Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Well that has to be the single most rediculous quotation I have ever read on here, and the Ski Club of Great Britain need to get out a bit more.

Pamporovo is to Benidorm what Princess Anne is to mud-wrestling. I could not think of any ski resort less like Benidorm than Pamporovo. Hoards of drunken yobs roaming the streets until silly-o'-clock? I don't think so.
Hundreds of bars with music blareing out all over the place? I don't think so. Tacky shops that go on forever? I don't think so.

I'm all up for honest and straight forward advice on here as well as truthful guidance - but that is just about as rediculous and completely untrue as it gets!

PP

When I said Benidorm-like I ment the idea (the view, the perception the general knowledge and to be fair the facts that speak for themselves) of stacking it high and selling it cheap -like and the ratio of number of black appartments -to- sport facilities being (in the case of Bansko only From the Bulgarian Ski resorts. ) Being not in favour of that Resort.
You can not escape that fact.
Maybe if they build two more gondolas or something that will balance the bottleneck.
In defence of Pamporovo that place is the least Benidorm-like (you know what I mean ).
More peace , more quite that the rest ,,,.Kind of Magic!
You can not find that sort of magic in Bansko (pavements concrete And streets all over are not magical. )
Good snow at BASE LEVEL forest around you, skiing around you (convenience is key),these sort of smells I think make a different Ski holiday destination to remember and different from the daily lives back home.
I don't want to go into situations like : you bought a place somewhere and you have to make the best use of it and defend it at any cost.
Bottom line is:
Pamporovo( because is different and has a buzz) and Borovets (cos is the is with best positionwise and closest to airport which again is key) stay kind of on top followed by Bansko which is in my opinion throwing money down the drain and spending it on World cup Buys ,advertising and the sort from which other resorts will benefit Because the base is better positioned the material is bettter to mould and work with and some factors which are difficult to ignore when it comes to describing A Ski Resort.
Enjoy any of them whatever the pluses and minuses!!

just one last thing i want to say regarding mr m's statements. maybe if you hadn't have mentioned the word Benidorm, this wouldn't have turned into such a debate, all you had to say is you don't like the place because ".......
also i agree with mad mick that the statement about any ski resort likened to benidorm is totally crazy. i'm not just defending bansko because we have a place there. if you want me to be totally honest i would recommend france to bulgaria any time, but can't afford to ski there at mo !! for the costings, bansko and the other resorts are worth putting up with their little niggles for the sake of doubling your cost in other parts of europe. and i'm sure one day they will have ironed out all their little problems, i have heard talk of opening another gondola and possibly the other side of the mountain, which if so would be fantastic !
that's it rant over and vive la bulgaria, snow and skiing wherever you prefer

I had to illustrate that's why I used something very well known.
Maybe not exactly correct but you, I hope got the general idea .
In your last entry and in the burst of honesty maybe you need to have a second look cos the prices aren't that different.
Appart of the posh resorts the rest are equal or even cheaper.
On the front of ski lift pass I think and not only me but majority as well that the cost in BG resorts of 55leva (give and take some discounts here and there) of converted as 28 euros is kind of ridiculously expensive for the ski area.
Lift pass for places in BG should be 35leva MAX.
This is well known feeling amongst the locals and tourists.
Ski hire as well is not that much different I must be honest and confirm that.
That part is the main for any ski punter.
With the rest you can compromise but not with the cost of ski pass and gear.Lessons etc aren't that much different eighter.
Enough of this.
Take a look and you will find that appart of the linked huge, Renouned,famous ski areas, there are quite a lot of places with cheaper or the same prices.
That is one main comparison. Which is hiting you in the face when you have a thought of what it is.
Expendables like drinks,sandwiches on the slopes are very similar as well.
The people in the country you have mentioned honestly above are well aware of the hardships for their own countrymen and women and are adjusting accordingly.
here are some tasty ski slope establishments samples: coffee- up to 2E bier-3E sandwitches around 4E buffet tables lunches 8-9 place all you can on a plate- 5-6E strong local spirit shots- 2-3E and so on.

I know it is difficult to digest that info based firmly in one corner but when I visit Bulgaria and go to a place on the slopes, order ,say tea and hear the price, I get very amased.

Not going to mention where but quite often I have to say- get out of here!
Enjoy Bansko and hope the rumours are happening fast.
This year the weather has been very kind to all of the European mountains and relevant ski resorts and that is a case to celebrate.

Pop the bubbly and enjoy the snow!

Mr M, I would just like to point out that my best ski destinations have been in "inconvenient" towns rather than purpose built resorts up the Mountain. Cortina, Chamonix, both are sizeable towns with pavement and concrete, but in my eyes are way better than purpose built ski to door monstrosities such as La Plagne, Les Menuires etc.

In Bansko, I prefer the diversity of the mountain and the majesty of the Pirin peaks to the smaller Mountains in the Rhodopes. I then love to visit the Mehanas in the old town - great traditional atmosphere. Obviously, this isn't for everyone, but for me this is the mix that brings me back. If I were to spend all my time up near the Gondola then maybe i would be closer to agreeing with you with you, but I find it amazing when I read reviews saying the place lacks soul and the food is bad. These people obviously don't go into the Old Town which to me is a key part of the holiday, both to experience the Culture and savour the local food.

Finally when I usually go, in March, I have never even queued to the bottom of the steps in the Gondola, so queues are not always a problem. Entirely depends on when you go.

Les Menuires is one of the ugly places attached to good ones.
From 3 vallees Menuire is the worst.sorry you have chosen in the past that place.
Chamonix is a ONE OFF.
You seriuosly are not comparing C to B?
I hope not because there is nothing to compare them.in any dimention related to alpine skiing, traditions.
The pilgrimage places are few and far between.
Mont Blanc is one. And so on.
As for food of course you will find good places in Bansko.
In fact you will find good places more often in a small BG village away from it all and known only by the locals.
What you get in Bansko is business as far as the restaurants are concern.
Pure and simple !
Pile it high sale it high .
The old town appart of few buildings is not old.
Relatively old comparing it to the rest of it.
I must say that if you have to walk with ski boots to reach a ski facility and on top of that to wait for the privilege to use them although you have contributed and paid your arm and your leg for the lift pass isn't fun.
In any resort there are dead weeks and days .
Tell that the punters which are at peak weeks and having to endure in a marathon queues like the Xmas opening slaes at Oxfort street.
In fact in some weeks there are hardly any people which is terible from a point of view of the local businesses.
My main point is this:
You want clients of course but you have to have the right balance of lift facilities ,you have to be modest and not greedy with the prices for them services you have to be honest with the food you are offering or maybe better the regulator authorities have to work independently and being not corrupt.
It these main things are right then you will have returning clients not for one sole reason of cheap drinks and munch but for complex combination of things .
Infrastructure,good local management more local people involved and not bypassed like living in another world.
Have a look around within 10-15 km radius and you will see totally different world.
Extreme poverty,ignored villages far away from the ski business world.
that type of contrast is a trade mark for the region.
Pockets of some initiations amongst sea of the opposite.


As for the original poster Mrs L I would recommend if you tried and tested Boro and you like the set up , stick to it.
Or maybe get a taste of Pamporovo .
I trust Pamporovo more for feedbacks that Bansko.
Appart of the ski area (providing you get there and judging by the info saying that you want the peak week in Feb next seaso you will have a problemn ) Bansko is more or a worry.
If you decide to go off peak time and definitely stick to next-to-gondola hotels you will be probably OK .
Regards
Mr M