Pamporovo Hotel, Pamporovo, Bulgaria
Hotel Information
Recent Price: £84
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
This is a hotel of high quality. It is peacefully located. only a short bus ride from the ski lifts. Use of the indoor pool, turkish bath, sauna, and gym is free to residents loading...
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Pamporovo Hotel Reviews
" Excellent holiday "
Submitted By: cath907
Again I was worried following previous recent reviews but I'm pleased to say both the hotel and the resort exceeded my expectations and I had a fantastic holiday. I travelled with Balkan Holidays, booked a week before travel and spent 21-28th feb 09 in Hotel Pamporovo.
Hotel: Excellent standard, 3 large bar areas, impressive decoration and beautiful log fires. There was a very modern 3 lane bowling alley (£5 pp) and 2 pool tables (£2.50 a game). The hotel also had an excellent shop for groceries. The swimming pool was lovely, although only luke warm but remember to bring a swim cap as they cost £5 otherwise. Jacuzzi and sauna etc cost extra. We had a lovely room with a balcony, very clean and towels changed daily. The food was varied daily (breakfasts were similar) but a good choice each time and a mixture of bulgaian, greek and british influence. Bulgarian food is not traditionaly served piping hot, but if you go early then the food is always hot. The hotel is central which is a bonus as some hotels eg Belmont and finlandia require taxi rides back late at night.
Ski bus: The hotel is last on the pick up run around the resort but we always got on one within ten mins of waiting. There was always a bus ready to go back at the end of the day.
Ski/snowboard: We pre booked ski and snowboard packs which worked out to be excellent value for money. The equipment was of a good standard. The instructors were absolutely fantastic esp Amy (snowboard) and Mico (ski). The snow was the best for 5 years in the resort so conditions were excellent, all the runs were open and the lifts all worked well. By 10am there is a bit of a queue for the first lift but they open at 830am. Restaraunts on the slopes served excellent food esp Mouskavets by the tower, roughly british prices once converted. You have to pay to use toilets as they have a toilet tax (50p). Ski packs are 4 hours per day over 6 days but snowboarders only get 2 hous per day for 3 days.I was able to pay £30 for 3 more days with the same snwboard instructor which was well worth it.
The resort is purpose built so apart from bars and restaraunts there is not much else although there are plenty of spas, swimming pools and an ice rink.
Overall we had a brilliant holiday. I have been skiing in france(Val D'Isere, Morzine) austria (Badgastain) and italy (Dolomites) but I would go back to Pamporovo. There is plenty to offer beginners and intermedites (3 blacks and approx 4 reds). Obviously as a small resort you would eventually outgrow it with experience but at such good prices and lovely hotels and atmosphere I will be carrying on learning to snowboard in the future there.
Hotel: Excellent standard, 3 large bar areas, impressive decoration and beautiful log fires. There was a very modern 3 lane bowling alley (£5 pp) and 2 pool tables (£2.50 a game). The hotel also had an excellent shop for groceries. The swimming pool was lovely, although only luke warm but remember to bring a swim cap as they cost £5 otherwise. Jacuzzi and sauna etc cost extra. We had a lovely room with a balcony, very clean and towels changed daily. The food was varied daily (breakfasts were similar) but a good choice each time and a mixture of bulgaian, greek and british influence. Bulgarian food is not traditionaly served piping hot, but if you go early then the food is always hot. The hotel is central which is a bonus as some hotels eg Belmont and finlandia require taxi rides back late at night.
Ski bus: The hotel is last on the pick up run around the resort but we always got on one within ten mins of waiting. There was always a bus ready to go back at the end of the day.
Ski/snowboard: We pre booked ski and snowboard packs which worked out to be excellent value for money. The equipment was of a good standard. The instructors were absolutely fantastic esp Amy (snowboard) and Mico (ski). The snow was the best for 5 years in the resort so conditions were excellent, all the runs were open and the lifts all worked well. By 10am there is a bit of a queue for the first lift but they open at 830am. Restaraunts on the slopes served excellent food esp Mouskavets by the tower, roughly british prices once converted. You have to pay to use toilets as they have a toilet tax (50p). Ski packs are 4 hours per day over 6 days but snowboarders only get 2 hous per day for 3 days.I was able to pay £30 for 3 more days with the same snwboard instructor which was well worth it.
The resort is purpose built so apart from bars and restaraunts there is not much else although there are plenty of spas, swimming pools and an ice rink.
Overall we had a brilliant holiday. I have been skiing in france(Val D'Isere, Morzine) austria (Badgastain) and italy (Dolomites) but I would go back to Pamporovo. There is plenty to offer beginners and intermedites (3 blacks and approx 4 reds). Obviously as a small resort you would eventually outgrow it with experience but at such good prices and lovely hotels and atmosphere I will be carrying on learning to snowboard in the future there.
Advice: Excellent standards, very friendly resort, lovely hotel.
Activities: White Hart Pub, Mouskavets restaraunt on the slopes
Good for: Ski
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2009
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Blue Sky Holidays
" poor quality misleading food "
Submitted By: ridetheroad
stayed at the hotel belmont staff were rude and not very helpful very misleading hotel information, we thought we were having four star food this was not the case it was cold and not cooked it wasnt fit to even feed a dog very very dangerous un cooked food of very poor quality we thought we were having food of a selected menu as stated when we booked this was not the case it is def not a four star hotel as listed oh well neilson have a case on there hands with the management of this hotel
Good for: Ski
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2009
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Neilson
" My stay at hotel pamporovo "
Submitted By: lowndes
The hotel when you first arrive is impressive, we arrived late at night and a packed supper of sandwich and drink was awaiting us. That was thoughtful.
It states that swimming, turkish bath, sauna and gym are free - this is not strictly true, swimming yes but have to buy swimming hat for 10 levas. we were guests but were told had to pay for turkish bath and sauna.
Hotel is really nice - it was warm with a couple of log fires around. However, its not a hotel we would return to. The food although on first sight looked impressive and inviting, you quickly realise that it is just the same foods but different variations and for some reason they do not seem to serve food very hot, everything is luke warm. However they are two issues I had with the hotel. a) the beauty spa, such a good idea but be careful, whatever treatment you are having they pressure you during the treatment to have extra's at what they see 'cheap price' You cannot relax -alswo watch the bill at the end, they tend to overcharge and apologise afterwards when or if you notice. Also you do not exactly get the treatments stated in their booklet, so make sure you go throug it with them and they no what you expect.
The other thing which lets the hotel down is the staff. Most of the staff of very sullen, unsmiling and not friendly - I found this offputting.
Ski-ing was good however, but there are plenty of other places/hotels you would be better spending your money on.
It states that swimming, turkish bath, sauna and gym are free - this is not strictly true, swimming yes but have to buy swimming hat for 10 levas. we were guests but were told had to pay for turkish bath and sauna.
Hotel is really nice - it was warm with a couple of log fires around. However, its not a hotel we would return to. The food although on first sight looked impressive and inviting, you quickly realise that it is just the same foods but different variations and for some reason they do not seem to serve food very hot, everything is luke warm. However they are two issues I had with the hotel. a) the beauty spa, such a good idea but be careful, whatever treatment you are having they pressure you during the treatment to have extra's at what they see 'cheap price' You cannot relax -alswo watch the bill at the end, they tend to overcharge and apologise afterwards when or if you notice. Also you do not exactly get the treatments stated in their booklet, so make sure you go throug it with them and they no what you expect.
The other thing which lets the hotel down is the staff. Most of the staff of very sullen, unsmiling and not friendly - I found this offputting.
Ski-ing was good however, but there are plenty of other places/hotels you would be better spending your money on.
Advice: Pamporovo is a lovely place, it expensive -
Activities: The Iris Pub in centre - good atmosphere and better food than hotel - but smoking is bad everywhere.
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2009
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:BULGARIAN TOURS
" We stayed at the Pamporovo hotel in... "
Submitted By: Miss S Fairbrother
We stayed at the Pamporovo hotel in March, there was 4 adults staying in 2 rooms. There is nothing we could fault about the hotel at all. The rooms were a good size, clean and had everything we needed, including a hairdryer, TV, mini-bar. The rooms were cleaned every day and fresh towels provided.
The hotel itself is lovely with alot of very good facilitites including 3 bars, bowling, a mini nightclub, a lovely pool area with a jacuzzi which was 10 euro each for 20 mins...we used it a couple of times. There is a wide selection of massage/treatments available too which were very reasonably priced.
The buffet style breakfast and evening meals were really good too. There was always something that we all liked and plenty of choice. The only thing i would say is no drinks were provided with dinner so you had to buy them from the bar. There was a band playing in the resteraunt in the evenings to serenade meal times.
The location of the hotel was brilliant just a 5 minute stroll into the main part of Pamporovo where the shopping centres and pubs were. The White Hart pub did lovely food and was probably the best pub there. We did notice a change in prices when we attended the 'pub crawl' though so be aware!
There was a shuttle bus service every 20 minutes to drop off at the ski centre every morning and afternoon. A taxi was only 15 euros so we did that a couple of times too.
The snowboarding instructor Robbo was superb, he did a fantastic job teaching us to snowboard!!
The food shacks on the mountain were a little pricy and food not that nice really but to be expected i suppose.
The guys in the snowshack were very helpful and even let us pay the next day for goods purchased...very trusting guys :0)
All in all we had a fantastic holiday and i would definitely recommend the hotel and resort for a cheap holiday. The snow was a little scarce but enough to just about get by, i suppose that's the risk you have to take when booking a holiday to Bulgaria rather than Canada etc, very cheap but good snow conditions not guaranteed!
The hotel itself is lovely with alot of very good facilitites including 3 bars, bowling, a mini nightclub, a lovely pool area with a jacuzzi which was 10 euro each for 20 mins...we used it a couple of times. There is a wide selection of massage/treatments available too which were very reasonably priced.
The buffet style breakfast and evening meals were really good too. There was always something that we all liked and plenty of choice. The only thing i would say is no drinks were provided with dinner so you had to buy them from the bar. There was a band playing in the resteraunt in the evenings to serenade meal times.
The location of the hotel was brilliant just a 5 minute stroll into the main part of Pamporovo where the shopping centres and pubs were. The White Hart pub did lovely food and was probably the best pub there. We did notice a change in prices when we attended the 'pub crawl' though so be aware!
There was a shuttle bus service every 20 minutes to drop off at the ski centre every morning and afternoon. A taxi was only 15 euros so we did that a couple of times too.
The snowboarding instructor Robbo was superb, he did a fantastic job teaching us to snowboard!!
The food shacks on the mountain were a little pricy and food not that nice really but to be expected i suppose.
The guys in the snowshack were very helpful and even let us pay the next day for goods purchased...very trusting guys :0)
All in all we had a fantastic holiday and i would definitely recommend the hotel and resort for a cheap holiday. The snow was a little scarce but enough to just about get by, i suppose that's the risk you have to take when booking a holiday to Bulgaria rather than Canada etc, very cheap but good snow conditions not guaranteed!
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Inghams
" Just got back from a week in... "
Submitted By: Hannah T
Just got back from a week in Pamporovo & stayed at the Pamporovo hotel. After reading the comments previously written before we went, i was very dubious about what we were going to end up in. However from the moment we got there we had an absolutely fabulous time. The rooms were clean- the only recommendation that i would add is a tea/coffee making facility in the room but it didn't make any difference to the enjoyment of our holiday. The food was great & hot, with a wide variety, & service was v efficient. The skiing was brilliant & very organised, & the instructor we had was called zdrasco(not sure of the spelling). He was brilliant - a really nice guy with lots of patience!!! Would highly recommend resort/ski school/hotel & everything to anyone who is thinking of going.
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2008
- Board Basis:Full Board
- Tour Operator:Balkan Holidays
" Where do I begin to start about what... "
Submitted By: Mr Colm Hurley
Where do I begin to start about what a brilliant holiday we just had.
We have been on dozens of package holidays and this skiing holiday in Pamporova is up there with the best of them.
The hotel was excellent any any problems we had were delt with immediately. The staff were v. friendly and the food was v. tasty. The buffets were second to none!!!
The instructors were very professional and spent time with those who needed the extra help (like myself). The snow was great and there was plenty to do in the resort and shuttle bus offered a very efficient service to the slopes.
Have already booked to go back again next year. Having seen some bad reviews from previous years I think they must have really improved on there customer service.
Highly reccommended!!!!
We have been on dozens of package holidays and this skiing holiday in Pamporova is up there with the best of them.
The hotel was excellent any any problems we had were delt with immediately. The staff were v. friendly and the food was v. tasty. The buffets were second to none!!!
The instructors were very professional and spent time with those who needed the extra help (like myself). The snow was great and there was plenty to do in the resort and shuttle bus offered a very efficient service to the slopes.
Have already booked to go back again next year. Having seen some bad reviews from previous years I think they must have really improved on there customer service.
Highly reccommended!!!!
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Panorama
" Well this is the second time that we... "
Submitted By: Mrs S Gifford
Well this is the second time that we have been to this resort and hotel. Had a great time again. Hotel is lovely and staff very friendly. Hotel is very clean, it is a victoria group hotel. Very nice posh reception. Hotels very clean and made beds every day, clean towels and toilettries every day. Wallpaper looking a bit shabby in rooms, starting to bubble a bit. The only thing with this hotel, rooms seemed to be a bit smokey, cleaners were able to smoke on leather sofas just along the corridor from your room, but like this in other hotels abroad, I probably noticed it a bit more as I don't smoke and the UK have banned all this in pubs and buildings. Bowling great and very nice swimming pool, but remember to take a swimming hat as theirs to buy is very expensive, especially when you are a family. The ski school is excellent, very friendly staff and very patient. The price of the package for lessons and hire of equipment including lifts was excellent, and a fantastic presentation night included. We had plenty of snow. Prices have gone up since 2 years ago, they get you in the restaurants at the slopes, £2 for a can of coke, etc. Chips pretty expensive. You also need to pay for using their toilets. All food is pretty bland, but edible, but very repetative, looked forward to a good british meal. Disco open, but noone in it. Hotel very quiet in evenings. Marie the rep very friendly and helpful, she has been there for some years now. If flying from Gatwick had to land at Sofia, not plovdiv, so journey transfer long by coach - 3 hours. Lots of people that were due to arrive at plovdiv couldn't due to fog, so got diverted to Sofia anyway or some even ended up in Greece. I would definitely recommend this resort and hotel.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Inghams
" Ok lets be honest, I read the reviews... "
Submitted By: Mr J Condon
Ok lets be honest, I read the reviews befofe I left and was prepared. The hotel itself is at most a 3 star, the rooms were clean but a bit old fashioned. The tv stations were all in bulgarian with the exception of bbc world and thank god Hallmark.I found the staff on most occasions helpful. Word of advice, if you smoke, and this goes for all places selling cigs, do not buy the cartons, they are fake, not the brand you think you are buying, single 20 packs that have the tax stamp are the real thing, buy 10 packs of these, same price as the cartons. The food in the hotel restruant is poor to say the least, cold, undercooked bloody dangerious, however food from the bar was ok, lived on pizza. The breakfast was ok, the coffee machine excellent.Now the reason we went there was for the sking and that was fantastic, we are both beginners and our instructer was a girl called Stochia, she was so nice, understanding and most caring.A word of warning, make sure you have travel insurance with your tour operator if possible, why, because if anything happens you cut out the middle man, let the rep do all the work. Overall would I go again, yes, so much so we bought an apartment beside ski lift 1, final note, buy your ski lessons, ski pass from the travel company, its cheeper. Nearly forgot, they sell bells on the slopes, tell Charlie I said hi, you will know what I mean if you are on ski lift 1.
Have fun
Have fun
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:topflight
" me and my brother stayed here and we... "
Submitted By: Mr D Davison
me and my brother stayed here and we had a fantastic time. we read some bad reviews but went anyway and had a cracking holiday. we have just booked to go again.
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" After a delay leaving, we put up with... "
Submitted By: Mr K Wheatley
After a delay leaving, we put up with with rude hostesses on the plane and an unpleasant coach journey with no toilet or intentions of stopping to use a loo! First impressions of the hotel were great until we met the rude, surley and unhelpful receptionist (she also tried to rip us off when changing money), everything was a chore for her.
The rep was helpful and pleasant, also at the hotel when stated. The bar staff seemed ok,however the prices were similar to the uk and service a little hit or miss. The restaurant was a joke, rude staff, cold/undercooked and unrecognisable food, they really need to employ a chef (any purchased food in restaurants out of the hotel very good, so no excuses!).
The great list of facilities in the brochures was total lies, the casino was in another hotel in town, the night club was just a bar with spinning light ball, the swimming pool was just above freezing and everything else was an absolute fortune to use (pool table £2, bowling £20, sauna £8, turkish bath £25 etc etc). I never found the other half of the facilities listed.
The maid made the bed each day but little else. The skiing was fine for beginners and instruction was very good. The White Hart seemed the best bar in town with a very good live band but again the bar staff ripped us off at every opportunity possible.
The transfer home was via Greece (9 hours coach trip, no toilet, rep or stops) so we didn't get our last day which was a pain. Overall, lovely hotel, let down by staff and poor management, great skiing for beginners and great value for money, NOT at the 2* Hotel Pamporovo though.
The rep was helpful and pleasant, also at the hotel when stated. The bar staff seemed ok,however the prices were similar to the uk and service a little hit or miss. The restaurant was a joke, rude staff, cold/undercooked and unrecognisable food, they really need to employ a chef (any purchased food in restaurants out of the hotel very good, so no excuses!).
The great list of facilities in the brochures was total lies, the casino was in another hotel in town, the night club was just a bar with spinning light ball, the swimming pool was just above freezing and everything else was an absolute fortune to use (pool table £2, bowling £20, sauna £8, turkish bath £25 etc etc). I never found the other half of the facilities listed.
The maid made the bed each day but little else. The skiing was fine for beginners and instruction was very good. The White Hart seemed the best bar in town with a very good live band but again the bar staff ripped us off at every opportunity possible.
The transfer home was via Greece (9 hours coach trip, no toilet, rep or stops) so we didn't get our last day which was a pain. Overall, lovely hotel, let down by staff and poor management, great skiing for beginners and great value for money, NOT at the 2* Hotel Pamporovo though.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:First Choice
" Please don’t stay here! The hotel... "
Submitted By: Mr J.Hanson
Please don’t stay here! The hotel itself is ok, 2 star in the UK, however the hell on earth starts here! I’ve been to 80 countries in the past 20 years and never met so many dishonest, rude people in my life. The staff in all but a very few bars and the odd restaurant are very rude. Personal hygiene is nonexistent. The food is not fit to eat and uncooked or stone cold. The gym and casino in the hotel web site are photos from other hotels, they don’t have them. The swimming pool cannot be used unless you buy their hats; the sauna is charged for.
I could go on and on but don’t want to stress myself out.
One last thing however the airport in Plovdiv was closed due to fog when we were due to return to UK - this happens very often but they won’t tell you this. The only way back to Gatwick was a nine hour coach trip through the mountains to Greece! A trip they make most weeks with no seat belts, no toilets, no aircon, no food and no drink. On our trip we had no rep either as he was from Serbia and not allowed to enter Greece. After two hours I asked if we could stop for the loo and was told not for 20 mins, an hour later I asked and was told 20 mins, by this time I was embarrassed and in pain. After four and a half hours we stopped for 10 mins then on to Greece and home.
If I do anything important in life it would be to save anyone else this godforsaken trip.
I could go on and on but don’t want to stress myself out.
One last thing however the airport in Plovdiv was closed due to fog when we were due to return to UK - this happens very often but they won’t tell you this. The only way back to Gatwick was a nine hour coach trip through the mountains to Greece! A trip they make most weeks with no seat belts, no toilets, no aircon, no food and no drink. On our trip we had no rep either as he was from Serbia and not allowed to enter Greece. After two hours I asked if we could stop for the loo and was told not for 20 mins, an hour later I asked and was told 20 mins, by this time I was embarrassed and in pain. After four and a half hours we stopped for 10 mins then on to Greece and home.
If I do anything important in life it would be to save anyone else this godforsaken trip.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:First Choice
" This review is 100% true as I am a... "
Submitted By: Other J Wright
This review is 100% true as I am a normal person who visited Hotel Pamparovo and this is not bias.
What a wonderful place.
Personally I think that some of the reviews on here are utter bull****. I have the feeling them reviews are from other companies that are not as nice and are trying to steal potential Hotel Pamperovo customers. What other people have forgotten to say is things such as the fireplace, welcome chocolates and little touches like that.
When I went, I think about 2004 (I can’t be bothered to find in my diary) and everything was outstanding. But one thing that will stop me from going again is the slopes. They are excerlent for beginners and that’s it as the slopes are a bit basic. The meals were ok, but you have to accept that that's Bulgaria and don’t go abroad if you don’t like foreign food and you have to adjust if you want to eat in a foreign country.
I do feel the Bulgarians are a bit grumpy looking compared to us English but that’s Bulgaria, not Hotel Pamparovo.
If you are looking for a good skiing holiday, this resort and hotel is right for you if:
1-your a beginner
2-you accept Bulgarians for who they are
3-you like to adventure in foreign food
4-you don’t trust those stupid hard to believe lies such as 'bed bugs, dust all over the hotel, poor service, no stacked shelves, nothing working (i.e. Bulbs and hairdryers) and no curtains.
Plus there are too many things wrong for a 5 star hotel to get 5 stars'.
What a wonderful place.
Personally I think that some of the reviews on here are utter bull****. I have the feeling them reviews are from other companies that are not as nice and are trying to steal potential Hotel Pamperovo customers. What other people have forgotten to say is things such as the fireplace, welcome chocolates and little touches like that.
When I went, I think about 2004 (I can’t be bothered to find in my diary) and everything was outstanding. But one thing that will stop me from going again is the slopes. They are excerlent for beginners and that’s it as the slopes are a bit basic. The meals were ok, but you have to accept that that's Bulgaria and don’t go abroad if you don’t like foreign food and you have to adjust if you want to eat in a foreign country.
I do feel the Bulgarians are a bit grumpy looking compared to us English but that’s Bulgaria, not Hotel Pamparovo.
If you are looking for a good skiing holiday, this resort and hotel is right for you if:
1-your a beginner
2-you accept Bulgarians for who they are
3-you like to adventure in foreign food
4-you don’t trust those stupid hard to believe lies such as 'bed bugs, dust all over the hotel, poor service, no stacked shelves, nothing working (i.e. Bulbs and hairdryers) and no curtains.
Plus there are too many things wrong for a 5 star hotel to get 5 stars'.
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2005
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:I can't remember
" Had read extremely bad reviews just... "
Submitted By: Mrs J Gamble
Had read extremely bad reviews just before we went and contacted Balkan who emailed resort rep to find out if any of it was true, and on their reassurances we went with trepidation.
3 kids, 4 adults in 3 rooms all together on 4th floor - ideal. All rooms very large, free fruit on arrival. Cleaned every day but rarely got hot water, more luke warm. Never accept room on first floor - big queues for restaurant form outside your door!
Queued for food 3 times in total but as 7 of us, did not wait long - tables seat 7 or more. If just two expect to wait for ages for a table otherwise you are forced to share - not a good situation.
Food was always hot and edible, hot and cold buffet, with very good choice for breakfast except occasional warmed up left over’s from night before, e.g. lasagne! Evening meal of four hot choices plus excellent cold buffet, but overheard lady complaining about her vegetarian meal, simply a plate of vegetables.
Staff sullen but can't expect more on what they are paid. Manager a bully, had one girl in tears because some guests walked off without paying for their drinks, he said he was taking it from her wages!
Wine was good price but other drinks very expensive. Always went to the lounge for drinks - round of drinks for 7 including 4 soft drinks, came to around £20 which is very expensive especially when you've got 3 kids (around £80 for 4 rounds).
Bowling was also dear at £10 a go but excellent bowling alley when fluorescent lights on.
Swimming pool free (wear caps) but everything else to pay for - sauna £5. Used the A La Carte restaurant one day and paid around £12 for 3 course meal including glass of wine and coffee - not too bad for one person. Nightclub very very small.
Food in the ski restaurants was not that cheap either (not much choice) - paid around £25 for 2 pizzas and 6 soft drinks. One restaurant charged £20 for 4 hot chocolate brandies.
Overall, hotel was good (3/4* not 5). Would go back to the hotel again aware of its downfalls like expensive drinks and expensive leisure facilities.
Pamps skiing could have been better - no snow at beginning of week getting even worse by the end (no-one's fault though).
Ski kindergarten abominable - children begged to come out after half a day - managed 3 days - first day they skied just 2 goes of about 5 yards. Second day didn't ski at all (told due to weather!), third day we insisted they ski and watched but although skis brought outside, still didn't ski, were allowed to snowball - complained, told them how bad they were and removed the children. Only about 6 left by this time anyway - most gave up.
Ate in village restaurant on last evening, bill £120 for 7, including 1 bottle of wine, 4 beers, and rest soft drinks. 2 mixed starters, 6 mains, 3 desserts, 2 coffees - definitely not cheap - akin to prices at home for similar meal.
Very long boring transfer from the airport with nothing to look at and the pack up given to you is very poor - on this basis along and very tiny resort with very few shops, would probably not return to Pamporovo.
Hotel (well ready for refurb) 7, resort (good if you like it very quiet) 6, airport transfers 3, snow 0, prices in resort/hotel/skiing 3.
3 kids, 4 adults in 3 rooms all together on 4th floor - ideal. All rooms very large, free fruit on arrival. Cleaned every day but rarely got hot water, more luke warm. Never accept room on first floor - big queues for restaurant form outside your door!
Queued for food 3 times in total but as 7 of us, did not wait long - tables seat 7 or more. If just two expect to wait for ages for a table otherwise you are forced to share - not a good situation.
Food was always hot and edible, hot and cold buffet, with very good choice for breakfast except occasional warmed up left over’s from night before, e.g. lasagne! Evening meal of four hot choices plus excellent cold buffet, but overheard lady complaining about her vegetarian meal, simply a plate of vegetables.
Staff sullen but can't expect more on what they are paid. Manager a bully, had one girl in tears because some guests walked off without paying for their drinks, he said he was taking it from her wages!
Wine was good price but other drinks very expensive. Always went to the lounge for drinks - round of drinks for 7 including 4 soft drinks, came to around £20 which is very expensive especially when you've got 3 kids (around £80 for 4 rounds).
Bowling was also dear at £10 a go but excellent bowling alley when fluorescent lights on.
Swimming pool free (wear caps) but everything else to pay for - sauna £5. Used the A La Carte restaurant one day and paid around £12 for 3 course meal including glass of wine and coffee - not too bad for one person. Nightclub very very small.
Food in the ski restaurants was not that cheap either (not much choice) - paid around £25 for 2 pizzas and 6 soft drinks. One restaurant charged £20 for 4 hot chocolate brandies.
Overall, hotel was good (3/4* not 5). Would go back to the hotel again aware of its downfalls like expensive drinks and expensive leisure facilities.
Pamps skiing could have been better - no snow at beginning of week getting even worse by the end (no-one's fault though).
Ski kindergarten abominable - children begged to come out after half a day - managed 3 days - first day they skied just 2 goes of about 5 yards. Second day didn't ski at all (told due to weather!), third day we insisted they ski and watched but although skis brought outside, still didn't ski, were allowed to snowball - complained, told them how bad they were and removed the children. Only about 6 left by this time anyway - most gave up.
Ate in village restaurant on last evening, bill £120 for 7, including 1 bottle of wine, 4 beers, and rest soft drinks. 2 mixed starters, 6 mains, 3 desserts, 2 coffees - definitely not cheap - akin to prices at home for similar meal.
Very long boring transfer from the airport with nothing to look at and the pack up given to you is very poor - on this basis along and very tiny resort with very few shops, would probably not return to Pamporovo.
Hotel (well ready for refurb) 7, resort (good if you like it very quiet) 6, airport transfers 3, snow 0, prices in resort/hotel/skiing 3.
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Balkan
" Would just like to add my support to... "
Submitted By: Mr R Jackson
Would just like to add my support to the comments of Skybird & Freston above.
Pretty well exactly our experience of this hotel too.
Disappointed with First Choice for offering this hotel - they surely know what it is really like. I have to say though that their rep was nevertheless pleasant & helpful. They did at least put on a good tour of Plovdiv on the last day.
As for the skiing, well there was little snow - they can't help that - but the runs themselves were poor on safety barriers and poorly prepared. Some unguarded drops, building site debris, even spotted a steel loop sticking out of one Piste. Alps resorts are a league ahead.
The ski fitting on day one was a chaotic mess - no proper fitting at all - wrong lengths, no adjustments, took ages and then had to get them changed / adjusted throughout the week.
The main chair lift to the top is too long a run - can get very cold - not good for young kids. If it's not working you're stuck with a poor single chair (no good for kids) or an expensive taxi ride.
Instructors were very pleasant and tried hard under the difficult conditions but, having experienced French instructors at work, didn't give quite the same intensive 'technique' and guidance instruction that we know is possible.
Buses to/from hotels (start & end of day only) but if you are at the Pamporovo hotel they arrive already full in the morning. If you want to go skiing late or come back early it's a rip-off cartel taxi service.
Cash machine situation in the resort needs sorting - most of them didn't work.
The traditional Bulgarian folk evening that was arranged in a local venue was great - superb dancers + musicians.
Verdict: This resort is obviously cheaper than Alps resorts but my advice would be if you can't afford an Alps resort this year save the money and go to the Alps next.
Sorry Pamporovo, I know Bulgaria is certainly not flush with resources but most of the above could be put right with little further outlay.
Pretty well exactly our experience of this hotel too.
Disappointed with First Choice for offering this hotel - they surely know what it is really like. I have to say though that their rep was nevertheless pleasant & helpful. They did at least put on a good tour of Plovdiv on the last day.
As for the skiing, well there was little snow - they can't help that - but the runs themselves were poor on safety barriers and poorly prepared. Some unguarded drops, building site debris, even spotted a steel loop sticking out of one Piste. Alps resorts are a league ahead.
The ski fitting on day one was a chaotic mess - no proper fitting at all - wrong lengths, no adjustments, took ages and then had to get them changed / adjusted throughout the week.
The main chair lift to the top is too long a run - can get very cold - not good for young kids. If it's not working you're stuck with a poor single chair (no good for kids) or an expensive taxi ride.
Instructors were very pleasant and tried hard under the difficult conditions but, having experienced French instructors at work, didn't give quite the same intensive 'technique' and guidance instruction that we know is possible.
Buses to/from hotels (start & end of day only) but if you are at the Pamporovo hotel they arrive already full in the morning. If you want to go skiing late or come back early it's a rip-off cartel taxi service.
Cash machine situation in the resort needs sorting - most of them didn't work.
The traditional Bulgarian folk evening that was arranged in a local venue was great - superb dancers + musicians.
Verdict: This resort is obviously cheaper than Alps resorts but my advice would be if you can't afford an Alps resort this year save the money and go to the Alps next.
Sorry Pamporovo, I know Bulgaria is certainly not flush with resources but most of the above could be put right with little further outlay.
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- Date of Holiday:Dec 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:First Choice
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Advice: this resort suits mid age people who likes peaceful resort and ski beginners.
Activities: many different activities recommended by reps...
Good for: Ski