I was very aprehensive about my visit to Bansko but what an awesome time I had. We stayed in privately owned appartments and had a private transfer from Sofia to the resort. The transfer company were fantastic and Valentina Heights appartments were top notch. There is alot of building work going on but very little noise. Every building is finished in a great style and when finished it will be fab. The pistes are lovely and wide and lined with trees. The lifts are more than capable of getting everyone up the mountain and the queues are acceptable even on weekends (nothing like the big French resorts). The snow was a little sparse early in the week but after a constant 48 hours of snow the pistes were pure powder and what fantastic skiing we had. Private tuition was great value for money and the instructor was keen to get as much skiing in as possible. Ski rental was good value for money and there is a vast range of places to hire from including top names such as salomon and head. Although it appears that the piste/lifts won't be able to accomodate the potential amount of people the village will hold there is a plan to increase the ski area over one of the adjoining mountains and link the two providing a much wider ski area. This is part of the 5 year development plan.

Apres ski is good. There is a range of place to eat from English food to traditional Bulgarian dishes. The staff are helpful and welcoming. The food is delicious yet inexpensive ( three course meal with wine and water £10 each max). Discos in a number of hotal basements or local clubs are great. The cocktails are pretty good too! Along with that there is bowling, casino, ice skating and a development including shopping centre and cinema is due to be built.

Overall I had a fantastic week skiing and can't wait to return to Bansko next season!

Still being built, will be a ski city in 5 years from now. Although with only 15 runs this will not hold the amoount of people it is trying to attract and this was made clear by the 1 hour queues onto piste. Not much in the way of apre-ski but The Lion bar became are home for the week. Good for intermeidate skiers and boarders.