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Lance Nelson
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{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
Seems like a nice website with fresh new articles on Bansko&the area!
thank you Milen! much appreciated.
I'm always interested in what you want to read – your stories and article ideas are always welcome.
thanks again, Lance
a friend and myself have bought in bansko and are going out there for the first time this weekend to check out our property, suss out the area etc. It would be great to meet and chat to someone with good local knowledge. We arrive Fri 30 October and leave Sun 01 November.
Alan,
Please can you email me and I will give you some more pointers.
Regarding your property…have you appointed a property manager yet (i.e someone who manages your property, pay bills, registers you etc)? For area info please search the site and pick the brains of your driver if you are having a transfer!
Lance
We visited Bansko in March of this year and hope to visit again over New Year. We love the area but had a little difficulty establishing the names of the Mehanas that had been recommended or even the ones to avoid. The names are obviously in Bulgarian but can you advise how you translate their name into English. We searched outside many different restaurants to try and establish what they were called to no avail !!
Hi Tommy,
Thanks for your comment… and a reminder for me to make a permanent link for a guide to cyrillic translation. There's no doubt life in Bulgaria is massively enhanced once you get to grips with the cyrilic alphabet. And restaurant, shop and place names are a smart place to start the learning.
If you go to this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_language you will get the basics
A simple mehana guide is that, if there's a tout for a restaurant its not, in general, a good sign. Ask a local … if you see Bulgarians eating there – then that is a good indication . I'll be identifying the good ones when they open for the ski season… with you and all readers help … we'll help the mehana scene be a good one.
Lance
We are visiting Bansko for the 1st time- during Jan 2010- Hotel Emerald. What do you say (my wife,my 9 years old son and me)- good choice or
thks
Hi Goran,
Yes generally speaking the Emerald is good — with nice rooms and a good location. Often the one thing that lets hotels down is customer service… Bulgarians are not naturals at this.. but its getting a whole lot better. I wish you a pleasant Bansko trip… please report back on how you got on. Lance
Hi Lance,We have a property in Bansko but it will be the 1st time that me and my family vistited for Christmas.We are looking to book some were for Xmas Dinner.A friend of our recomended Victoria Resturant,Do you know how we can get intouch to book?I'm now starting to panic as time is running out.Cheers Toni.
Hi Toni,
Don't panic
… I'll grab the number and put it on the review page here http://banskoblog.com/2009/01/victoria-restaurant… by end of the week:.
Victoria restaurant was my allround favourite last season and, with it's pleasant decor, decent wine list, and very reasonable prices it's almost always full. Lance
hi lance i have a property in bansko went too see it for the first time since the building works took place back in 06 ,there in oct this year what a great place people friendly food great and the studio excellent ,looking to furnish the property difficult as not many furniture outlets but the best 1 is the furniture box just up from the kepinski hotel excellent value and the staff very friendly tell people about them .
i also thought that the victoria was the best for food the time i was there as many hotels were not open ,do you know of any local management teams many thanks great site
Hi Clayton, Glad you enjoyed your trip to Bansko and tha your property has worked out well. Furniture is a huge topic with many options, but good to hear you are happy with your choice. I will drop you a line on property management. Another important topic for property owners.
Lance
PS really glad you like the site – thx!
Hi
We are off to Bansko on 21 December for 10 days. Have been 3 times previously but not to ski. We have purchased an apartment but it's not ready yet. We have two young children and have read that the Blue Kangaroo creche is very good. We'd like to know where there is a nice restaurant to book for christmas day. I like the look of the Victoria.
The website has been really helpful
Hey Jo,
Victoria is good for the money – but do book. Try Avalon for a curry. Kempinsky for Christmas dinner. Mehanas can be great fun… try Dedo Pene, Valavitsita and Motikita.
Lance
PS glad you found the site helpful!
Hello!Do you have any contact detail from restaurants so I can book for a new years eve dinner??!!!!I relized that everything will be full on that day and I need to have place to Eat!!!:P Thanx
Hi Lance,
we are travelling to Bansko early Jan 2010 and will be staying close to the Gondola on Pirin Street, I think its called the Winsow Mountain Highland, could you recomend any Mehanas close to the appartments please.
Cheers
John
hi lance,
i have a property in Evergreen Hotel&Spa in Bankso. I purchased it in 2006, it took 2 years to build and was completed in early 2009. it is fully furnished and ready to rent, i was led to believe that i had a 2 year guaranteed rental scheme with the client which to date has fetched me nothing! i wish to sign up with some form of property managment company who will rent out my property for me. living so far away i don't know what to do, hopefully you could help me with this.
thankyou
Lee Zanetti
Hi Lee – My wife and I also own a property at Evergreen. We just had the derisory rental income figures for 09/10 winter season from the management company and considering different options for next winter season. I am in touch with a couple of other owners who are also disappointed by their returns. We are thinking of doing our own bookings for next season via ownersdirect or similar sites. Just wondered if you had the same experience for the winter season just gone, and whether you had any ideas for getting more bookings for the next ski season.
Regards
Steve
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your comments on rental. Bansko has an oversupply of property and your experience is quite normal. But as its competitive you should make your property stand out from the rest. Some ideas could be to buy and then advertrise your property's unique features. For example . quality linen, pillows, duvets and towels… Or stylish decor. ipod docking station, free parking etc.
As for places to advertise privately there are many options but wherever you choose please, be aware you will need a reliable property manager for keys, deposit talking. repairs, cleaning and 24 hour emergency support.
If you can forgive me for some shameless self promotion for advertisers, this site's homes to rent section: http://banskoblog.com/bansko-accommodation/ has the key attributes of a lot of visitors, search engine visibility, regular promotion via emails and articles, plenty of room for a personalised description, loads of photos and now VIDEO. Most property advertisers received good income from enquiries made to them before and during the ski season through this site.
It is unique promotion for property owners. More info here: http://banskoblog.com/advertise-bansko/ The new advertising format which will be live soon, should improve rental income furhter. This site, banskoblog.com, helps advertisers as visitors here can book their transfers, ski hire, lessons etc and receive updates info — ooohhh and all available at very competitive prices!
If you have a number of owners, then also let me know as a special package can be provided and I pass om tp advertisers for free group booking requests. I expect the growth in Russian, Ukraine and Turkish visitors to grow more this year which will outweigh an expected decline in Greek visitors in the forthcoming ski season.
One final point, it is useful to offer friends FREE use of your apartment in quieter periods. Just ask for electricity and cleaning to be paid… then ask them in return to post the link to your property and details about Bansko (like this site) on work, club, school notice boards. When not here, I have raffled a week's stay for school trip and charity purposes.
Once again thank you for your comment, and I hope other readers will offer their ideas for achieving improved rental returns for owners.
Hi, I have noticed you have recommended a few restaurants above, how do i book the victoria? Im going there in Feb half term week so will need to book. Also, where are the others you mentioned? I have been to Bansko a few times so some simple directions will be fine.
Thank You
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
all the booking details are here: http://www.victoria.bg/en/restaurants/21/ Their Address: 119 Pirin Str. in front of ski lift
Working time: from 10:00 to 24:00
Phone reservation: 0887 761 500
I'm also after some more reviews of Fancy Italian restaurant jut below the Sport Hotel by the Kampinsky. Another nice interior with pleasant views over the piste. Service reported as good, but more reports please.
I am so happy that you have mention Lucky Bansko as one of the best hotels …Me and my family are coming this Sunday…Hope we will have great time. Have a nice day and thanks for all the information that you provide, it is very helpful.
Im coming out 1 March. Is it a national holiday on 3 March and does that mean it will be busy???????
Amiable brief and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you as your information.
Hi Edski,
Yes, 3rd March is a national holiday (liberation from Ottoman rule). However it is a midweek holiday and the impact last year was small on Bulgarians coming to Bansko to ski.
Thank you for your comment. In the new guide I will be listing all holidays that can impact on visitors numbers in Bansko. Lance
Hi Lance, we are looking at a ski holiday in Bansko around late March 2011 for myself, my wife and our son who is 15 years old. We are all reasonable skiiers but want to stay in a nice hotel within 5 minutes walk of the gondola. Could you recommend some hotels please. Thank you Mick
Hi Michael,
My favourite hotel is the five star Kempinsky Grand Arena. Right by the lift a fabulous pool (including an outdoor pool) great restaurant and piano bar all right next to the gondola lift. You may want ot try the Sport Hotel, just by the Kempinsky (although spa was not working yet when i last looked and service was variable. Other options within approx 250m of the gondola are the Vihrin, Bansko Royal Towers and the very well located Strazhite. If you want a home from expeience then an apartment is worth onsidering, then there are some superb ones advertised on this site under Homes to Rent. Loads of restaurants, with the Victoria, Kempinsky, By the Way, Fancy among some new ones yet to be reported on, are all a few minutes walk from these suggestions.
Booking.com offer good hotel rates, see link on the right column on this page
Hi Lance,
Me and my girlfriend are coming to Bansko end of Jan. A friend of ours has a place out there we are borrowing for the week. 2 quick questions. Where is the cheapest place to get boot/ski hire? And what is the best way to get lift passes?
Great website !
Thanks
Hello everyone, new member here! Need some infos, I will be in Bansko next week but there the snow quantity is poor, and as I see the open slopes and lifts are very limited. What is the real situation?
I wanted to make ann early reservation for ski equipement, lift passes and ski school for my doughter, but I don't know if we wil be able to use all of them…
Thanks for your help and best wishes!
Hi Ioannis,
Thank you for your comment. Looks like you have summarised the situation very well. People are skiing – its just limited. Still concerns for rest of week. But it looks as if it will change for the better next week. Hold off for a few more days as anything more than 5 days forecast ahead is too uncertain.
Lance
PSI have money back guarantee for ski hire bookings
Hello Lance, Just subscribed to this blog after having a good read.
me & my friends are planning to visit bansko for the first time. We are budget travelers and are hoping to find good hostels close to the gondola, do you have any names you can recommend?
also one of my friends is a complete beginner and I advised him to take few lessons that I would book through you.
My MAIN questions is: When is the best time to travel to Bansko DEC, JAN, FEB are my options and not further. Also are there any international winter sports competition planned for 2012? I read that some slopes close because of them before the events start.
Hi Alec,
Thanks for your comment. My personal favourite time for Bansko keeps changing. Late February is good, but after the world cup events see my article here http://banskoblog.com/2011/07/world-european-cup-…. I also love Christmas in Bansko, surprisingly quiet before the New Year rush… and its so nice being out on the slopes than stuck inside. Overall Christmas is great — come around the 20th December!
There are no hostels, but plenty of apartments. you can email me for some recommendations with numbers.
Hello!
I want to know if you can buy Salomon skiboots Quest 10 men , and what the price are, we are going to visit Bansko in february 2012 / Mia
Hi Mia,
Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter and delighted you are coming to Bansko.
It is a little early to say exactly what Salomon boots will be in the shops. But for sure there are many models to choose from. If you have tried on the boots elsewhere and they fit, then I would normally recommend you buy them in your country and bring them with you to Bansko.
Hi really intrested in trying bansko, i always ski in spain but time for a change,, do you know how much taxi fees are from airport? and a good recomended place to stay poss as close to the ski runs as possible please thanks so much
Hi Tanya,
Thank you for stopping by. Spain is great for skiing of course, but Bansko and Bulgaria offer more than the sum of the parts. Please do subscribe for price list for private transfers and ski hire. There are a number of advertisers who have property for rent close to the lifts so take a look in the homes to rent section or drop me an email.
Hi Lance
myself and 3 others (2 couples) are coming out to bansko 28 December to 4th Jan. We did come out for the first time this year in April lol Not the best of idea as we were hoping to ski. We did however get a couple of days ski as they opened the Black slope for a few days.
The Town was empty and if im honest we couldnt have picked a worse time but we did get an idea of the place and I can imagine in season its a fantastic place.
Can you give us some ideas of restaurants to eat for new years day? We would like to eat in the kempinski but do you know whether thats possible if we are not residents and how much is the New years dinner there if we can eat there?
Thanks Bud
Hi Alan, New Year's Eve is fabulous in Bansko,. For eating out everyone has their favourite. So I will be doing my top 5 places for New Years dinner post in mid November. There are several new restaurants opening up and I expect a few promotions to be coming on line soon for these.
In the meantime, please can reader nominate their favourite Bansko / Razlong / Banya / Dobrinishte restaurant?
I will check with the Kempinski, and get back to you, but suspect this will be reserved for residents only. Thank for commenting
Hi Lance
Just signed up today, it looks like a great site. Me & my wife are booking for the 22nd January 2012, staying at the Hotel Mura.
Do you have any information, exact distance to the gondola etc..?
Many thanks
Mike
Hi Mile,
Thank you for your comment. Yes I know Mura well, it generally gets good reviews. It is about 900 metres from gondola and close to plenty of restaurants if you choose to go out in the evenings. However remember you keep the skis at SkiMania shop (BanskoBlog\’s partner for ski hire) which is very close to the gondola so no problem to walk back down the hill in comfortable shoes.
Hi Mike,
Thank you for reading and commenting. Hotel Mura is about 900metres from gondola. This is a rough guess without measuring. More info sent by email.
Hi Mike,
Mura is great. its about 900m to gondola
Great. Thanks a lot.
Hi Lance,
Been to Bansko many times, three of us have apartments at the brilliant Bojurland!. However we are bringing friends with us this time and will need aprox. 25 lift passes. Is it really worth my while trying to buy them in advance do you think?
Cheers for any advice.
HI Clare, I am sending you an email on this question. But yes everyone staying for 6 days and skiing every day will make meaningful savings by pre paying lift passes. Thanks for the question.
Hello Lance, newsletter great and will be really helpful when we visit in August. Just wondered if there was any news about horse-riding possibilities in the area?
Hi Jessica,
A listing of summer activites and contacts for booking will be up soon including the wonderful horse riding excursion. Thank you for subscribing and glad you like the newsletter