A real consideration if staying at any of the Balkan hotels, Bansko, Mura, Banderitsa, Stratzhite, Bulgaria, and Kempinski, is that you may be offered some fantastic discounts on pass/hire/instruction packages. The Ulen/Balkan/First Investment company cross finance so at times it impossible to beat their deals. Granted, it may be half board but you do not need to eat the food, and it may still work out cheaper anyway.
hotel bansko in my opinion is good facilities, friendly but the food is so poor that it could spoil your holiday or you budget to eat out . i am not a fussy eater ( eat the wifes cooking) but been twice and it is poor . even the fruit looks like it should of been chucked . can only give advise on this . listen to others , must be some decent hotels with good food . this is good hotel with poor food
good luck
Hmmm, considering self catering now based on some of the comments, might as well have a nice apartment if we're eating out every night anyway. Really good deal at the mo with Balkan staying in snowplough apartments (close to mountain view lodge apartments) any thoughts?