Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi all.

I am off to Bansko on the 1.1.14, Billy no mates as a couple of my mates have let me down so I thought sod it and gone ahead on me tod, package holiday through Thomas Cook!

I have never been to Bulgaria and a few hopefully daft questions that will be easy to answer please;

1) Is it better to exchange money over here or in the hotel/ booths (whatever they are) over there as I have seen a few posts on here saying that, but I am confused (happens very easily)!
2) Skis and boot hire - best place for it (I am staying in the Lion hotel near the gondola lift I believe?)?
3) Lessons - again best place/ price I am a novice - can get down a blue, but that was 4 years ago. Had a rusty refresher yesterday at Hemel snow, oohhh uuhhh missus, and think I may need one or two over there.
4) I'm on a half board hol but are there good places to eat/ drink in Bansko as I'll be on my own?

I think that's it for now, thanks very much in advance for any help and I just want to say what a great site/ resource this is!

Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,

Sure you will have a great time!

i have been to bansko twice and stayed in lion. Hopefully this will help

1) you will get a much better rate over there. There are multiple booths (take £20's) or use. Cash machine to get the 'actual' rate. But check what your bank charges first. A Halifax clarity card has no fees
2) lion isn't too far from the lift but a bit of a walk (just 5 mins) they offer a shuttle but no point. I use banksosport both times the offer both rental and lessons (very well priced) they are opposite the gondola across the car park and down the wooden stairs. If your walking from your hotel you will go over the cross roads and they are on the right (might need to cross on more road can't remember)
3)banksosport I got a 4 hour private lesson
4) there are quite a lot of places. But can't really thing of anywhere standout off the top of my head

If you bring sterling do not exchange in the booths or at your hotel, rate is terrible... use a bank, up to 10% better exchange than UK.. Banks will open Saturday morning and up to 04.30 each weekday...

Hire and instruction and lift pass can be booked as a package through Ulen, the operator, and the package price takes some beating... that said you will have little control over the class size, and you cannot store your boots and skis at night for free in the gondola... the private ski shops will offer in most cases smaller class sizes, and can be flexible regarding start times, and one to one instruction.. We like Pirin2000 and Skimania, both shops fairly close to the gondola, and will allow for overnight storage of skis and boots at no extra charge.. We can pre-book operator packages for you if you want to get in touch, and also arrange lift passes with private hire and instruction as well.

There are loads of places to eat and drink, the Lion is not to far from the main area, touristy bars like Penguins, Amigo's, Euphoria, more traditional Bulgarian Mehanas.. and English/Irish bars like the London bar or Irish Harp.. you won't starve that's for sure

Why have you not pre-booked your ski package through Thomas Cook ? they normally have great deals

Hi Steve C.

Pretty sure I will need a few lessons to get confidence and an idea of what I'm doing again, I can link snow plough turns but had trouble controlling speed, so I'm not really a beginner but don't class myself as intermediate either!!! I am going to pop into Thomas Cook this week to see what they can do about lessons, but failing that have you any advice apart from the info posted above for help please? I arrive next Saturday night so will have to sort out Sunday and I don't want to lose too much time sorting it out over there if I can get it sorted beforehand!

Buzzing now and can't wait to get there even though I will be on my own, looking forward to a good ski, chill out and few beers

Thanks for any further help.
Steve

Hi Steve8, I have been to Bansko many times mainly with my son but also on my own, I would recommend booking ski school as part of a boot and lift pass package, either through steve or your tour op, prices there are so reasonable you will hardly notice the extra for lessons on top. You will then no doubt be part of a group during the day and will no doubt find yourself joining them or some of them for evening drinks etc. I say this from personal experience, but as steveC rightly says you will not go hungry, you will certainly not go thirsty, and I am sure you will have a great time.

"Hi Steve C.

Pretty sure I will need a few lessons to get confidence and an idea of what I'm doing again, I can link snow plough turns but had trouble controlling speed, so I'm not really a beginner but don't class myself as intermediate either!!! I am going to pop into Thomas Cook this week to see what they can do about lessons, but failing that have you any advice apart from the info posted above for help please? I arrive next Saturday night so will have to sort out Sunday and I don't want to lose too much time sorting it out over there if I can get it sorted beforehand!

Buzzing now and can't wait to get there even though I will be on my own, looking forward to a good ski, chill out and few beers

Thanks for any further help.
Steve"


For me the stages are

Novice - utter beginner but you are able to control speed snow plough nursery runs
Beginner- parallel turns at ease blue runs are straight forward and your attempting reds cautiously
Intermediate - carving / slalom confident on all reds blues and are more than capable at completing blacks but struggle with icy black runs and mogules
Expert- any run any colour is no issue jumps slalom

Time scale wise I'd say 6 days on the slops your a novice beginner is then 6 days to 45-60 maybe more too many think they are actually better than they are but of course plenty are talented and get there sooner but as its holiday skiing rate of improvement and focus will not be huge plus runs will be busy so takes more time to get good. Intermediate might not be possible for many be it talent or fear as some reds are tough
Expert god only knows if you holiday ski only I'd imagine never unless you have a hidden natural talent

hi steve. (may aswell call this ski with steve . com haha) it says you fly out 1/1/14 but your posts seem older. is it 1/2/14 you go. If so same time as me and a few mates and steve c is bringing a couple more on the sunday. more than welcome to join in with us when ever you want, and by all means have a few lessons as i think you will enjoy the holliday more. I dont mind a couple of runs on the ski rd though must say i usually only use it to get to the bootom of the slope at the end of the day, though as it seems the very top isn't open i guess i will be using it abit more. Were in the lion hotel aswell so bring your drinking arm Oh and prob on the same flight out as well