FAQ’s: Ski/Board Hire, Lessons, Lift Passes & Transfers

I receive a lot of Bansko questions relating to lift passes, ski and snowboard hire, ski school, private lessons and transfers. Please read these FAQ’s first — then, if your question is not answered, then feel free to contact us. Much appreciated, thank you.

• Please read these FAQ’s before sending us your question. Thank you.

May I store my skis and boots overnight in the ski shop?

• Yes, you may store your ski or snowboard boots and your own boots, your hire. skis/snow boards and poles.
• Storage is free.
• Boot drying is free

May I swap skis or boots during the rental period?

• Yes, this service is free of charge

What are advanced skis and snowboards?

• These are skis for intermediates skiers upwards.
• They are stiffer and more responsive.
• The advanced range includes freestyle twin tip skis.
• You need advanced skis to really learn how to carve (for skiing) well.
• We have twin tipped snowboards, select advanced snowboards.
• Advanced boots are from Head, Lange and others. Almost all are new.
• Advanced skis from from Rossignol, Head (SLX AND GLX), Volkl, Salomon, Dynastar and others

Where is your ski & snowboard shop in Bansko?

• BanskoBlog partners exclusively with SkiMania. Two large shops by the main traffic lights.
• 92 Pirin Street, Bansko.
• 50 metres from gondola building entrance. You can’t miss them. Map on ski packages page. Map in booking notes.

Am I safe paying online?

• UPDATE: 12th October – we are moving all bookings to MyPOS
• We have also used PayPal til then.
• Our privacy policy is that we never store your credit card details. Your order is processed entirely within PayPal.

  Do I need a PayPal account?

• UPDATE: Bookings process by MyPOS a leading payments provider.
• No, you do not need a PayPal account to pay
• Follow the instruction on the payment request when completing the form
• PayPal accepts most Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards and American Express.
• Choose to pay in €EUR or £UK at check out.

  What is your Privacy Policy?

• Privacy Policy: we do not store credit card details; nor do we share, sell or rent customer details with any third parties.

What is The Happiness Guarantee?

• Applies to lessons from our partners, skimania.
• If you are not genuinely not happy with your ski/board instructor, then tell the manager the same day, and you will receive another like for like lesson for FREE.
• You can change your skis and boots to another model of the same price brand, or lower price band, as many times as you wish
• If cancellation is due to airline flight cancellation, leading you to cancel your holiday, then 100% refund. You must advise us before day of hire/lessons
• If pregnancy prevents you from traveling to Bansko you receive a 95% refund of monies paid for ski/snowboard hire and lessons
• We are unable to refund monies paid for lift passes either before travel or for any unused portion of the lift pass
• Happiness guarantee does not offer a cash refund.

What if I have a problem with the online booking form? 

• Use pop up help form on banskoblog.com, or email orders@banskoblog.com or call +359 892 348600. You may also send a message on https://www.facebook.com/banskoblog

What ski and snowboard brands do you stock?

• All hire equipment is manufactured by recognised brands such as Head, Rossignol, Salomon, Volkl, Atomic, Burton, Fischer. All are premier brands.

Do the ski instructors speak my language?

• All ski instructors speak English, Russian and Bulgarian.  Some speak Greek and French too (notify us in advance please if French or Greek required)

At what time do lessons start and end?

• Morning:         10:55 -13:00
• Afternoon:      14:00-16:00    Both for 2 hours each session.

• 2 hours is half day always starting at 10:55 (arrive at 10:55 to allow time to be allocated to the most suitable class for your ability)
• 4 hours is full day

Where do we meet for lessons?

• At Banderishka Poliana by the big PISTE MAP;  i.e. at the top of the gondola lift walk straight ahead.
• Skimania will point this location out to you in the shop

Are all your ski instructors properly qualified?

• Yes, all instructors are ISIA qualified.

When do I receive my booking reference number?

• Check your email — and your spam folder for an email from orders at banskoblog.com
• Your reference number is inserted into your booking form and sent to you immediately after your order is placed. Please print this out, or have ready on your phone, and take to Skimania
• Your transfer booking contact and telephone number are sent to you in your confirmation.
• There is no need to reconfirm

Cancellation policy without insurance

• If cancellation is due to airline flight failure (insolvency) leading you to cancel your holiday then 90% refund is due
• Lessons and hire. 80% refunded up to 7 days before start. No refund within 7 days. No refund for unused lessons.
• No refund or transfer if you are late for your lesson
• Cancellations to be notified by email before hire date.
• We refund monies within seven working days of receipt of your email. We will confirm receipt of your email within two working days.
• We are unable to refund for missed planes, visa issues, illness or any other reason.

Cancellation policy with insurance

Tick the ski hire and lessons insurance option in the booking form and you will receive a 100% refund

Lesson cancellation policy

• If you miss or cancel your lesson time allocated, you are not due a refund
• If you miss a lesson due to injury, you are not due a refund
• If you need to change your time of lessons, skimania are under no obligation to do this and you may lose your payment.
• Skimania take no responsibility for your delay

Lift closure

• If lifts are closed fully, or partially, there is no refund. Please be insured for such situations. 

Who are we?

• BanskoBlog bookings are run by Zavedenia.bg Ltd
• For more go to https://banskoblog.com/about.
• SkiMania established since 2003
• Since 2008 years Lance Nelson has been providing trusted and respected information on banskoblog.com.
• Bansko Blog: 30,000+ readers in ski season per month.
• Bansko Blog 350,000+ individuals visit the blog and app every per year
• Bansko Blog: 1,000,000+ page views per year.
• Bansko Blog App (it’s free) for iphone, ipad and ipod touch and Android 400,000+downloads since launch

Who provides the ski and snowboard hire and lessons?

• BanskoSkiMania. They have been trading since 2003.
• Your contract for hire and lessons is with them.
• Your payment is to them

How do I book my ski/snowboard hire & lessons?

• Follow the instructions on banskoblog.com: Ski Packages and complete online form
• Register for newsletter on banskoblog.com for more your discount code, info on Bansko and much more
• Complete the form with what you need, make payment via MyPos credit/debit card. VISA & MASTERCARD cards accepted.
• Within 48 hours you will receive payment confirmation and reference number/voucher in four days.

Do lift passes include piste insurance?

• Yes they do, but it is essential you take out adequate ski holiday insurance
• Off piste skiing and snowboarding are often excluded on policies. Read the terms carefully
• NOTE: The gondola medical centre will charge you for xrays and certain treatments. These are not covered by the insurance included in your lift pass.

Do I need medical insurance in Bulgaria?

• Yes, it is required by law

How do I book my ski package?

• Go to the ski packages page on banskoblog.com for the online form
• Add email: orders at banskoblog.com to your contacts to ensure email does not go to spam

Can I book using a manually system to complete?

• Please complete the online form.
• For groups of 12 persons please email: orders at banskoblog.com

How do I pay for my ski and snowboard packages?

• via most debit and credit cards, via MyPos / PayPal. It’s secure, quick and easy.

I am a beginner. How many lessons should I book with you?

• It depends on your fitness. If you are very active and fit, you should book full day lessons for first 3 days and half day lessons thereafter.
• If you are not so active normally then consider half day lessons.
• A private 1:1 or a private group is recommended for the quickest possible progression.
• Remember you are on holiday. Make time for a spa, a swim and ice skate and a few nights out. Bansko has plenty to offer the new skiier/snowboarder

How much is a private instructor for two people (or three or four) people?

• Calculate this in the form

• Children under 8, in general, should start skiing first rather than snowboarding.

Should my child have private or group lessons?

• Children from aged 6 can have group lessons. They are great fun. Children under 6 either should attend that kindergarten (book on arrival with Ulen in gondola) or book a private 2 hour lesson (not available New Year or February holidays). They must be aged 5+.

What age can my child learn to ski?

• We suggest children from 6 years old can learn to ski.
• Minimum age for lessons is 6 years

Do you rent helmets?

• Children have free helmet hire.
• Adult helmets available for hire
• Special ladies models available at no extra charge
• To purchase a helmet, try ebay for good deals. Check out top brands like Giro. POC etc. Go for your best fit.

When is the latest I can book before my hire/lessons?

• This is a prepay offer and is available up to three working days before day of hire / lessons / lift pass.
• Hire / lessons / lift pass / transfer are confirmed after payment is received

What happens if I lose or damage hire equipment?

• You are responsible in case of loss of skis.
• Standard skis/snowboard  replacement fee in 500 BGN
• Advanced skis replacement fee is 1,200 BGN
• Please take out travel of general insurance that covers ski theft.
• Option for insurance on booking form
• SkiMania will mend or repair broken or damaged items for an “at cost” fee.

I would like hire and lessons for periods longer than 14 days

• contact orders at banskoblog dot com for a quote

How do I recognise my transfer driver at the airport?

• You will be sent all details 7 days before travelling including transfer English speaking telephone hotline number
• You driver will hold a card with the lead booking name written upon it
• You must have received confirmation from transfer company prior to departure.

When and how do I pay the driver?

• Pay your driver in full in cash (in EUR, BGN or £UK or $US – use xe.com for conversion) for the outward and return transfer on arrival in Bansko

Are  your transfer partner companies vehicles fully licenced and insured?

Can I have my transfer from Sofia city (rather than the airport)?

• Yes, please specify pick up time and hotel/apartment and address in the comments

Can I have my transfer from Plovdiv?

• Yes, please go book this in the transfer only section in the APP

Can I have a transfer from Thessaloniki?

• Yes, costs a little more, but email orders @ banskoblog.com provide all arrival and departure times, dates, number of persons and any skis or snowboards. We will then send you a quote.

What sized vehicle do I need for my transfer?

• The online booking form requests number of bags (including boots and hand luggage), skis/snowboards.
• Larger vehicle required if skis and snowboards being brought.
• Check in baggage also mean a larger vehicle will be required if you are at the maximum for that vehicle.
• We check all orders and will advise if you need a larger vehicle.

How much time should I allow to get to the airport / to Bansko?

• Allow 2 hours 20 minutes hours each way.
• If weather conditions are really poor, then we advise longer.
• Journey time early morning or late evening is 2 hours 20 minutes (without stopping).
• It is 170 km each way from Sofia airport to Bansko
• Your pick up time in Bansko calculated at 4.5 hours before your departure time.

Terms and Conditions Subject To Change Without Notice. We can take no responsibility for the information included here.