Hotel Samokov
Features
- Terrace/Balcony
- Half board
One of the leading hotels in Borovets, the Samokov boasts an excellent location in the resort centre opposite the Yastrebets gondola, shops and nightlife. The Samokov also offers a good range of leisure facilities including a spa centre, indoor swimming pool, bars and shops.
Location · located in bustling resort centre, near to bars and restaurants · one minute walk to the main gondola
Features · swimming pool · extra charge for sauna, fitness room, whirlpool, steam room, spa treatments and massage · hairdresser · FREE WiFi in lobby · extensive choice of bars and cafés · nightclub · bowling · ski depot · lift to all floors · 262 Bedrooms
Meals · hot and cold breakfast buffet · buffet style 3 course evening meals · Christmas and New Year's Eve gala dinner included
Rooms for 2 people on half board sharing a room with 2 or 3 beds (3rd bed is a sofa bed), private bath and WC. Rooms with balcony and single rooms are also available at a supplement. All bedrooms have hairdryer, satellite TV and radio.
Official Rating 4 star
Borovets Resort Info
Eastern Europe's biggest ski resort (58km), Borovets suffers from many of the usual complaints about this finance-friendly region. Most commonly associated with budget-conscious skiers and beginners, Borovets has an excellent ski school, a fine snow record, cheap prices (especially for beer and spirits), lovely scenery - and it's only 90 minutes from Sofia. On the downside, there are unattractive buildings, skiing for better intermediates and advanced skiers is no more than average, the lifts and piste are kept poorly and there is the constant threat of theft, boring food and bad queues.
But, many people regularly return. Why? Most veterans talk of the great teaching they have received and the low prices, as well as the varied nightlife available. You'll have to forfeit western creature comforts, but it can be well worth it. It's skiing in a very different culture and is, joy of joys, half the price of the Alps. If the skiing doesn't interest you, there are always site-seeing trips to Sofia and other historic sites to keep you busy, although the archaic transport systems can make this rather time-consuming.
Overall, Borovets is a place to go to learn if you have a tighter budget. You also need to have a sense of humour and adventure, as it is very much the poor relation to Western European skiing. It isn't going to replace Val d'Isère as your venue of choice, but it does successfully cater to a completely different clientele.
More Borovets resort information