Having re-learnt to ski on my Genium X3, I wanted a resort that had plenty of green runs, and Borovets in Bulgaria looked perfect.
As you can see from the piste map below, there are two button lifts, the Rila and the Rotata, next to easy green runs, and a long green run from the top of the mountain accessible via the Sitnyakovo Express chairlift.
I stayed in the Festa Winter Palace – review here – within easy walking distance of the slopes. I didn’t, however, want to walk any distance in my ski boots so I hired my skis from Alpin Ski, a shop right next to the Rila lift, where I could store my boots and helmet etc in a heated locker.
This made the mornings really easy. Ski clothes and snow boots on in the hotel, short walk to the shop for ski gear, step onto the snow and start skiing.
Ski clothes and snow boots on in the hotel, short walk to the shop for ski gear, step onto the snow and start skiing
The shop opens at 8am giving you plenty of time to grab your gear and get ready for the lifts that open at 8.30am… handy for someone like me who takes ages to get ready:
I’m not going to lie, the slopes in Borovets in February half term were horrifically busy. I have never seen anything quite like it and I have skied since I was three. The quietest time was 8.30am-10.30am. I’d then advise you go for a swim or a spa before returning to the slopes for night skiing Wed-Sun 6.30pm – 9.30pm.
There are loads of fantastic places to eat and some wonderful trinket shops to explore:
There’s even a tattoo parlour with Bulgaria having no age restrictions on tattoos:
Overall I’d recommend Borovets for total beginners. I’d completed all of the green runs on day one and the blues and red weren’t very challenging at all. If you can avoid half term holidays do as most of your time will be spent in lift queues or avoiding novice skiers out of control on the slopes. But it’s cheap and it’s cheerful, and if you ever lose your leg I’d highly recommend it as a place to begin once again.
