Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi all,
The report of 'snarfacus' and other reports triggered me to express an opinion, which I should have done long ago maybe :-(

I understand people who say that Bulgaria is not a rich a country (I cannot say poor, because I have been in poor countries) and it makes them feel bad. It is a fair point for them and there are honest and that's why Swiss people made luxury resorts to address this type of clientele. Noone is to be blamed.
However something I can not agree is when people complaint about bad snow conditions and say Read "Where to ski guide" and never go to Bulgaria. Nature is nature and for week holiday makers like most of us (who do not live near ski resorts), it is always a gamble where ever you chose to go. Personnaly, I cannot accept complaints about rocks, stones, etc because there is nothing we can do against nature. Of course, there is a know-how in how to prepare pists but only when there is snow.

After Chrismas (28,29,30,31,1,2,3), I decided to go to Bansko. Was attracted by the organisation of the pists on the map, the good length and the excellent infrastructure I saw on pictures and that fact that is less crowded. It was also a gamble with snow in early season. Indeed the first two days it poured with rain, snow was bad, 4 pists open, so I spent my time relaxing in Dobriniste turk baths (I recommend them though). Then it snowed for a day (there was maybe 40 - 50 cm base), and it was powder and a great sking for 4 days with extremely well prepared pists, blue skies on top to admire, something that happens not very often when you go for a week. I honestly say that Bansko is as good as any French or Swiss resort I have been, but with less km (but 65 km is still very good)

Some of my friends went to France in January before the big snow falls, and they were not able to ski at all because of rocks, lack of snow and warm weather. But as experienced travelers, no one complained, it just happened to be like that.

Irish