Bulgaria - Don't go!!!!!
Discussion
Hi guys,
Just back from skiing in Bansko, Bulgaria.
Positives
Went with a great group of lads
Good hotel & Spa
Good skiing in the mornings
Negatives
Bulgaria is a stinkin' rot pit, no infrastucture.
Bansko is a horrible dusty dump, biggest building site you will ever see, several hotels have gone bust this year already. You must be mad to invest money there.
horrible food, everything tastes the same regardless of what is in it, we all survived on crisps and choc
horrible locals, rude, ignorant, have a lot to learn about tourism.
packs of wild dogs, has to be seen!!!!!
open sewers
no decent nightlife. Only places to go were the lions and amigos which you wouldn't even look twice at back home in the UK.
In summary, do bother with bulgaria, spend an extra 100 or 2 on going to the alps.
Just back from skiing in Bansko, Bulgaria.
Positives
Went with a great group of lads
Good hotel & Spa
Good skiing in the mornings
Negatives
Bulgaria is a stinkin' rot pit, no infrastucture.
Bansko is a horrible dusty dump, biggest building site you will ever see, several hotels have gone bust this year already. You must be mad to invest money there.
horrible food, everything tastes the same regardless of what is in it, we all survived on crisps and choc
horrible locals, rude, ignorant, have a lot to learn about tourism.
packs of wild dogs, has to be seen!!!!!
open sewers
no decent nightlife. Only places to go were the lions and amigos which you wouldn't even look twice at back home in the UK.
In summary, do bother with bulgaria, spend an extra 100 or 2 on going to the alps.
And what exactly were you expecting ?
The point around investing there is that foreign money coming in will eventually sort out the problems, such as the sewers etc. Think Spain 30 years ago. Investing is not always about making a quick buck or two, although selling on the upward spiral does allow this.
Oh, and the packs of dogs were probably the prossies ... Bloody loads of them in the 'new' tourist 'resorts'
The point around investing there is that foreign money coming in will eventually sort out the problems, such as the sewers etc. Think Spain 30 years ago. Investing is not always about making a quick buck or two, although selling on the upward spiral does allow this.
Oh, and the packs of dogs were probably the prossies ... Bloody loads of them in the 'new' tourist 'resorts'
So you weren't a fan than!
I went last year in January and stayed at Hotel Perun opposite the Lion. The hotel was new, modern, clean, 4/5 * and convenient for the cable car with free minibus. For £400 for 6 nights, Gatwick parking, equipment, lift pass, flights, transfer that was a bargain.
I agree the hotel staff were completely disinterested, the hotel food uninspiring. However we found quite a few subterranean taverns which had good cheap food and drink which you wouldn’t even now existed from the surface.
I agree the town was a 900m building site and when it thawed it was covered in mud. However I found the ski lifts and piste empty and plenty of snow from 1700-2900m. Within three days I had pretty much skied it all but with everywhere empty compared to France I didn't really care, I was there for the skiing and not the nightlife.
I went last year in January and stayed at Hotel Perun opposite the Lion. The hotel was new, modern, clean, 4/5 * and convenient for the cable car with free minibus. For £400 for 6 nights, Gatwick parking, equipment, lift pass, flights, transfer that was a bargain.
I agree the hotel staff were completely disinterested, the hotel food uninspiring. However we found quite a few subterranean taverns which had good cheap food and drink which you wouldn’t even now existed from the surface.
I agree the town was a 900m building site and when it thawed it was covered in mud. However I found the ski lifts and piste empty and plenty of snow from 1700-2900m. Within three days I had pretty much skied it all but with everywhere empty compared to France I didn't really care, I was there for the skiing and not the nightlife.
Reminds me of a 'cheap' skiing holiday a friend of mine booked up for us in Serbia just as NATO were threatening air strikes at the beginning of the war. The planes at the local airport had bullet holes that were being patched up with what looked like polyfilla. The hotel was run by the Munsters with the previous night's bread rolls deep fried and served for the following breakfast along with mystery green stuff. We had a spit roast lamb that looked suspiciously like a greyhound. The skiing was crap, there were soldiers everywhere and all the holidaymakers had to go everywhere together to avoid being kidnapped by the locals. As a result, it was one of the best and most memorable holidays I've ever been on. Just don't ask me to go back.
I went to Sunny Beach last year, okay it's a bit tacky, but alcohol is as cheap as it gets, food was okay where we were eating and it felt safe. Major plus point, the sea was the warmest I've ever experienced, and beach was lovely and not too overcrowded. The old town of Nessebar is very interesting with old style architecture and classic 'local' bars. Overall nice place.
We're going later in the year to look at investing there, got our eyes on a project called costa del croco.
We're going later in the year to look at investing there, got our eyes on a project called costa del croco.
Be careful 'investing' over there. I put money in Bulgaria five years ago and have done ok out of it.
It generally needs an experienced investor and local knowledge to avoid getting your fingers burnt. Lots of people are buying blindly without even considering the rental market. I'd look at Obzor if you're interested.
Have a look at www.mybulgaria.info
It generally needs an experienced investor and local knowledge to avoid getting your fingers burnt. Lots of people are buying blindly without even considering the rental market. I'd look at Obzor if you're interested.
Have a look at www.mybulgaria.info
arfur said:
And what exactly were you expecting ?
roads, pavements, bars, friendly people
arfur said:
The point around investing there is that foreign money coming in will eventually sort out the problems, such as the sewers etc. Think Spain 30 years ago. Investing is not always about making a quick buck or two, although selling on the upward spiral does allow this.
Hard to see this place lasting 5-10 years. Hotels are going bust weekly, all others are under half occupancy. With global warming(if is does exist) there will be no skiing in a fews years in this resort
arfur said:
Oh, and the packs of dogs were probably the prossies ... Bloody loads of them in the 'new' tourist 'resorts'
Loads of working girls walking about
Guess it hasn't changed much then!
Went around 6 years ago, awfull place.
Horrendous food, appalling hotel, never heard of so many people getting mugged / robbed.
On the plus the local beer was marvellous and hotel staff were great even if the hotel itself was a dump.
May try it again in a few more years though as no doubt it will improve with time and money.
Question regarding the prostitutes though, do there bits not freeze shut? Minus 15 and skirts like belts. Oha nd the crazy eastern bloc makeup, lipstick applied in the general area of the mouth rather than the actuall lips.
Still crime level should improve as the crims will all be here in the next year or so.
Went around 6 years ago, awfull place.
Horrendous food, appalling hotel, never heard of so many people getting mugged / robbed.
On the plus the local beer was marvellous and hotel staff were great even if the hotel itself was a dump.
May try it again in a few more years though as no doubt it will improve with time and money.
Question regarding the prostitutes though, do there bits not freeze shut? Minus 15 and skirts like belts. Oha nd the crazy eastern bloc makeup, lipstick applied in the general area of the mouth rather than the actuall lips.
Still crime level should improve as the crims will all be here in the next year or so.
Can't comment on Bansko, but we went to Pamporovo in February and had a great time. The hotel breakfast/evening buffet was excellent, good choice of stuff that changed round a bit each day, the pool was really nice, the staff we're all friendly, there was a good choice of bars and clubs (around 10 within the hotel itself) plus loads more within walking distance. So for £350 including half board accodation, flights, transfers, lift pass, snowboard hire and lessons I don't think I did too badly!
It did seem quite sanatised though, in that the majority of people there were either British or Irish and it felt very resort like - you could have been anywhere. That may be because it was my first time on a resort style "package" holiday though and my first time snowboarding so I don't really have much to compare to.
It did seem quite sanatised though, in that the majority of people there were either British or Irish and it felt very resort like - you could have been anywhere. That may be because it was my first time on a resort style "package" holiday though and my first time snowboarding so I don't really have much to compare to.
Edited by ClareC on Tuesday 20th March 11:07
anonymous said:
[redacted]
So the current speculation nonsense with the Irish and Brits piling in to buy shoddy 'apartments' is helping is it - they are not in for investment - they are in to short term pillage it and make a killing - nothing to do with the Bulgaria, they'd have done it in Cardiff if it were cheap enough.
you see, your post won't be that popular with the "I've seen the future, and it's Bulgaria and it's my pension brigade"
Bansko is fully of 'nothingness', empty or half completed buildings, our hotel was just a centre for sales reps to show potential clients around.
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