Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Beer and Currency
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posts : 13 (Beginner)Date : 01-20-09 14:31Beer and Currency
I can't believe I'm writing this but is it Euro or Leva on the slops in Bulgaria? Reason is out hotel website is in Euro but google says Levas. What do I need to take?Secondaly how much does a beer equate to in sterling on the slopes in Bannerskovonia? £1, £2? £3 and finally the same for a Jaegermeister.
Muchachio
re: Beer and Currency
Its Levs you need.As far as what the equivalent is in £ well thats changing significantly all the time.
When I first went it was 3levs to the £ now its under 2levs.
So ignoring the exchange rate beers tend to be 1.5 -2. You can find places where a beer is 1lev or 0.8lev but you might not thing they look that nice - but the beer is good.
re: Beer and Currency
My god where did you find beer that cheap? Just back from Pamporovo and it's 5lv per 1/2 liter of local beer imports upto 8lv. A short and mixer cost my mate 11lvre: Beer and Currency
Even in the Hotel Lucky Bansko IIRC that was only 2.5Levs....Most of the Mehanas are very very cheap - Ive paid 5 lev a few times on the slopes but accept thats a fair price due to the location
re: Beer and Currency
Hi Welshy,Can you let me know what the Lucky Bansko Hotel is like (good & bad points), I am staying there 8th Feb for 1wk with my 12yo daughter. When does the shuttle bus leave for the Gondola how long does it take (is it too far to walk?) are there a lot of Mehanas close to the hotel?
Thanks
re: Beer and Currency
Boab - firstly I am an owner of an apt. But I will give an honest appraisal, but others who are not owners will confirm or challenge what I say.
1. Walking distance to the square - really its no more than 5 mins its not very far simply cross the river and then its 100m or so and your there. On Sundays that road is closed for the market (summer and April not sure about winter) they sell hardly any tourist stuff lots of local food, preserves, tools & some clothing - I wouldnt bother buying ...
1. Walking distance to the square - really its no more than 5 mins its not very far simply cross the river and then its 100m or so and your there. On Sundays that road is closed for the market (summer and April not sure about winter) they sell hardly any tourist stuff lots of local food, preserves, tools & some clothing - I wouldnt bother buying ...
Boab - firstly I am an owner of an apt. But I will give an honest appraisal, but others who are not owners will confirm or challenge what I say.
1. Walking distance to the square - really its no more than 5 mins its not very far simply cross the river and then its 100m or so and your there. On Sundays that road is closed for the market (summer and April not sure about winter) they sell hardly any tourist stuff lots of local food, preserves, tools & some clothing - I wouldnt bother buying any of it. I'd go and look for the shops selling the clay plates which are very nice & not expensive - we have 4 plates & 4 starter plates and one big bowel so far and use them quite often.
2. Walk from the Hotel to the Gondela - yes you can its 1.5-1.8km and uphill, it takes me 20-25mins I wouldnt do it in ski boots though. The lion Bar is I guess 15-20mins on the same route.
3. The Ski Bus goes very frequently starting at 8am IIRC (earlier if you ask the day before) and go on late in the evening too - some here have said they even stop at the Lion Bar incase any of the people staying in lucky Bansko have popped in for a drink.
4. The Hotel is very very hot - really nice temp, If only I could afford to run my own house at that temp...
The lobby bar is 24hrs and its nice you have LCD tv with music/sports on & 3 free PC terminals with web. Price for drinks are good value too - likewise the minibar, which is good.
5. The indoor swimming pool is a good size and there are heated beds beside the pool which works wonders on your back.
6. Saunas & Steam rooms are nice, ditto Gym. Ive been told that the treatments are very good - price wise they are not expensive but no first hand experiance of any treatment - its a must next time for me.
7. The Bistro - same level as the pool beneath the Lobby Bar is supposed to be exceptionally good food, sadly I have not yet tried it. I never have breakfast get up too late or have toast in the room, again next time this is on the list.
8. mehanas - there is a really good one no more than 50m away on the same side of the river on the corner its got a huge outside area and inside they play live music every night. Food is good too.
Also Mehanas in the square some 8mins walk away lots to choose from and they are all similar in price and all good IMHO.
If you go further into the old town there are more with even more unusual dishes but I like trying out different places every night.
Piano bar & casino are all close.
9. Room accomodation - the rooms are very nice and are silent there is a soundproof front door to your room. They are all done in a modern design. Mine is 3rd floor so I can see the mountain and lots of the village as well as over the river.
10. Bad points. I went in Nov and the road from the mainroad to the Hotel had just been started (pre that it was just rough ground (mud)) so we had to find the new temp way into it. They had done about a 1/3rd of it and its to supply a main enterence to LuckyBansko and a couple of other places next to it. I went at the start of November so this may well be completed by now but I dont know for sure.
11 Bad Points. as above due to the fact there is no road to it there is no light until you get close to it again this hopefully has been completed now. The actual enterence of the LuckyBansko is fully complete with tarmac/block paving.
12. Not in order sorry - time for the shuttle to get to the gondela.. well its 1.5-1.8km it doesnt take long at all - basically traffic light sequence could add a fair amount of time to the whole journey. But lets say 3mins MAX.
Hope you enjoy - please post up your review GOOD & BAD of Lucky bansko
1. Walking distance to the square - really its no more than 5 mins its not very far simply cross the river and then its 100m or so and your there. On Sundays that road is closed for the market (summer and April not sure about winter) they sell hardly any tourist stuff lots of local food, preserves, tools & some clothing - I wouldnt bother buying any of it. I'd go and look for the shops selling the clay plates which are very nice & not expensive - we have 4 plates & 4 starter plates and one big bowel so far and use them quite often.
2. Walk from the Hotel to the Gondela - yes you can its 1.5-1.8km and uphill, it takes me 20-25mins I wouldnt do it in ski boots though. The lion Bar is I guess 15-20mins on the same route.
3. The Ski Bus goes very frequently starting at 8am IIRC (earlier if you ask the day before) and go on late in the evening too - some here have said they even stop at the Lion Bar incase any of the people staying in lucky Bansko have popped in for a drink.
4. The Hotel is very very hot - really nice temp, If only I could afford to run my own house at that temp...
The lobby bar is 24hrs and its nice you have LCD tv with music/sports on & 3 free PC terminals with web. Price for drinks are good value too - likewise the minibar, which is good.
5. The indoor swimming pool is a good size and there are heated beds beside the pool which works wonders on your back.
6. Saunas & Steam rooms are nice, ditto Gym. Ive been told that the treatments are very good - price wise they are not expensive but no first hand experiance of any treatment - its a must next time for me.
7. The Bistro - same level as the pool beneath the Lobby Bar is supposed to be exceptionally good food, sadly I have not yet tried it. I never have breakfast get up too late or have toast in the room, again next time this is on the list.
8. mehanas - there is a really good one no more than 50m away on the same side of the river on the corner its got a huge outside area and inside they play live music every night. Food is good too.
Also Mehanas in the square some 8mins walk away lots to choose from and they are all similar in price and all good IMHO.
If you go further into the old town there are more with even more unusual dishes but I like trying out different places every night.
Piano bar & casino are all close.
9. Room accomodation - the rooms are very nice and are silent there is a soundproof front door to your room. They are all done in a modern design. Mine is 3rd floor so I can see the mountain and lots of the village as well as over the river.
10. Bad points. I went in Nov and the road from the mainroad to the Hotel had just been started (pre that it was just rough ground (mud)) so we had to find the new temp way into it. They had done about a 1/3rd of it and its to supply a main enterence to LuckyBansko and a couple of other places next to it. I went at the start of November so this may well be completed by now but I dont know for sure.
11 Bad Points. as above due to the fact there is no road to it there is no light until you get close to it again this hopefully has been completed now. The actual enterence of the LuckyBansko is fully complete with tarmac/block paving.
12. Not in order sorry - time for the shuttle to get to the gondela.. well its 1.5-1.8km it doesnt take long at all - basically traffic light sequence could add a fair amount of time to the whole journey. But lets say 3mins MAX.
Hope you enjoy - please post up your review GOOD & BAD of Lucky bansko
re: Beer and Currency
Welshy, thanks for the comprehensive review.....It's put my mind at ease....just wish I was there now!I will post an open and honest review on my return.
re: Beer and Currency
Enjoy it - forgot to mention there is a nice supermarket on the way into bansko under 5 mins walk from LuckyBansko so you can pick up anything you need in there + another ATM or 2 there.There is a small shop in luckyBansko which stocks all you need for similarish prices to the supermarket.
Im just about to book my Apr half term flights out there If there is snow great IF not no worries I'll enjoy the hotel & have a relaxing holiday.
re: Beer and Currency
And thanks for the beer advice Welshy! I'll grab my levs before I go as long as I get 2 to the pound at least when I arrive its straight off to the Gondola and up to the top of Pirin instead of faffing around in the local banks.
You seem to know your stuff just one more Q what is the best Mehana to the Hotel Lion, or should we just walk down to the old town and take our pick, I think this option is better than staying in our hotel and drinking beer, lot cheaper and probably a better ...
You seem to know your stuff just one more Q what is the best Mehana to the Hotel Lion, or should we just walk down to the old town and take our pick, I think this option is better than staying in our hotel and drinking beer, lot cheaper and probably a better ...
And thanks for the beer advice Welshy! I'll grab my levs before I go as long as I get 2 to the pound at least when I arrive its straight off to the Gondola and up to the top of Pirin instead of faffing around in the local banks.
You seem to know your stuff just one more Q what is the best Mehana to the Hotel Lion, or should we just walk down to the old town and take our pick, I think this option is better than staying in our hotel and drinking beer, lot cheaper and probably a better local atmosphere?
Stew
You seem to know your stuff just one more Q what is the best Mehana to the Hotel Lion, or should we just walk down to the old town and take our pick, I think this option is better than staying in our hotel and drinking beer, lot cheaper and probably a better local atmosphere?
Stew
re: Beer and Currency
I'd just walk down and take your pick. To be honest to date some 6++ odd visits now Ive been to many Mehanas and not one has been a bad experiance some are better than others sure but you should be fine.
In the old town Ive been to a number of places where the menu is in Bulgarian only - and no pics to help.... I speak no Bulgarian & have no idea how basic things are spelt & the waiters didnt speak English either... however had amazing meals in them. One thing I do find amusing is that ...
In the old town Ive been to a number of places where the menu is in Bulgarian only - and no pics to help.... I speak no Bulgarian & have no idea how basic things are spelt & the waiters didnt speak English either... however had amazing meals in them. One thing I do find amusing is that ...
I'd just walk down and take your pick. To be honest to date some 6++ odd visits now Ive been to many Mehanas and not one has been a bad experiance some are better than others sure but you should be fine.
In the old town Ive been to a number of places where the menu is in Bulgarian only - and no pics to help.... I speak no Bulgarian & have no idea how basic things are spelt & the waiters didnt speak English either... however had amazing meals in them. One thing I do find amusing is that sometimes the courses are not brought out together i.e. had one experiance where my wife had finished her main and I'd not had my starter. Still thats a quirk of some places - luckily as we share out meals it was of no concern to us.
In the old town Ive been to a number of places where the menu is in Bulgarian only - and no pics to help.... I speak no Bulgarian & have no idea how basic things are spelt & the waiters didnt speak English either... however had amazing meals in them. One thing I do find amusing is that sometimes the courses are not brought out together i.e. had one experiance where my wife had finished her main and I'd not had my starter. Still thats a quirk of some places - luckily as we share out meals it was of no concern to us.
