Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Our flight from Newcastale to Plovdiv last Sunday went without a hitch, apart from the fact Raife Henkle and Jorvik were all pack and ready to fly on the Saturday. Jorvik was actually on the A1 and Raife and family were at home with their bags packed awaiting my arrival.

Sundays flight went without a hitch and the operation at Plovdiv International was slightly slicker than last year and we were on our coach very quickly. Unfortunately there was some posh boy on the bus (not Raife) who got pished and at hotel drop off time in Bansko was using phrases like "let the riff raff off first" to our dismay he was also in the Kempinski with us. It was great seeing him being ignored by his wife and kids a breakfast the next morning.

Monday morning was the normal scrum and once we were all kitted out we waited about 30 minutes to get up on the gondola. Ski classes were very mixed ability but the stragglers dropped out as the week went on. The snow was good and the sun was shining, what more can you ask for. Monday was the only day we queued at the Gondola, got there at 8.30 every other morning and walked on.

Tuesday we all had a good days skiing and the sun kept on shining. It was also Jorviks 50th B'day. I had emailed the Kempinski a couple of weeks prior and they laid on a B'day cake and a card the the staff (well done to the hotel great gesture).

Wednesday and Thursday were similar lots of sun and good skiing with the runs getting slushy in the afternoon.

Friday started off in the same fashion, but just after lunch I got a call to say Jorviks wife had sustained a bad knee injury, which will require an operation now that she is back in the UK. The operation to get her down the hill was very slick and the only thing that Jorvik had to pay at the resort was 70 Lev for the leg brace to stablize her knee. Jorvik said his insurance company were dealing with everything else. He also said the medical centre at the gondola was basic but very helpful, they xrayed the injury to confirm there was no breaks, but actually a break would take less time to heal.

Saturday spirits were slightly lower due to our friends injury but the Henkle's, Gogs and Gogsetta skied but called it a day at lunch time, all having throughly enjoyed the weeks skiing.

We found prices were up about 25% on last year when eating out. We ate one night in the hotel, a further two nights in local mehana's and three night in the pizza place below the hotel due to the injury. The pizza's are to die for I would say they are the best I've ever tasted and Gogsetta was in pizza heaven.

Overall, everybody had a great week and it looks like the Henkle family and Gogs and Gogsetta will be skiing together next year. Would I go back to Bansko for a 3rd time? I'm not sure maybe its time to go back to the Alps. Greed seems to be taking over in Bulgaria and prices will be even higher next year. I was talking to my ski instructor from last year and he said that less Brits are coming to Bulgaria each year.

Bansko is still a building site, I was also told that many off the unfinished apartment blocks have not been finished due to lack of buyers and that they won't be. Certainly not a place I'll be investing my had earned cash. Also considering it was suppose to be the busiest weeks off the year due to half term the resort was quiet

Overall a great week.

I would say that there are thousands of apartments still under development. I also met my ski instructor from last year who told me that some developers have walked away from half build blocks as they can't sell them. When I looked around I did noticed some blocks still unfinished that were being built when I was there last year. But the building work should not impact on your holiday.

I think the Lion is about a five minute walk from the Gondola. Thanks for suggesting Pamps but I thinks I'll be heading somewhere with a much larger ski area next year.

Phil

Been to both Bansko and Pamps in the last 3 years - I would say my vote would go to Pamps as an all round experience. Thats not to say we didn't enjoy Bansko - hotel was fine (Orphey), skiing was excellent (more challenging runs than Pamps) and there were enough pubs and eateries to ky to s content.
Only thing was that the town is undergoing serious development and it does resemble (in places) a huge building site.
By the way - the Lion looks to be a cracking hotel and it is easy to walk to the gondola from there - just be careful on the paths running by the roads!
Have a good 'un!