Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Bansko review
Author:Steve C
posts : 2898 (Master)Date : 02-01-12 10:46re: Bansko review
Mr M... come on Mikey, you are such a namedropper, Chamonix... and you have a blackberry now, things must be good...
In reply to Dave Turner.. if i was to insinuate that all was perfect here that was a mistake, but when confronted with a statement 'packs of stray dogs roaming the town' ?? im afraid is not correct. There are town dogs here, most have benefactors, and most have been checked.. Perhaps in these cold days they have formed a group, but even as a group are not aggressive.. Your ...
In reply to Dave Turner.. if i was to insinuate that all was perfect here that was a mistake, but when confronted with a statement 'packs of stray dogs roaming the town' ?? im afraid is not correct. There are town dogs here, most have benefactors, and most have been checked.. Perhaps in these cold days they have formed a group, but even as a group are not aggressive.. Your ...
Mr M... come on Mikey, you are such a namedropper, Chamonix... and you have a blackberry now, things must be good...
In reply to Dave Turner.. if i was to insinuate that all was perfect here that was a mistake, but when confronted with a statement 'packs of stray dogs roaming the town' ?? im afraid is not correct. There are town dogs here, most have benefactors, and most have been checked.. Perhaps in these cold days they have formed a group, but even as a group are not aggressive.. Your description lends to a view of wild dogs in packs attacking visitors...
Piste preparation here can be hit and miss, but the maintenance of lift accesses is normally the responsibility of the actual attendant, you should have highlighted it, and im sure he would have gladly attended to it (yeh, right)
You still really did not explain why you came to Bansko ? after your experience in Borovets i would have thought Bulgaria would have been struck from your list forever, preferring more Anglophile resorts like La Plagne, 3 Valleys etc... I know, you took a chance because.... IT WAS CHEAP
the main reason why most visitors come, and you were surprised that it was that good for the money... (this will now start a tirade of posters coming back with their cheap weeks in Chamonix etc)
No criticism eh... Bansko needs to organise better ticketing, the ability to purchase up to 3 day passes from a machine (not rocket science), better information regarding proposed works and explanations of why they have not been started, the whole mountain organisation needs a kick up the ass, the restaurants with their uninterested staff, sad food and exorbitant prices (but no stray dogs, even after the amount of food? that gets thrown on the floor), better attempts at piste management, snow management (snow park ?), access to the mountain.. etc etc etc....... perfect it ain't, and criticise i will... but we still arrive back at the fact, Bansko is the best value for money ski destination in Europe, so for all the criticism in the world, people will still come, because its cheap
In reply to Dave Turner.. if i was to insinuate that all was perfect here that was a mistake, but when confronted with a statement 'packs of stray dogs roaming the town' ?? im afraid is not correct. There are town dogs here, most have benefactors, and most have been checked.. Perhaps in these cold days they have formed a group, but even as a group are not aggressive.. Your description lends to a view of wild dogs in packs attacking visitors...
Piste preparation here can be hit and miss, but the maintenance of lift accesses is normally the responsibility of the actual attendant, you should have highlighted it, and im sure he would have gladly attended to it (yeh, right)
You still really did not explain why you came to Bansko ? after your experience in Borovets i would have thought Bulgaria would have been struck from your list forever, preferring more Anglophile resorts like La Plagne, 3 Valleys etc... I know, you took a chance because.... IT WAS CHEAP
the main reason why most visitors come, and you were surprised that it was that good for the money... (this will now start a tirade of posters coming back with their cheap weeks in Chamonix etc)No criticism eh... Bansko needs to organise better ticketing, the ability to purchase up to 3 day passes from a machine (not rocket science), better information regarding proposed works and explanations of why they have not been started, the whole mountain organisation needs a kick up the ass, the restaurants with their uninterested staff, sad food and exorbitant prices (but no stray dogs, even after the amount of food? that gets thrown on the floor), better attempts at piste management, snow management (snow park ?), access to the mountain.. etc etc etc....... perfect it ain't, and criticise i will... but we still arrive back at the fact, Bansko is the best value for money ski destination in Europe, so for all the criticism in the world, people will still come, because its cheap
re: Bansko review
We come because we love the dogs, big friendly mutts.Great hotels, fun atmosphere, affordable instruction, we got fed up of La Plagne, Obergurgle and more with their high prices, arsey ski attitude (we switched to snowboarding) I don't think it is ideal for everyone, the long gondola queue at peak times for a young family must be hell and I'm not sure it's a beginners resort but a keen intermediate up on the first lift, prepared for poor restaurants on the mountain can have a fab week, we ...
We come because we love the dogs, big friendly mutts.Great hotels, fun atmosphere, affordable instruction, we got fed up of La Plagne, Obergurgle and more with their high prices, arsey ski attitude (we switched to snowboarding) I don't think it is ideal for everyone, the long gondola queue at peak times for a young family must be hell and I'm not sure it's a beginners resort but a keen intermediate up on the first lift, prepared for poor restaurants on the mountain can have a fab week, we have grown to love the place and it's now our only weeks holiday in the snow. 
re: Bansko review
Niki, that statement `grown to love the place' makes my efforts to promote the joys of Bansko as a destination outside of its `value for money' reputation so much easier, at least someone can see past `cheap'.... good on ya
re: Bansko review
I have spent over £8,000 bringing back dogs from Bulgaria that were supposed to be vicious strays and they turned out to be absolutely brilliant dogs, but we all have our own opinions and Dave is fully entitled to his.Great report Dave - of course you can post your true thought on your experiences on here and we very much welcome that - and thanks for your contribution.
re: Bansko review
again in response to comments.
This holiday was my Xmas presents for my wife,daughter, son & his girlfriend and comparing price for 5 for the holiday with lift passes ski hire & tuition Bansko was £1500 cheaper than the Alps, comparable to Arinsal in Andorra but they had had no snow in weeks.
It was my sons first ski holiday despite him being 30 & I was aware that the ski school would be of good quality, my first ski holiday was Borovets and the best part of that was our tuition with ...
This holiday was my Xmas presents for my wife,daughter, son & his girlfriend and comparing price for 5 for the holiday with lift passes ski hire & tuition Bansko was £1500 cheaper than the Alps, comparable to Arinsal in Andorra but they had had no snow in weeks.
It was my sons first ski holiday despite him being 30 & I was aware that the ski school would be of good quality, my first ski holiday was Borovets and the best part of that was our tuition with ...
again in response to comments.
This holiday was my Xmas presents for my wife,daughter, son & his girlfriend and comparing price for 5 for the holiday with lift passes ski hire & tuition Bansko was £1500 cheaper than the Alps, comparable to Arinsal in Andorra but they had had no snow in weeks.
It was my sons first ski holiday despite him being 30 & I was aware that the ski school would be of good quality, my first ski holiday was Borovets and the best part of that was our tuition with Cristov who stood no nonsense & taught us properly.
So the choice for me was purely economic and where the snow was, my pockets weren't deep enough to justify the substantial difference to go anywhere else. Bansko was the obvious resort to me based on the bigger ski area.
I have no doubt we will return, my wife loved the place which surprised her having not enjoyed Borovets.
Like Steve C has pointed out some little things make all the difference and would elevate the resort above the perception of just being good value. I hope the resort managementraed some of the suggestions.
And I still maintain it was a pack.
This holiday was my Xmas presents for my wife,daughter, son & his girlfriend and comparing price for 5 for the holiday with lift passes ski hire & tuition Bansko was £1500 cheaper than the Alps, comparable to Arinsal in Andorra but they had had no snow in weeks.
It was my sons first ski holiday despite him being 30 & I was aware that the ski school would be of good quality, my first ski holiday was Borovets and the best part of that was our tuition with Cristov who stood no nonsense & taught us properly.
So the choice for me was purely economic and where the snow was, my pockets weren't deep enough to justify the substantial difference to go anywhere else. Bansko was the obvious resort to me based on the bigger ski area.
I have no doubt we will return, my wife loved the place which surprised her having not enjoyed Borovets.
Like Steve C has pointed out some little things make all the difference and would elevate the resort above the perception of just being good value. I hope the resort managementraed some of the suggestions.
And I still maintain it was a pack.
re: Bansko review
Pack of dogs or simply a friendly group(band) placed in Bansko Downtown to entertain the tourist Steve ? Who knows.
Yesterday and today had a perfect skiing incognito in Boro with absolutely every single piste working apart of the Avalange prone one very good preparations sunshine, cold everywhere (100%)
Can not fault it.Honestly.
The queues were 2-3 min MAX (just to have a breath)
All 3 areas opened fully , skiers spread nicely everywhere so Borovets was looking the last 2 days like a ...
Yesterday and today had a perfect skiing incognito in Boro with absolutely every single piste working apart of the Avalange prone one very good preparations sunshine, cold everywhere (100%)
Can not fault it.Honestly.
The queues were 2-3 min MAX (just to have a breath)
All 3 areas opened fully , skiers spread nicely everywhere so Borovets was looking the last 2 days like a ...
Pack of dogs or simply a friendly group(band) placed in Bansko Downtown to entertain the tourist Steve ? Who knows.
Yesterday and today had a perfect skiing incognito in Boro with absolutely every single piste working apart of the Avalange prone one very good preparations sunshine, cold everywhere (100%)
Can not fault it.Honestly.
The queues were 2-3 min MAX (just to have a breath)
All 3 areas opened fully , skiers spread nicely everywhere so Borovets was looking the last 2 days like a Western Resort.
In these perfect conditions I realise how much better convenient is Borovets than Bansko where every soul has to catch a Gondola and rub shoulders with everybody else at the same time at the point of start.
Now on the other side of the coin:
We all know that these conditions are RARE occuance (as a said once in a 40 years Circle) and the odds are heavily against this repeating again and again in our lifetime.
Tomorrow I will check my old favorite (from the deep past) Pamporovo which I am sure will be as good as Borovets for similar reasons (good snow,low Temps,and scatered ski area allowing spreading and multiple starting points.
The only reason I am taking the long trip to Pamporovo is because for tomorrow the forecast is for weather to close down again and to start snowing with bad visibility on the higher ground so rather that skiing on 2 areas in Borovets and missing the top part (which I love) I rather shift to Pamporovo where doesn't matter weather and the skiing is amongst pine trees.Plus some other reason of course(Memory lane)
As for Chamonix Steve I am flying there to witness again perfectly organised World Cup where the whole of the town is on Acid and celebrating (something Bansko can try to see and learn)
Plus- Chamonix is Chamonix , the peaks are there and not moving anywhere.It is One Mont Blanc not two.
It is One Verde not 2.
I don't want to ENTER into discussion about what's what and which is cheap or expensive what you get for your money etc etc.
Not this forum .
Here is I guess to disscus Bulgarian ski resorts and opinions must be valued not slapped like I feel you try to do with some review of one balanced reading (Dave's)
To all of the tourists coming within one month or even all season:
Don't worry this year is the GOLDEN one
Snow will be plenty 'til the end
READ HERE:more or less all time deep
So You All don't have to worry.
This year is this year all over the mountains around the globe it is bumper season and choose according your likes.
Simply Enjoy it while it lasts !!
Yesterday and today had a perfect skiing incognito in Boro with absolutely every single piste working apart of the Avalange prone one very good preparations sunshine, cold everywhere (100%)
Can not fault it.Honestly.
The queues were 2-3 min MAX (just to have a breath)
All 3 areas opened fully , skiers spread nicely everywhere so Borovets was looking the last 2 days like a Western Resort.
In these perfect conditions I realise how much better convenient is Borovets than Bansko where every soul has to catch a Gondola and rub shoulders with everybody else at the same time at the point of start.
Now on the other side of the coin:
We all know that these conditions are RARE occuance (as a said once in a 40 years Circle) and the odds are heavily against this repeating again and again in our lifetime.
Tomorrow I will check my old favorite (from the deep past) Pamporovo which I am sure will be as good as Borovets for similar reasons (good snow,low Temps,and scatered ski area allowing spreading and multiple starting points.
The only reason I am taking the long trip to Pamporovo is because for tomorrow the forecast is for weather to close down again and to start snowing with bad visibility on the higher ground so rather that skiing on 2 areas in Borovets and missing the top part (which I love) I rather shift to Pamporovo where doesn't matter weather and the skiing is amongst pine trees.Plus some other reason of course(Memory lane)
As for Chamonix Steve I am flying there to witness again perfectly organised World Cup where the whole of the town is on Acid and celebrating (something Bansko can try to see and learn)
Plus- Chamonix is Chamonix , the peaks are there and not moving anywhere.It is One Mont Blanc not two.
It is One Verde not 2.
I don't want to ENTER into discussion about what's what and which is cheap or expensive what you get for your money etc etc.
Not this forum .
Here is I guess to disscus Bulgarian ski resorts and opinions must be valued not slapped like I feel you try to do with some review of one balanced reading (Dave's)
To all of the tourists coming within one month or even all season:
Don't worry this year is the GOLDEN one
Snow will be plenty 'til the end
READ HERE:more or less all time deep
So You All don't have to worry.
This year is this year all over the mountains around the globe it is bumper season and choose according your likes.
Simply Enjoy it while it lasts !!
