They’re cheap, they’re cheerful and they’re stonkingly sunny at Eastertime: The Bulgarian resorts might not have the biggest or most snow sure ski areas on the planet (you’re better off in France, Austria or Switzerland if that’s what you’re after) but that doesn’t stop them from having a cracking atmosphere at this time of year.
Catered chalets aren’t as commonly found in Bulgaria as they are in France. As an alternative, have a look at the Yagoda and Malina Village cabins in Borovets. They’re built in cosy Alpine chalet style and can often be booked on a Half Board basis for a hassle-free Easter (as well as having kitchenettes if you fancy knocking up your own nosh). There are also plenty of Half Board hotels if you don’t mind a different type of lodging.
If you’re happy to self-cater or use local restaurants, you’ll find a number of apartments in Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo.
It’s also worth considering one of the bigger ski nations if you don’t mind looking beyond Bulgaria. As well as hundreds of traditional catered chalets, France’s ski resorts have bigger and more snow sure ski areas – like Val Thorens which is the highest in Europe.
Hotels are the main type of ski accommodation in this neck of the woods: You’ll find everything from luxury lodgings with all the trimmings to more basic Half Board digs and B&B’s – and they all tend to cost a lot less than you’d pay in one of the bigger ski nations.
The Kempinski Grand Arena hogs the limelight as one of the finest in the country. With a first class location at the foot of Bansko’s pistes, it’s one of the Leading Hotels of the World and has won all manner of spa-related awards. Hotel Premier Luxury Mountain Resort is another favourite – a new build with fabulous facilities that costs less than you’d pay for most self-catered apartments in France.
For Easter skiing on a shoestring, Hotel Rila comes with a smaller price-tag but still has a fabulous location – within 25m of the ski lifts, centre and ski school meeting point.
Bulgaria’s long been loved for its cheap skiing, and if you want to save even more over Easter, self-catering’s just the ticket.
That’s not to say you’ll be slumming it: A lot of the apartments here come connected to hotels, letting you make use of your own space and kitchen, with the added bonus of access to the hotel’s bar, spa or swimming pool. The Euphoria Club Hotel and Spa’s Apartments do just this on the outskirts of Borovets. Or if you’d prefer to be closer to the slopes, you’ll find the Belvedere Holiday Club Apartments about 300m from the lifts in Bansko.
While most are part of a block or complex, other apartments have their own self-contained lodgings, perfect to cosy up in after a grand day outdoors. We like the little Iglika Villas in Borovets, where you can often upgrade to a Half Board package in a nearby hotel if you’d like meals included in the package.