Bulgaria Ski discussion board

There has been a couple of Bansko questions and I have just returned so here is a quick report...

Transfer times is getting better. Just over 2 hours in a car. This was without snow so clearly this can be slower but road improvements have helped.

Nearly all slopes are open and whilst at the start of last week it was a little patchy it got much better after a mid-week dump and looks like there is more to come. Go early if you can, you miss the crush and slush. Gondola actually was going most mornings by 8.20 and you are straight on. Run 12 that goes to a lower lift was not prepared at all, weird considering it was new last year!?

Two new pubs - Murphys and Crown (at top end not far from friendly but a little hard to find) are good additions. Good pub food if you want a break from a mehana and Murphys has had lots of money spent on it to make to look authentic. You now have good pub crawl with these two, Harrys Bar (which is also a great bar with guiness for 6lev vs 7), Irish Pub and Happy End. Lion pub has been completely refurbished and also looks good and was very busy. Happy End still a good live music night on Friday.

Big find - a little hut / cafe / bbq place half way down the ski rd back to the gondola on the left. Everything at 1/3 of price on solpes and in town. 2 lev for soup, 1.50 for glass of wine, 1lev for coke etc.

Best Mehana for me is still barakova. At back of church and square. There are many in this area so look hard at the names and try and work it out!

This is the third year year, sixth visit and i still like bansko. Sure its not a snobby french or swiss resort and at times the people can seem rude but it has its very own charm much more similar to greece in the 80s. Many apartments are now built and this makes it look a little less like a building site. Rubbish can still be a problem as can the hawkers trying to get you in some of the restaurants but when you are on the mountain or sitting having a great meal with wine for £10 each in a mehana you soon forget these issues.

Change money in a local bank. I still got 2.14 vs a max of 2 in the exchange kiosks. Last kiosk on pirin street before the lion on the right ripped me off, beware of this, they advertise one rate and have a different rate inside that is behind you!

Many people seem to have either a glass half full or half empty view of Bansko rather than seeing it for what it is and what it isnt, just go with an open mind and don't compare it to chamonix. Enjoy the good ski, great wine, good food (when you find the good mehanas) and still great value but if you mind some broken pavements, smoking in the restaurants and want something a little more spohisticated then go elsewhere.

As your staying in LuckyBansko - the ATM's are in the square/on your way into the square there are plenty of them I think I can easily count 4 or 5 close to that area.

Food wise in the Mehanas - you need to ask for a Seche. Its Piella in delivery to the table all sizzling on clay. Its meat & veg all on it and fantastic.
Starters plenty of salads - shopska is lovely.

Other food you might like to try:-
Stuffed peppers - stuffed with feta mmm
Peasants treat! - a starter its a bowel full of fried chicken hearts (I love offal if you dont dont have it)
Forget the name but they do butterfly chicken in cornflake coating amazingly good.
Next you can have a Karvarna - its a local Bansko speciality which is basically a pork/chicken hotpot.

Now onto the Skewers....mmm fantastic I like the Masters skewer it has all the meats on it and in huge chunks. They traditionally come to your table with a wooden slab then stab in the skewer (with meat on) then they light up the wood while they prise off the meat.

Pizza's - nice
Lion Pub did burgers etc if you want british.

However there are so many different types of foods its worth trying something different every meal. When we go we have different meals each and like an indian meal put it all in the middle and then help yourself try out the meals.


DRINK WISE - ask for a Mestica Menta (not for kids) its green and very very good.
Also Raki - wine brandy is great to have with your starter.
Beer wise I tend to stick with Pirinski which is the local Bansko brewery and its a nice beer & the cheapest by some margin - Or Kaminitza nice light beer think 4% ish (you can find it in tesco et al) Or Zagorka think stella strong % wise but much stronger in flavour.
They do a zagorka gold which is 8% I think blows your head off.
Wine - in general its medium not dry but very good & at the higher end strength wise.


Oh one other thing as your staying in Lucky Bansko - the main supermarket is 5 mins walk away (you'll see it on your left hand side when you enter Bansko) its a nice shop loads of deli things and drinks are very cheap. I tend to buy my room beers from the shop in LuckyBansko as its more or less the same as the supermarket and it saves me time and effort carrying it back...I like a drink while the Mrs is getting ready.

Rooms have microwave - and 2 hotplates & fridge & all your cutlery & glasses.

Great info on Bansko folks ,thanks. Its great to hear people enthusiastic and giving genuine feedback on their experiences.

I go out on 1st feb and can't wait. I have asked this question on another thread but you may be able to help. I am taking my own boots with me but have booked snowboard hire through balkan holidays, do you know where they book the hire from and what the quality is like. Heard some not so good stories on here regarding the poor quality of hire equipment

Thanks,
Gary

As already mentioned lots of choice on the food front. I would add pork knuckle to share which is absolutely amazing. This is a speciality at another mehana which as you go down pirin street half way to the square is off to the right. It has a yellow sign but i have no idea how to pronounce in english.

Wine - You cant beat some of the merlot, the house wine is usually good but you can go more expensive (£5-£10 pound a bottle) and get some very nice stuff!

The Crown is just further on from irish bar (was Sir Galahds) there are signs up but Murphys is more difficult to fin. round the back of the lion hotel. Well worth finding if you fancy irish bangers and mash!

Use the banks for exchange, as I said 2.14 vs 2. Work that out over the total cost of a week and its a nights out.

As already mentioned lots of choice on the food front. I would add pork knuckle to share which is absolutely amazing. This is a speciality at another mehana which as you go down pirin street half way to the square is off to the right. It has a yellow sign but i have no idea how to pronounce in english.

Wine - You cant beat some of the merlot, the house wine is usually good but you can go more expensive (£5-£10 pound a bottle) and get some very nice stuff!

The Crown is just further on from irish bar (was Sir Galahds) there are signs up but Murphys is more difficult to fin. round the back of the lion hotel. Well worth finding if you fancy irish bangers and mash!

Use the banks for exchange, as I said 2.14 vs 2. Work that out over the total cost of a week and its a nights out.