Mountain Reflection On Gondola

You can use the gondola lift to take your bike up ( the only one open). 5 lev each way. Here are the 2011 gondola opening times:

WEEKENDS:

In August ONLY gondola lift operate all day at weekends 8.30 to 4.30pm

WEEKDAYS:

1. 1st July to 31st September:

Monday to Friday at just set departure times:

GO UP:         8.00am and 12pm

GO DOWN: 1pm and 4.40pm

29th May to 30th June; and 1st October to 30th November:

Monday to Friday at just set departure times:

GO UP: 8.00am

GO DOWN:  4.40pm

INSURANCE:  You are not insured with lift ticket in summer.

All times are outside ski season. No lift prices yet for 11/12 season… or definite news on new lifts.

Some Alternative Hiking Locations

There is an excellent lift up to the Seven Rila Lakes from Panichishte. For article and video click here.

Also for hikers, mountain bikers and paragliding go to Sopot, on the Stara Planina. A single chair lift takes you high up, this beautiful area.

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Mountain Reflection On Gondola: late March 2010

Bansko lift pass prices 2011. A day rate of 55 lv for most of the season. 45 lv per day until 20th December and from 1st April 2011.

UPDATE: Lift pass prices for 2012 are rumoured to be the same as last year. For 2012 six day LIFT pass discount pre book now and avoid the queue: Ski Packages for more.

This year, we have a new six man lift, and expected to be open by the New Year, a new four man lift on the ever popular Plato ski area. A fabulous improvement. Well done Ulen. 75km of runs, 27km of lifts and 24,500 people/hour capacity.

Seems like a 2010/11 season pass gets you in the priority (VIP) lane for the gondola and guests of the Kempinski can pay 70lv per day for this priority fast lane. I think this is a smart idea. Let’s see how it works in practice.

Check out full prices below. A Season lift pass is a wallet emptying 980 leva — but gets you in the fast lane. Sounds good. If you plan around 20 days or more of Bansko skiing this season, then investing in a season ticket makes sense – saves time.

Lift Pass Tickets: Buy lift pass at gondola KIOSK. Open Thursday to Saturday between08:30 and 23:00 and Sunday to Wednesday 08:30 to 15:30. Digital photo taken at booth. You can buy your pass anytime the previous day for the next day. You can also buy your lift pass for the following day from Maxsport in Sofia. I have been critcial on the lift pass kiosk times.

This change is a big improvement for so many visitors. Well done Ulen. Please note that in resort lift passes include mountain insurance (prepaid passes do not). Please purchase full travel insurance before travelling to Bansko. Still at least 20% of skiiers are without insurance. It’s not worth the risk.

Now I know this is a bit dull to mention, and I am the last one to want to take away the pleasure of your favourite beer, but you should know that your insurance is invalid if you drink alcohol on the mountain. Read the small print of your ski insurance policy and please then comment below on what you find. Now the GOOD NEWS… the prepay deal here with BanskoBlog.com 20% discount off in resort ski /board hire Pay in UK Pounds or EUROS credit/debit card via secure paypal. I work with BanskoSkiMania in Bansko, small class sizes (although average is five, but may be higher is peak periods) and professional instruction… this ski and snowboard school is recommended by many. Located just 50m from the main gondola lift.

Gondola Base Station

Leave your skis nowboards and boots at the shops at the end of your day on the slopes. All equipment is either new for the 2011 season or just one season old. which is either this season or last. Free service of skis between rental, including sharp edges and hot waxing. Guaranteed instruction. Click ski packages for more. This deal is only at prepaid price. Four Steps To Book Your Discounted Ski Package

1. subscribe here at BanskoBlog.com, and attached will be a SKI PACKAGE form to fill in with prices and email back to me
2. you will then be instructed to pay BanskoBlog.com by credit/debit card via secure PAYPAL (or call or email ccard details)
3. you receive your reference number and spreadsheet marked as paid.

Bansko Lift Pass Prices 10/11 from 01.12.2010 – to 20.12.2010 inclusive and from 01.04.2011 – to 17.04.2011 inclusive

from 20.12.2010 – to 31.03.2011  inclusive

Ski passes for guests of the Kempinski Hotel

All ski passes grant access to the gondola’s fast lane

Children – up to 12 years The season pass grants access to all lifts’ fast lane and isn’t a subject to other price reductions Mountain insurance included (I recommend you buy your own ski insurance before travel). In insurance not included in prepay lift passes.

Exchange rates

Value For Money?  The UK’s Post Office survey in 2010 put Bansko at the top for cheapest/best value skiing in Europe. However, there are no family or midweek deals (yet)

A Bansko High Speed Quad Chair Lift

Here is my analysis: If you add up the approximate total cost for a family of four taking a ski holiday in a large two bedroom apartment including accommodation, transfer, lift pass, food, beer, and wine. you still get change out of EUR 1,600.  How? EUR 400  flights (EUR 100 each) EUR 400 — for 2 bed apartment ‚EUR 630 for 4 lift passes (2 adult s + 2 children) EUR 160  for food and wine (eating in + sandwiches for lunch) TOTAL: EUR 1,590 And for partying skiers, where the night life involves drinking and clubs, then the savings on a night out really mount up compared to most of the Alps. In the French and Swiss Alps (and much of the USA) a large  beer is EUR 9 compared to, typically, around 3 leva (EUR 1.5 approx) in ski season in Bansko. But can be a lot less. Try the Peshterite (just off the ski road) at 1.5BGN for a large Pirinsko, the local’s (and many visitors) choice brew. For smarter bars and clubs expect 5 lev (EUR 2.5). Many are less, such as the the excellent new for 2011 season: 1 EUR at the Ti Bar (near Vila Roka).

Finally, do please comment. What do you think of the 2010/11 lift pass prices? Is the priority queue working? Will you be investing in a season ticket to get that priority fast lane? Do sign up for nresletter as we’ll be reporting how this is working in practice.

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Well given that ski pass or lift prices in Bansko is a rather dry topic, I thought a Bansko podiom dancer might brighten up this post.

Bansko has received criticism for 70km of runs attracting a 50 leva (€25 approx) price per day lift pass. So here’s my take. It is too much. BUT I think visitors will be pleased as punch to pay this when more lifts open.

When will this be?

Who knows.

But I’m sure we’ll get more lifts in a year or two. Hopefully before I need glucosomine extra strength – just to walk out onto the gondola. Well here’s to more new lifts. And as the lift system is still new, it’s probably a fair deal.

Here are the prices until 5th April. They then go 10 leva per day cheaper from 5th April.

from 01.12.2008 to 23.12.2008, and from 05.01.2009 to 31.03.2009

from 01.04.2008 to 30.04.2009

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Bansko Lift Pass Prices are detailed here. A one day adult pass is 50lev from 5th Jan to 31st March and 55 lev 24th December to 4th January and 40lev 1st April to 30th April.

Discounts for multiple days, children and season (just 760 levs or €380 approx).

From 01.12.2008 to 23.12.2008, and from 05.01.2009 to 31.03.2009

from 24.12.2008 to 04.01.2009

from 01.04.2008 to 30.04.2009

2008/09 season starts:

Children: Aged up to 12 years

Mountain insurance included

Exchange rates:

*VAT tax included

Benefit from a weak UK Pound against the euro. For the lowest price accommodation by the lift go to:

http://banskoaccommodation.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-mountain-residence-3-in-bansko.html

What do you think? Please comment.

If you enjoyed this article, and would like to receive more like it, then simply register for regular emails.

You’ll also receive the new guide to the little known ways of getting the best out of Bansko. This is essential for 2008/2009 ski season as so much is new and there are places to avoid.

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