Pierre
(France, 15 Mar, 2008):
Bansko - never again! We have been there last week. The snow was wet, but you could ski. The piste down to the village is excellent. The lifts are modern and efficient. The town is dirty and looks like a third world town - broken pavements, garbage, etc. But this could be forgivven.
What is unforgivable is the service. Although bulgarian people ae very warm and nice, in Bansko they give terrible service. They try to educate you (still in the communist way), and they act against you.
The customer is a problem for them, not the reason for their existance as a ski resort. We spoke with many people there and tried to understand why. They all said the same - the resort is run bu mafia people, that invested a lot of "black money" and want to make quick profits. So they pay slavery salaries, and all the workers are angry and frustrated. Maybe I'll try other Bulgarian resorts but Bansko - never again.
Pierre
(France, 15 Mar, 2008):
Bansko - never again! We have been there last week. The snow was wet, but you could ski. The piste down to the village is excellent. The lifts are modern and efficient. The town is dirty and looks like a third world town - broken pavements, garbage, etc. But this could be forgivven.
What is unforgivable is the service. Although bulgarian people ae very warm and nice, in Bansko they give terrible service. They try to educate you (still in the communist way), and they act against you.
The customer is a problem for them, not the reason for their existance as a ski resort. We spoke with many people there and tried to understand why. They all said the same - the resort is run bu mafia people, that invested a lot of "black money" and want to make quick profits. So they pay slavery salaries, and all the workers are angry and frustrated. Maybe I'll try other Bulgarian resorts but Bansko - never again.
Rodney Budlong
(Lewisville, Tx. U.S.A., 6 Feb, 2008):
Just returned from a weeks stay in Bansko. My first time to ski Europe, so my impressions are relative to my American experience. That said, what a charming, polite people. Plenty of fresh veggies, and well grilled food. Being from Texas, we appreciate grilled. Local wine varietys are very limited as well as local beers. The upside, is they're inexpensive. Food was also very reasonable.
Our lodging was at the Strazhite hotel, a five minute walk to the Gondola, and great pedestrian access to old town. Lot's of good window shopping, and places to grab a beer or take-out treat from street-side vendor windows. Locals were very cool, if you approach them in an humble manner, with good grace and appreciation for them sharing their home with you.
The mountain. The gondola capacity needs to be greatly increased. Forget it on the weekends, as everyone from Sophia, as well as everyone else is queing up first thing. If the condo/apartment developement ever fills up to the rate that they are building, ther will be no room on the mountain without serious expansion. That said, the mountai has long, sweeping red runs(blues stateside), with some red/black runs stuck in the mix. The snow was fair, however, we were between any real good dumps. Very fun, long runs, good mountain service, up-to-date lift system. Lots of mountain available to develope. Hint hint.
All in all, a great trip, fun skiing, and really nice people. Upgrade everything, and I'll be back.
Oh, go, before it loses it's small town quaintness, as all resorts do , after being "discovered"
Rodney Budlong
(Lewisville, Tx. U.S.A., 6 Feb, 2008):
Just returned from a weeks stay in Bansko. My first time to ski Europe, so my impressions are relative to my American experience. That said, what a charming, polite people. Plenty of fresh veggies, and well grilled food. Being from Texas, we appreciate grilled. Local wine varietys are very limited as well as local beers. The upside, is they're inexpensive. Food was also very reasonable.
Our lodging was at the Strazhite hotel, a five minute walk to the Gondola, and great pedestrian access to old town. Lot's of good window shopping, and places to grab a beer or take-out treat from street-side vendor windows. Locals were very cool, if you approach them in an humble manner, with good grace and appreciation for them sharing their home with you.
The mountain. The gondola capacity needs to be greatly increased. Forget it on the weekends, as everyone from Sophia, as well as everyone else is queing up first thing. If the condo/apartment developement ever fills up to the rate that they are building, ther will be no room on the mountain without serious expansion. That said, the mountai has long, sweeping red runs(blues stateside), with some red/black runs stuck in the mix. The snow was fair, however, we were between any real good dumps. Very fun, long runs, good mountain service, up-to-date lift system. Lots of mountain available to develope. Hint hint.
All in all, a great trip, fun skiing, and really nice people. Upgrade everything, and I'll be back.
Oh, go, before it loses it's small town quaintness, as all resorts do , after being "discovered"
Edward Breen
(Ireland, 25 Jan, 2008):
Just back from a great holiday in Bansko. We stayed in Eagle's Nest appart/hotel. I can't be done praising E Nest, its location etc
Bansko has some great resturants,great value for money with beautiful food,I don't drink alchol, but wine is for nothing.
Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy
Bansko you are after taking a piece of my heart.
Edward Breen
(Ireland, 25 Jan, 2008):
Just back from a great holiday in Bansko. We stayed in Eagle's Nest appart/hotel. I can't be done praising E Nest, its location etc
Bansko has some great resturants,great value for money with beautiful food,I don't drink alchol, but wine is for nothing.
Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy
Bansko you are after taking a piece of my heart.
Paul Scholes
(Surrey UK, 7 Jan, 2008):
Just returned from the worst holiday of my life in Bansko. The Town is being overdeveloped with its infrastructure years behind the number of people they expect to service, it's Benidorm 1960s all over again.
We booked 2 apartments through Bulgarian Dreams, neither were finished or heated and were unsafe. They finally relocated us to private apartments (yes owned by 3rd parties) and told us not to make a mess in case they found out.
We queued for hours every day to get on the slopes giving up on 2 occasions to go for half day passes. The overcrowding and complete lack of organization or service made the Gondola & slopes dangerous and se saw several nasty accidents.
I could go on but the final straw for me was to leave the pollution of inner M25 to something many times worse in Bansko. After 2 days of sun & 24 hour 4X4s you could taste it and the town was covered by a red haze visible from the slopes.
Be warned
Paul Scholes
(Surrey UK, 7 Jan, 2008):
Just returned from the worst holiday of my life in Bansko. The Town is being overdeveloped with its infrastructure years behind the number of people they expect to service, it's Benidorm 1960s all over again.
We booked 2 apartments through Bulgarian Dreams, neither were finished or heated and were unsafe. They finally relocated us to private apartments (yes owned by 3rd parties) and told us not to make a mess in case they found out.
We queued for hours every day to get on the slopes giving up on 2 occasions to go for half day passes. The overcrowding and complete lack of organization or service made the Gondola & slopes dangerous and se saw several nasty accidents.
I could go on but the final straw for me was to leave the pollution of inner M25 to something many times worse in Bansko. After 2 days of sun & 24 hour 4X4s you could taste it and the town was covered by a red haze visible from the slopes.
Be warned
jeanette
(UK, 14 Oct, 2007):
I visited Bansko last year and found the resort to be excellent value for money with the added plus of having the lovely old town to stoll around in the evening.
As an intermediate skier I found the pistes all pretty good and I think that as they expand it will only get better.
Bulgaria is a lovely country and I'll definitley be back.
jeanette
(UK, 14 Oct, 2007):
I visited Bansko last year and found the resort to be excellent value for money with the added plus of having the lovely old town to stoll around in the evening.
As an intermediate skier I found the pistes all pretty good and I think that as they expand it will only get better.
Bulgaria is a lovely country and I'll definitley be back.
marc green
(scotland, 13 Apr, 2007):
visited bansko in feb/march with a group of 9 people.we did'nt know what to expect beforehand due to mixed reviews of the resort.all i can say is most of the boys reckoned it was the best holiday they have had.snow wasnt the best onpiste for a few days but offpiste was really good with runs thru trees and the bowl.lot of natural kickers to be found across the mountain and also terrain park up top.nightlife was good and cheap drink made it better,who can argue with ?1 a pint.The food is cheap and really good in most places but you have to look in the older town for the best deals.this place is a must go for any1 looking to go boarding on a budget or for a wicked laugh.Relax
marc green
(scotland, 13 Apr, 2007):
visited bansko in feb/march with a group of 9 people.we did'nt know what to expect beforehand due to mixed reviews of the resort.all i can say is most of the boys reckoned it was the best holiday they have had.snow wasnt the best onpiste for a few days but offpiste was really good with runs thru trees and the bowl.lot of natural kickers to be found across the mountain and also terrain park up top.nightlife was good and cheap drink made it better,who can argue with ?1 a pint.The food is cheap and really good in most places but you have to look in the older town for the best deals.this place is a must go for any1 looking to go boarding on a budget or for a wicked laugh.Relax
Adam Gamlin
(UK. derbyshire ashbourne, 1 Dec, 2006):
well i went there, snowboarding this feburary (2006) and i thought the snow was awsome, the slope scenery was cool and the slopes are nice and varied. the pints are like ?1!!!!! so its all good :P but i reccomend getting there early in the morning to beat the crowds. but i must warn you about the food, the reason its so cheap for a 3 course meals is becuase its kinda crap, i spent the holiday eating doritos and drinking beer, so dont get your hopes up about the food. but everall its good for the snow and slopes, it could do with a snowpark, since i found myself using the off-pieste ramps, but if you want to jus have a good time and improve your technique, this is the place to be.
Adam Gamlin
(UK. derbyshire ashbourne, 1 Dec, 2006):
well i went there, snowboarding this feburary (2006) and i thought the snow was awsome, the slope scenery was cool and the slopes are nice and varied. the pints are like ?1!!!!! so its all good :P but i reccomend getting there early in the morning to beat the crowds. but i must warn you about the food, the reason its so cheap for a 3 course meals is becuase its kinda crap, i spent the holiday eating doritos and drinking beer, so dont get your hopes up about the food. but everall its good for the snow and slopes, it could do with a snowpark, since i found myself using the off-pieste ramps, but if you want to jus have a good time and improve your technique, this is the place to be.
Darryl
(Leicester, UK, 24 Mar, 2006):
A good resort for beginners/intermediates with a variety of modern chair lifts and wide slopes. It's fairly cheap however prices are gradually going up with the level of service remaining the same. Watch out for surly unhelpful instructors who have a habbit of scamming you.
The town itself is a bit of a building site with potholed roads and non existant pavements. On the plus side the old town is lovely and some of the Mehana's (Restraurants)show the true Bulgarian hospitality.
Darryl
(Leicester, UK, 24 Mar, 2006):
A good resort for beginners/intermediates with a variety of modern chair lifts and wide slopes. It's fairly cheap however prices are gradually going up with the level of service remaining the same. Watch out for surly unhelpful instructors who have a habbit of scamming you.
The town itself is a bit of a building site with potholed roads and non existant pavements. On the plus side the old town is lovely and some of the Mehana's (Restraurants)show the true Bulgarian hospitality.
richard
( 28 Feb, 2006):
good resort for beginner/intermediate, lots of lifts snow park at the top for boarders, nice wide "for europe" slopes, very cheap eating out approx ?5-?8 for 3 courses with beer at 60p per bottle its all great. However as this is a new resort there is lots of building going on and the infrastructure is poor, the Bulgarian people are adapting to visitors with a few exeptions, should be excellent next season (2007)
richard
( 28 Feb, 2006):
good resort for beginner/intermediate, lots of lifts snow park at the top for boarders, nice wide "for europe" slopes, very cheap eating out approx ?5-?8 for 3 courses with beer at 60p per bottle its all great. However as this is a new resort there is lots of building going on and the infrastructure is poor, the Bulgarian people are adapting to visitors with a few exeptions, should be excellent next season (2007)
Matthew
(UK, 29 Jun, 2006):
Bansko - great resort with good Bulgarian hospitality and value for money ($12 for 3 courses and bottle of wine!). The skiing facilities are greatly improved on that of last season and I would say that they now rank amongst those of the more exstablished resorts. Off the slopes, I found the Old Town particularly charming for a general potter around taking in the atmosphere. The New Town provides the 'faster' nightime entertainment!
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