 Poster: A snowHead
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So just back from a long weekend in Bansko. Out on Friday early back on Monday late. Given the 3hr flight and 2-2.5hr transfer, you can’t get any skiing in on your our day, but the flights work in your favour on your way back, and a full days skiiing can be had, with time to return gear and shower before heading to the airport.
Positives
The weather was very mixed, we had rain in the town, high winds up top, snow, sleet hail and various levels and bright sunshine still bluebird day for the last day. The slopes cover a good range in altitude, from 2600m top lift down to 900m at the bottom of the ski road back to town, so we were always able to find somewhere to ski where the conditions were good, despite the variable weather on the Sat and Sun. We even had boot deep fresh powder on our first run on Sunday am.
Whilst the km count isn’t massive, there is enough for a weekend and good range, from exposed open top slopes to lots of stufff through the trees, and it’s pretty. The two runs in Chalin Valog, were great, and quiet, been a slight diversion from the main area, and we found a great spot for lunch Hotel Tofana, just below the bottom of those where the ski road starts.
There wasn’t much queueing once up the mountain for the chair lifts.
It’s cheap as chips, and the apres is good once back down in town.
We found a cracking Hotel (Avalon) run by an expat Brit
Loads of good places to eat out very cheaply and standard of food was pretty high.
The hire skis (Ski Mania) were very good, decent carving skis and boot for under 15€ per day.
Downsides
Getting up the mountain is a pain. It’s either start queueing at 8am for the Gondola,which starts up at 8.30 officially, but can start rolling at 8.15 if your lucky. On the Monday there were so many ski schools using the bypass lane it moved very slowly. There are alternatives, free buses run from the gondola staition to the top of the gondola, and a taxi up is only €5 a head to a different lift, we did this on the Sunday morning which got us the fresh powder.
I would definately not go at half term or new year, until they get a new gondola (rumoured for next year) as the queues must be horrendous.
Ulen, the gondola operator own most of the mountain eateries, which means the price up there are double going rate in town, although still cheap by any standard.
So overall if you want a Cost effective ski break its definately one to consider, it doesn’t deserve the poor press it’s gets on here, but the gondola / mountain access isn’t great and I imagine it is hell at half term etc when very busy.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Good review! It does reinforce why I went for Borovets over Bansko. 1 hr 15 transfer and no gondola queue (when we were there) by contrast, so it's worth a try in late January if you've not been there before.
I refuse to get up that early on holiday just to stand in a queue!!!
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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 got lucky.
Since Monday Bulgaria, Macedonia, Turkey, Romania & Serbia school holidays. People are queuing for 3+ hours. Its a resort that is best avoided in Feb!
That ends & then its UK Holidays. That ends & its a double bank Holiday for Bulgarians. The resort is best visited in January or 2nd weekend of March imo.
Since you stayed in the Avalon, I hope you tried James's Curry night.
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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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Ah that explains the Monday queues then as Monday was busier than the weekend. We waited 30 mins for the G to open, but the queue was an hour by 11am when a mate came to join us, but on 10 mins wait for a bus to the gondola top.
Yes James's curry was excellent.
HB, yes certainly considering Borovets for next year, are the two slope areas easy to get between - it looks like 2 separate entry points from town on the piste map, or is it a walkable distance?
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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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Yes Borovets is walkable. 3 routes up the mountain
Gondola and 2 chairs.
Borovets is very compact so getting around is easy.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@t4tomo, yes, as said, you can walk between the two main lift areas in 5 minutes. It's a very small village. We were there weekend of 19th January, and the ski area served by the gondola was deserted. The other side mainly used by beginners/improvers was busier but not ridiculous. What was even better was the gondola had been shut for a few days until the day we arrived due to high winds at the top, so the snow had been preserved!
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