Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Well, never believed it, till I saw it for myself but Bansko certainly has been a victimof its own success.
The quaint village I knew and loved for the past five years has become a vast sprawling building site, with 'For sale' banners adorning redundant apartment blocks.
The construction work is heading up the hill, contrary to our belief that there was supposed to be no more...
There's even a plan to build on the opposite side of the home run piste, facing the Kempinski Grand Arena!
Complaints went in this year, to the Manager of the Kempinski. The overall standards have detracted from its 5 star reputation and we now have groups of Greek skiers en masse, with children(!) in tow. These little darlings have been set free to run around the lobbyand publice areas (including the relaxing wellness centre) creating noise and chaos in their wake.
The Brits have welland truly invaded. We were treated to an influx of Manc Chavs, in shorts and hoodies, prowling the corridors, swearing and in-fighting in this (5-star!) hotel. With a relaxed dress code, the restaurant was an eyesore of indecent Tshirts, the food was lukewarm and the prices have risen beyond belief.
We found that when the jaccuzzis and heated beds weren't being used by drunken chavs, to sleep off their hangovers, their towels were draped over every adjacent facility in their absence.
As for the skiing? Well, it was good. With fresh snowfalls on many of the days and superbly bashed pistes, we were treated to ever changing conditions.
We learned our lesson about getting on the slopes early and we were in the boot room at 08.10, ready for the opening of the gondola at 08.15. This gave us initially empty (and flat) pistes, which subsequently warmed up and fillled up during the day, creating new and exciting mogul conditions, as the ski schools progressed ever-higher up the hills.
In summary, Bansko needs controls. Control of its clientele in the top class hotels; control of its queues; control of its construction and the threat to the village of the loss of its idiosyncratic attractions.
We took friends, who probably wont be journeying there again!

The strength of the Euro from the Greeks point of view is a good reason to visit Bansko, the likes of the Kempinski unfortunately cannot account for their guests, but it could try to maintain a certain standard within the hotel. There has been a definate increase in Greek tourists, and Romanians this year, brit numbers are down, there have been a few parties of `chavs' but that will be the case as BG still represents value for money (cheap??) . I hope that the resort does not go further downhill, but it is striking the balance between attracting visitors who want to come to Bansko and those who simply come because its percieved as cheap skiing...

Perhaps control is too strong a word but we came back rather bitter and single minded.

The bowl of mountains whish encompasses Bansko perhaps need more development of the other slopes, to take away some of the numbers.
I'm the first one to realise that it all costs money and wont happen overnight but as I said, it has become a victim of its own success.
That doesnt excuse chav behaviour, whichever hotel they stay in. I apologised to the hotel manager, as an ambassador for our nation, for the idiots we've brought up.

You are talking about behaviour control.I would agree only in the case that Bulgarian manners were at a very good level.Come on guys we all have been to Bansko many many times and we all know that the level of service in the hotels is not 4 or even 5 stars.I will talk about the level of service in some of mehanas and others pubs in the village.When Bulgarians will manage to achive a 4 or 5 star hotel service level then they could control the quality of tourists.I am visiting Bulgaria since I was a kid with my parents and have been to almost all (even the smaller) resorts and their service hasnt change at all since then.Still I am a big fan of bansko resort and visit it almost every weekend but they need a lot of work in their manners.

With respect Mediteraneo, last year's service and ambiance in the Grand Arena far surpassed this year's experience.
When I talk about their 5-star reputation, it is their boast. Not being a seasoned traveller,I cannot say what that standard compares to around the world. However, I do know that certain services were conspicuous by their absence, as was the attitude of some of the staff.
Overall however, the clientele was my main concern.
Without dress codes, or behavioural controls, such customers will continue to harass, intimidate and generally annoy others who have paid a lot of money for a relaxing ski/spa holiday in comfortable surroundings.