Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Just back from Bansko; overall a great holiday with fantastic skiing and weather, but a couple of little disappointments.

The slopes, pistes, and lift system were excellent. The only queue we saw all week was on Saturday afternoon when all the Bulgarians were heading back up from lunch. And we had beautiful blue skies every day.

Our first problem was that we got charged £17 to take our boots on the flight. We were told if we could hide them in our luggage we wouldn't be charged but any boot shaped bags would be, so we couldn't just swap our clothes and boots over. Some managed to squeeze the boots in cases by wearing their ski jackets or putting clothes in hand luggage, but it could have so easily been avoided with a larger suitcase or the boots in a smaller case of their own!!

The Strazhite was clean, modern, with a lovely welcome sauna, steam room and pool. The food was adequate with plenty of choice and no restriction on how often you filled your plate! However, a couple of times we had no hot water and one of the times was our first morning! You know, when you've spent hours on dirty, dusty transport to crawl into bed exhausted then get up to a freezing cold shower!! Not a good start to the first days skiing!

But the worst thing - the barking dogs at night drove me barking!!! Unfortunately the hotel was too warm to sleep with the windows closed and the stray dogs were barking all night, every night.

The building work is everywhere; it's obviously going to get a lot busier in the next few years. The other snag is the greed of the Banskoians - Waiters openly demanding tips, inflated tourist prices, a pass system that is designed to keep your deposit, bars trying to substitute cheap spirits for imported prices and a Mehana that ripped us off for £15 a head for a meal (Yes in Bulgaria!!!!).

No the final worse thing, and biggest disappointment, was that the Albert Tomba black run was closed all week. We so wanted to do the only black run in the resort but they had a competition that kept it closed.

Overall great slopes and skiing but the town let it down. We preferred the compact Borovets but we're off to try Austria or France next year.

Also just got back from Bansko, must have been out there at the same time, sorry you did not seem to enjoy it! We had a brilliant time, the food was great and very cheap, none of the waitors demanded a tip, maybe it depends on where you go.

Yeah lots of building work at the moment, did not have any problems with the dogs.

Think it depends on who you fly with with regards to the £17 charge cause we had no charges when we took skis and boots.

You obviously did not go on the black run at the start of the holiday cause it was open then.

Overall was a great holiday, food was cheap £6 for a three course meal. Beers ranging from 50p-80p and brilliant skiing conditions, would recommmend it to anyone, in particular intermediates.

I found the waitors on the montain restaurants would give less than subtle hints for tips - e.g. no matter how much change you were due they would say - is that the tip? (yea, I'm going to tip 4 lev for a 6 lev meal, no really)They would do this despite constantly getting the orders wrong and us having to chase for missing dishes/drinks. One day our lesson group got told off for asking to pay in our own groups after the meal and not telling him before hand so he could write up seperate bills - next day we ask for seperate bills and get another telling off!! The food made up for it though and after skiing in France quite a few times I though they were actually quite pleasant.

As regards being charged for boots the general consensus is any two pieces of luggage up to 20kg, boots included. If I were charged I would want to know why.

Never had anyone push for a tip whilst there (but maybe that's because of the way I look) but did get the "have no change" reply more than once. Stand there 'till you get your money. There was an earlier post (on this site) saying the English are their "own worst enemy". Guy is spot on, read it.

The pistes on the whole are (often) poorly prepared and for the unwary/unskilled could be unsafe. Off piste even for the more aware is a lottery. They just don't seem to like putting diesel in the Kassbohrers.

The lift system for a resort of this size in europe is hard to beat. When they open them.

The building work IS everywhere but unless you're going in 3 years it shouldn't spoil your enjoyment (lift queues blah blah...crowded slopes blah blah). The building noise was non-existant.

Sorry but the "Tomba" (9,9a) is not a black. Trust me.

Went xmas, going back 4th Mar...

Now the contentious bit...and purely a personal point of view. English people when they go abroad either:

Keep them selves to themselves....

Get blind drunk and p**s everbody else off.......

Join in a bit and try to absorb a LITTLE of their surroundings......

Sorry about the generalisations..... but a fair mix of all the above often meets with the approval of the locals.....

If you're going out enjoy...if you've come back give it a day or two then post...it takes the edge of it.

John.

Oh yes and re above.....if you are full board eat out. Most people did.