 Poster: A snowHead
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Myself and the twins are booked to go to Bulgaria On 2/1/2022.
Now that Bulgaria is one of the few places left open for skiing in Europe, I thought I'd post the results of my research, if it's wrong or anything else needs to be added then just say so.
This is a rough guide and should not be taken as gospel, double check yourself.
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Passenger Locator Forms:
Bulgaria doesn't require you to complete a PLF.
The UK will require you to complete a PLF before returning to the UK.
Tests:
Before you go.
11 and younger - no test required.
Unvaccinated 12 and over - PCR tests to be taken within 72 hours prior to departure, results to be shown at airport.
Fully vaccinated - no pre departure tests required, though NHS certs with QR code(s) printed or on the NHS app to show at the airport.
Whilst there.
All 12 and over to take a LFT within 48 hours prior to return to UK, Book and pay for *before* you travel, TAKE IT WITH YOU, once tested send image of cassette to issuing company, they will email a certificate that you are fit to return, you'll need this at Sofia airport.
Back in the UK.
All *5* and over (England, Wales, NI), *11* and over (Scotland) to take a 'Day 2' PCR test within 48 hours of arriving back in the UK. You need to order the 'Day 2' BEFORE you GO to Bulgaria, because you'll need the registration code to put on the UK Passenger Locator Form that needs to be filled in within 48 hours *prior* to arrival in the UK. The 'Day 2' won't be sent to you until you return to the UK.
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If this is all wrong, and you end up in a gulag for 30 years, then it's not my fault.
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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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Heading to Borovets on Boxing Day, been waiting all week for Bulgaria to tighten up the entry requirements, but no news as of yet - the above is my understanding of what's required as of today (24th)
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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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@psenior1,
We're going to Borovets as well, please give me a heads up here if anything I might need to know.
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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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Thanks for the info, I have a couple of 9 year old twins and normally take them to France but obviously that isn’t gonna happen this year so thinking of Bulgaria, does anyone have any recommendations on resorts etc? Thanks
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just on way back from borovets .. can confirm the above info is correct … just don’t get drunk and try and complete the passenger locator form. Borovets was great for a week .. got lucky with the conditions
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If going to borovets make sure your hotel is near the slopes … Rila or festa winter palace
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& don't forget to nod for no & shake for yes.
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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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Currently transferring by coach to the resort, they did check the vax and PCR info at both ends, in Sophia it’s done just before baggage reclaim.
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@psenior1,
What's it like there?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Limited ski area but perfectably acceptable… when the conditions are good it’s great - it was snowing when we arrived. Bit of a pain as the two areas are not linked so you have to walk to the gondola in the morning. Better than no skiing - have heard of long queues when busy … but we had no issues - night skiing was fun and everything was fairly cheap. Food was good - plenty of variety though we found the fact they like their food like warm a bit weird
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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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@marodo2712, not bad, warm temps today so a little slushy and slippy in the afternoon on the very lower slopes, higher up the mountain was fine though, lots of fresh snow at the top. Surprisingly strict on the covid measures which is very reassuring, both in the town, Gondola and in the hotel.
Queues were good all day today on all the lifts, slopes busy (for Borovets) but still plenty of room for everyone
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@psenior1,
Any chance you could let me know the accurate local weather forecast for next week, so I know what goggles to bring/carry.
The weather apps are a bit vague.
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You know it makes sense.
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@marodo2712, will do no probs
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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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Yes the lukewarm good thing is really odd.
Are pistes any better prepared these days as they were awful when we went years ago; pretty dangerous in fact
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Poster: A snowHead
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Pistes were fine… some choppy runs after the snow and after the snow making but nothing too atrocious
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@psenior1,
Sorry to bother you again.
What's the best way to buy things in Borovets? Contactless, chip and pin, Euros, Lev's?
Can I just coast on my debit card?
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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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@marodo2712, some places reluctantly take cards but cash is definitely the best way. I use the cash point on the left side of the Rila hotel front or the one opposite the Aldo supermarket, they don’t charge you for withdrawals unlike the blue or yellow machines. Happy to answer any other questions you have so fire away 
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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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Return Ready to fly test.
Instead of taking my own tests from UK with me I see there is testing avail at Sophia airport - approx £20 for a LatFlow to get back into UK.
Anybody us this instead?
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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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@earl, not used it, but it was open when we came through, just on the right in the arrivals hall
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@psenior1,
Thanks for the info.
What's the score with the night skiing? Extra cost? What time is it open until?
Sorry for milking you so shamelessly, but I like to know as much as possible before I go anywhere.
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@marodo2712, no probs, nice to be able to help someone else on here for a change, rather than me asking the q’s!
Night skiing is really good, only one 6 person lift open bits it’s pretty quick, not a huge selection of runs but enough for a couple of hours at least. Cost is 40 Lev’s for an adult and 26 for a child (up to 13), so about £18 for me. Runs from 18.30 til 22.30…
We did it yesterday which was a mistake, Bulgarian bank holiday and it was no quieter than a normal daytime, usually it’s pretty quiet, especially after 9pm.
If you’re happy to ski red runs and the gondola queue is big in the morning, jump in a taxi, which wait on the corner opposite, ask for the Yastrobeets express, should cost you less than a fiver. They’ll drop you off at the yastrobeets express lift, take that and ski down following the signs to the gondola midway station. Jump on the gondola there to the top, missing the queues. Alternatively if you’ve got you’re own car, you can drive to the express and park on the road, which is what we did last time we were here.
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@psenior1,
Cheers!
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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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Just jumped on the Balkanholidays website.
The Bristol to Sophia flight on the 2nd Jan has only around 6 pre booked seats. Gulp!
Is everyone staying away from B.?
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Just pinged by test and trace from the TUI flight on the 26th - but thankfully only have to take lateral flows. Whilst the Bulgarian's are seemingly taking covid seriously, several brits on our trips were making a show of not wearing face masks ....should have expected it really. The hotel we stayed out had free face masks and gloves for the buffet - seems it's too much for some people!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Back a couple of days ago from a great trip to Borovets, @marodo2712 hope you are having a good time and the temps aren't causing too many probs, got a bit slushy a couple of the days on the Rila side of the mountain.
It was announced yesterday that anyone travelling to Bulgaria from a red list country like the UK will need a PCR test within 72 hrs, more expense and another hoop to jump through, though I am surprised they didn't introduce this before Xmas.
https://sofiaglobe.com/2022/01/04/bulgaria-to-step-up-rules-for-entry-from-red-zone-countries/
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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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@psenior.
Is the tap water drinkable in Borovets?
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| earl wrote: |
@psenior.
Is the tap water drinkable in Borovets? |
Yes, really rather nice too.
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You know it makes sense.
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Good to hear as I've downed many litres over the last few days.
And yes - it's really nice!!!
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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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@psenior1,
It is a bit warm on the Rila side, but it's still skiable. The Yastrebets side is more alpine, and the gondola even had to be closed for a short while because if the wind. My kids, with only 2.5 days if tuition had to ski to the mid station - their instructor was most impressed.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@earl, @marodo2712,
Glad to hear you're having a good trip, wish I was back there!! The water is drinkable, though I tend to stick to bottled most of the time.
I'm due to go back in a few weeks with my youngest two, though that could now be in doubt if I cant get the 13yr old her second jab in time.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@psenior1,
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could now be in doubt if I cant get the 13yr old her second jab in time.
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You just need a negative PCR within three days prior to departure don't you? The number of jabs is irrelevant isn't it?
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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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@marodo2712, according to the new rules that come in on the 7th anyone from a red list country needs a vaccination certificate and have a PCR test, I’m hoping kids are an exception but there’s no mention of that yet.
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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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Thabks for all the answers in the thread.
I am going at the end if Feb but looking at the piste map there are lots of brown lines that say connections.
What are these?
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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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@Ghostlybadge, they’re connecting ski ways, wide ski’able paths essentially, a couple are quite flat, ok on ski’s but not so much fun for boarders.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Today - they were looking very very brown
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My other half (unvaccinated so she can’t come) has given me permission to attempt at trying to get some skiing in this year. Bulgaria is the only option as I’ll be paying single person supplement (no one else will commit) 22 Jan is the only opportunity I get, does anyone know if the restaurants, mountain cafe’s etc are open in Borovets?
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Everything was open last week. Mountain cafes had plenty of outdoor seating with table service.
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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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| earl wrote: |
| Everything was open last week. Mountain cafes had plenty of outdoor seating with table service. |
Was the Snowpark opened? Thanks.
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The plan was for the snow park to open on the 15th, no idea if that’s still the case
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FAQ
