Lates ‘N’ Breaks BOROVETS FactFile
Bulgaria’s best. Krasi, as he liked to be known, was a bit of a superstar in the resort and it was soon apparent we were in very good hands.
He picked apart our terrible technique in the most constructive and positive way. By the end of the week we almost felt like we knew what we were doing!
There are plenty of mountain-top restaurants, each offering a good choice of local and European dishes at great prices.
For about £7 we had pizza
Soak up winter sun for seven nights at the four-star H10 Tindaya, half-board. Includes return flights from Manchester on December 9. More info at teletextholidays.co.uk.
You can relax for a week at the four-star Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Ras Al
BALKAN Holidays offer the Festa Winter Palace, Borovets, from £589, half-board. Departs on March 7, 2020. Flights from various UK airports and transfers. See balkanholidays.co.uk or 0207 543 5555. cooked in a traditional outdoor oven. And if you still have the legs for it, you can enjoy floodlit night skiing from 6pm to 10pm.
After that, Borovets really comes alive. Who can resist a pint at only £2? Meanwhile Rakia, the traditional Bulgarian grape brandy, will knock your socks off. For party animals, the After Eleven Club fills its dance floor until the early hours.
Away from the slopes there are sightseeing tours to cultural and historic sites in the region, such as the Rila Monastery founded in the 10th century,
Khaimah. Includes breakfast. Departs from Manchester on December 9. See onthebeach. co.uk or call 0871 474 3000.
Save up to £189pp on a week’s half-board at the five-star King and Tsarska Bistritsa, former palace of the rulers of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom.
Sapareva Banya are the hot springs near Borovets and these geothermal baths offer mineral healing properties. No matter the temperature outside, you can relax with your family or friends in any of three outdoor pools.
No wonder Bulgaria’s ski resorts are fast becoming a popular destination for UK winter sports enthusiast.
Evelthon Beach Hotel & Resort in Paphos. Flight from Liverpool on December 7. Find out more at loveholidays.com.
Jump aboard a five-night cruise on Cruise And Maritime’s Columbus. Sailing from Tilbury on December 11 with
PISTE PALS: Humphrey with Krasi. Below, colourful Rila Monastery stop-offs in Amsterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp. Down from £939pp at planetcruise.com.
Say goodbye to 2019 at the Roslin Beach Hotel in Southend-on-Sea. With welcome drinks, five-course meal and more. Book it at roslinhotel.com.
SITUATED in the heart of the Somerset countryside you’ll find Wookey Hole, just a five-minute drive from the medieval city of Wells.
It’s here that the famous Wookey Hole caves can be found, as well as the terrifying resident witch.
The Mendip View Lodges are a short stroll from the Wookey Hole Hotel and attractions.
The lodges look fairly standard from the outside, with a wooden veranda leading to cabins.
But inside you’ll find a cosy and comfortable open plan kitchen and living room decorated in simple neutral tones.
Each lodge comes with a large double and two further twin rooms, so can easily sleep up to six.
The real gem is on the private decking alongside your lodge, home to a luxury hot tub.
You can add a tasty, full English breakfast to your booking for £6 a day.
Just behind the lodges you’ll find the caves and other attractions.
A tour of the cave system wille take you about an hour.
You’ll meet the Wookey Hole witch and discover the local legend that lies behind the spooky rock formations.
It makes for a quirky day out for the family, far from the usual rides or game machines.
After the caves, you can keep the whole family amused with a dinosaur park and soft play for kids, 4D cinema, paper making and more.