Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Bansko review
Author:dave turner
posts : 7 (Beginner)Date : 01-30-12 14:07Bansko review
Got back late Saturday night after a week at Bansko. Group of 6 travelled with Crystal staying at the Hotel Lion.
The hotel was superb, exceeding by far our expectations. Of note was the quality of the rooms, the location, facilities and a comfortable lobby bar. The buffet meals were frequently replenished so no congealed food ever. The variety had to cater for many nationalities. some not to the English palate but we never failed to leave the restaurant full. The sauna, steam room & ...
The hotel was superb, exceeding by far our expectations. Of note was the quality of the rooms, the location, facilities and a comfortable lobby bar. The buffet meals were frequently replenished so no congealed food ever. The variety had to cater for many nationalities. some not to the English palate but we never failed to leave the restaurant full. The sauna, steam room & ...
Got back late Saturday night after a week at Bansko. Group of 6 travelled with Crystal staying at the Hotel Lion.
The hotel was superb, exceeding by far our expectations. Of note was the quality of the rooms, the location, facilities and a comfortable lobby bar. The buffet meals were frequently replenished so no congealed food ever. The variety had to cater for many nationalities. some not to the English palate but we never failed to leave the restaurant full. The sauna, steam room & pool were adequate, sometimes a bit busy.
With regards the skiing we are a mixed group so had no issue for the three in ski school but had reservation for the remaining three who had skiied all over and worried that we had compromised on piste quality & quantity. This was unfounded, we found enough to satisfy us for the week. The slopes are fine for beginners & intermediates but experts would find nothing to challenge them. The lift system was equal to anything I have seen elsewhere.
Now for the Gondola. The queues have been a source of debate for many reviewers on this site. The worst we waited was about 20mins. This was at 1130 monday morning. We skiied the green road back in to town for the first time to try it & got caught up in lots non skiing sightseers going to the top. Otherwise we were there at 0830 each morning & virtually walked on everyday. Basically if you want to avoid any queues get out of bed. Have a lay in & wait in the queue.
The social side was good to. Having been to Borovets once before, Bansko was far superior both in choice & quality of bars/restaurant. As we were half board I can only comment on the drinking side of the hostelries. Our favourites were the Crown (3 beers for 2 for 6 lev) and Mr Singhs which was under our hotel.
Overall a very satisfying week which surprised us to be honest.
Only criticisms were of the packs of stray dogs roaming the town and the lift staff not maintaining the lift access areas allowing them to get icy & rutted.
And one last thing that applies to us Brits, why do we think it acceptable to announce our arrival back at the hotel at 3AM, shouting to each other along the hotel corridors & slamming all the doors, as if to say look at me & how late we've been out. Grow up!!!
The hotel was superb, exceeding by far our expectations. Of note was the quality of the rooms, the location, facilities and a comfortable lobby bar. The buffet meals were frequently replenished so no congealed food ever. The variety had to cater for many nationalities. some not to the English palate but we never failed to leave the restaurant full. The sauna, steam room & pool were adequate, sometimes a bit busy.
With regards the skiing we are a mixed group so had no issue for the three in ski school but had reservation for the remaining three who had skiied all over and worried that we had compromised on piste quality & quantity. This was unfounded, we found enough to satisfy us for the week. The slopes are fine for beginners & intermediates but experts would find nothing to challenge them. The lift system was equal to anything I have seen elsewhere.
Now for the Gondola. The queues have been a source of debate for many reviewers on this site. The worst we waited was about 20mins. This was at 1130 monday morning. We skiied the green road back in to town for the first time to try it & got caught up in lots non skiing sightseers going to the top. Otherwise we were there at 0830 each morning & virtually walked on everyday. Basically if you want to avoid any queues get out of bed. Have a lay in & wait in the queue.
The social side was good to. Having been to Borovets once before, Bansko was far superior both in choice & quality of bars/restaurant. As we were half board I can only comment on the drinking side of the hostelries. Our favourites were the Crown (3 beers for 2 for 6 lev) and Mr Singhs which was under our hotel.
Overall a very satisfying week which surprised us to be honest.
Only criticisms were of the packs of stray dogs roaming the town and the lift staff not maintaining the lift access areas allowing them to get icy & rutted.
And one last thing that applies to us Brits, why do we think it acceptable to announce our arrival back at the hotel at 3AM, shouting to each other along the hotel corridors & slamming all the doors, as if to say look at me & how late we've been out. Grow up!!!
re: Bansko review
Why were you surprised ?? what were you expecting ?? and i'll be honest, why did you come if you thought it was going to be that bad ??.
Packs of stray dogs ?? slight exaggeration, a few town dogs (harmless) wandering around, and i'm interested about icy and rutted lift access ?? where you were queuing for the gondola ??
As for nothing to challenge an expert skier, o there is, but you need to be an expert
Its great though forgetting the criticisms that you had a good time, the Lion ...
Packs of stray dogs ?? slight exaggeration, a few town dogs (harmless) wandering around, and i'm interested about icy and rutted lift access ?? where you were queuing for the gondola ??
As for nothing to challenge an expert skier, o there is, but you need to be an expert
Its great though forgetting the criticisms that you had a good time, the Lion ...
Why were you surprised ?? what were you expecting ?? and i'll be honest, why did you come if you thought it was going to be that bad ??.
Packs of stray dogs ?? slight exaggeration, a few town dogs (harmless) wandering around, and i'm interested about icy and rutted lift access ?? where you were queuing for the gondola ??
As for nothing to challenge an expert skier, o there is, but you need to be an expert
Its great though forgetting the criticisms that you had a good time, the Lion is a super hotel, the standard well up with what is on offer in the Alps, at a fraction of the price... and you fell pretty well with the snow...
I won't comment on the Brits waking you up other than to say that i have been kept up in Val'd'isere, St Anton, Kitzbuhal etc etc etc
Overall, a good review 
Packs of stray dogs ?? slight exaggeration, a few town dogs (harmless) wandering around, and i'm interested about icy and rutted lift access ?? where you were queuing for the gondola ??
As for nothing to challenge an expert skier, o there is, but you need to be an expert
Its great though forgetting the criticisms that you had a good time, the Lion is a super hotel, the standard well up with what is on offer in the Alps, at a fraction of the price... and you fell pretty well with the snow...
I won't comment on the Brits waking you up other than to say that i have been kept up in Val'd'isere, St Anton, Kitzbuhal etc etc etc
Overall, a good review 
re: Bansko review
the crown bar u mention is that your hotel bar?re: Bansko review
The `Crown' is a normal bar, not far from the `Friendly Bar'... Never seems to get that busy, shame as Dave says the prices are great, foods good, and there is live sport if you want...re: Bansko review
Good review Dave, agree with you there on most things apart from the Brits making a racket at night, I spent last week in Mayrhofen and had to put up with large groups of dutch and russians banging on doors and shouting in the hallways into the early hours so it's not just us.As for the limited skiing I think Dave was referring to the pisted runs, we don't all have your local knowledge Steve and so can't stray off piste without a guide.
re: Bansko review
I suppose Jimmy, but that's where experts go.. i still think though that the black (now regraded red 
) at the back of Challin Valog is a test, especially when its icey, and the top of Tomba, again when either covered in fresh powder, or icey... and a real test, the black section down at Dobriniste, makes Tomba look like a nursery slope...
You cannot please all the people all the time, a group were complaining about the moguls forming on piste because of all the new snow, `why don't they ...
) at the back of Challin Valog is a test, especially when its icey, and the top of Tomba, again when either covered in fresh powder, or icey... and a real test, the black section down at Dobriniste, makes Tomba look like a nursery slope...You cannot please all the people all the time, a group were complaining about the moguls forming on piste because of all the new snow, `why don't they ...
I suppose Jimmy, but that's where experts go.. i still think though that the black (now regraded red ) at the back of Challin Valog is a test, especially when its icey, and the top of Tomba, again when either covered in fresh powder, or icey... and a real test, the black section down at Dobriniste, makes Tomba look like a nursery slope...
You cannot please all the people all the time, a group were complaining about the moguls forming on piste because of all the new snow, `why don't they piste it, why don't they piste it !!'
and it was only 11.00am... I could reply, but i won't
) at the back of Challin Valog is a test, especially when its icey, and the top of Tomba, again when either covered in fresh powder, or icey... and a real test, the black section down at Dobriniste, makes Tomba look like a nursery slope...You cannot please all the people all the time, a group were complaining about the moguls forming on piste because of all the new snow, `why don't they piste it, why don't they piste it !!'
and it was only 11.00am... I could reply, but i won't 
re: Bansko review
Dodrinishte black, now that is black, blacker than black, the blackest I have been down. As Steve once described it seeing it from the chair lift,it looks like a frozen waterfall.re: Bansko review
Well Steve C in reply to your comments, my pleasant surprise is based after my last visit to Borovets a number of years ago before the single man lift was replaced & the pistes were sheer ice, those that were open anyway. So yes it was a pleasant surprise to see such good piste & conditions. Bansko itself was also a far superior place to stay.
As for the few stray dogs, when passed by at least 10 dogs in a close group, I would define that as a pack wouldn't you and that was outside the ...
As for the few stray dogs, when passed by at least 10 dogs in a close group, I would define that as a pack wouldn't you and that was outside the ...
Well Steve C in reply to your comments, my pleasant surprise is based after my last visit to Borovets a number of years ago before the single man lift was replaced & the pistes were sheer ice, those that were open anyway. So yes it was a pleasant surprise to see such good piste & conditions. Bansko itself was also a far superior place to stay.
As for the few stray dogs, when passed by at least 10 dogs in a close group, I would define that as a pack wouldn't you and that was outside the hotel.
I mentioned the access to the lifts being icy & rutted. Elswhere lift staff are mindful of the areas in as you move on to the lifts and are frequently packing snow down to maintain a level surface for the skiers. The worst example I found was with the beginners of our group entering the drag on the nursery slope near the Biathlon shooting range. The entry was icy & rutted and quite a challenge for beginners.
Perhaps I should apologise for suggesting that everything is not perfect, I was forgetting the rules of the forum, no criticism allowed.
Had a great holiday anyway & would definitely visit again.
As for the few stray dogs, when passed by at least 10 dogs in a close group, I would define that as a pack wouldn't you and that was outside the hotel.
I mentioned the access to the lifts being icy & rutted. Elswhere lift staff are mindful of the areas in as you move on to the lifts and are frequently packing snow down to maintain a level surface for the skiers. The worst example I found was with the beginners of our group entering the drag on the nursery slope near the Biathlon shooting range. The entry was icy & rutted and quite a challenge for beginners.
Perhaps I should apologise for suggesting that everything is not perfect, I was forgetting the rules of the forum, no criticism allowed.
Had a great holiday anyway & would definitely visit again.
re: Bansko review
Dave correct on the dogs roaming the streets of Bansko.
And about the job of the lift workers.
As for the challenging runs of Bansko me thinks for a 3-4 days visit and in this PERFECT condition which is 20 years record as far as the snow and the temperatures are concerned Bansko is OK .not for more.
We have to all argee that when the whole of the country is covered in thick blanket of snow and all of runs are OK. And with mega low temperatures there is not much to complain.
In fact you ...
And about the job of the lift workers.
As for the challenging runs of Bansko me thinks for a 3-4 days visit and in this PERFECT condition which is 20 years record as far as the snow and the temperatures are concerned Bansko is OK .not for more.
We have to all argee that when the whole of the country is covered in thick blanket of snow and all of runs are OK. And with mega low temperatures there is not much to complain.
In fact you ...
Dave correct on the dogs roaming the streets of Bansko.
And about the job of the lift workers.
As for the challenging runs of Bansko me thinks for a 3-4 days visit and in this PERFECT condition which is 20 years record as far as the snow and the temperatures are concerned Bansko is OK .not for more.
We have to all argee that when the whole of the country is covered in thick blanket of snow and all of runs are OK. And with mega low temperatures there is not much to complain.
In fact you can go at this precise moment to any small place in Bulgaria with a drag lift or two and have a perfect day out ski on and off the runs.
Near Troyan, Teteven, Kom, Maliovitsa,Semkovo,few places in Rodopi apart of the obvious Pamporovo, even in the park in down town Sofia you can find POWDER .
Not talking about more or less any big small on miniscular place in the Alps where now it is heaven or Earth.
So whatever place you choose even blindly pointing to a direction of your ski/snowboard holiday to any point on the European map , you will now make a mistake because everywhere is PERFECT at the moment.
As for me after grueling marathon of 3 weeks this season in the Alps, I skied today Bansko, tomorrow and day after I will do my favorite -Borovets before the weather closes again .I think I will do then Pamporovo and at the weekend guess what going direct to Chamonix for you know what.
Enjoy your skiing whatever you decide to do it.
Any place will do the job this season.It is not the norm but it is nice to witness a RECORD winter.Congrats skiers/boarders !
And about the job of the lift workers.
As for the challenging runs of Bansko me thinks for a 3-4 days visit and in this PERFECT condition which is 20 years record as far as the snow and the temperatures are concerned Bansko is OK .not for more.
We have to all argee that when the whole of the country is covered in thick blanket of snow and all of runs are OK. And with mega low temperatures there is not much to complain.
In fact you can go at this precise moment to any small place in Bulgaria with a drag lift or two and have a perfect day out ski on and off the runs.
Near Troyan, Teteven, Kom, Maliovitsa,Semkovo,few places in Rodopi apart of the obvious Pamporovo, even in the park in down town Sofia you can find POWDER .
Not talking about more or less any big small on miniscular place in the Alps where now it is heaven or Earth.
So whatever place you choose even blindly pointing to a direction of your ski/snowboard holiday to any point on the European map , you will now make a mistake because everywhere is PERFECT at the moment.
As for me after grueling marathon of 3 weeks this season in the Alps, I skied today Bansko, tomorrow and day after I will do my favorite -Borovets before the weather closes again .I think I will do then Pamporovo and at the weekend guess what going direct to Chamonix for you know what.
Enjoy your skiing whatever you decide to do it.
Any place will do the job this season.It is not the norm but it is nice to witness a RECORD winter.Congrats skiers/boarders !
