Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Balkan - a word of warning
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posts : 13 (Beginner)Date : 02-18-07 09:59Balkan - a word of warning
Just back from Bansko. Brill holiday BUT everyone we met had their Balkan flights changed (after booking) to horrible flight times. Ours was changed from 11.55 to 18.15 it was then delayed. This meant we arrived in our rooms at 6.30am having travelled all night. There was no facility to pick up ski passes etc late or to arrange late ski school starts. We met beginners with children who went to pick up their ski gear and passes and then planned to sleep and were told they had to start ski ...
Just back from Bansko. Brill holiday BUT everyone we met had their Balkan flights changed (after booking) to horrible flight times. Ours was changed from 11.55 to 18.15 it was then delayed. This meant we arrived in our rooms at 6.30am having travelled all night. There was no facility to pick up ski passes etc late or to arrange late ski school starts. We met beginners with children who went to pick up their ski gear and passes and then planned to sleep and were told they had to start ski school - which they did in jeans, no gloves or hats and with white faced children! Skiing with no sleep is dangerous particularly when you are a beginner or new to the sport. I fell more on that first day than in the rest of my skiing hols I even managed to end up in a ditch!!! ( big laugh though) This completely ruined our first day of skiing. The welcome meeting was at 7pm We arrived at 7 (having slept after ski school) to find an overflowing room. Couldnt see or hear so left! Never saw rep! Balkan had the worst flight slots of any of the airlines, prob due to cost but sorry Balkan you have lost our custom and will not recommend you to anyone. If you are only on a weeks hol this is not good.
Fortunately rest of hol was good hotel company etc. will go back but not with Balkan!
Fortunately rest of hol was good hotel company etc. will go back but not with Balkan!
re: Balkan - a word of warning
Try Ingham's we have been with them 3 times already booked again 2 more ski hols with them, I have nothing but praise for them, they meet and greet you, sort any problems out for you fast
and are very pleasent, i'm sorry you had a bad start to your hols, your right about Balkans think it could be the price that makes the company think they can treat passengers this way. 
Good luck for future skiing
re: Balkan - a word of warning
Good morning Glynis, sorry I missed you at Airport on way out but was sent to another area for my duties. Ref Balkan Flights, this is a very common practise of theirs, have used them from Gatwick numerous times but was getting later and later, last Sept I used Bulgarian Air on flight only, this year in May I am using B.A. flight only, Anybody booking for Summer flights, Balkan are the only holiday company that does not have any flights showing on the Varna Arrivals site. Cheers.re: Balkan - a word of warning
All said and done we had a great time It seems such a shame because Balkan are only doing themselves out of tradere: Balkan - a word of warning
You get what you pay for unfortunately.re: Balkan - a word of warning
Have been going to Borovets since 1989 and it has always been the same. However, it is a great place and you learn in true typical Brit fashion to let it all wash over you and go with the flow. Late arrivals do mean a rather hectic first morning getting kitted out but by the third or fourth Bulgarian Brandy and hot chocolate it is all quickly forgotten. We are off on March 17th and our flight time at the moment is showing a morning flight from LGW!!!! Some chance....more like 4 or 5 in ...
Have been going to Borovets since 1989 and it has always been the same. However, it is a great place and you learn in true typical Brit fashion to let it all wash over you and go with the flow. Late arrivals do mean a rather hectic first morning getting kitted out but by the third or fourth Bulgarian Brandy and hot chocolate it is all quickly forgotten. We are off on March 17th and our flight time at the moment is showing a morning flight from LGW!!!! Some chance....more like 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Good old Balkan Hols!
re: Balkan - a word of warning
Lesley, suggest you check with Balkan tomorrow if you are on the BGH flight, as this is the one they have reverted to 1815 on a Saturday.re: Balkan - a word of warning
whenever i fly with with balkan, its usually on a crap russian made tupolov 144 which is a very poor copy of the old but trusted trident built by Bae, and some of their flights from uk actually stop at other airports to pick up more passengers.i no longer fly with micky mouse airlines
re: Balkan - a word of warning
Just an opinion.....................Pay the extra next time. Go with Crystal, Inghams etc etc.
The also have problems. But a lot less of them than Balkan.
