Bansko, Bulgaria

Visitor reviews for Bansko

• April 25, 2008
  David from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I have been skiing to Bansko twice now, once in Jan 08 and the last week of the season in April 08. I have skied for many years in both Europe and Canada. I went to Bansko with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised. The skiing, although not as extensive as France etc, was still very good with great tree lined pistes. The grooming is to a better standard than France & the lift staff let us on at 8.20am every morning, NO QUEUES BOTH TRIPS (despite an official opening at 8.30, try that in France!) The Mountain Restaurant to the left of Blah Blah ,serves great quality food & great service for the same price as the competitors ( try the Carbonara, it's lush).
  We stayed at White Fir Valley, which is out of town by about 5 mins, however, the free shuttle bus worked well; get on the bus, relax, get off the bus and onto the gondola. The accommodation was luxury,(our bedroom had windows on 3 sides, all with great views) with very spacious apartments ( 70sq meters) and fantastic 20m pool & hot tub which over looks the golf course,; great place to relax after a days skiing. The spa, steam, sauna, Turkish bath etc are 1st class. The restaurant at White Fir was very good and serves excellent well priced food. We prefer self catering so used the shuttle bus to take us to the big supermarket at the start of Bansko. The apartments kitchen is spacious and bright with granite work tops.
  White Fir faces south overlooking the Ian Woosnam golf course with uninterrupted views to the mountains. We always felt good to leave the developments in Bansko; the views from the balcony are stunning and so peaceful.
  Going back in Aug for the Jazz fest & skiing again in Jan-we will definitely be staying at White Fir Valley.
  Top tip, learn some basic Bulgarian - works wonders.

  Blagodarya Bansko

• March 31, 2008
  Paudie O Connor from IRELAND
  

  I was in Bansko from the 16th-23rd of Feb this year. I went with a group of 12 people The resort, as in the skiing facilities, are very good. Everything is new there and the slopes are very well maintained. For beginners, it is ideal. I learned to ski in Austria last year but found it very intense but it did work. I was in the intermediate group for the week and found it excellent we did all the red slopes and one black. About 7 of our group were beginners and really enjoyed the ski school. I would advise skiers to be at the gondola at 7.45am latest as the queues tend to be over 1 hour long anytime after 8. The food is brutal, to be honest. It's cold and tasteless most of the time. Pizza isn't too bad but you can only eat so much of that. You would need a good group to have a good night life. I would reccommend that you travel with a group of at least five or more. We stayed in hotel IDA. It was very good: the owners are two brother and are very helpful, For intense skiers I would think that the resort wouldn't be that challenging, but for any other skier it is well worth the visit.

• March 27, 2008
  rambo from GREECE
  

  For everyone who wants to have a clear view of the Bansko resort I suggest the page www.banskoski com. You can see the snow conditions through 4 web cams in 4 different lift stations and some comments on the pistes...the snow machines working for the last 2 days.

• March 26, 2008
  Chloe from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I am flying out to Bansko next Thursday and I am most grateful for all of the fantastic tips and reports that everyone has given it! I just hope the snow is still there!
  Thanks for making me even more excited!!

• March 24, 2008
  Justine Kennedy from BULGARIA
  

  Got back from Bansko a couple of weeks ago and had a fantastic time. This was my fifth visit in two years, but only second time ever skiing. Stayed at the Hotel Banderitsa - rated as 3/4 star hotel, but exceptionally good in my estimation. Staying half-board, you either choose a set menu in the evening or take a voucher from reception to the value of 20 Lev per person and choose whatever you like from the menu. It was superb! Loads of choice, great service and staff, and although there were only 6 deserts to choose from, they were delicious. Averaged around 45 to 50 Levs for two for three courses and a couple of non alcoholic drinks.
  Rooms were great: spotlessly clean, full bath and plenty of space. Spa facilities also very good and the pool, although small, was nice and quiet.
  We went with Balkan Holidays and had booked a ski package of 6 days for 4 hours. And we were very lucky with the teacher who was from Ulen school of skiing - her name is Malina and she was brilliant. Plenty of patience with us beginners, and additionally it was with a great group of people.
  Yes, there is an awful lot of building work near the gondola, and there are some hotels that are literally in a building plot, which I would hate to stay in, but, give it a couple of years and everything will be completed to a high standard.
  People there are really nice. They put us Brits to shame with their language skills as they all seem to speak enough English, German, Russian and whatever else to have a good conversation. And they're supposed to be the more backward country !!! I think not.
  Queues for the gondola are long but get there on the first shuttle bus and have your ski boots on and your skis with you and it is quicker than messing around getting them out of storage at the gondola.
  Toilets in the cafes up at the top gondola station are spotless, with a little guy who looks like an old woman constantly cleaning. Don't forget to give him a tip on your last day cause if anyone deserves it, he does.
  All in all, I love it there. It is cheaper than other European resorts, very beautiful, and steeped in history.
  Enjoy yourself.

• March 21, 2008
  Sean from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Hi all,
  Just to say what a great time we had in Bansko.
  We got back on 18th March and for the time of year skiing was excellent!! (6 inches of snow on second day!)
  Conditions a little slushy low down on the slopes in the afternoons but only to be expected considering we were all suntanned and saw girls snowboarding in bikinis!
  High up the mountain the snow was nice all day with good runs to suit all.
  We were pleasantly surprised by the food in the Mehanas down Pirin street. Some were quite expensive compared to a couple of years ago. Family of four with drinks about 130 levs (about £52, similar to English prices).
  The "Bansko Mehana" gave us excellent food and the grilled meats cooked on an open fire in front of you were a real treat.
  The waiters and staff were very helpful, friendly and loved kids.
  A little tip on currency. The First Investment Bank,(near Hotel Strazhite and the casino) gave a much better rate than anywhere in UK and only a very minimal commission,(30p for £300 of levs). I got 2.35 levs per pound in UK and 2.6 in Bansko.
  Just been looking on the webcams and it's been snowing again on the mountain, so if you're going this week you should be fine.
  There were very few dogs but they were friendly and seemed looked after, it wasn't long ago that in England people let their dogs out on their own (before the dog wardens were about!)
  Don't be afraid to barter in the shops. We regularly got a third off or more, and do learn a few phrases in Bulgarian. It's not hard and it really brightens up the often glum looking folk (plus they give you a better deal, nicer food and often teach you more language).
  All in all, a fantastic time had by all and will be going back for sure!
  Cheers Bansko. Blagodarya (thanks) from us.

• March 15, 2008
  john from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  David, 24th Jan.
  Property agent's views are not taken seriously. Advertising, all the way, is a sad and desperate measure.

• March 14, 2008
  Jenna from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Have just returned from my first trip to Bansko, which was delightful.
  We stayed on the outskirts of the town and often walked back to out hotel late at night in the pitch dark. Never felt threatened and the locals didn't speak to us or look at us so we felt very safe.
  Food and drink was great. Yes, there are a few dogs lurking around but they looked healthy and tame so don't think they were strays.
  The snow was great and there were no queues at all for the gondola.
  Everything about Bansko is great. It's just a bit behind the times which makes Bansko even more interesting.

• March 14, 2008
  Rambo from GREECE
  

  Just came back from two days in Bansko...I have to inform you that the snow conditions are still very good...the snow machines working good and the snow center looks well organized.
  The problem today was the wind that stopped the working of the upper air lifts. Bulgarians are strange people and I still can't say whether they are just poor people trying to make easy money, kind or moody and sometimes stupid and unsocial. I can't make generalizations even if I had a bad experience today. I run out of battery in my car and asked for help from a guy in the parking in front of gondola .He was smiley and offered to help and he actually did using his car and battery cables. I was so thankful to him but finally he demanded some money (5 Euros) in a rude way that reminded me of some comments I read here before going up there. It's the amount of money but the character and the way they behave.
  Last, I have to say that there is a way to avoid gondola queues by driving the road up to the slopes...taking a taxi or a car of course. It's an alternative way to stay calm especially when some people are rude in the queues. Queues are very small during the week, except Friday, and usually none after 9.30-10.00.

• March 14, 2008
  Dave M from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I've skied Bansko in mid March and had a great time. Very friendly, helpful and the snow for the time of their season was good. I then tried the festive period... avoid at all costs until they put in better initial access; near 2 hour waits for the first gondola (after we were up the initial lift it wasn't to bad, but that at the start just ruins the day). In the end we hit the wellness centre in the hotel in the morning and took the gondola up at lunchtime, not ideal but I'd rather spend 2 hours swimming and chilling than freezing and waiting. The friendliness of the people seemed to have gone too - as if they knew that were going to be mobed and didn't have to try.
  So cheap(er) but not always cheerful.

• March 09, 2008
  Myles from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I have just returned from a great week in Bansko.
  I don't know about others experiences but everyone I met was helpful and friendly, once you got past the initial apparent grumpiness. I did also learn to say please and thank you in Bulgarian which may be a tip for those Brits who get outraged when foreigners don't fawn over them.
  Snow conditions were not good, but up the top was fine (I took my kids up the top as you can go from top to bottom on blues!), and you can still ski all the way down to the bottom.
  I loved the restaurants, the waiters couldn’t do enough for the kids (and beer is 80p a pint). I loved the accommodation, twice as big, twice the facilities and half the price of the Alps. I loved the town (well, OK the bits that are not building sites). I loved the skiing (30 minute queue at peak time on the gondola, but fine the rest of the time and no queues up top, most of the lifts are new and fast).
  I would recommend anyone to go to Bansko, ski, and have money left afterwards!

• March 08, 2008
  Pete from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  All of you that are moaning especially Chris (March4th) GET A LIFE!
  Just come back 2hrs ago! What a great time. Yeah it is melting low down but still ok (just) but stay high up and wow. What queues? Get there at 8 - 8.15 and clear as a bell.
  Read loads about packs of dogs and crap service etc etc. Absolute rubbish! A few stray dogs but as good a service as almost anywhere. Yeah, a bit slow but so what and it's not slow at the piste cafes.
  It's a growing and needing to improve place but I bet it will and do it well.
  We skied all morning high up and then on the practice slope, for the Europa cup, in the afternoon. Then the 2 or 3 good reds and 1 black had been deserted all day and were therefore excellent.
  Go with an open mind and keep it that way and you will enjoy it. Also the 2 or 3 mexanas on the old street are really good, a bit slow but good and so cheap.
  Loved it and would gladly go back.

• March 06, 2008
  Conrad from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Having been to Bansko two years it was disapointing to observe the huge price increases (although still cheaper than the UK). The queues in the morning are horrendous and if you have any skiing lessons at 10am (start) you have no option but to wait. I agree that the resort is young but it has to alleviate the queues or people will return to traditional skiing resorts. It also makes you angry first thing in the morning when some people have no respect for a queuing system and the security do nothing to prevent this from occurring.

• March 04, 2008
  Chris from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  If you have a ski holiday booked for Bansko in the next few weeks and can change it, it would be a good idea to do so. This place is in serious melt-down with no improvements on the horizon. Most of the lower runs will probably be closed within the next week or so and temperatures are so hot that there is no possibility of new snow being made. There is also virtually nothing else to do in Bansko!

• March 03, 2008
  Katie from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I would recommend Bulgaria as the perfect resort for any beginner skiers, yet intermediates and experts will find it frustrating. It is cheap so if you are worried about whether to go skiing or not this is an affordable option. There are plenty of easy pistes to learn on and the four hours a day tuition is remarkable value.
  However, the range of pistes are limited so intermediates may find themselves bored after several days. After half a week I started learning to snowboard as the runs were not challenging anymore.
  The hotels are also great value with full spas and large rooms. However, the food leaves something to be desired, not only in the hotels but generally in the mehanas. Whilst some of the food was delicious not all the translations to English were brilliant. I ordered chicken napolitana at one restaurant and was given chicken satay.
  Overall, a great resort but if you are to come I would recommend doing it soon before the masses of apartment blocks are built, when the lifts will be even more crowded and all the quaint Bulgarian charm is taken away from this place.

• March 03, 2008
  Christine from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Have just returned from a week in Bansko. We weren't sure what to expect having read all the bad reviews but were very pleasantly surprised. Yes the place is a building site but we expected that. Yes, there are long queues at the gondola first thing in the morning but you have to work round that, you either go very early or 10.30 when there are no queues. We were given a tip, take a taxi up to the first chair lift (only 4 Levs) potter about there until later in the morning, ski down and take the gondola back up to the top when the queue has died down. We found the resort to be very cheap (far cheaper than France, where we usually go). Our apartment was great with swimming pool, jacuzzi, etc. underneath. The same in France would have cost us a fortune. Yes, the infrastructure needs sorting but they will get there. We look forward to going back next year to see developments.

• March 02, 2008
  A Stent from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I have to agree with with most of the Brits; the customer service was appalling, I knew that there was work being done but not to that extent. We had young children with us and found the place dangerous. Went in half-term. Only one gondola lift and waited up to 1 hour to get on. Hotel stated 250 meters from gondola, no this was not true, 1400 meters. Won't be going back.

• February 29, 2008
  Rambo from GREECE
  

  And something else, I totally disagree with the previous guy, calling Bulgaria a third world country, he has just to remember how was our country (Greece) 20 years ago, or less. Certainly, it's a poor country trying to make progress and Bansko, Borovets and else are some of it's best points to that goal,
  Also, there might be people trying to make easy money quickly, taking advantage of tourism, but this is no Bulgarian exception. Chris I offer you a free one way ticket to third world countries and you'll see how wrong you are. Try some regions in Africa, Pakistan, India (this in no insult to these countries) but for sure Bulgaria has nothing to do with places like that. Last points; many people speak English, even Greek. They are quite helpful in the lifts.
  Remember to ask for ski insurance (it's about 2.5 Euro for a week)...

• February 29, 2008
  Rambo from GREECE
  

  Bansko is an excellent choice for people looking for good ski conditions, even on sunny and warm days like these. The pistes were in very good condition and most of the Bulgarians seem to know what they do and how to ski. There are many good hotels with very low prices. For sure, for anyone looking to ski in the Balkans, Bansko is the best value for money choice. I would certainly visit this place again...since I am interested mostly in ski and not about nightlife..(although there are a couple of bars mostly English style).

• February 28, 2008
  Chris L from GREECE
  

  Hi,
  I was at Bansko last weekend. Last year I was at Zell am See in Austria and 3 years ago I had visited Pamporovo (Bulgaria). So I would inevitably compare Bansko with the 2 others.
  Fortunately Bansko was a pleasant surprise to me. Bansko is a modern ski resort which cannot be compared with any other in the Balkans. Actually it is the only ski resort in the Balkans that can be compared with the same ones in Austria or the Alps.
  Of course, the bad news is that the resort is located in a third world country and that is a fact that we cannot neglect. No matter what way you choose to travel to Bansko you'll have to keep this in mind. You are travelling in Bulgaria and this a frustration. But once you reach Bansko everything is changed. It looks like that Bansko is somewhere else in central Europe. The ski runs were in an excellent condition and the prices were very good. There are plenty of choices for food and accommodation and it is still constructing more buildings than you can imagine. In 2-3 years Bansko will be definitely my favourite resort and it's only 3 hours drive from my home. I'll never have to travel to Austria again, just to get the same experience, unless I am looking for more luxury holidays.

• February 23, 2008
  Paul Holloway and family from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Last week in Bansko we had the best skiing holiday our family have ever had. Reading some of these reviews I struggle to see the place that they are describing. You have to understand that Bansko is 4 years into probably a 10 year process to change it from a small agricultural mountain town into a big international ski resort. However, this is reflected in the price you pay. How you can say that the Dolomites is the same price as Bansko is an absolute fabrication. I have skied many times in Livigno and I can't find a beer anywhere there for less than 4 Euros. In Bansko it ranges from 1 to 2. All in ski hire cost us 45 pounds each compared to more than double this in the Dolomites.

  We stayed at Chalet Isabella, a brand new alpine style ski chalet 5 minutes walk from the town centre. The standard of accommodation, service, food and facilities surpassed any chalet I have stayed in the French alps, for a third of the price! It was run by a very helpful British couple who taxied us up direct to the pistes every day to avoid the gondola queue (we were there during a half term week and everyone I spoke to said that they didn't wait more than 30 minutes in the queue - so it didn't seem as bad as some people have suggested).

  That said, the food and service in some of the restaurants on the piste can be terrible. We took packed lunches up in the end. The tavernas in the old cobbled town centre were much friendlier and cheaper. Also, we agreed with the comments on the need for more deckchairs and more helpful ski lift attendants!

  Will definitely come again!

• February 22, 2008
  Denis from BULGARIA
  

  With regard to the attitude of local people, I do agree. On first sight they are miserable and unfriendly. However, if you make the effort with them, you quickly realise that they are completely opposite and their iced facade soon melts away. I always think we are like mirrors and what we give out, we get back in return - a smile usually ignites the same from others.
  Whilst we have a business in Bansko, we choose to live in a small village 20 minutes away and the locals there have taken us in as one of their own and despite having little in the way of material possessions, they are always keen to bring us gifts of home grown vegetables, yoghurt and milk. There is a real sense of a community, which unfortunately, we generally seem to have lost in the UK.
  Obviously, as a developing nation, Bulgaria have a lot to learn and this can be quite frustrating, both for us in business and also for the visiting tourists but I don't think it's time to write the resort off just yet, after all who knows what the next 5 years will bring.

• February 20, 2008
  Sean from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Well. It looks like one or two of these reviewers should stay in safe, commercial, bland Europe! Better still, why don't all you moaning minnies just stick to your local dry ski slope, I imagine they do a great Full English Breakfast! Bansko is a developing resort. Visit any French or Italian ski resort 20 years ago and you'd have seen much the same. There is a fair amount of building work but the slopes are wide and well maintained and the night-life is cheap, safe and fun. You're not paying St Moritz prices so what do you expect? Go if you have a sense of adventure and want to try something different. If you're expecting France, go to France!!

• February 19, 2008
  Louise from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Oops, definately not from Bulgaria!!

• February 19, 2008
  Louise from BULGARIA
  

  I too have to agree with Downhilldan. I went to Bansko last week instead of my usual annual trip to Italy. What was I thinking? If it wasn't so terribly un-pc to clap as we took off from Sofia airport, I would have done so.

  The Bulgarians (or Vulgarians as I came to call them) have no idea of what customer service is. They don't smile, they don't talk to you and those who do are very few and far between. The skiing wasn't bad but once the powder snow was blown off the pistes, you were left with ice just about everywhere. They haven't grasped that not everyone wants to ski from the minute they arrive on the mountain. Haven't they heard of deck chairs?

  As for the apres-ski, we frequented Happy End on a couple of occasions after coming off the slopes which was really buzzing, however, go back a couple of hours later and the whole place is dead. Food awful, usually served luke warm, kept up most of the night by barking/howling dogs and the place is like a hell whole. Sorry to bang on but I work hard for my money and would much rather spend it in a country that's grateful!!

  I won't ever return! Long live Italy & France!

• February 19, 2008
  Paul from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Have to agree with Downhilldan. Returned from Bansko last week. Skiing was okay but that was about it. Went open minded because of all the bad reviews I had seen, but I for one won't be going back and Dan is right, it's not even that cheap.

  The food was awful, bar a couple of meals and the whole place is a building site. In 5 years time, if they haven't addressed the infrastructure it will just be worse. I spoke to a few families who were on their second or third visit and all said that this would be their last. That simply says that things have got worse rather than better which doesn't bode well.
  

• February 18, 2008
  Downhilldan from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Sorry Gill. Either you haven't experienced any good ski resorts or you have a low expectation. This place is hopeless. I can't think of much positive to say about the place. It's not even cheap. Italy is cheaper and infinitely nicer. The transfer was long and scary, the town is a dirty massive building site. The gondola queues are around an hour (it's rubbish that another is on its way). The pistes were overcrowded with poor skiing standards. The Ulen instructors looked no more than intermediate themselves. Food and drink on the mountain was crazy money. The locals are either lovely or downright horrible. There's a total rip-off culture. Try the Dolomites, it's in a different league for no more or possibly less money.

• February 17, 2008
  Gill from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I'm afraid I have to totally disagree with Andy, we just returned on the 9th of Feb following a weeks excellent skiing. I found the total opposite with the local people, finding them friendly and eager to 'get on' with the invasion of tourists. The gondola does need addressing (which I believe they are doing) because the queues are quite long, especially on arrival day! However, we just got up earlier and arrived before 9 a.m and didn't have to queue for more than 20mins, and to be honest have found that in most French resorts. It is a bit like a building site in some places, but the old town is utterly charming. Once on the mountain, we found the pistes to be well groomed, lovely and wide and the views are spectacular!! We will definitely be returning and I can see in about 5 years, when the town has developed, it will be a Bulgarian Val d'Isere!

• February 17, 2008
  Andy R from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I came back from Bansko last week, it was good for skiing and that was about it. The place is 60 years behind the times, the locals are downright rude and seem to think they're doing you a favour by letting you spend your hard earned in their country, wild dogs out at night, infastructure looked like there was a war on, no good bars and no real catering for the holiday maker. I wont be going back. Get a grip Bulgaria, we're trying to drag you into the 21st Century, you must be amazed when/if you ever come to UK, real pavements and road and even street lighting. You'd think they would be begging us to spend our cash out there, instead the locals did it for me. No chance Bulgaria do one, back to the stone age !

• February 12, 2008
  AIDAN FROM UK from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Just returned from Bansko, staying in the hotel Lion.
  Superb hotel with excellent food,shuttle service every 10 mins to the gondola.
  The slopes are just fantastic,maintained and groomed to a top European standard,while the piste bashers work through the night to provide an excellent following day for us.The nursery slopes are long and wide.
  The gondola station in the morning is a bit hectic,but in saying that we never had to queue for longer than 20 mins and no more than 2 mins queue on any of the chair lifts.
  The views, once up on the mountain, are just spectacular.
  The runs are well numbered and marked out "beginners please beware" as a lot of the blues e.g numbers 11 and 3 at the Todorka peak are actually more of a red, runs 4 and 6 and 1 are the best for beginners just moving off the nursery slopes. The ski road number 1 back to the gondola is about 6k long and is a must "even for beginners" once you have spent a few days on the nursery slopes.
  The Tomba black run is a superb challenge for you advanced skiers but beware at the top section.
  The Bulgarians are very friendly people with the exception of just a handful,and speak excellent English.
  Remember; Bulgaria is still a very poor country with a lot of poverty,and most of us English and Europeans, generally, are regarded as being very rich.
  Food on the mountain is around the same price as back home, but you're up there and they know you have to eat, back in the town it is very cheap.
  The town is a bit of a building site at the moment. No work is actually carried out during the season so don't worry about noise and dust. If you happen to have "snow in the town you won't even notice", all planning has been halted for the next 5 yrs and completion is going to be around 2yrs for existing work.
  At the end of the 08 season ("May"), work will commence on another gondola station and is expected to be finished around October for the 09 season.
  Remember what you're paying and that you are actually going there for"skiing".
  We will definately be going back to Bansko!!