Visitor comments on Bansko, Bulgaria

Comment: Stayed at "Mountain Romance Hotel" Bansko fabulous place the spa is fantastic ,the food is incredible Stancho is an amazing chef and the greatest host really friendly and the hotel and rooms are spotlessly clean 3 star hotel but treated like a 5 star guest

Submitted By: svetlana nenkova from england
Date: 2008 March 08, 02:00

Comment: Went to Bansko and arranged a meeting with my relatives which i have not seen for long period of time in hotel "Glazne". The advert about the hotel was tempting, so we decided we are going there.
surprise!!! On the first evening which we have decided to spend in the hotel Glazne mehana came the surprise- Stolen camcorder. No one else except us there, no one else except the staff the next evening- no camcorder, no one seen, no one heard. Manager informed- lost don't know what to do. Trusted her to sorted out , Did not call the police as thought only staff there, no other visitors. !!!!! the day before we left 5 days after the theft managers tells me nothing I can do basicaly telling me ' THE REPUTATION OF HOTEL GLAZNE COSTS LESS THAN £300 NEVER MIND THE STRESS AND DISAPOINTMENT. I wonder if owners don't look after their guests who will, how can we trust them? it is for you dear people to decide where to go there for your holidays.

Submitted By: Jones Family from Swansea, Wales
Date: 2003 February 07, 20:52

Comment: We all had a wonderful time! Great resort - Hope to see you all next year.

Submitted By: danchev
Date: 2001 January 04, 05:23

Comment: Bansko is the place for skiing I like best. I go there every winter during the vacations and weekends. It is only two hours drive from Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria. In Bansko you can find ski runs for every one: from the professional Todorka and Akademika ski runs, intermediate Chalin Valog, Platoto, Dobrinishte ski runs and numerous 100-200 m long drag lifts for beginners. The season lasts from the middle of December to the end of April (sometimes even to mid May!). There is a lot of snow throughout the season. You can see there a snowfall that makes a snow cover of one meter for one day!
And it is magnificent to go there in Summer too. Very beautiful nature and a lot of mountain lakes.
Bansko itself is a nice small town. It has an old Bulgarian architecture and is famous in Bulgaria and on the Balkans for its more than 100 taverns (mehani in Bulgarian) with live folk music there.
There is a number of good new hotels at simply no money!
I am staying usually at Izvorite Hotel which is in the mountain 3 km away from Bansko - a perfect tri star hotel with a restaurant, disco, sauna, ski rent and a drag lift for beginners.
And see the prices: $20 - a double room, $10 - a dinner for two, drag lift, sauna and parking - free.
Everyone that goes to Bansko will be for sure in love with the place.

Submitted By: skimanant
Date: 2001 January 03, 17:24

Comment: Bansko is the out of the way ski resort in South West Bulgaria, based in the Pirin Mountains, which are still very natural and unspoilt.I have stayed here for three days, which if you are an intermediate or above is long enough to ski out the resort (unless you want to go off piste).
The town of Bansko is typical Bulgarian; in places very historic, in places functional eastern bloc. It has a decent selection of shops, although you are in Bulgaria, so don't expect what you would get in western ski resorts! The shops though are decent, and you can get absolutely bargain priced wine to bring home!
The hotels- well I would say for a Bulgarian ski resort they are good, but do not trust the local star ratings! The hotel Bansko (4 star) is very nice, good food, nice rooms. I liked it!
The actual skiing however is a way out of town, served by a free ski bus.
Bansko though has a few things to note here. The resort is lower than 1000m altitude, so is not always snow sure and is exempt from most snow guarantees on insurance policies. It does rise though to 2600m or so, so higher up it is better- as always!
The beginners area is nearer the town, is lower down, and is served by drag lifts. It is a good beginners area, and the ski school instruction is excellent.
The rest of us, and those beginners towards the end of the week, go a bit further on the ski bus to catch a chair lift into the mountains. I never saw a queue. There is not a massive choice of runs, and they are challenging for beginners, but there are also some wonderful guided off piste possibilities.
Local guides are cheap to hire (about £12 a day) and are friendly.
Overall, worth visiting, especially if you want to combine your skiing with some culture, but not a resort for professionals! The major tour operator is Balkan Holidays. Ideal as a two centre break.