Bulgaria Ski discussion board

The discussion was constructive, we all agreed Ulen are a bunch of Tos*ers
We can appreciate high winds, but that does not effect ground lifts like t-bars and pomas, yet they were still closed...
What are `high winds' ???. I have been on both the Shilligarnika three man and the top section of the Tomba lift in what could only be described as a hurricane, no problem ??? (actually, Bansko skidvd 2006, see Banknotes commentary, windy or what ???)..

The numbers of visitors have been swelled by other resorts being either closed or very poor, this has been in Romania, Greece, as well as BG.. This is to Banskos benefit, but not when these guests are returning with such negativity. Poor information regarding lift operation, conditions, queuing etc has made a golden opportunity pass Bansko by. All of our guests returning to the airport have been completely disillusioned with Bansko, most saying they will never return at the holiday period.
Most accept poor snow, high winds, high visitor numbers... but to be sold a 55lv pass, to stand over 3 hours in a queue ????

Right, a couple of positives... the piste preparation has been of a good standard, cannons have run 24/7 when conditions were right... and by the reports we have been getting, prices generally are very good, and food/drink has been enjoyed...
Still not enough to offset all the negatives im afraid...

Mickey knows im a fan of Bansko, but it has been a period when even i have been angry with the lack of organisation and information

Been to Bansko 3 times and never had any of these problems. Only once have the pistes been closed due to high winds but pistes have been shut when I've been to Borovets and Val D'Isere.
Never experienced problems with lifts. I get to the Gondola before 9 and usually get on with minimum delay. I've heard of severe problems when there's a big competition on but never experienced them myself.
There are queues for the lifts after lunch when the ski schools are starting up again but there have been queues at other places at these peak times.
So as far as the lifts are concerned, Bansko is no different to other places I've been skiing.

Problem with Bansko is that it's great when you reach the first station from the Gondola but the whole resort relies basically on one means of transporting everybody up the mountain. Much the same as Borovets with the Gondala working overtime early in the day and both need better access to get everybody up there efficently. Not a whole lot better in Pamporovo but at least they do have 3 different lifts for the morning accents although these too can also get very busy at peak times.

If all 3 resorts plan to attract more customers over the next few years then they all need to improve on the mountain access PDQ.

Trouble we are not making this up if you got to the Gondola by 9 you would find yourself back at the Kampinski.
I too had never experianced this in Bansko but I have now. I would say that anyone who is thinking about coming here for xmas or new year think very hard about it. Unless you are prepared to get to the gondola by 8 every morning and are then happy to have top lifts shut constantly and huge queues for chairlifts then do not come!

Everyone is saying that this is the busiest Bansko has been and this will not be the norm during rest of season with maybe the exception of british school hols.Mind you does not seem to be as many Brits here this year.