Hotel Yanakiev

Features

High standards of comfort and service are assured at the select, family owned Yanakiev, which is exclusive to us on the UK market. The stylish and tastefully designed hotel has a lovely pool and spa area, and an ideal slopeside location offering guests direct ski access. The resort centre is only 200m away.

Bedrooms: 40. All have bath, hairdryer, minibar, satellite TV, internet connection, and balcony. Suites sleeping 3-4 have a double bedroom and separate lounge area with double sofa bed (1 adult or 2 children).

Meals: Hot and cold buffet style breakfast and dinner with good choice.

Facilities: 1st floor balcony bar overlooking the open plan lounge with cosy fireplace; piano bar; restaurant; indoor pool with piste views (free); spa area with turkish bath, sauna, massage and beauty treatments (pay locally); slopeside cafe/bar with sun terrace; lift.

Special Attractions: • Welcome drink • Christmas and New Year’s Eve gala dinners incl.

Official Rating: 4 stars

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.