Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi YT. I am not Helen but I am just back from Bansko.

We bought ski pack in the UK and got our lift pass given to us on the bus coming from the airport. No photo needed but small deposit in lev (from memory 6 lev I think) which we got back at end of holiday.

You put the ski pass (credit card size) in a left hand pocket of your jacket ( I had a very handy one on my sleave) and it is scanned through your jacket at the barriers. Had no problems with it and it does cover you for all lifts includinng gondola which is a fabulous 25 min ride up the mountain each morning.

Hey, you will have a great time in Bansko. We did. Super fabulous place and not a MacDonalds in sight.

Oh, you must have hot chocolate and brandy at the end of the day at the bottom of the gondola.

Cheers
Jeannie

YT,

Oh where to begin? Stayed in hotel Bansko where I think you are staying, yes?. Only criticism is that the rooms were too hot. Had my windows open all the time which made it comfortable. People in other hotels had the same complaint so perhaps they think we tourists need a hot house climate. Sauna and swimming pool very nice and very clean and essential for sore muscles. Didn't have a massage but reports were good, book early 'cos it is popular. Food was fine, nothing spectacular but OK. Eating out was much better and very cheap. Try a different Mehana every nite.I do not understand people complaining about Bulgarian food. The salads were beautiful and huge, lots of grilled meats, very tasty and if you are vege inclinded possible to eat very well. My friend had a wonderful roasted aubergine starter that was like a pate, yummy. If you order bread it is usually toasted over the open fire.

Ski bus leaves every 20 mins from the back door of the hotel, 5 mins to the gondola. The hotel has storage room for boots and skis. Max distance you will have to carry them is 25 yrds from bus to gondola. efficient service. Centre of town is a couple of mins walk from hotel. Do not feel you have to catch the first bus on the first morning, it takes them a while to sort out the ski school groups. No rush. Have another cup of coffee.

Ski school was excellent and i cannot praise enough. I went on my first ski holiday 4 yrs ago to Austria and did not learn to ski. In Bansko on my 4th day i was skiing a blue run. Ok snow plough turns all the way, but i felt in complete control. First three days we had very icy conditions and so learned to snow plough on ice (which is tricky) but when we got a big dump of snow sking became much easier and we progressed really fast (well i think so) We had a mixed age group beginners group which worked really well and one of the first things he taught us was how to fall over and how to get up. Never learned that in Austria. On 3rd day you will ski the ski road from top station of gondola to the bottom (easier than a blue run). So on 4th day Hristo took us from learners slopes at top of gondola up to a short blue run which had not yet had the big grooming machines (I don't know what you call them) over it and we skiied powder snow. Oh magical!!!!

YT, you and girlfiend will have a great time, promise.

Oh didn't have to buy any gear. There is shop and a cash machine at gondola but suspect will be cheaper if you buy in town. There appeared to be quite a few ski shops, but I didn't really take an awful lot of notice. Ask your ski instructor. They are gods and know everything.

Hope this helps

jeannie

Jeannie,

Wonderful report many thanks for the help you have offered - yes we are staying at Hotel Bansko - love the look of the fittness suite... hotter the better I love to be warm!!!

But of course if it was colder, means that I could cuddle my beautiful girlfriend more. You seem very positive, as do all the UK people regarding Bansko which is ultra great for myself.

I will admit I am looking forward to the holiday, like a little kid in a candy shop and the weeks are dropping quite quickly, not quick enough.

I hope we get to the top blue runs as they look amazing and the scenery looks like sheer winter wonderland stuff.

So what do you read/study at University?

Have fun, your Uni years are great!!!

Kind Regards,

YT
"We're Yorkshire!"
http://www.barmy-army.org.uk

YT,

My uni years were so good I never left. Lecturing now, Psychology but mostly research methods and statistics i.e all the bits the students hate. oh well, someone has to do it.

We went with Neilson. They were very good, rep, Amy was fun and very helpful. I think Balkans are the only other big co. to go to Bansko. I'm sure the others will be in on the act next year. I suspect, given the amount of money they are spending on developing the ski area, the resort will expand. Just hope they manage to do it without spoiling the wonderful atmosphere of the place.

Sofia airport is small. Has duty free shop and a small cafe. Don't rely on it for food, I seem to remember it was mostly snack bars and drinks. It also had the smokiest (no ventilation) smoking room I have ever been in, in my entire 25yrs of smoking history. Don't light up, just breathe.

3 hours bus trip to resort but we had a fag/toilet/food break halfway. Sofia itself looked a bit concrete block but once out into countryside the scenery was lovely.

Yes, I am positive about Bansko. So positive that i am organising a group to go next year. Was hesitant to rave too much about it on this site in case too many people wanted to go there. Bit of a dilema, want to tell people how wonderful it is but also want to keep it as a special place to yourself (impossible I guess).

J

Impossible to keep the spirit of Bansko to yourself!!

As soon has I read about it and looked on the Internet site's and the official bansko ski site, I knew that on March 06th this year we would be going to Bansko.

They have spent close to €20 million already on the resort with scope to spend more to open up the ski runs further and the extension of the resort's infrastructure.

It will get better and better, will become Bulgaria's number one resort, but also with that will be more visitor's and also I would think an increase in price. Looks good in the Summer brochure of Balkan Holiday's too.

BH and Nielsen only companies going there from the UK

YT

Shhhhhhhhh!

Keep it to yourself!! Everyone will know what a great place it is.

I was about to answer your questions but Jeannie has done it for me! So I'm off for a cuppa instead, still craving that hot chocolate and brandy though.

In terms of places to go out, most of the Mexhanas are open for as long as you continue to buy drinks. Most of them were not particularly full when we were there but at least you can always get a seat to rest your weary bones!!

There is one nghtclub called Amnesia. We went there once, for the ski certificate presentation but did not bother going later in the evenings. One guy we heard of while we were there got thrown out for being too drunk, then got beaten up and mugged in the street and woke up in hospital. I'd rather stay away from that kind of thing thanks very much!!

As both Jeannie and I have repeated over and over again, you will have a fab time!!

Helen