Borovets

Hi,
I'm flying to Borovets on Sunday (Staying at the Samokov) hopefully for a good weeks skiing. This is only my second time skiing and im after a little help with what to expect and what to avoid while i'm there. Am i right in thinking it's better to get my Sterling changed while i'm at the resort, or get it in the UK before i leave? Also could anybody recommend some good bars?
Cheers.

My advice would be to get the Sterling changed before you go, no experience but my guess is they will take a hefty commission from any change made there.

Looks like you might get some fresh snow this week too.

Thanks for that . I have been checking the snow reports daily with my fingers crossed .
Many thanks

I have experience of Bulgaria. Times have changed since the currency was devalued and the Leva became the Lev. It's now possible to take the currency into the country with you. You should also take some Sterling cash, just in case, and place less reliance on cards, Travel Chqs etc.

I got my Leva for Sterling by dealing with the local restaurant chef out the back of his kitchen in a dark alley. The official change bureau was seemingly permanently closed :lol:

Not strictly relevent but I've seen a few comments about being careful with your money - as in check your change carefully when paying for things. I don't wish to generalise about a country, I'm sure the vast majority are honest and people get ripped off anywhere..........but I've seen it mentioned several times that people have been short-changed in bars and shops.

best bar is the alpina very cheap but very cheerful
come out the samokov turn right towards gondola then left at gondola up the hill ....keep going and alpina is on the left.. only a small bar but run by nice ppl..most ppl use plastic to get levs from the machine.. if you take sterling make sure they are clean untorn banknotes..
be careful ..

It is best to take sterling and change up over there...you get a better exchange rate. Withdrawing levs from an ATM over there works out better also. Do be careful when using some of the bureaus on the high street though they mislead you with their signs. Best to buy levs from hotel or bank.

YOU DO need to take care when getting change from any transaction. They do often try to short change you or say they have no change and hope you will let them keep the change.

Hope you have a good time! :D

PS Top Tip: If the queue is to long at the gondola in the morning, take a taxi to the chair lift. (Taxi rank opposite the gondola.) Go up on the chair, ski down a red to mid station and pick up the gondola there, thus avoiding a very long wait. :wink:

might see you there yet ...if i cant get in anywhere else....take a few pounds and the best place to change your cash is in the ATMs which are outside the Rila or just up the road opposite gondola ...or even in the wall of the gondola station