Mate has a Chalet beside Pamporova,so my son and I went out this time last Winter. It was very,very cheap and we had a fantastic holiday (skiing),but it is like stepping back in time (think,stark grey buildings from another communist era),you may want to grow a big tache to fit in :-). Planning to go out in the summer for some biking.
Cheap, tacky and thrown together haphazardly for the tourist market. There is no substance to any of it. I would avoid the black sea resorts of Sunny beach and Nessebar like the plague. Drinking is about all they offer, prices of which are extortionate comparative to the actual cost of drinking anywhere else in the country.
If you can get a chance to get away from the hotspots there is actually some natural beauty out there though. Try going south on the black sea coast or get proper into the Rhodope, Rila or Pirin mountains.
Spent time here earlier this year, it is beautiful. One of the last untouched spots on a fairly commercialised coastline. I’m not telling where exactly though 😉
Seriously though….. take your bike and give Nigel at MTB Bansko a shout. He is a top bloke and will show you the best singletrack around the Pirin and Rila, all of which is unmarked and most of which is very good. Lift accessed riding can be had retro style in the Pirin too, talk to Nigel.
More top riding is available in Rila courtesy of the Borovets BikePark. New in the last few years and constantly evolving, it has a variety of lift accessed terrain to suit everyone.
Currently sat in a friends front room in a small village just outside Provardia Bulgaria. They’ve been out here 3yrs and agree with comments above, plenty of better Black Sea resorts.
Not found a lot of English spoken, but everyone very friendly. Gets V hot in summer and was -6 last night. Banko will be next year’s trip.
Have you done any riding around Provadia? My dad lives near there and I was looking around in October, but had no bike. Will be back next year and wondered if it was worth taking the bike.
First visit and didn’t bring a bike as was told there was 3ft of snow. Been running round the woods scoping out trials, looks promising for XC. Only draw back might be the wild boar roamingr and weekend hunting party.
£36 each way on Wizz air might be worth a punt.