Hotel Orphey, Bansko, Bulgaria
Hotel Information
Recent Price: £57
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Hotel Orphey Reviews
" We just returned from a week holiday... "
Submitted By: czechgirl
We just returned from a week holiday in hotel Orphey in Bansko. It was a group holiday with 10 adults and 7 children. We thought we would go to Bulgaria as it was supposed to be quite cheap and as we were taking the kids, we thought it was a good idea. Well it wasn't actually all that cheap, but not too bad either - for a skiing resort.
Now about the hotel: We arrived at ten o'clock in the evening having spend most of the day travelling. (The transfer from Sofia airport took 3 hours!!!) The staff at the hotel were not very welcoming. Actually, it was quite a challenge to get a word out of them. And I am sure that was not because they couldn't speak English. There was some trouble with their computer system so they couldn't give us our keys for the room. It took them over an hour to check us in. And we were the only new guests. During that time, they also gave us our packed lunches as we missed the dinner. I thing only two or three people were brave enough to eat it. It was disgusting. Never mind that, we all thought let's forget about that and it would be better in the morning. But we were wrong. The staff were as unfriendly in the morning as they were the previous night. And they stayed like that all week.
The rooms in the hotel were lovely though. Very spacious, cleaned every day and had very comfortable beds. The hotel was very nice, other than the staff working there. Oh, and another bad thing - the food. That was something else. The first two days were so bad, that we all though we are not going to last a week. Then one of the guys in our party complained and it got better. Not much, but at least there was always something all of us could eat. But this was not just Orphey, speaking with other people staying in different hotels, it was the same everywhere. Its just not what we are used to.
The hotel has a free shuttle minibus going to and from the gondola a few times a day. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the gondola and the bus goes often enough.
Skiing in Bansko: there were all levels of skiers in our group from complete beginners to experts. And also one snowboarder - me. To be honest, the skiing area was not so great. The nursery slopes were very poor and most of the ski instructors were not interested. Out of 13 people who booked lessons, only five of us stayed in them. Mine were only two hours for three days so that was not too bad and my instructor was actually pretty good. Others were not so lucky. There are some really nice blue slopes ( can be quite tricky at times though), few very nice reds and the blacks are also nice - or so I've heard as I was not brave enough to go on them :-).
Overall: it was ok holiday, the kids enjoyed it, but I would not go back any time soon. Maybe in a few years time.....
Now about the hotel: We arrived at ten o'clock in the evening having spend most of the day travelling. (The transfer from Sofia airport took 3 hours!!!) The staff at the hotel were not very welcoming. Actually, it was quite a challenge to get a word out of them. And I am sure that was not because they couldn't speak English. There was some trouble with their computer system so they couldn't give us our keys for the room. It took them over an hour to check us in. And we were the only new guests. During that time, they also gave us our packed lunches as we missed the dinner. I thing only two or three people were brave enough to eat it. It was disgusting. Never mind that, we all thought let's forget about that and it would be better in the morning. But we were wrong. The staff were as unfriendly in the morning as they were the previous night. And they stayed like that all week.
The rooms in the hotel were lovely though. Very spacious, cleaned every day and had very comfortable beds. The hotel was very nice, other than the staff working there. Oh, and another bad thing - the food. That was something else. The first two days were so bad, that we all though we are not going to last a week. Then one of the guys in our party complained and it got better. Not much, but at least there was always something all of us could eat. But this was not just Orphey, speaking with other people staying in different hotels, it was the same everywhere. Its just not what we are used to.
The hotel has a free shuttle minibus going to and from the gondola a few times a day. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the gondola and the bus goes often enough.
Skiing in Bansko: there were all levels of skiers in our group from complete beginners to experts. And also one snowboarder - me. To be honest, the skiing area was not so great. The nursery slopes were very poor and most of the ski instructors were not interested. Out of 13 people who booked lessons, only five of us stayed in them. Mine were only two hours for three days so that was not too bad and my instructor was actually pretty good. Others were not so lucky. There are some really nice blue slopes ( can be quite tricky at times though), few very nice reds and the blacks are also nice - or so I've heard as I was not brave enough to go on them :-).
Overall: it was ok holiday, the kids enjoyed it, but I would not go back any time soon. Maybe in a few years time.....
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:First Choice
The food is unedible, no choices for breakfast, consisting of scaby fruit and stale bread.
Takeaway food from the resort is no better. i couldnt eat a thing and lucky that i had taken plenty of chocolate bars with me. Main meals are no better ,undescribable.
The sking is not good either,and even at my age of 15 i expected better. the slopes are no comparison to other Ski resorts. I have been sking in Austria and Sanfransisco,
As a resort i think a lot of improvements are needed- shopping is minimal
I wouldnt recommend and i wouldnt go back