Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Quick guide to Bansko Feb 2012
Author:Pete Nice
posts : 2 (Beginner)Date : 03-10-12 11:15Quick guide to Bansko Feb 2012
I have been back a week or so now & stayed at the Belmont apartments.
4 of us went self catering after reading reviews that hotel food wasn't very good. We paid £20 each to gain a second bedroom which was really worth it. The space was handy for all the kit.
The room was ok, not quite as advertised, not much in the way of cooking utensils & cutlery, but we muddled through.
We were told we could ask for the missing stuff from the Grand Montana, but they didn't want to know.
DVD player ...
4 of us went self catering after reading reviews that hotel food wasn't very good. We paid £20 each to gain a second bedroom which was really worth it. The space was handy for all the kit.
The room was ok, not quite as advertised, not much in the way of cooking utensils & cutlery, but we muddled through.
We were told we could ask for the missing stuff from the Grand Montana, but they didn't want to know.
DVD player ...
I have been back a week or so now & stayed at the Belmont apartments.
4 of us went self catering after reading reviews that hotel food wasn't very good. We paid £20 each to gain a second bedroom which was really worth it. The space was handy for all the kit.
The room was ok, not quite as advertised, not much in the way of cooking utensils & cutlery, but we muddled through.
We were told we could ask for the missing stuff from the Grand Montana, but they didn't want to know.
DVD player was ok, not many TV channels & no mp3 as advertised.
It was clean, hot water & nice balcony's so all in all ok.
It was a 10min walk to the Gondola, but seemed quicker. There is a short cut across the car park past the Crown pub.
Bankso town is a nice place to be. Most people are friendly & the pub/bar promoters are good fun too.
Our favourite restaurant was the Stella del Mare next to the Lion pub & Pirin 75. Probably the best pasta I have ever had & very cheap too for what you get. Very friendly staff makes for the perfect night out. Not too busy or smoky.
Pirin 75 was a good night out, good music & quite friendly.
The Crown pub is one of the best pubs in town although seemed not that busy, friendly, cheap & the cleanest toilets I have seen in a long time.
We qued for the gondola a few times, if you hit at 9am them you are in for an hour or so, They do run free buses up to the top, so that was a bonus.
It takes about 20/25 mins either way you go.
You can come back on the ski road but is very flat in places, it's not the 16k run as advertised, it takes about 20mins on a snowboard. You can nip into Chalin Valog on the way down to ride the best blue run in the resort too.
Food on the mountain isn't exactly cheap but won't break the bank either. There is a big super market in town next to the Queens (massive) pub which is cheap for bread & beer (55p bottle), so it is possible to eat cheap if you are organised.
I signed up to the Banko Blog to get the free Bansko guide. It is well worth doing if you have never been before it is full of tips & what to do & not to do.
All in all a great holiday. I would go back again, although would take some ear plugs to silence the barking dogs, this seems to be a problem where ever you stay.
We booked with Lastminute.com & paid about £450 for flight, room & transfer.
If I was to go again, I think I would book all 3 myself. Eazyjet stung us for £50 board carriage return which was a bit strong.
Still the best value for money snowboard holiday I have had though. - Enjoy!
4 of us went self catering after reading reviews that hotel food wasn't very good. We paid £20 each to gain a second bedroom which was really worth it. The space was handy for all the kit.
The room was ok, not quite as advertised, not much in the way of cooking utensils & cutlery, but we muddled through.
We were told we could ask for the missing stuff from the Grand Montana, but they didn't want to know.
DVD player was ok, not many TV channels & no mp3 as advertised.
It was clean, hot water & nice balcony's so all in all ok.
It was a 10min walk to the Gondola, but seemed quicker. There is a short cut across the car park past the Crown pub.
Bankso town is a nice place to be. Most people are friendly & the pub/bar promoters are good fun too.
Our favourite restaurant was the Stella del Mare next to the Lion pub & Pirin 75. Probably the best pasta I have ever had & very cheap too for what you get. Very friendly staff makes for the perfect night out. Not too busy or smoky.
Pirin 75 was a good night out, good music & quite friendly.
The Crown pub is one of the best pubs in town although seemed not that busy, friendly, cheap & the cleanest toilets I have seen in a long time.
We qued for the gondola a few times, if you hit at 9am them you are in for an hour or so, They do run free buses up to the top, so that was a bonus.
It takes about 20/25 mins either way you go.
You can come back on the ski road but is very flat in places, it's not the 16k run as advertised, it takes about 20mins on a snowboard. You can nip into Chalin Valog on the way down to ride the best blue run in the resort too.
Food on the mountain isn't exactly cheap but won't break the bank either. There is a big super market in town next to the Queens (massive) pub which is cheap for bread & beer (55p bottle), so it is possible to eat cheap if you are organised.
I signed up to the Banko Blog to get the free Bansko guide. It is well worth doing if you have never been before it is full of tips & what to do & not to do.
All in all a great holiday. I would go back again, although would take some ear plugs to silence the barking dogs, this seems to be a problem where ever you stay.
We booked with Lastminute.com & paid about £450 for flight, room & transfer.
If I was to go again, I think I would book all 3 myself. Eazyjet stung us for £50 board carriage return which was a bit strong.
Still the best value for money snowboard holiday I have had though. - Enjoy!
re: Quick guide to Bansko Feb 2012
Hi Pete, many thanks for your write up - I'm off to Bansko tomorrow staying in the same place.
I went to Bansko last year instead of going back to Borovets for the 4th time - glad I did as found the skiing to be far better and more reliable as the wind seem to often stop the gondala at Boro (perhaps I was just unlucky the week I went) Know what to expect regarding eating and drinking, far cheaper than the Alps!
As for the barking dogs - a couple of extra pints will probably solve ...
I went to Bansko last year instead of going back to Borovets for the 4th time - glad I did as found the skiing to be far better and more reliable as the wind seem to often stop the gondala at Boro (perhaps I was just unlucky the week I went) Know what to expect regarding eating and drinking, far cheaper than the Alps!
As for the barking dogs - a couple of extra pints will probably solve ...
Hi Pete, many thanks for your write up - I'm off to Bansko tomorrow staying in the same place.
I went to Bansko last year instead of going back to Borovets for the 4th time - glad I did as found the skiing to be far better and more reliable as the wind seem to often stop the gondala at Boro (perhaps I was just unlucky the week I went) Know what to expect regarding eating and drinking, far cheaper than the Alps!
As for the barking dogs - a couple of extra pints will probably solve that!!!!
I went to Bansko last year instead of going back to Borovets for the 4th time - glad I did as found the skiing to be far better and more reliable as the wind seem to often stop the gondala at Boro (perhaps I was just unlucky the week I went) Know what to expect regarding eating and drinking, far cheaper than the Alps!
As for the barking dogs - a couple of extra pints will probably solve that!!!!
re: Quick guide to Bansko Feb 2012
Forgot to mention there are a couple of good places to grab a snack as you come off the gondola.There is a Greek Giro place with a big tree inside, the food is good.
Amigo, in front of the Friendly Pub do a good slice of pizza too.
Don't under estimate the dogs! There is one tied up outside round the back of the Belmont.
I was in 511 & was pretty close to it.
