Snowsure: 3.9
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Bansko is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Bansko Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
February 26, 2009
Catherine Lowe from
United Kingdom
Catherine Lowe from
United Kingdom
Our first snowboarding holiday and overall, Bansko was great.
The mountain: fantastic for beginners and intermediates.
Weather: it rained a lot. In late Jan? Lower down the snow went slushy and the reps were concerned the season would end early
Currency: I don't understand why people try and use Euros? You wouldn't try and use them here in the UK? Just use the Lev
Food: awful, just plain awful, everywhere. The beer's great though. You can't get wine and spirits are expensive.
Lifts: didn't encounter any problems queuing at all, we got down there quite early every day, but maybe we got lucky because of the time of year.
Bansko town: bit of a building site.
The people: I hate to say it but the staff (pretty much wherever you go) were really grumpy and bossy, but I think that's cause they're so underpaid.
The hotel: stayed at lucky Bansko; a bit out of the town, however, with the regular shuttle buses this wasn't a problem. Hotel was absolutely gorgeous, couldn't ask for more.
Our holiday at Bansko was so good because I loved snowboarding. I loved the scenery and I would definitely go back.
If you go, don't buy food from the petrol station on the transfer to the resort (they'll scam you).
Do go full-board at your hotel; there's no point eating in the town. Do buy lots of beer from the cheap supermarket and avoid the "Bali" supermarket. Do learn some Bulgarian phrases.
February 23, 2009
m moore from
United Kingdom
m moore from
United Kingdom
Well, what can I say? Bansko, on the whole, was an experience. I made the mistake of booking a week during half-term; big mistake. On my first day it took 1 hour 45 min to queue for my ski equipment. The gondola station just couldn't cope with the numbers of people as it took 1 hour to queue and 30 min to reach the top (it broke down for 2 hours on the first day). Once you reach the top you then have to queue 30min on the chair lifts to take you further up. The slopes at Bansko were so busy it got ridiculous. I stayed at the Hotel Emerald where the rooms were very good but food was awful. Staff at the bar would never give you your change back, which got on my nerves after asking time after time. You would always receive a blank stare and they would pat their pockets to try an indicate they didn't have any. The best place for food was The Victoria. I can highly recommend this restaurant as the service and food was excellent. To be honest I think Bansko needs more investment in another gondola and more chair lifts. I'm going to give this resort a miss for a few years and see how it develops. Just don't make the same mistake as I did - don't book to go during half-term.
February 16, 2009
Lee from
United Kingdom
Lee from
United Kingdom
I visited Bansko at the end of January, and was really expecting the worst. I have been to Whistler, Banff, Andorra and Morzine, and Bansko compares equally with both of the European resorts.
The ski area itself is good for families and intermediates; nothing too challenging but not too limiting. I covered the whole area on the first two days, but if you are learning there is more than enough to play with.
The town has been described as ugly, and although a lot of it is a building site, the old town of Bansko is no different than Morzine or Andorra.
All the staff I encountered, serving or other, were friendly, helpful and appreciated the tiniest effort in learning a few phrases. The ski pass ticket staff where very helpful, and one of the ski instructors helped one of our party down the mountain when he was in trouble, and most of the waiting staff were unhurried, happy to chat as well as bring food, making you feel welcome.
The food was similar in many of the restaurants at Bansko, but in nearly all we went to it was of a good standard. We avoided the restaurants recommended by 'stalky' restaurant touts for the most part, but one who advised us that the place we were heading to was "the biggest mistake of our lives" actually turned out to be quite bad, (tvs, noisy band with ear-piercing drum), and the place he was advertising turned out to be great, so maybe they are all right. We also didn't go in any near the central square, having been warned off one, by someone who'd had a bad meal in the past.
Everything did turn out to be good value too and it actually felt like a different country, rather than the generic ski resort type feel.
February 15, 2009
Gemmabem from
United Kingdom
Gemmabem from
United Kingdom
Have just got back from a week's stay at Bansko and had the best skiing holiday. No problems with the gondola or any of the lifts. Skiing conditions were great, instructors great etc. Definitely better than anything we've been to in the Alps. Sure, if you don't use your nous to pick the best times to arrive at the gondola you may have to wait a bit. Also if you don't like the fact that the locals don't understand 'chav' or that they don't like taking currencies other than their own or that they get a bit fed up with drunken, foul mouthed braying English yobs wandering their streets then you probably won't get on in Bansko.
Go and make a bit of an effort with the language, adapt to the culture and you'll have a great time.
February 15, 2009
cheffie from
United Kingdom
cheffie from
United Kingdom
Returned today from my 1st skiing trip, at the age of 41, to Bansko with Balkan holidays. After reading some of the reviews I was very nervous; I shouldn't have been. Stayed at the hotel Mura which was very clean, with a nice spa etc but served a really lousy breakfast that was cold and not fresh. One barman was very ignorant and clearly didn't want to be there. Ski lessons at Bansko were good, well organised and ski and boot hire was brill. The worst thing was the transfer of 3 -3 1/2 hour from Sofia. In this day and age it's a bind, surely an airport is planned if Bansko continues to grow.
February 05, 2009
Myles from
United Kingdom
Myles from
United Kingdom
Even though I have been to Bansko before I read some reviews and became concerned, especially as I went with a group who had never been there. I braced them for packs of dogs, rude people and endless queues.
What we found at Bansko were little or no queues (end of Jan, so may have just been lucky I suppose), everyone we met was happy, cheery and friendly. We all learned to speak a few words of Bulgarian which went a long way. Granted, we did see some dogs but they were very polite and stopped at crossing lights.
We ate and drank (and drank and drank) really well and an entire night out cost about the same as a single round in the UK.
Go to Bansko with an open mind, learn to say a couple of words in Bulgarian, enjoy the good - don't dwell on the bad and have fun.
February 04, 2009
Peter from
United Kingdom
Peter from
United Kingdom
My first skiing holiday and our baby girl's first Christmas. We went to Bansko on Dec 22nd for a week. We stayed at the Strazhite Hotel, five min walk from the gondola.
We landed at 6.00pm and to our surprise were told it was a 3.5 hour transfer to the resort. No worries, we thought we would sit back and chill. The driver went no more than 35 mph all the way (thus so long); we too fell foul of the double scan scam at the petrol station on the way to Bansko - be careful - I ended up with a bag of crisps, some croissants and really bad coffee for ten quid. My own fault.
Still - we got to the hotel and it was awesome - clean, tidy, modern and far beyond our expectations. Swimming pool, steam room etc, even a ten pin bowling alley.
With a ten month baby it's often tough to find where to go for good child care. We got my daughter into the Blue Kangaroo Creche who are the only ones in Bulgaria to take pre 1 year olds. The facility is amazing, new, clean and filled us with confidence.
So, off to ski whilst our daughter is safe with carers.
We went to Bansko with Balkan Holidays which meant all inclusive - half board at hotel, food ok to average but still filling and nourishing after a day skiing. We had ski lessons; five hours every day and then do what you like.
Snow cannons were useful as snow didn't arrive until 24th Dec, then limited - but you can still ski due to the effective cannons. Achy after two days but still fun. There is a 8km blue run from the top of the mountain into the town. A word of advice, don't ski down an 8km blue run with only half a days ski lessons under your belt (my legs were killing me and it was very scary. Still a very happy memory though.) I must be the only man to have ever 'ploughed' 8km.
Food on the mountain at Bansko was very expensive (although cheaper, I'm told, than the rest of Europe). Take some packed lunch stuffs in a rucksack and then just spend £3 a time on the wonderful hot chocolate.
If you want a fairy tale picturesque ski resort then Bansko may not be right for you. We did, however, have a fantastic time and our daughters childcare was better than in the UK. Skiing was so much fun, we even did a very scary red run on the final day with our instructor.
No problems with the lifts, no restrictions on the slope for us - blue runs are very good and long and fun but the snowboarders should slow down.
There are many, many cool people around Bansko. The town's a bit lumpy and bumpy but I don't want to go to a developed city on hols. The locals are friendly and easy to talk with. Don't behave badly and you'll be fine. They are normal people like anyone else. The food was basic but ok - even found a pub selling Guinness.
The snow on Christmas and Boxing Day was quite heavy but it made the Christmas holiday complete.
We spent £1200 on the trip and a further £200 on the creche; this was all in - food, skis, lessons, accommodation, flights and passes - added an extra £150 for beers and extras - total £1550 for a funny, relaxing and well worthy Christmas break - the hotel even threw a huge Christmas party.
Would we recommend Bansko? Yes
Would we go again? Yes, andvwe are. March 7th 2009 for a week.
Enjoy life while you can.
February 03, 2009
James Rogan from
United Kingdom
James Rogan from
United Kingdom
Boarded at Bansko from 23rd Jan to 30th, staying at excellent chalet Jora, run by English chalet hosts Jay and Laura - highly recommended.
Good points: no problem with lift queue at all, good snow conditions, small resort but plenty of variety if you look for it but possibly not enough for advanced skiers/boarders who want to cover lots of ground, good nightlife (if you earn £s it's much cheaper than Europe at the moment).
Bad points: ok, some Bulgarians come across as rude but no more than I've experienced in other resorts, a bit of a construction site and not the prettiest resort, although the old town is still quite pretty.
Tips: food on the slopes: stick to the smaller huts near to Bla Bla's, but not Bla Bla's. Get up early for powder, don't risk going too far off-piste (someone died in an avalanche going off the beaten track). Try amnesia club for some of the funniest unintentionally comic dancing.
I would go to Bansko again.
February 01, 2009
Ross from
United Kingdom
Ross from
United Kingdom
I have just returned from Bansko after a week of skiing. I went with 9 other friends; most of them being novices with me being the only advanced skier. I had my doubts about visiting Bulgaria for a skiing holiday from reading the reviews and the size of the resort. We stayed at the 4/5 star Katarino Spa hotel and I was extremely surprised by the room size and quality. The facilities were very clean and tidy. The only problem I found with the hotel was the location; we were a 15mins drive from the lifts. However, the hotel did supply a very efficient bus service every 15mins. The food in the hotel was ok; breakfast was good but dinner wasn't, however, I still ate it.
Bansko, as a town, is very messy. There is litter, dogs, unfinished hotels and massive potholes in the road. The bus from the hotel bypassed all of this. Our reps organised a bar crawl where we visited a few bars and clubs. It was a wicked night. Throughout Bansko there are clubs, bars, casinos and bowling alleys.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the slopes prepared and the lift systems like any other European resort. The gondola to the mountain was never a real issue; the longest we waited was 30mins and that was at 9.30ish. If you arrive at about 10.30 there's no queue at all. I've queued 3 times longer than that in France and Austria before. We only ever ate at the bottom of the gondola; it was cheaper and a better quality. Ski hire was relatively easy as it is right next to the gondola. The actual skiing was fantastic, not so good for advanced but it was enough to keep me busy and excited. I was teaching 3 other friends most of the time so I was sticking to blues and reds and there were plenty of them.
The attitude of some of the staff in Bulgaria does stink, but I think that's just the way some people are. In England we have arrogant people but we just ignore them, so why can't we do it on holiday.
I got scammed on the bus on the way home when we stopped at the service station. I was charged double the cost.
Finally, I feel if Bansko increases the amount of runs on to two mountains, finish the half done hotels and clean up the area a little bit the resort will be as good as any resort in the Alps. You've just got to give it some time.
As for value for money, it is absolutely fantastic; I only spent £500 all in.
If you're not fussy and looking for a cheap skiing holiday, Bansko is the place to go.
February 01, 2009
Colin from
Bulgaria
Colin from
Bulgaria
I'm just back from a week in Bansko and quite a few reviews created some apprehension.
I can safely say that we loved it. The weather was excellent and nearly everyone we met was very friendly. We had one grumpy bus driver but apart from that all bar/restaurant/PR staff were really friendly and you could tell they wanted to treat you well and give you a good impression of Bulgaria.
Prices for food and drinks do vary quite a bit depending where you go. It really is one extreme to another at Bansko but then it is up to you to choose where to eat and drink.
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