Chepelare has one virtue that distinguishes it from all of Bulgaria’s so-called resort towns.It is not trying to sell more than it offers. In other words, the city and its municipality have dedicated a great deal of effort over the past 15 years in developing an image as a family destination. After all, with Pamporovo just five minutes up the road it would be wrong for the great and good of Chepelare to try and compete.

Having said that, compared to Pamporovo, Chepelare is excellent value for money for almost everything and visitors should not be at all surprised to see a price difference of up to 50% between the two locations.

Apart from one big apartment complex, all of the town’s hotels are small family-run businesses with nothing more than a room with cable TV at prices ranging between 30 and 50 leva a person. These are usually humble three to four-storey buildings, nothing like the big and lavish constructions now dominating Bansko.Although the large resort of Pamporovo is just a few kilometres up the hill, the town and its people prefer to distance themselves from the brouhaha.

Most of Chepelare’s hotels are in the newer part of the town but this has in no way undermined the atmosphere. In fact, passing through, only the numerous signs on the main road advertising the hotels would suggest that this town is out to catch tourists.

Chepelare is an extremely good choice for those skiers on a budget or those who want to escape the very lively apres ski of Pamporovo in search of a much more relaxed and authentic proposition that this small town offers.

No wonder the Bulgarians "in the know" choose to make Chepelare their base!

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