Malina Village

Last year I was lucky enough to spend New Year with some very good friends at Malina Village in Pamporovo.

We were looking for a cosy cabin in the woods where we could all stay together and when we saw the pictures online of Malina with the snow covered wooden cabins we were sold! Malina Village is in a perfect location, just a short walk in fact to the ski schools.

On arrival we checked in at reception which is also in a large wooden cabin and were directed to ours, number 14 a cabin for four. A short walk and we were at our front door. Inside the cabin was basic but warm and perfect for four people. Downstairs, there’s a small living room area with sofas and tables, a mini kitchen and a good size bathroom. There are heaters in the living room which do keep it warm however the bathroom was very cold. The water gets hot in the shower however getting in and out is a bit chilly so you need to be quick, it was a matter of get out of the shower and put warm ski clothes on within about five seconds flat!

To go upstairs you need to climb a very narrow wooden staircase, it wouldn’t be suitable if you have any difficulties climbing stairs. It was also quite difficult after 3 days of skiing for me! You can read about me learning to ski here! You will find two bedrooms, both with just enough space for the beds and no room to stand but they are very cosy and there is some cupboard space on the landing area.

Breakfast was included and was great. Lots of choice including eggs, meats, salads and fresh bread and pastries. The restaurant is a large wooden cabin too but is very warm due to the log fire they have burning.

We also booked the New Year’s Eve dinner which was quite expensive for Bulgarian standards at about 100 leva (50 Euro) each but it was definitely worth it. We were given a six course meal a bottle of wine each and some soft drinks and Rakia. We did also receive a bottle of champagne for each table to pop the cork at midnight which was fantastic however it wasn’t the best tasting champagne so I stuck to the wine which was better. There were some great traditional Bulgarian performers to entertain us and a DJ to ensure there was some dancing too! At midnight there was also a great fireworks display!

I really enjoyed my stay at Malina Village and would definitely go back and recommend it to anyone looking for a nice winter break. I know they are also open in the summer although I haven’t been to check out how it is there out of ski season myself. I think it would still be a nice quiet get-away and the prices will probably be cheaper too.