Bulgaria Ski discussion board
on the subject of lift passes
Author:
posts : 13 (Beginner)Date : 09-16-04 11:03on the subject of lift passes
ok so we all know that lift passes in resort are loads more than at home, but something is not quite right, firstly there is the 'tourist' price and then there is the 'locals' price, the locals price being loads cheaper, so ok they dont earn much etc etc, dont notice us charging the yanks and the japs extra to enter attractions though, but still ok, what i dont really understand is this nonsense about the tour operators pre booking and only having so many, thats not exactly true, they dont ...
ok so we all know that lift passes in resort are loads more than at home, but something is not quite right, firstly there is the 'tourist' price and then there is the 'locals' price, the locals price being loads cheaper, so ok they dont earn much etc etc, dont notice us charging the yanks and the japs extra to enter attractions though, but still ok, what i dont really understand is this nonsense about the tour operators pre booking and only having so many, thats not exactly true, they dont even go and get them till your first morning in resort, the date stamp attests to this, it seems more of a nice little tie up with the tour operaters more or less forcing us had over brits having to buy their packages. (any way what are the tour operaters going to do? not buy the passes??? should be one price for all i reckon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rant rant rant......and no i wasnt in london yesterday
rant rant rant......and no i wasnt in london yesterday
re: on the subject of lift passes
Hi Guys........
Several valid points you raise and I'll try and address them.
First the price.
People Like Balkan, First Choice, Neilson etc. purchase a high number of rooms throught all resorts then negotiate a low price for the estimated number of lift passes they will require.
If they sold these seperately then the sums would not add up and there would be a shortfall for those wishing to book the full pack. Everyone has the opportunity to purchase these at the time of booking, ...
Several valid points you raise and I'll try and address them.
First the price.
People Like Balkan, First Choice, Neilson etc. purchase a high number of rooms throught all resorts then negotiate a low price for the estimated number of lift passes they will require.
If they sold these seperately then the sums would not add up and there would be a shortfall for those wishing to book the full pack. Everyone has the opportunity to purchase these at the time of booking, ...
Hi Guys........
Several valid points you raise and I'll try and address them.
First the price.
People Like Balkan, First Choice, Neilson etc. purchase a high number of rooms throught all resorts then negotiate a low price for the estimated number of lift passes they will require.
If they sold these seperately then the sums would not add up and there would be a shortfall for those wishing to book the full pack. Everyone has the opportunity to purchase these at the time of booking, yet some chose to be 'clever' thinking they can get them cheaper on arrival, which we know is not possible.
Allocation on the morning of arrival.
Passes are printed with the dates on that they are valid for, as soon as they are issued to the rep. If these were printed beforehand and some people did not turn up for their holiday, or had an injury on arrival and could not ski, then the pass would be unused and wasted. The rep receives a fax from London once the planes depart and confirms the number of people travelling to the resorts. If Mr. and Mrs. J Bloggs missed the plane, then a pass would not be issued for them.
The price in resort is the STANDARD price and is sold to a captive tourist who has little choice than pay the full amount if they want to ski that resort.
Locals could chose to ski Chepelare, or Bansko or any other resort if they chose to, so it becomes more competitive rather than captive and special discounts are offered. They do still however, work out more expensive than we would pay if we book through our agents.
Can you also imagine the queue on the first day when 2,000 + are waiting to buy a lift pass!!!!!!!
Remember, a weeks lift pass in Bulgaria is about the same price as 1 DAY in America, and I paid £97 this year for a 13 day pass.
As I will use the pass probably 10 times a day that's 130 journeys whilst I'm there which equates to 74p per use. I consider that excellent VFM.
Hope this goes some way towards answering your questions.......... when are you guys off this season?
PP
Several valid points you raise and I'll try and address them.
First the price.
People Like Balkan, First Choice, Neilson etc. purchase a high number of rooms throught all resorts then negotiate a low price for the estimated number of lift passes they will require.
If they sold these seperately then the sums would not add up and there would be a shortfall for those wishing to book the full pack. Everyone has the opportunity to purchase these at the time of booking, yet some chose to be 'clever' thinking they can get them cheaper on arrival, which we know is not possible.
Allocation on the morning of arrival.
Passes are printed with the dates on that they are valid for, as soon as they are issued to the rep. If these were printed beforehand and some people did not turn up for their holiday, or had an injury on arrival and could not ski, then the pass would be unused and wasted. The rep receives a fax from London once the planes depart and confirms the number of people travelling to the resorts. If Mr. and Mrs. J Bloggs missed the plane, then a pass would not be issued for them.
The price in resort is the STANDARD price and is sold to a captive tourist who has little choice than pay the full amount if they want to ski that resort.
Locals could chose to ski Chepelare, or Bansko or any other resort if they chose to, so it becomes more competitive rather than captive and special discounts are offered. They do still however, work out more expensive than we would pay if we book through our agents.
Can you also imagine the queue on the first day when 2,000 + are waiting to buy a lift pass!!!!!!!
Remember, a weeks lift pass in Bulgaria is about the same price as 1 DAY in America, and I paid £97 this year for a 13 day pass.
As I will use the pass probably 10 times a day that's 130 journeys whilst I'm there which equates to 74p per use. I consider that excellent VFM.
Hope this goes some way towards answering your questions.......... when are you guys off this season?
PP
re: on the subject of lift passes
Just a little note Fraser if you are a Florida resident then you get big discounts at the theme parks, dont here anyone moaning about that! I think it is quite right that the locals should get it cheaper after all they do live there.re: on the subject of lift passes
Biters!! you can tell its getting closer!! I know the real reasons and of course you can see it from the business point of view, but unfortunately its another case of big is better, its a shame because it makes it less sensible money wise to be an 'independant' traveller, something we used to do a lot, but its becoming harder and harder to find any monetary value in it.
PP i know the pass its self works out very well, im suprised a man of your caliber (sic) only uses it ten times a day ...
PP i know the pass its self works out very well, im suprised a man of your caliber (sic) only uses it ten times a day ...
Biters!! you can tell its getting closer!! I know the real reasons and of course you can see it from the business point of view, but unfortunately its another case of big is better, its a shame because it makes it less sensible money wise to be an 'independant' traveller, something we used to do a lot, but its becoming harder and harder to find any monetary value in it.
PP i know the pass its self works out very well, im suprised a man of your caliber (sic) only uses it ten times a day !!!!!!!!!!!!
We or should i say moi is hoping it get out for a week in late feb early march, but ive got to sort out the family week first, which due to the small ones will have to be elsewhere, and by the looks of it is going to cost a small fortune!!!!!!!!! (lift passes and all LOL)
PP i know the pass its self works out very well, im suprised a man of your caliber (sic) only uses it ten times a day !!!!!!!!!!!!
We or should i say moi is hoping it get out for a week in late feb early march, but ive got to sort out the family week first, which due to the small ones will have to be elsewhere, and by the looks of it is going to cost a small fortune!!!!!!!!! (lift passes and all LOL)
re: on the subject of lift passes
To save you money mate, I'll post you my lift pass when I get back
PP
re: on the subject of lift passes
I think old Fraser was just haveing a bad day yesterday!re: on the subject of lift passes
and today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just cant get the staff!!!!re: on the subject of lift passes
Sorry to argue with your very eloquent posting but please justify a ski pass for bansko (50km ish of piste) being the same price as chamonix, best resort in europe ( 600km of piste)? sorry but balkan holidays and ulen the ski lift owners being all the same firm might have something to do with the price difference between the desk prices and the tour prices squeezing out the competition no surely not , before you say it the other big tour opperators accounted for the best part of no tourists ...
Sorry to argue with your very eloquent posting but please justify a ski pass for bansko (50km ish of piste) being the same price as chamonix, best resort in europe ( 600km of piste)? sorry but balkan holidays and ulen the ski lift owners being all the same firm might have something to do with the price difference between the desk prices and the tour prices squeezing out the competition no surely not , before you say it the other big tour opperators accounted for the best part of no tourists last year neilson had a max of 250 people in bansko for about a month
