Bulgaria

A holiday in this country on the northeast of the Balkans mainly revolved around historical landmarks, several of them figuring prominently in the UNESCO list of World Natural and Cultural Heritage.

Of late, Bulgaria is being widely promoted as a ski destination. Going by the pace at which Bulgarian ski resorts are growing, the country would soon emerge as a rival to better known French, Swiss and Italian ski holiday locations. Ski enthusiasts, searching for new and daring destinations to spend their holiday, prefer Bulgaria because of its well endowed ski floors.

Bulgaria is the destination for a budget holiday. Prices in ski resorts here are much cheaper than French, Italian or Swiss destinations. A Holiday in a ski resort could never have been better than in 2009 because the authorities are promoting Bulgaria as a ski destination in the upcoming season.

Bulgaria's best ski resorts are located in Bansko, Borovets, and Pamporovo. Smaller places like Chepelare and Vitosha are soon catching up in the tourism trade. The ski resorts are now going through a process of renovation and retro-fitting with latest ski equipment.

Bansko takes the top rating with the most modern ski centre. Bansko, till recently an enchanting medieval town, came into limelight as a ski holiday destination early this year when it hosted the Ski World Cup in February. The ski resort's saga is expected to continue as Bulgaria is one of the bidders for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

It is therefore not surprising that Bansko ski resort is also witnessing massive investments in brand new ski floors, luxury hotels and other tourism infrastructure. Besides, Bansko's good record in snowfall and for the longest ski season is certainly an attraction. Bansko has facilities for other winter sports such as snow-boarding.

Bansko has more than 150 traditional restaurants known as Mehana that have local and international dishes on their menu, topping them with excellent Bulgarian wine. Food is considerably cheaper here when compared to other European ski holiday resorts.

Borovets is another Alpine type ski resort in Bulgaria where you can spend your holiday. The place has all facilities for winter sports, including night ski, snow boarding, cross country ski, ski jumps, ski-doo and biathlon. Borovets is also known for its lively bars, cafes, night clubs, and discos, making it a favoured destination for partying. Hotels are now promoting Bulgarian national folk music and "horo" dancing, which could make your ski holiday fulsome.

Your ski experience could be totally different if you spend your holiday in Pamporovo. The soft winter of this ski resort is considerably influenced by the Aegean Sea, making it warmer during the ski season. Its rounded slopes and summits are favoured by beginners in skiing.

You can get to these ski resorts easily as Bulgaria has four International Airports. The airport at Sofia, the country's capital, is more popular as it has connectivity to all these ski resorts.