Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Have prices in lev realy increased or is it just if you compare the price back to £ sterling. Bulgarians cannot be held responsible for currency fluxuations. I appreciate that they have to try to continue to be competitive especialy when sterling is so weak, but even though sterling drops the costs remain the same to the bulgarians. It would be interesting if some one could make a direct comparison LEV for LEV between costs this year and last year and not sterling prices. This may help to show to alot of people on the board that are hell bent on saying Bulgaria is trying to rip them off that maybe it is more down to a week sterling and not so much the fault of the people on the ground. I appreciate that the may not be angels either.
Sean Euroland

yes the pound against the lev and Euro is NOT the Bulgarians fault, However when I visited lately, the prices have jumped up tons compared to last year. People are being ripped all over the place, I agree that you can get a drink for 2 lev etc... However these prices are hard found to be honest. You really need to know the places to go to achieve these prices. My point is... That Bansko cant really afford to outprice themselves at the moment, with it being a reletively new resort and thousands of people invested their. It will simply force people out, and everyone will look elsewhere for skiing! And frankly, better and closer resorts with less transfer time and more ski slopes! Hate to say it, coz i'm one of the investors in Bansko, but its changing fast, and not for the better imo. Bansko needs in-flux of people to ski... putting prices up will just stop this and ruin the place.

Well put jeff. I think that the town as a whole needs to organise themselves better and promote as one voice to get the best results. I have just taken charge of our own apartment and between the costs of flights, transfers and costs of running our own place for a week its going to work out at around £500. The same week I can go to Andora half board including ski passes and equipment for just under £300 more. If I rent out my own place for £200 then it dosent make sense to go to Bansko. I would rather go to Bansko but in the current climate money talks. I havent made up my mind yet as the lure of Zagorka is very strong.

Cheers

Bryan Graham

Lets be honest, Thats why Bansko is in a mess at the moment.. Loads bought at inflated prices, Then now want to sell. The rental income is nowhere near as good as "promised" by complex owners and companies.

The end result is thousands of properties in bansko are either unfinished, un-financed or simply stood empty becuase of the lack of people wanting to come and rent for holidays! But what the locals need to realise is, if they put prices up on management fee's, services, restaraunts, cafe's, bars etc etc etc... All its gunna do is make people feel un-welcome and go elsewhere next year. Word soon gets round, via sites like this, about value for money etc. Why would you wanna come to a resort that has 60 km of slopes (40km are only usable to most) when it takes 4 hours flight and 3 hours transfer! Then to get ripped off when your here!

Bulgarians: WAKE UP!! without UK investors and Holiday makers... Bansko will fail and take years to recover. Locals will lose their jobs, and businesses over their will not succeed after months of no trade,

I Imagine, If I had a bar out in bansko (Mafia permitting of course!!) UK bar, with good food, and good prices... It would do a bomb!! Theirs only a small number of bars.cafe's in Bansko thats still good value IMO

The Lion Bar was good value last year (at the fork in road) Not sure if still is though this year?

Night club??? I would love to open a good club, serving food and drink at uk prices or cheaper! Even taking UK money!! and later on, run it as a club/entertainment/disco whatever... Karaoke!! lol

Thats what Bansko needs, influx of uk business investers, cafe's bars etc... Not Ullen owned or mafia owned stuff with the monopoly