Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Having visited Bansko for the first time 2 years ago I like many discovered a hidden gem with potential. I agree Bansko is far from finished and it will require acouple more years until investors see what they have let themselves in for (of which I am one).

I was in town over New Year, excess to the gondola/slopes was crazy past 0930. Talk of a second gondala is fuelling more developments as is speculation of expansion of the ski zones.

It could take Bansko years to recover is this goes Pete Tong.

Bansko is far from being my No1 ski resort but given time I really hope it will be!

We were in Bansko same week as you and have a very different opinion of the place as first timers to this resort, as we are used to Italy, France Austria, we were astonished at the price booked through Balkan for flights from our home airport, a 5 star hotel; Kimpinski Grand Arena which was excellent in every way. Hired boards which were much better quality than we have previously hired, ecellent board instruction and a delightful mountain, we thought with the exception of the Alberta Tomba run most runs were open and beautifully groomed, also liked being able to carry boards on the chair lift, not something we have been allowed to do before and a lot less hassle.

Just to be able to easily afford a bottle of wine on the mountain and eatable food was a bonus, the run down directly to the hotel boot/ski room was another great feature of the holiday granted there is building work and the town of Bansko is a hole, but we were there for the mountain and to luxuriate in a very fine hotel, we did venture out a few nights, found Graphite, a cool little bar with great sounds and no drunken Brits or telly, we sampled the local food and wines again this was great.

As mature snowboarders we couldn't fault the place or the holiday company, perhaps we all get what we pay for £600 each for the week including lifts pass, tuition, hire of board and a classy hotel, try finding that anywhere else.

The mountain being closed on our last day was disapointing but this is a developing country and this sort of corruption is possibly the only thing that would put me off returning. until that happened we would go again and probably will next year.