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For ski chat, join the Mumsnet Ski forum. Check out our guide to the best resorts in Europe and our family ski holiday packing list.

Ski and snowboarding

Ski Bansk

14 replies

WelshMoth · 21/11/2019 19:07

Anyone been?
Looking to book for Feb half term.

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WelshMoth · 24/11/2019 10:26

Bump!!

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SarBear1980 · 24/11/2019 16:23

Do you mean Bansko in Bulgaria @WelshMoth ??

I’ve been there - we stayed in the Kempinski right on piste which is one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in for skiing (was pre kids)...but the pistes were icy and filled with out of control people from other nearby countries! We had a great trip but not our best snow/ski trip!

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Tableclothing · 24/11/2019 16:24

DO NOT GO AT HALF TERM.

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Tableclothing · 24/11/2019 16:29

Sorry for shouting.

I've skied at Bansko more than once. You need to be very careful when you choose to go. Check Russian and Bulgarian holiday dates in particular as well. Bansko is not a massive resort and at busy times queues for gondola and ski lifts are very, very lengthy and the slopes so crowded that they are dangerous. I got taken out a couple of times last time we went, missed a couple of days' skiing thanks to one of the idiots.

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Hopefulmidwife · 15/02/2020 10:14

Did you decide to go @WelshMoth?

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WelshMoth · 17/02/2020 16:38

@Hopefulmidwife am here right now.
It's ok - decent skiing once you're up. That said, the queue for the 8 man gondola is horrific. We've had the chance to pay for VIP ski passes because we are staying at a good hotel - but it's a fair few quite extra.

Also, the town area is far from pretty. It's quite hard around the edges - plenty of ski gear shops (even Spyder has a store here), loads of kebab shops, but also loads of bars with thumping music. Place isn't too clean neither.

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WelshMoth · 17/02/2020 16:40

Was actually in my way onto here to check whether there's another part of Bansko that's more traditional? I'd much prefer to wander out in the evenings to somewhere that isn't full of pissed up apres skiers.

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Hopefulmidwife · 17/02/2020 17:12

Hello! I asked because we just got back from there. We didn't enjoy it at all. Actually, we came home two days early. I'm a beginner at skiing and felt it was too advanced, very icy and the sides had no fences etc so it scared me no end. The town agreed is less than desirable however if you find the restaurant called castello, go. It's lovely.
Bansko old town is more traditional, but unsure in terms of where you could eat. It's got a lovely church though and it was nice to see something different. We probably won't be going back but luckily it hasn't put me off skiing and I would like to try again one day elsewhere.

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WelshMoth · 18/02/2020 08:48

Hi @Hopefulmidwife. I totally understand. The single green that you see on piste maps online is now a blue in the resort maps. Every blue I've been on so far has areas that would qualify as reds. I'm a pretty experienced skier but DH and DD's are still intermediate and every day has been a tough challenge.

The Blue No.1 should technically be the most pleasurable but it's melting and a total killer on the thighs. Not any pleasure at all. This really isn't a place for beginners, it really isn't.

I'm so sorry that your experience has been bad - there's nothing worse, DH put so much time and effort into planning this, I won't say anything negative, but I won't be returning.

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Hopefulmidwife · 18/02/2020 17:05

I only went down the ski road, the flat parts I loved but when it got really steep and icy I hated it 😂 We had a spa in our hotel plus had a day at old town/bumbling in cafes on mountains so did enjoy our time. It was actually my DP who brought up going home early, bless him. He really wanted it to be the best time. Where would you recommend for beginners, and good price?

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WelshMoth · 22/02/2020 10:23

I loved Cervinia and Gressonay in Italy - fab slopes there but this was years and years ago.

Chatel in France is great. Courchevel 1650 also good but pricey.

Some great suggestions on this board as far as value is concerned.

Andorra is cheaper than lots of France with good slopes that won't put off beginners.

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NCTDN · 23/02/2020 19:53

This is really helpful as I was looking at going here but definitely will not now!

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NCTDN · 23/02/2020 19:56

I've just posted this on another thread :

I agree with pp. We have just returned from Soldeu in andorra. It was fabulous. The package meant that we all had ski school, even dh who is an excellent skier - his group did lots of ski guiding. Children came on leaps and bounds. But most importantly, my ski school was fantastic. I wasn't pushed out of my comfort zone but we did loads of blues and some reds. The instructors were all amazing - andorra ski school has a fabulous reputation. There's miles of blues to ski in the grandvalira region and it's great value for money. For 4 of us in half term was over £1000 cheaper than Italy or France for a comparable hotel.
The only downside is that it's a 3 hour transfer.

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WelshMoth · 01/03/2020 17:29

Thanks @NCTDN.

Loads of friends have shown an interest in Bansko because it's cheaper than most places.

I'd say Bansko is still very much an option if you're intermediate, not particularly bothered by having a 'pretty' town to walk around at night and you're able to book yourself a 5* hotel suite to chill out in at night.