Bulgaria Ski discussion board
please do not come to bansko
Author:davekl
posts : 172 (Intermediate)Date : 12-19-13 21:30please do not come to bansko
Ullen are complete idiots and trying to ruin the place. There are huge neon lights for sex shops and go go girls, the prices are hugley inflated and ullen seem to think that a season ticket here which is double the next most expensive in europe is a fair price. There is no snow and it is not exactly the best pistes in europe. The quicker they go bankrupt the better and maybe the place will become nice again.
re:please do not come to bansko
Well ive already booked for january , really hoping for a good dump of the real stuff before then , as far as this season pass issue is concerned , it seems like it's a huge over reaction from ulen to abuse of the season pass .
I'm only guessing here as i've got no first hand knowledge at all of what goes on but i;d say bars and small businesses , groups of friends will have been buying a couple of season passes and sharing the cost , then taking turns to use them . i.e a bar that employs 7 ...
I'm only guessing here as i've got no first hand knowledge at all of what goes on but i;d say bars and small businesses , groups of friends will have been buying a couple of season passes and sharing the cost , then taking turns to use them . i.e a bar that employs 7 ...
Well ive already booked for january , really hoping for a good dump of the real stuff before then , as far as this season pass issue is concerned , it seems like it's a huge over reaction from ulen to abuse of the season pass .
I'm only guessing here as i've got no first hand knowledge at all of what goes on but i;d say bars and small businesses , groups of friends will have been buying a couple of season passes and sharing the cost , then taking turns to use them . i.e a bar that employs 7 staff and gives them all different days off could use the pass every day . Ulens scanning system would flag up usage beyond a certain point and alert them to it .
A better way would have been to keep the old season pass rates and introduce a photo id check at the gondola station for ppl using season passes .
You can't blame ulen for protecting their position but it does seem a ridiculously over the top and ham fisted way to do it .
I'm only guessing here as i've got no first hand knowledge at all of what goes on but i;d say bars and small businesses , groups of friends will have been buying a couple of season passes and sharing the cost , then taking turns to use them . i.e a bar that employs 7 staff and gives them all different days off could use the pass every day . Ulens scanning system would flag up usage beyond a certain point and alert them to it .
A better way would have been to keep the old season pass rates and introduce a photo id check at the gondola station for ppl using season passes .
You can't blame ulen for protecting their position but it does seem a ridiculously over the top and ham fisted way to do it .
re:please do not come to bansko
Odd - not sure whether photos on passes is already in place?? I know from buying 4/5d passes you need a photo - I though anytihng 3d upwards that was the case... i'd be surprised if they were that diligent for shorter passes, they would be relaxed for the expensive ones...
To your point DaveKl... I've been coming to bansko at least once a year for a number of years now - and in the last couple of years I have noticed a big difference in the go-go girls tyoe places, and the amount of ...
To your point DaveKl... I've been coming to bansko at least once a year for a number of years now - and in the last couple of years I have noticed a big difference in the go-go girls tyoe places, and the amount of ...
Odd - not sure whether photos on passes is already in place?? I know from buying 4/5d passes you need a photo - I though anytihng 3d upwards that was the case... i'd be surprised if they were that diligent for shorter passes, they would be relaxed for the expensive ones...
To your point DaveKl... I've been coming to bansko at least once a year for a number of years now - and in the last couple of years I have noticed a big difference in the go-go girls tyoe places, and the amount of trying to get you through the door that goes on.... I've also seen though ongoing improvement in terms of the restaurants, roads and general facilities. It's not all bad news, but there are certainly some seriousl changes that need to be made.
To your point DaveKl... I've been coming to bansko at least once a year for a number of years now - and in the last couple of years I have noticed a big difference in the go-go girls tyoe places, and the amount of trying to get you through the door that goes on.... I've also seen though ongoing improvement in terms of the restaurants, roads and general facilities. It's not all bad news, but there are certainly some seriousl changes that need to be made.
re:please do not come to bansko
You can't blame Ulen for the go go bars and I really don't believe that prices are inflated... £25 in a mehana for a meal for two adults, child with wine! The ski pass this week was 30lv a day and Ulen had done a good job of having pistes open without snow from above. Now the season ticket just feels a complete over reaction and I can understand if they wanted to have a maximum 40 day pass but make the price reflective of 40 days, this would have still had the desired effect. Young kids ...
You can't blame Ulen for the go go bars and I really don't believe that prices are inflated... £25 in a mehana for a meal for two adults, child with wine! The ski pass this week was 30lv a day and Ulen had done a good job of having pistes open without snow from above. Now the season ticket just feels a complete over reaction and I can understand if they wanted to have a maximum 40 day pass but make the price reflective of 40 days, this would have still had the desired effect. Young kids coming to work and add to the economy both for locals and Ulen will go elsewhere.
Resort is getting better in some respects, more infrastructure etc and worse in others, neon lights and more tacky places. Wihere will it end up, who knows? It's busy compared to the same time in previous years (we have done this week for the last 7 years).
Resort is getting better in some respects, more infrastructure etc and worse in others, neon lights and more tacky places. Wihere will it end up, who knows? It's busy compared to the same time in previous years (we have done this week for the last 7 years).
re:please do not come to bansko
You can't blame Ulen for the go go bars and I really don't believe that prices are inflated... £25 in a mehana for a meal for two adults, child with wine! The ski pass this week was 30lv a day and Ulen had done a good job of having pistes open without snow from above. Now the season ticket just feels a complete over reaction and I can understand if they wanted to have a maximum 40 day pass but make the price reflective of 40 days, this would have still had the desired effect. Young kids ...
You can't blame Ulen for the go go bars and I really don't believe that prices are inflated... £25 in a mehana for a meal for two adults, child with wine! The ski pass this week was 30lv a day and Ulen had done a good job of having pistes open without snow from above. Now the season ticket just feels a complete over reaction and I can understand if they wanted to have a maximum 40 day pass but make the price reflective of 40 days, this would have still had the desired effect. Young kids coming to work and add to the economy both for locals and Ulen will go elsewhere.
Resort is getting better in some respects, more infrastructure etc and worse in others, neon lights and more tacky places. Wihere will it end up, who knows? It's busy compared to the same time in previous years (we have done this week for the last 7 years).
Resort is getting better in some respects, more infrastructure etc and worse in others, neon lights and more tacky places. Wihere will it end up, who knows? It's busy compared to the same time in previous years (we have done this week for the last 7 years).
re:please do not come to bansko
Ulen only control the mountain. What goes on around town is down to the municipality and from what we understand this year alot of the demolition 2weeks befoe season opening was down to Sofia pulling ranks with the mayor.
Passes only have pictures on if bought at the gondola. Take a 6day pass from tour ops...... no photo needed!! I think prices for food and drink in town are good. On the mountain expensive.
The resort looks awful this year with the chaos opposite the gondola and ...
Passes only have pictures on if bought at the gondola. Take a 6day pass from tour ops...... no photo needed!! I think prices for food and drink in town are good. On the mountain expensive.
The resort looks awful this year with the chaos opposite the gondola and ...
Ulen only control the mountain. What goes on around town is down to the municipality and from what we understand this year alot of the demolition 2weeks befoe season opening was down to Sofia pulling ranks with the mayor.
Passes only have pictures on if bought at the gondola. Take a 6day pass from tour ops...... no photo needed!! I think prices for food and drink in town are good. On the mountain expensive.
The resort looks awful this year with the chaos opposite the gondola and nearby where shops etc etc were demolished. Roads that are still unfinished with machinery still all over the place. Not a great image for the Jewel of the Balkans.
Tat shops, sexshops, sex establishments mostly from the coast allowed by the Mayor. the previous Mayor would not allow this. Seems this guy is going to go down with a bang at the next elections and leave who ever suceeds him with alot of problems.
Passes only have pictures on if bought at the gondola. Take a 6day pass from tour ops...... no photo needed!! I think prices for food and drink in town are good. On the mountain expensive.
The resort looks awful this year with the chaos opposite the gondola and nearby where shops etc etc were demolished. Roads that are still unfinished with machinery still all over the place. Not a great image for the Jewel of the Balkans.
Tat shops, sexshops, sex establishments mostly from the coast allowed by the Mayor. the previous Mayor would not allow this. Seems this guy is going to go down with a bang at the next elections and leave who ever suceeds him with alot of problems.
re:please do not come to bansko
don't mean to sound selfish...
but have been to bansko twice, and am returning for a third year in a row, as it is a far better quality resort for skiing than borovets (and appears to be compared to pamporovo as well although haven't been there), and that's what you go for, nice hotels, and looks a lot more modernised than borovets which i found to be rather dated and not necessarily the nicest to look at in places. booking as a package holiday found Bansko to be the best value ski ...
but have been to bansko twice, and am returning for a third year in a row, as it is a far better quality resort for skiing than borovets (and appears to be compared to pamporovo as well although haven't been there), and that's what you go for, nice hotels, and looks a lot more modernised than borovets which i found to be rather dated and not necessarily the nicest to look at in places. booking as a package holiday found Bansko to be the best value ski ...
don't mean to sound selfish...
but have been to bansko twice, and am returning for a third year in a row, as it is a far better quality resort for skiing than borovets (and appears to be compared to pamporovo as well although haven't been there), and that's what you go for, nice hotels, and looks a lot more modernised than borovets which i found to be rather dated and not necessarily the nicest to look at in places. booking as a package holiday found Bansko to be the best value ski resort for what you get in terms of quality hotel and ski slopes, and cheaper than the other bulgarian resorts - so not going to stop going there, as the price increase hasn't effected the package holiday price through balkan holidays.
ulen did upset us though when we found this year that the teepee bar on the ski road down the the village was closed down, apparently due to ulen - as we know the whole ski area is owned by them and don't want anyone else competing with them, which is completely understandable... but they will make a few more wrong/unpopular decisions along the way and will soon realize it's not the way forward!
but have been to bansko twice, and am returning for a third year in a row, as it is a far better quality resort for skiing than borovets (and appears to be compared to pamporovo as well although haven't been there), and that's what you go for, nice hotels, and looks a lot more modernised than borovets which i found to be rather dated and not necessarily the nicest to look at in places. booking as a package holiday found Bansko to be the best value ski resort for what you get in terms of quality hotel and ski slopes, and cheaper than the other bulgarian resorts - so not going to stop going there, as the price increase hasn't effected the package holiday price through balkan holidays.
ulen did upset us though when we found this year that the teepee bar on the ski road down the the village was closed down, apparently due to ulen - as we know the whole ski area is owned by them and don't want anyone else competing with them, which is completely understandable... but they will make a few more wrong/unpopular decisions along the way and will soon realize it's not the way forward!
re:please do not come to bansko
Our group are returning for our fourth visit in as many years. In my opinion, most of the changes I've seen have been positive. In the town, the roads, footpaths and buildings are far better looking than when we first visited when there were terrifying potholes and masses of unfinished buildings. I can't really comment on the sex shops and go-go bars as when we go out at night, we're generally looking to eat food 
and have a few beers, we really don't have much energy for anything else ...
and have a few beers, we really don't have much energy for anything else ...Our group are returning for our fourth visit in as many years. In my opinion, most of the changes I've seen have been positive. In the town, the roads, footpaths and buildings are far better looking than when we first visited when there were terrifying potholes and masses of unfinished buildings. I can't really comment on the sex shops and go-go bars as when we go out at night, we're generally looking to eat food and have a few beers, we really don't have much energy for anything else.
We're based in an apartment up near the Gondola, so never have far to travel for a meal. Last year we mostly dined in the wee cafes. Around £12 for a two course meal and 4-5 beers. Who can argue with that?
My only complaint would be the food on the mountain, that has certainly gone downhill. I don't mind them hiking prices, as I understand they've got me captive, but the food is very bland and the choice much more limited than it used to be. Then again, if I could just get over my mortal fear of wearing a backpack (mental images of me dangling by the shoulder straps all the way back down to the base station), I could sort that by getting lunch before I head up....or I could make the effort to find the mysterious Shiligarnik Hotel I've heard spoken of.
I'm really struggling to find anything negative to say about the place. The town may look a bit naff, but I'm not there for the town, I'm there for the snowboarding. The staff in the cafes, restaurants and up on the mountain are always friendly and helpful. Finally, we book independently and from transfers (Steve C), apartment letting (AS) and lift passes (Bansko Tourist Info) we've always had exemplary service. Sorry you don't like Bansko mate, but I think the place is a wee gem!
Craig x
and have a few beers, we really don't have much energy for anything else.We're based in an apartment up near the Gondola, so never have far to travel for a meal. Last year we mostly dined in the wee cafes. Around £12 for a two course meal and 4-5 beers. Who can argue with that?
My only complaint would be the food on the mountain, that has certainly gone downhill. I don't mind them hiking prices, as I understand they've got me captive, but the food is very bland and the choice much more limited than it used to be. Then again, if I could just get over my mortal fear of wearing a backpack (mental images of me dangling by the shoulder straps all the way back down to the base station), I could sort that by getting lunch before I head up....or I could make the effort to find the mysterious Shiligarnik Hotel I've heard spoken of.
I'm really struggling to find anything negative to say about the place. The town may look a bit naff, but I'm not there for the town, I'm there for the snowboarding. The staff in the cafes, restaurants and up on the mountain are always friendly and helpful. Finally, we book independently and from transfers (Steve C), apartment letting (AS) and lift passes (Bansko Tourist Info) we've always had exemplary service. Sorry you don't like Bansko mate, but I think the place is a wee gem!
Craig x
