Cheapest ski holiday resorts? Inc ski hire, ski school etc? Bulgaria?

[Snowqueen22]

First timers with 3 kids desperate to learn. DH & I may sit it out & enjoy the snow or try cross country... Kids 8, 10 & 13. Bulgaria is known as being the cheapest. Will need ski school & hire for the 3 kids...

I've never been skiiing but heard Romania is a bargain. Also apparently their term dates are slightly different which adds to the bargain.

Ohhj I'll look into that, read about Slovenia on here too. Don't want to do a DIY though.. As we're first timers would prefer to do a package & there seems to be alot in Bulgaria..

I went to Bulgaria ten years ago and will NEVER go back. It's cheap for a reason. If you are not planning on skiing there is nothing to do unless things have massively improved.

We went to Bansko and it had a really odd atmosphere, not nice at night at all. Loads of have built abandoned apartment blocks. The food was shit in the town, and there was one tiny spar type shop.

The actual skiing was ok, once you finally managed to get on the mountain, the gondola queues were horrendous, worse than anywhere else I've been but it was FREEZING, as in a bloke we were talking to had had his eyelid frozen to his eyeball. That was in Feb half term.

I'd rather not ski than go back there.

@AriettyHomily thanks, it's just so much cheaper! There's also package hols to Andorra but they are more expensive. I think the Alps are out of reach for us..

I found Andorra excellent for ski school.

Italy can come in ok, have a look at Livignio. I would DIY and use the difference on going somewhere else. If you aren't skiing the kids will only be in ski school for half days, will you be letting them ski unaccompanied? It's dangerously busy. It's also not great for beginners, no green runs at all.

Borovets might be better but I'd be looking carefully at reviews.

Hi OP
have you tried dry slope or even artificial snow at locations like chill factore next to the Trafford centre Manchester?

also take a note of the transfer times from airport to resort.
I though with Bansko it’s something like 4 hours?
( that was told to me 10 years ago so could have changed )

No never been on dry slopes but we would do a couple if lessons prior to going...I'll look up Livigno.. No @AriettyHomily they'll do their ski school in the morning (might be cheaper for the 3 of them to get a private group lesson) & we'll go for lunch, sledging, skating etc in the afternoon & enjoy the snow!

Just in case you haven’t thought of this idea: do you have a caravan/motor home? You can stay on winter camps sites in or near ski resorts and it’s certainly cheaper than package or diy holidays using hotels or apartments.

www.seitenalm.at/en
We had 2 very successful holidays here.
Short drive or ski bus to the lift, ski hire etc. restaurant and ski school for all ages on the spot. Quieter than bigger resorts. Hotel lovely.

@FadedRed I have lived near the Alps for 10 years and own a vintage VW camper and the signs for 'Caravaneige' still make DH and I laugh! We fantasise about taking off in the Van when the kids leave home but NEVER in the winter!! The idea of wet clothes for 5 people in that space is horrific.

We also rule out tiny apartments on the basis of not having enough space to change and hang wet clothes.

Check out Pila in Italy, low key, not too extensive so not full of superfast skiers, we loved it.

From memory, Livigno has a v long transfer time.

Can you go in term time?