Bulgaria Ski discussion board

We have just got back from Bansko and I promised a report so here goes. This is our 4th skiing holiday in Bulgaria and we have been to all 3 resorts so I can safely say I know the place.

HOTEL BANSKO The hotel itself was lovely. Great rooms, pool and gym. The down side was the food. Having been to Bulgaria many times (including Black Sea resorts) we always go with an open mind on the food front. Previously we have stayed at The Rila (Boro), The Ela (Boro) and The Pamporovo (Pamps). Out of all of them I would say the Pamporovo was the best for food. The Restaurant in the Bansko was only 3 star yet the hotel was a 4 star. It had no atmosphere and reminded me of a cafe!. The food wasn't even warm (we can cope with warm) it was cold and looked awful. We tried it twice but ended up eating out every night. Next time I will book into the Strazhanite as this is definatley on par with the Pamporovo.

BANSKO THE TOWN What a great place. This was truly a living breathing Bulgarian town without mass tourism. Walking down the cobbled streets listening to music coming from the Mexahas (taverns) was fab. The Bulgarians are always friendly and welcoming but even more so in Bansko, and it's so cheap we never spent more than £12 for 3 of us and that was for 3 starters, 3 main meals, 2 litres wine and a coke! Beer in the bars ranges from 30p to 60p a litre and we bought 8 bottles of vodka at £1.30 a piece.
The only thing I would say is that it's certainly not lively like Borovets. There are a couple of clubs and a few bars but that's it for the young and lively crowd.
SKIING BANSKO The slopes are fantastic and so uncrowded. Most of the time it felt like you were on your own. What I would point out is that Bansko is definately not a beginners resort. Last year I was doing all the blue runs in Pamporovo but I found the blues really difficult in Bansko. I mentioned this to my instructor and she said the Blues are really Reds anywhere else!! My partner got a map from our rep and went down a red run. It was steeper than The Wall in Pamps and certainly more difficult. He took a bad fall and when he was talking about it to the rep she said he had an old map and it was a black! There were quite a few injuries amongst the beginners, more than I have seen in all my trips to Bulgaria. The rep said next year the runs were all being changed to Red and Black and the brochure would state Bansko isn't a beginners resort. It really is an advanced skiers resort. On the good side, I can now manage a Red in Bansko, no style or grace but I can get down in one piece.


So, would we go again? the answer is yes. I think anyone who loves Bulgaria should try Bansko. PETE I'M SURE YOU WOULD TAKE OVER MOST OF THE BARS AND EVERYONE WOULD LOVE YOU.


Any questions let me know.

Karen

Hi Karen..I totally agree..with you ..we have just come back from Hotel pamps in pamporovo..it was fantastic ...ski slopes quite tame compared to Bansko..it was nice to long shallow slopes...weather was great ..but last year we went to hotel pirin in Bansko...it was Fantastic ...the atmosphere of Bansko was so uncomercialised..the music the mexanas and the log fires i know where your coming from ....we went to Bansko lasy year twice....first at the Hotel bansko , which was quite Bland ...and then at the Pirin which was very central...and i prefered it for atmosphere..the thing im uncertain about in Bansko is the ski runs and the Lifts ..the chair lifts dont stop at all to let you off....how many times have i fallen down !! I know they have had more lifts in for this season ..how did you find the lifts??? I think with Bansko it pushed me quite in the deep end with the runs...but going back to Pamps now ..i felt quite confident with the slopes..I love Pamps for the slopes and Bansko for the traditional atmoshere and Town..
Wendy

Hi Karen..I totally agree..with you ..we have just come back from Hotel pamps in pamporovo..it was fantastic ...ski slopes quite tame compared to Bansko..it was nice to long shallow slopes...weather was great ..but last year we went to hotel pirin in Bansko...it was Fantastic ...the atmosphere of Bansko was so uncomercialised..the music the mexanas and the log fires i know where your coming from ....we went to Bansko lasy year twice....first at the Hotel bansko , which was quite Bland ...and then at the Pirin which was very central...and i prefered it for atmosphere..the thing im uncertain about in Bansko is the ski runs and the Lifts ..the chair lifts dont stop at all to let you off....how many times have i fallen down !! I know they have had more lifts in for this season ..how did you find the lifts??? I think with Bansko it pushed me quite in the deep end with the runs...but going back to Pamps now ..i felt quite confident with the slopes..I love Pamps for the slopes and Bansko for the traditional atmoshere and Town..
Wendy