Skying School of Hotel Samokov
Skying School of Hotel Samokov
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
11 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
0
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Aldo F
Rathfriland, UK14 contributions
Dec 2021 • Family
We had a group of up to 16 (mostly teenagers) with an English instructor called Grace from Leeds in Yorkshire. As the group status was Low Intermediate, Grace taught us some great techniques and refreshed our skiing skills, as it was over 16 years for my wife and I, and first time skiing on snow for our kids. We all rapidly improved due to Grace’s teaching, and thoroughly enjoyed our holiday.
Written January 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nick B
Lechlade, UK26 contributions
Feb 2022
A busy week - half term.
Our son's second ski holiday - booked in and found that he was in group of 20+ skiers. However, this was the same all over the resort.
As an advanced skier I could see the huge improvement and learning achieved. Well done to Julian the unstructor - all hios class were clearly impressed. He jept in touch with us parents, had good English, was friendly and approachable. As we were staying in the Samokov it was very convenient too.
Our son's second ski holiday - booked in and found that he was in group of 20+ skiers. However, this was the same all over the resort.
As an advanced skier I could see the huge improvement and learning achieved. Well done to Julian the unstructor - all hios class were clearly impressed. He jept in touch with us parents, had good English, was friendly and approachable. As we were staying in the Samokov it was very convenient too.
Written February 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TraveltheWorldandSee
Brighton and Hove, UK50 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Excellent service and value.
See image for full review as was originally posted on wrong company review.
See image for full review as was originally posted on wrong company review.
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nettie , Dublin
County Louth, Ireland3 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
As a single, blonde haired woman, mid aged, I was picked on, bullied and harassed by a ski instructor working for this school. I feel only safe now when home to express my experience as even though I arranged to leave his class behind and get private instruction that I was paying for. He still came upon me both on the slopes and in the ski school depot to berate me and harass me. I spent many nights and days crying over his behaviour and it only stopped when I threatened with getting the police to talk to him. He received I believe a letter of warning from the school. He is not fit to teach or be in an area with the general public going on his behaviour. He ostracised me from the group I was initially with and only for Bobby my next ski instructor who under his guidance, instruction and friendship I gained a belief in myself and I graduated as an intermediate skier and I was a happier person because of him. I enjoyed my skiing experience and hope very much to go again. But unfortunately I will not return to Bulgaria because of what happened.
The experience was hellish and his name is Miro.
The experience was hellish and his name is Miro.
Written March 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jennyferjay
London, UK124 contributions
I did not stay in the Hotel Samokov, but I used it for the snowboard school and rental, and it absolutely ruined my holiday.
The instructor Dewan was extremely rude and misogynistic from the outset, and told the group girls can't snowboard because they're too scared. Everyone in the group had done some form of boarding before, but he kept telling us all we were rubbish, and seemed really annoyed that we all claimed to have snowboarded before but we weren't professionals. He even told one guy, who was very accomplished, "you're nothing special". It was extremely demotivating and not a fun experience.
He then proceeded to keep us on the learner slope for three whole days (while the complete beginner skiers were up in the mountains already on day 1). He made us do the same move (S-turn) over, and over, and over, telling us we couldn't leave the learner slope until we'd nailed it. He was treating us like professionals training for the X Games as opposed to a bunch of people on holiday who just want to get up a mountain and do some snowboarding.
He ended up making three of the women in the group cry because he was so rude and discouraging, and completely knocked our confidence. So when we met him on day 3 and he started being really rude again, three out of the four of us decided to leave the lesson because we'd had enough of him being vile. And we just went out and had to figure out how to do it all alone.
Complete waste of time and money, and an extremely upsetting experience. If you're a woman and looking to do snowboarding DO NOT USE THE HOTEL SAMOKOV SCHOOL.
If you're reading this review for the hotel itself, although I didn't stay there, three of my snowboarding friends did and they all said it was disgusting - inedible food, uncomfortable beds, and outdated decor.
The instructor Dewan was extremely rude and misogynistic from the outset, and told the group girls can't snowboard because they're too scared. Everyone in the group had done some form of boarding before, but he kept telling us all we were rubbish, and seemed really annoyed that we all claimed to have snowboarded before but we weren't professionals. He even told one guy, who was very accomplished, "you're nothing special". It was extremely demotivating and not a fun experience.
He then proceeded to keep us on the learner slope for three whole days (while the complete beginner skiers were up in the mountains already on day 1). He made us do the same move (S-turn) over, and over, and over, telling us we couldn't leave the learner slope until we'd nailed it. He was treating us like professionals training for the X Games as opposed to a bunch of people on holiday who just want to get up a mountain and do some snowboarding.
He ended up making three of the women in the group cry because he was so rude and discouraging, and completely knocked our confidence. So when we met him on day 3 and he started being really rude again, three out of the four of us decided to leave the lesson because we'd had enough of him being vile. And we just went out and had to figure out how to do it all alone.
Complete waste of time and money, and an extremely upsetting experience. If you're a woman and looking to do snowboarding DO NOT USE THE HOTEL SAMOKOV SCHOOL.
If you're reading this review for the hotel itself, although I didn't stay there, three of my snowboarding friends did and they all said it was disgusting - inedible food, uncomfortable beds, and outdated decor.
Written March 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Inidi
Leeds, UK40 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
During New Year our group off beginners had 16-17 people. Nick (Nicolai) had enormous patience with all of us!
We all did massive progress thanks to all directions, encouragements and patience from Nick.
We all had a lot of fun and learnt/improved our skills.
Thanks Nick!
We all did massive progress thanks to all directions, encouragements and patience from Nick.
We all had a lot of fun and learnt/improved our skills.
Thanks Nick!
Written January 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony Santini
Keighley, UK138 contributions
Jan 2018 • Solo
I must qualify my comments by saying that I am 65 yrs old and a very poor skier.
Attracted once again by the price of my Crystal Ski holiday I was placed in the Low Intermediate group with other " improvers", as nice a group of people as you could wish to meet.
Our instructor chose the " I will lead follow me, do what I do" method. This soon led to challenging runs beyond my skill set. After two and a half days I parted company with the group as I was not enjoying myself.
I feel that more time should have been spent on drills to improve our techniques, giving us the ability to tackle the more challenging runs with greater confidence and control.
Thirty five years working in education, especially with reluctant learners gives me the confidence to offer an opinion.
Attracted once again by the price of my Crystal Ski holiday I was placed in the Low Intermediate group with other " improvers", as nice a group of people as you could wish to meet.
Our instructor chose the " I will lead follow me, do what I do" method. This soon led to challenging runs beyond my skill set. After two and a half days I parted company with the group as I was not enjoying myself.
I feel that more time should have been spent on drills to improve our techniques, giving us the ability to tackle the more challenging runs with greater confidence and control.
Thirty five years working in education, especially with reluctant learners gives me the confidence to offer an opinion.
Written January 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ghemmie
Cardiff, UK59 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
So our ski instructor, George, was brilliant. Very enthusiastic, patient, clear and just an all round nice guy. Definitely the nicest ski instructor I have ever had.
The ski equipment was not great. Blunt edges and dinks in the bottom of the skis. I asked before booking if the ski storage had boot dryers and was told 'yes'. They do not and it's not great putting on cold, sweaty boots every morning. Also the ski hire team aren't particularly friendly.
Overall, if I went again, I would hire first season gear and storage from Traventuria across the road and request George as a ski instructor (if I could).
The ski equipment was not great. Blunt edges and dinks in the bottom of the skis. I asked before booking if the ski storage had boot dryers and was told 'yes'. They do not and it's not great putting on cold, sweaty boots every morning. Also the ski hire team aren't particularly friendly.
Overall, if I went again, I would hire first season gear and storage from Traventuria across the road and request George as a ski instructor (if I could).
Written April 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren W
4 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
I am pretty much a beginner having only had a few hours lessons in Austria previously and thought it wise to go to the top of the mountain (although I believe in learning by throwing yourself into such situations!), not realising I couldn't get back down using the lift. So I attempted to ski! Luckily enough Nikolai was teaching others and helped me too and was a real life saver! Friendly person and great teacher. We then discussed politics and Bulgarian history over a drink afterwards!
Written April 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
plaut2018
Tel Aviv, Israel3 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
great staff. very helpfull. George helped us with equipment and ski lesson even so we didnt make a reservation and school was very bussy
Written February 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connector18338104024
Warrington, UK
how much does the ski school and hire of equipment cost on top of your holiday? thanks
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