Poster: A snowHead
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I'm able to take a long weekend in Jan so im looking for a cheap weekend to take the better half away for her first trip. I was looking into Bulgaria, Ive never been there but provides a cheap option to take someone to the mountains for their first trip.
Im struggling to find a company offering long weekend holidays, ideally i like to find a company offering a package deal to save the hassle.
Does any one have any recommendations for companies, locations or alternatives?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Oh I didn't realise the transfer time was so great.
I've never been just heard good things
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I quite liked Bulgaria.
We flew into Plodiv but it's a good couple of hours to resort which isn't ideal for a long weekend plus you might not get an early flight so lose a day.
Look at bankso blog, they will have better answers
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Transfer to Borovets is around 1 hour from Sofia. There's a Facebook group run by Bobby and Kaz of Bobbys Bar. They're very helpful with accommodation queries.
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Maybe a flight into Bergamo near Milan.
We have just got very cheap flights for mid Jan. A few ski resorts within 90 mins that are not too expensive. You might have to organise your own accommodation but there are plenty of places that will help with transfers. Not as cheap as Bulgaria, but not as expensive as the bigger resorts.
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hawkwind wrote: |
Bulgaria wont work with the long transfer and fewer flights although Ryanair might be there now.
I cant recommend Poland enough for beginner skiing , plenty of apre ski activities and great restaurants.
Costs are minimal and has that chocolate box village look esp if it snows
http://www.sunshineworldpoland.com/html/short_break_3_night_packages.php |
Have you used and are recommending this company? Interested to hear if you have some experience using them.
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TBH, for Poland its very easy to do a DIY package and arguably better...most of the ski lifts are operated by different operators and the 'ski pass' they quote is not going to be valid for the majority of lifts.
We go every year and I'd say its great for beginners, fine for intermediates that are happy with a good mix of skiing and partying, but not great for anyone who loves miles and miles of Alpine pistes.
The main party town is Zakopane, but the best resort by miles is Bialka Tatzranska...the downside is that there's not loads to do there, so its a trade off between better skiing or better bars (that said the cab ride is only 10 mins, 20 if the traffic is shocking which happens occasionally).
There are a few thermal bath/spa places around as well, one adjoining the main hotel in Bialka and the rest are away from the pistes.
Tatry Ski operate a combined lift pass for a few places in Poland and Slovakia, but you'd need a car to get around between them all: http://tatryski.pl/ and I think only 1 of the lifts covered is technically in Zakopane itself (and is a very short beginner run).
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Oh one other thing to add, from Stansted you can get a Friday night or early Saturday morning flight and the transfer time is generally sub 90 mins (will be less if there is no traffic, which is unlikely and more if its a busy time, e.g. half term).
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@ster,
No never used them , just as an example of a total costing.
I have used this site and all the information is here http://discoverzakopane.com/
as @vjmehra, has said.
its very easy to do a DIY and i prefer going to Bialka Tatzranska as well , the spa there is second to none.
I go every year , i love the place
If you need any more specific advice im happy to help.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Actually, sorry to briefly hijack the thread, but hawkwind by chance you don't know how to get in touch with whoever runs those little wooden log cabin/holiday homes right behind Bania or to the side of Kotelnica do you?
We were hoping to rent one as close to the piste as possible, but struggling to get details, one is on Booking.com, but seems to be all booked up!
If you have any info please drop me a PM!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@vjmehra,
They should be on the discover zakopane site.
Ill have a better look tomorrow, we exchanged a few emails with the owner but it was too expensive.
I noticed the hotel Bania is only £50 a night on that sunshine holidays link!
We usually stay in one of the B&B, love the breakfasts etc, real genuine.
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They should be....
But they don't seem to be sadly
Actually, although Bania is normally super expensive (for Poland), I was looking and they do have some cheaper rooms this year it seems.
That said, we were looking for an apartment style (or holiday home) as we wanted a separate room for our toddler!
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You know it makes sense.
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Sofia is well connected with late night flights, wizzair from doncaster and Luton are worth a look. Ryanair also fly from glasgow, stansted and liverpool now... re transfer time 2.5 ( max) hours to Bansko is more than manageable. Especially when linked in with late flights to allow for full days skiing. Transfers can be had on the shuttle for €20 each way pp. Pm if you need any more info
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@vjmehra,
Cant find the email from them , they are on the website but only link the booking.com contact now.
I know they are really expensive though!
http://www.booking.com/hotel/pl/w-biaace-wiocha.en-gb.html
if you get in touch with Barbara from DiscoverZakopane she might be able to help http://bialkatatrzanska-info.com/accommodation.html
We stayed in an apartment last year in Pod Lipa 2 , was perfect although you needed to get bus or walk to slopes but the apartment was top class with views of the slopes and a massive kitchen/dining area. One bedroom but the sofa bed in living room has a curtain to block it off from the rest of the apartment. Was around £30 a night at half term!
Duda was another apartment we stayed in but she only takes sat-sat for the apartment.
Most of the B&B have an apartment in them but with the language barrier i find it hard to book them without using booking.com and paying the extra premium.
Also worth looking around the Zawrat hotel AFAIK that ski area is all linked now
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Poster: A snowHead
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Ah yeah, Wiocha is fully booked it seems...we don't really want to get the bus, so will stick with a hotel or explore a B&B, my wife is Polish, so language isn't a problem...I'll let you know how we get on (out of curiosity though, with no Polish link what brought you to Bialka)?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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If you do go and are a fan of Steak you need to go to Stek (http://www.stekzakopane.pl/), the steak is absolutely amazing, I'd go as far to say that it is even better than the likes of Hawkesmoor, Gaucho, Goodmans etc. here in London!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@jason123, Whizz Air fly to Poprad from Luton on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. From Poprad it's a short transfer to the Tatra mountain resorts in Slovakia. I haven't skied there, but went winter walking there a few years back and really liked the area. By short transfer I mean short - Stary Smokovec is 11(!) minutes according to Google Maps, or 23 mins to Strebske Pleso (where I stayed). Flights coming in at under £50 return. Accommodation and restaurants were very good value and the area is very friendly and pretty.
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/feb/22/skiing-tatra-mountains-slovakia-budget-ski-breaks
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Hi , OP .
easyjet, wiz air and ryan air all provide c heap flights now
Transfer to Borovets is approx. hour, Bansko now new motorway is finished can be done in 2 hours .
Loads of choice for both resorts
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OP PM sent to you
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