 Poster: A snowHead
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Mogs, That is about €1100, Instruction, ski hire and lift pass included. Cheaper than many resorts. I have one question, 5* Bulgarian standard, what is that in comparison to the UK, and what part of the UK. Many 3* London hotels are pretty poor quality in my experience, the bee has just been released from my bonnet. You will have a great holiday anyhow. Enjoy.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Roy Hockley, Prob nearer to €900 to be honest, but it doesn't matter. 
I can only assume that Mogs is staying in the Kempinski Grand near the gondela station, if so, it's a cracking place, comparable to many top class hotels anywhere.
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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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sugardaddy, quick question.. have you skied in Bansko? The reason I ask is that you say there is no snowmaking.. I seem to remember seeing cannons when I was there. They weren`t needed though.
Going out on a limb here but I would suggest that the snow record is comparable to a lot of the Austrian resorts.. okay shoot me.. or fisty cuffs at dawn. I have been in Kitzbuhel mid-season were the lower slopes have been remarkably bare.
I think discussions surrounding ski resorts quite often end up becoming arguments and therefore counterproductive.
Guess what? There are some amazing ski hills around the world that are not in Switzerland, Austria, France and Canada... can you believe it???
I don`t think it is fair or sensible to write countries off just because they are not part of the established western ski world.
Final point I work as a ski instructor in BC. Not wanting to sound like a pompous pratt but I think I know a thing or two about snow, fun skiing and damn good ski holidays. If Bansko was crap.. I would say it was crap. However it isn`t crap.. so there 
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Yes Kempinski Grand Hotel is correct. I haven't stayed there before but from what I gather it is a 5* that will compare favourably to any in the world. It believe it German owned. my point being that not only is Bulgaria a good value for money ski destination you are not settling for second best. There are options to suit all.
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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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Sorry IMT, you are right. calculations screwed up on my side.
mrtoastie, I think that you were starting to sound a tad pompous, but you reigned yourself in just in time . Your opinion is as valuable to me as anyone elses. Continue the good work.
Mogs, Have a great holiday and let us have a full report
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Roy Hockley, phew.. 
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what did i start???? sorry i asked now i didnt want people to get upset with each other. Thanks for all the comments Bansko looks the best of the two. food for thought cheers everyone. 
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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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andybabes, You started an interesting debate, so dont worry. Some of our brethrerin can get a little bit pompous! Enjoy your holiday sounds like it will be fun.
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I keep seeing snippets in these threads about the amazing off piste opportunities at Bansko.
I would like more information about organized courses /trips by qualified guiding services for good intermediates and above as i am keen to improve in this area.
Rob
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Went to Pamps last year going to Bansko in Feb. The reason we go is....................... 2 adults and 3 kids, 1 we have to pay adult prices and its the cheepest we could find. Thats it, its cheap! We will not go again mind as I think we will need a fresh challenge.
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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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| Roy Hockley wrote: |
| What is the cost of a S/C holiday in Bansko. I had assumed it should be about €400 a head, flights, transfers and accomodation. Extras are alway "extra"!!!! Dave Canski, I like your banner! |
At half term we are paying roughly £700 for return flights, transfers and a 1 bed apartment including breakfast. Ski hire and lift passes are extra.
Thats for 4 people. 2 adults and 2 kids. We could have had it £200 cheaper if I had booked the flights when they first came up.
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Dave Canski, That is VERY cheap. Well done, could not get that in PdS any time for that. In fact you would probably just get lift passes for that, brilliant. Enjoy the holiday.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Roy Hockley wrote: |
| Dave Canski, That is VERY cheap. Well done, could not get that in PdS any time for that. In fact you would probably just get lift passes for that, brilliant. Enjoy the holiday. |
And when we get there the food and drink is cheap as well. A good evening meal with drinks comes to around £5 - 7 per head.
If I had the choice I would't go at half term and would therefore reduce the flight costs but I don't have that choice.
It all means 3 - 4 ski trips per season instead of 1 - 2. OK fair enough there is only 65 km of piste but we still ski for most of the day and enjoy it.
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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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Removed my post, I was too dogmatic with my opinions of the heavy marketing and commercial force of Bansko. The current lift price, in my mind, is way too high for where it is positioned and the size of the resort.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Wed 15-06-11 22:11; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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So what's caused us to be blessed with this gem on this thread 4 years on from the last post?
Or is somebody messing with your account? (Previous posts were calm things about scottish snow fences.)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I went to Bansko in March on my own for a week. I stayed at a 4* wtih indoor swimming pool. I loved it and thinking of going back next year.
I've put a trip report on here - maybe admin can find the link.
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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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atraherne, Whose pricing locals out ? The majority of foreign investment (65 % british / irish) is off plan apartment investment. The locals laugh when you can buy a house and land for less than the deposit on an off plan development. Yes, there's a problem when outsiders force up the price of living but that's not really an issue outside of the beach resorts, and even then the locals have benefit with the land price increase. Yes it sucks when a teacher earns less in a week than an enterprising taxi driver can earn in a day. Im sure we have simillar issues in the uk.
It was never just a local set-up...... Bulgarian resorts were set up for the Soviet nomenclature and selected students, for locals it was a fringe benefit. There are still season ticket price discounts for residents who want to ski, just like most other ski resorts. So you pay a bit more to Ski as an outsider..... how else do they invest in the resort ? On the hill there's still a local price and a tourist price...
As an Investor I seriously doubt you would have made any money (1000% ?) between 07 - 11. Pretty much the only people who made money were those who invested pre 2003 or who later benefitted from the increase in the value of the euro. The latter being a huge boost to anyone, living outside of but, selling property in the euro zone.
If you really want a good deal, try a Snowheads bash.............. they're well promoted, but do sell out quick !
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Snakeskin Si, of course you could make a 1000% profit, ....................... Provided you could find some person wishing to purchase in 2011 !
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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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| mrtoastie wrote: |
andybabes, Bansko. Despite what graeme says .. it is cheap... where else can you get a week lift pass fo rthe equivalent of around 70 quid.. beer is super cheap.. don`t smoke but they are ridiculously cheap to. Food is great. Snow is usually pretty ace end of Feb/beginning of March.
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Were you pi$$ed for the duration of your stay in Bansko? Having spent a total of 5 weeks in the resort, I can confirm that most of your above comments are way off. 
Cheap= Poor value?
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Yeah, went it a bit hard on my post, so apologies for that. I could of said it in a less dogmatic manner.
Essentially I am concerned that the pricing for Bansko is well off where it should be. I was motivated to write the post after socialising with skiers and boarders from Bulgaria and their concerns. I've seen it go from being a bargain to being overpriced. The anger came from the fact that it appears the people who are pushing the prices up are the ones that are more concerned about the apres ski than the ski itself and this unfortunately drags the lift prices up with it. Its difficult because for some of us who arn't earning significant incomes, this really does hurt the pocket. I'm feeling it in the Alps. I can get a cheap flight, I can get cheap youth hostel or basic shared apartment (bunkbed) for cheap. I can except expensive, M&S priced supermarket food, but I really am concerned about the price of lift passes these days, they really are increasing rapidly and although I have never been to Bansko and frankly wouldn't want to, I really do feel it is well overpriced. Maybe, in 20-30yrs time when Bulgaria becomes more inline with western incomes and developes accordingly then the price could reflect. Currently the pricing is about right if the resort was sitting in the West of Europe but its not.
Regarding the doubt in investment. You could of invested off plan, for one bed apartments £14,500, now they are selling for £50,000. I watched the process unfold, it was a good investment. But from my standing, heavy marketing and investment doesn't deliver the best outcome for the resort itself as the poeple who drive that force are only concerned with what they can earn out of it. I don't like that.
Again sorry for the last post, I shouldn't of gone off like that. 
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Yeah I did get the percentage wrong, it was a rant post. I think 50k from 14.5 is 300%. Still huge return.
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Bulgaria is cheap(er) but poor value for money for a decent skier imo. Conversely if you don't rack up serious vertical or need off piste options a lot of larger resorts in the alps are an overkill and probably a waste of money - but since they have such problems with hotel occupancy etc if you get get a late deal on a snow year it may be worth it.
| cc_7up wrote: |
| I like the fact that taking your own ski equipment + storage at your resort only costs £17 (round trip) with Balkan ski holidays to Bansko |
It's a tradeoff between having decent gear that gets destroyed by rocks or rental gear from the early 90s which is about the same time they last saw a tune
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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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| narc wrote: |
Bulgaria is cheap(er) but poor value for money for a decent skier imo. Conversely if you don't rack up serious vertical or need off piste options a lot of larger resorts in the alps are an overkill and probably a waste of money - but since they have such problems with hotel occupancy etc if you get get a late deal on a snow year it may be worth it.
| cc_7up wrote: |
| I like the fact that taking your own ski equipment + storage at your resort only costs £17 (round trip) with Balkan ski holidays to Bansko |
It's a tradeoff between having decent gear that gets destroyed by rocks or rental gear from the early 90s which is about the same time they last saw a tune |
Wow, man, good post.
You spent any real time in Bansko?
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