 Poster: A snowHead
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Sorry, must have been asked before.
Anyhows, if winter and the weather doesn't start playing nice in Scotland soon, I'll have to start looking for cheap overseas deals: which, at a quick glance tonight, seems to be Bulgaria. Never fancied it, but needs must...
Anyone give me an overview of the main resorts? Seen the piste maps, obviously restricted areas, but what's the general comparison in terms of European resorts, run types, lengths, lifts and general standards (c.f. Austria preferably, or Finland)?
Possible/probable snow conditions in mid Feb through to late March?
Also food - presume you can get the usual pizzas, general plain junk and meat goods? ( food allergies).
Thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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What's that old saying about curiosity and cats ?.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Can’t help as I haven’t been there for years. However I have followed a thread on here called Borovets 2018 2019 so you may want to put that in search (sorry I don’t know how to post a link) which you may find interesting.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Grizzler, we have only been to Bansko and that is the biggest of the Bulgarian resorts. I advice avoiding Bansko one February as it is over developed in terms of accommodation for the lifts and number of runs. The lift queues are unbelievable TBH. 2hrs to get to the top of the main gondola is typical and then you move to the next queue to get higher up.
March is better.
Can’t comment about the other resorts.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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local food in bulgaria is amazing.
If you like long slow cooked barbercue style meats, then your in for a treat.
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If it's a budget driven decision to go to Bulgaria, then why don't you book last minute? I saw a catered chalet, with flights and accom for L2A on Thursday leaving yesterday for £299 instead of £699. Can get some really good deals if you leave it late.
The more I see of the skiing in Bulgaria, the more I really don't fancy it to be honest. The lift queue in the morning looks flipping awful....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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For a big of balance, you can get a taxi up the mountain in Bansko for €5 per head and avoid the queues, but it is v busy in Feb. Borovets has nearly as much skiing and is less crowded.
Vs Austria, smaller ski kms but nice skiiing, mix of mountain top and tree lined runs, slightly older infrastructure, but it all works well. Good skiing as long as you don’t mind skiing the same runs multiple times.
Food and drinks of an evening are excellent quality and cheap as chips.
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@jimmjimm, that's one of the funniest video clips we've seen for a long time on here.
Say thanks to the "laugher" for cheering us all up over here. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Mr.Egg wrote: |
local food in bulgaria is amazing.
If you like long slow cooked barbercue style meats, then your in for a treat. |
Served cold and swimming in grease. 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| jimmjimm wrote: |
http://youtube.com/v/wOIYm5B_Pw8
No discussion on Bulgaria is complete without this video. |
I’ve seen that video at least three times but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to watch it without crying with laughter. Made my day.
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Thanks all. Hmmmm.... Think that I might just stay with my instincts and hang out for a last minute deal somewhere else.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Grizzler, from what I understand there is less of an issue with queues around mid March
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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So in summary, if you aren't fussy, want a bargain, cheap hotels and food (I found the food fine), are prepared to get a taxi for 5 euros per person (rather than wait for a 2 hour lift queue) and have some decent skiing (snow conditions look pretty good at the moment), albeit a bit samey, I think Bulgaria looks pretty good. If not, a last minute deal.
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Poster: A snowHead
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It just checked and it has been over 25 years since I last skied in Bulgaria. I quite liked Borvets, didn't particularly like the skiing in Bansko (but liked the old walled Balkan village) and didn't actually ski in the other two resorts.
That long ago the food in in Bulgaria was terrible, basically just mixed grills and chips, often cold and very greasy. Grim. Then I discovered Turkish restaurants, which served excellent food. The wine was good as well. I hope the local cuisine has improved.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Borovets is indeed cheap, and if the snow conditions are good you can get some great skiing in for a few days for not very much money at all. But it is a bit downmarket as well as cheap, so make sure you keep an eye on all of your equipment and belongings all the time, including when you go out as things get stolen.
Food is decent, drinks are cheap and the people are friendly, especially if you take the time to learn a little Bulgarian. The village is also quite cute (if you ignore the lapdancing bars), and the views from up the mountain are beautiful.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@HoneyBunny, just wondering how your friend is? I read your post about how your trip had gone with a decent amount of sympathy - nightmare
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Been to Bansko twice, albeit in early march.
In february, with a rented car you may drive up the mountain at 08, park there and avoid the gondola's big queue. Or take a taxi as described/ be down at 8, wait in line for half an hour to go up.
The food is OK to very good, check Google/TripAdvisor.
Problems: the blue pistes will be awfully crowded. Rented stuff is quite basic.Group lessons are lousy.
If you are an early riser who enjoys red pistes and their 2 black ones, go for a 3-4 days cheap and fun ski trip. Perfect apres ski down from the gondola.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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some hire places run their own 'taxi' service. Plus quite a few other non-licenced taxis who take you up for a fixed fee.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@bambionskiis, ahh she's much better now, thank you for asking. She was in hospital for a week, then off work for nearly two weeks - she's back this week but on Sunday fell down the stairs and twisted her ankle! She's a disaster lol.
Oh - btw, insurance paid out for my stolen jacket, my mum perfectly mended my broken trousers, Snow+Rock are fixing my broken ski boot, Burton sent me a new lens for my scratched new goggles for free (very nice of them) and I decided to treat myself to a new phone, rather than use the replacement work one.
So all is well that ends well.
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@HoneyBunny,
Sounds good
Burton CS is awesome.
Replaced my 5yr old board bag for free when the zip failed
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^ I was amazed! I showed them a pic of my old Anon goggles where the reflective coating was coming off and said the new ones had been replacements for them, so they sent me a new lens! I wasn't expecting anything at all.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thats good @HoneyBunny, : all's well that ends well then, but what an experience. Your poor friend 
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