Gary's Guidebook

Borovets Gardens is located at the bottom of the resort but within walking distance. It is a 10-15 walk up the hill (10 min to Gondola, and another 5 mins to nursery slopes). You can get a taxi or sometimes horse and cart. Max 10 lev (£2). When walking cross the road directly outside the complex (to the left hand side) and head towards a slip road to the left of Villa Park complex. This will take you up to the centre.

The locals are very friendly, there will be some trying to enticing you into the restaurants but not the shops so you can browse without feeling pressured. Some can be more friendly than others so follow our guide for our preferred restaurants were we know they are more friendly.

Goto the sledging area. That is ok the far left if you are looking out from the Rila Hotel (towards the nursery slope). Go left and keep going and you will see a sledge area at the bottom of the black run. It is surrounded by snack bars. We suggest going over the other side for more sun and our favourite location is the snack bar on the other side nearest the base of the black run steep slope. You can borrow sledges if you are having a drink / snack.

We have been taking our children since they were 18 months old. If they are young the horse and cart in the morning might be useful. But feel free to use our sledges on the top of the wardrobe if they are still ok. Useful for rucksacks or getting little ones around the sides of the nursery slopes. Just saves their legs every now and again and no-one wants and overtired toddler!

For ski hire and ski packs we recommend Hunters Ski. Pop this into google and you will find them. Mentioned my name on booking and they ensure you are very well looked after as they also manage our apartment (via sister company Borovets PMS). Wherever you hire from you will need to move around the resort. Hunters ski gear can be left and collected each night at Hunters Restaurant which is on the way back to the apartment (hunters ski can give you instructions). You can also get 10% in the restaurant but busy times we advise you to book a few days in advance.

Don’t need to bring towels or bedding this is all included but those wanting a hard dryer will need to bring that with them.

In Borovets they tend to have drains in the middle of the bathroom floor so don’t worry when showering that the water is going everywhere. Advise to put a hand towel outside the bathroom door to avoid footprints around the apartment. You can use the mop to push water down the drain but it will drain off after 10-15 mins.

The complex has a swimming pool and sauna but it is chargeable (nothing we can do about that even we have to pay). It is not expensive and you get given a towel and you can use the lockers and changing rooms down near the pool. You pay at the hotel reception. Pool is normally fairly warm and is pretty big with lifeguard. It is around £2.50 for an adult and half of that for a child but you can save if you buy 3 or 6 day passes if you are going to use it regularly. Realistically in a week holiday you may use it once or twice unless you are mad for swimming.