards are not widely accepted, and ATMs are rare and often out of order.
M Coe, via e-mail
A Bulgaria would certainly be a viable option. This Balkan state has appeared in mass-market package companies since the Eighties. It is now gaining in popularity because of improving infrastructure and low prices (a three-course evening meal costs as little as £5 a head), particularly compared with ski destinations within the euro area. Snow cover tends to be good, especially later in the season, and the weather is usually sunny. But don't expect the efficiency of Swiss or French resorts. Power cuts after heavy snowfalls are not unheard of and hotel food can be, er, interesting. You should all enjoy the warmth of the local people, some great mountain scenery, and plenty of undemanding skiing but it is worth remembering that you are visiting a country still emerging from communism.
For a comprehensive, if slightly biased, overview of what's available, see www.bulgariaski.com, the website of the Bulgarian travel agency Profi Tours (00 359 2 980 3051). This has descriptions of all the resorts, up-to-date snow reports, and a message board with reviews from recent visitors. It's also a good place to save money by pre-booking your ski passes. Typically, it charges £54 for an adult six-day pass; buy in Bulgaria and you'll have to pay twice as much - around 55 Levs (£19) a day.
I'd suggest two resorts for beginners. The first is Borovets, 1,350m up the Rila mountain, with seven easy and 15 intermediate runs. With more than 50 hotels, it is large enough to have a lively, busy atmosphere. As in most Bulgarian resorts, the standard of ski instruction is high, and you will have no problem finding English-speaking instructors. Borovets is about 150km south of Sofia airport.
Going further south and east along the Rhodope mountain range, you come to Pamporovo, 1,600m high and with 11 beginner runs. It's a modern, lively village with plenty of après-ski in bars and restaurants, which all stay open late. The resort is usually accessed via Plovdiv airport, about 100km south.
One final tip: take plenty of cash in sterling or dollars. Travellers' cheques and credit cards are not widely accepted, and ATMs are rare and often out of order.
