Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi everyone i just got back from Bansko, my first time ever at Skiing!
We stayed at the Hotel Karol for two days only as for me and my boyfriend we found it a little too basic and we had to carry our ski's to and from the Hotel Strazhite where the bus pick up and drop off was. This was very tiring after a whole days skiing. The people in the Hotel Karol were very nice and friendly but as i say v basic. We talked to our Rep and he gave me a price to upgrade to the Hotel Strazhite £110 which was very good considering we were only B+B at the Karol and it was Half board at the Strazhite and the breakfast was hot! and £20 was for paying by visa so £90 really! The Hotel Strazhite was fantastic, food wasnt brilliant but hot and interesting. Only fault with the Hotel was that it was very hot so take some T-shirts as i didnt. In the Balkan Holidays brochure the Hotel is different as we heard that it was knocked down and rebuilt in a year so the facilities are exellent. It's now a 4* but i would rate it 5*.

I was in Ski school for beginners which was enjoyable but we were limited in where we could go which was the ski road back down to the bottom gondola as the other easy runs were difficult to get to as they were inbetween hard runs. The instructor was friendly but it was his first year at teaching which showed, he could have been more individual. My boyfriend who was in an intermediate class found it very good and learnt a lot. He also found the runs very good. But would say they were a little conservative in describing the colours of the runs ie parts of blues were reds and parts of reds were black!

My boyfriend took me down the ski road which i found a lot easier than in the group as i didnt have to worry about getting too much speed up and bumping into other people in my group and could experiment a lot more. As i say the instructor could have been more individual and tought us a little more. But both of us had a really enjoyable holiday and would return when i have developed my skiing.

Any questions anyone might have i would be more than happy to help.

The walk from the Hotel to the bus stop was about a 5-10 min walk uphill slightly. The rooms were very basic and was not maintained. I would rate it a 2*. The bedding was clean. There was a wardrobe but no coat hangers and no drawers to put anything in.The heating you had to turn full up and it got quite warm if you turned it down it was cold. Breakfast was cold continental. As i said the staff are friendly and nice but watch what they charge you in the bar. I would say its okay if you are with a group of people but as it was just me and my boyfriend it was quite.
We also said as long as its warm and the beds are clean we would be okay but for the little extra money it was like a palace.

The rep said to us that no-one had ever complained before but thats what they always say.

The skiing is fantastic and all new equiptment supplied and no queues for any of the lifts. If you're having ski school tuition then the groups are small 6-7 people.
Bansko town is really old and traditional. The Mehanas are ridiculously cheap, and some cook food on the fire in front of you. Try the one behind the church its spelt like ALAo IIEHE.

Im sure you'll have a brilliant time just all depends on personal preferences and expectations.

hi michelle,
my boyfriend an i are flying out to bansko this saturday and are REALLY excited. we are also staying in the hotel strazhite, just a few questions if u wudnt mind answering them!?
is the building work in the hotel all finsihed? the swimming pool etc.
and is there any snow around the hotel and town area?or is it just on the slopes? we really want to be able to go outside and have snow fights and build snowmen etc, but are concerned we might be dissappointed about that!
oh, and would u recommend taking levs or travellers cheques or what??
any other information would be fantastic!
thanku! xxx

All the building work is finnished the pool, sauna and steam room are great.... theres a massage room and a gym. Theres also a proper bowling alley and pool/games with a bar downstairs.

You get bath robes but if theres none in your room just ask at reception!

There was snow around the hotel and town, slippy though!

You can change money in the hotel but its easier to go to the Hotel Bulgaria which is across the road, as the Strazhite never has any money. We took cash in sterling its quite easy. We only spent £200.....that includeds presents. The rate varied between 2.7- 2.6 levas. And you need to take your passport with you when changing your money. You get charged for changing travellers cheques.

Drinks are more expensive at the Hotel than the Mehanas but are still very cheap. And the single measure is our double so you dont need that many drinks.

But i think thats all really.......... do take t-shirts as the hotel is boiling hot! Not too bad in your room as you can turn the heating down.

Sure you'll have a great time!

All the building work is finnished the pool, sauna and steam room are great.... theres a massage room and a gym. Theres also a proper bowling alley and pool/games with a bar downstairs.

You get bath robes but if theres none in your room just ask at reception!

There was snow around the hotel and town, slippy though!

You can change money in the hotel but its easier to go to the Hotel Bulgaria which is across the road, as the Strazhite never has any money. We took cash in sterling its quite easy. We only spent £200.....that includeds presents. The rate varied between 2.7- 2.6 levas. And you need to take your passport with you when changing your money. You get charged for changing travellers cheques.

Drinks are more expensive at the Hotel than the Mehanas but are still very cheap. And the single measure is our double so you dont need that many drinks.

But i think thats all really.......... do take t-shirts as the hotel is boiling hot! Not too bad in your room as you can turn the heating down.

Sure you'll have a great time!

All the building work is finnished the pool, sauna and steam room are great.... theres a massage room and a gym. Theres also a proper bowling alley and pool/games with a bar downstairs.

You get bath robes but if theres none in your room just ask at reception!

There was snow around the hotel and town, slippy though!

You can change money in the hotel but its easier to go to the Hotel Bulgaria which is across the road, as the Strazhite never has any money. We took cash in sterling its quite easy. We only spent £200.....that includeds presents. The rate varied between 2.7- 2.6 levas. And you need to take your passport with you when changing your money. You get charged for changing travellers cheques.

Drinks are more expensive at the Hotel than the Mehanas but are still very cheap. And the single measure is our double so you dont need that many drinks.

But i think thats all really.......... do take t-shirts as the hotel is boiling hot! Not too bad in your room as you can turn the heating down.

Sure you'll have a great time!

All the building work is finnished the pool, sauna and steam room are great.... theres a massage room and a gym. Theres also a proper bowling alley and pool/games with a bar downstairs.

You get bath robes but if theres none in your room just ask at reception!

There was snow around the hotel and town, slippy though!

You can change money in the hotel but its easier to go to the Hotel Bulgaria which is across the road, as the Strazhite never has any money. We took cash in sterling its quite easy. We only spent £200.....that includeds presents. The rate varied between 2.7- 2.6 levas. And you need to take your passport with you when changing your money. You get charged for changing travellers cheques.

Drinks are more expensive at the Hotel than the Mehanas but are still very cheap. And the single measure is our double so you dont need that many drinks.

But i think thats all really.......... do take t-shirts as the hotel is boiling hot! Not too bad in your room as you can turn the heating down.

Sure you'll have a great time!

The rooms have sat Tv & Mini Bar/Fridge. They also have a built in hairdryer in the bathroom. The cleaners come round every day so you just hang up your sign when you want anything cleaning/changing.
Theres a bowling bar downstarirs with a Bowling alley, pool tables and other games. Its ten levas for a game of bowling each. I think 3levas for pool.
The swimming pool is also great for the kids. Its quite small compared to the size of the Hotel but it was never that busy. You can have a massage for 15leva which is an hour long.
The Hotel would be great for kids........ i dont think any in the area have as good facilities. They have really thought about the little things in this hotel. I wont say anymore!