Bulgaria

Like hoards of English bucks parties searching for the Holy Grail (the sub-50 pence pint), skiers and snowboarders come to Bulgaria for a week on the snow that won't blow a hole in their wallet.

To be fair, it's not just that. For some people, the fact that Bulgaria has yet to Disneyfy its resorts in the same way many other ski resorts in Europe or North America have is a chance to experience a skiing holiday with a difference. If you want to see a Bulgaria in transition, go now, before it's too late.

There are four main ski resorts in Bulgaria - Borovets, Bansko, Pamporova and Vitosha - the oldest of which, Borovets, reportedly dates back to 1896.

Borovets is the most convenient resort for Bulgaria's capital Sofia. It has 14 pistes in total with pretty much something for everybody (including night skiing), though if you're looking for the difficult stuff, you might want to concentrate on the Qstrebets section, where a number of World Cup competitions have been held.

There's a reasonable selection of on-mountain accommodation - some 'old' Bulgaria, some a little more modern. The nosh is cheap and the drinks are even cheaper, which means you'll have plenty of energy for the slopes, but almost certainly be nursing a sore head on the first lift up. Oh well ...

Of the three, Bansko is the least authentic Bulgarian ski resort. It's been the beneficiary of a lot of investment recently, which has not only smartened it up but lengthened its season (running well into May if you're lucky), thanks to the installation of battery of snow cannons.

Pamporova is probably the place to base yourself if you're a beginner. There are English speaking instructors by the bucket load and a good number of reasonably gentle inclines. It's not all rolling hills. If you happen to find you're extraordinarily fast learner, there's always the giant slalom run.

Cost

Lift passes in Bulgaria are still pretty reasonable - a six day adult pass costs around US$160.

Getting here

Sofia is the easiest point of access for the ski resorts in Bulgaria.

At a distance of 70 kms (43 miles), Borovets is closest, and regular bus services (running every 30 minutes) between the resort and the capital make light work of weekend or day trips. However, transfers can be arranged through resorts.