Today's review is of the very special Pirila Hotel. The audio interview is with co owner Dave. Listen to his personal story including why they picked this very special location in Dolno Draglishte, 15 minutes from Bansko.
Audio Summary
The Pirila Hotel must be good as this is where David and Hazel have hosted the majors of Bansko and Razlog have held their parties! Listen here so find out why:
So do listen to the audio and let me know what you think. (Please turn volume up, as its a little quiet at times)
Dave talks about living in Bulgaria, the rare mountain goats, fishing, local village life, traditions and their Friday and Saturday nights dancing. He outlines his eight bedroom hotel, all with ensuite bathrooms, two of which are family rooms, their new swimming pool. Food wise go for traditional Bulgarian or on special order for special steaks, ribs, pasta, Chinese and Indian dishes. Dave asks for just 48 hours notice.
Listen to end of the recording for the amusing true story of a visiting fisherman, rakia, a mistaken bar and a local writer.
Most of all, David and Hazel show a great example of determination and generosity and you'll understand why the locals have taken them to heart.
Local prices (1.5 lev for a beer) and local atmosphere make this a place to either stay or visit when you are in Bansko.
Contact Details: www.pirilahotel.com Sedma Str. Dolno Draglishte Razlog 359 886110971 (English speaking) Bulgaria 359 885199268 (Bulgarian speaking) dave@pirilahotel.com. UK Tel: 00441282 869657
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Yes Brilliantine night club at the Lion Hotel Bansko was the place to meet, drink, dance and, for some, to be seen in. So it was the venue I just had to check up for this students' day special review. Brilliantine is one popular Bansko late night spot to visit in the run up to Bulgaria's famous 8th December annual students day. However, Sofia's Brilliantine bar and club is best known for its often exclusive, and demanding, door policy in Battenberg Square (3 Moskovska Street) in Sofia.
Bansko's Brilliantine is located underneath the Lion Hotel and is a smaller, but nonetheless smart, destination for Bansko's late night party goers.
They say, "if you feel too old, you are too old." But after a while it didn't seem to matter to me. And Friday saw this blog receive viewers from 40 countries, since I installed a counter three weeks ago. So it was time to celebrate this little milestone achievement.
Back to Brilliantine. It's true to say retro music is more widely appreciated by Bulgarians than many other countries. Words for 80's favourites from "Right Said Fred", "Queen" and "Duran Duran" seemed to be universally known.
In Brilliantine, be prepared to pay 10 lev for a drink. As I will reveal in later posts, these sort of prices can now be charged by some of the other, and less upscale establishments. On Saturday night party folk were queuing up to get in at 4.00am - just as we were were leaving the club. So I assume it didn't really get going until about 12:30 ish.
The students day build up in Bansko started Friday the 5th, and continued until departure today. What strikes me, is that the spectacle is the opposite of, not only what you may expect of impoverished credit crunch students, but also of a country whose official average income is about €400 per month!
German car marques such as BMW x5's, Audi Cayenne, and even a few Porsches, demonstrated how the offspring of Bulgaria's 200,000 millionaires like to flash their cash. Like their parents - so conspicuous student wealth abounds.
Dressed in the finest gear you may have been forgiven you were looking at a modeling convention. Why is it Bulgarian students look so different than the spotty, greasy and somewhat rough look I remember from my days?
So there we go - a perfect opportunity to see Bansko at its designer finest. New gear for the girls, and smart new jackets for the guys seemed to be the order of the day and night. Bansko needs a good crowd to fill its venues and the 8th December is one to put in the diary for next year.
Poor skiing conditions at the weekend meant there were not so many bright ski outfits to interfere with the dressed up students during the daytime parade in the old town.A snow storm came in on Sunday - so things are looking up for the ski season.
For great value rooms, very close to gondola click here.
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Well booking a Bansko room cant be hard, can it not? Sometimes the whole job feels like pulling teeth.
Time spent surfing the web, checking availability, checking whether 100 metres to gondola means 1,000 metres, and so on.It can be a painful process.
But like an American burger joint, sometimes there can be just too much choice. Bansko has loads of room options. Don't be a monkey. Read on for my guide on how to successfully find and book the room that satisfies all your requirements.
Quick Economics Lesson
But before I do this, here is my reminder of some school economics.
The world is going through its seismic changes for really one fundamental reason. There is an excess of supply over demand.
This is the real cause, not greedy bankers or government failings. This is the reason millions of people are losing their jobs right now. There is too much supply.
However here is the good news.
When supply increases beyond demand, prices fall. So what has this got to do with booking a room in Bansko? Well, everything really.
Construction Boomand Supply
Over the past six years the huge demand for investment property, primarily from English and Irish investors. It lead to a huge building spree. Whilst many were surprised that so many building licences were granted, the fact is, there are now around 15,000 apartments and studios in Bansko.
Assuming some two and three bedroom apartments, its a fair assumption that there is accommodation, including hotel rooms, for well over 35,000 people in the Razlog Valley.
Well there would be, if they were all available to rent. Some owners don't want to rent, don't want to furnish and some think they can't be bothered to rent out at low rents.
Okay, the message is clear, Bansko now has a huge supply of rooms.
Nobody knows the exact amount of rooms to be supplied - but there seems to be a consensus of this number. So its as good a guess as any.
Factor on the Demand
The next thing to consider is demand. Sometimes relative demand is easy to determine. For example, demand is lot higher over New Year than mid January. But what you need to know is that, whatever time of year, you should be booking your accommodation, or room, at the very lowest price that satisfies your needs.
Prices vary from around five euros to over two hundred euros per night - so you can see this is more complicated than you might believe! There are fabulous prices available out there that many hotels don't want you to know about. More of this next time.
Factors to consider and try and prioritise:
Decide how many there are in your group or family, are there young children?
Decide what you really like. e.g luxury hotel with swimming pool spa, home style, space?
If you are skiing , is being a few minutes walk from gondola an essential requirement?
Do you like to able to walk into the town?
Do you like a chalet atmosphere?
Do you like to stay in?
Do you need to work in your room?
Are you organising a group?
Are you organising a school or society trip?
Are you looking to feel part of a the local scene?
Depending on your answers here, you now need to find the right accommodation that satisfies almost all of your requirements. For the lowest price.
I am going to show you how to do this for Bansko's complex and varied accommodation scene.
So check this out in part two next month. But I am going to give subscribers a head start, by sending this out to you by email on Tuesday. So if you enjoyed reading this article, then subscribe to my newsletter and be first to learn how to get the best out of Bansko.
As always, I value your comments. So whether you are a Banskoresident, regular visitor, property owner, hotel manager or potential visitor please comment on what you consider important right now. Click here for more about me.
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).
Mountain insurance is included in the the price
From 01.12.2008 to 23.12.2008, and from 05.01.2009 to 31.03.2009
Period
Adults
Children up to 12 years old
1 day
50,00
30,00
2 days
97,00
59,00
3 days
147,00
89,00
4 days
194,00
117,00
5 days
242,00
146,00
6 days
283,00
171,00
9 days
393,00
237,00
13 days
545,00
329,00
1/2 day after 12:30 pm
37,00
23,00
Gondola lift (both ways)
18,00
14,00
Season Ski Pass
760,00
560,00
from 24.12.2008 to 04.01.2009
Period
Adults
Children up to 12 years old
1 day
55,00
30,00
2 days
107,00
60,00
3 days
162,00
90,00
4 days
213,00
118,00
5 days
266,00
147,00
6 days
311,00
172,00
9 days
432,00
239,00
13 days
599,00
332,00
1/2 day after 12:30 pm
41,00
23,00
Gondola lift (both ways)
20,00
16,00
Season Ski Pass
760,00
560,00
from 01.04.2008 to 30.04.2009
Period
Adults
Children up to 12 years old
1 day
40,00
24,00
2 days
78,00
48,00
3 days
118,00
72,00
4 days
156,00
94,00
5 days
194,00
117,00
6 days
227,00
137,00
9 days
315,00
190,00
13 days
437,00
264,00
1/2 day after 12:30 pm
30,00
19,00
Gondola lift (both ways)
16,00
13,00
Season Ski Pass
760,00
560,00
2008/09 season starts:
1st December 2008, ends 30th April 2009
Children: Aged up to 12 years
Mountain insurance included
Exchange rates:
1 BGN = 0.51 EUR
1 BGN = 0.37 GBP
1 BGN = 0.74 USD
*VAT tax included
Benefit from a weak UK Pound against the euro. For the lowest price accommodation by the lift go to:
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Grand Montana maisonette apartment in Bansko is the the subject of today's audio interview.
The owner, Richard Zeronian, discusses his desirable two bedroom maisonette apartment and how its own private tower jacuzzi has been a worthwhile addition.
Richard talks about himself, his boarding and skiing and what Bansko means to him these days.
When not there he rents it out. So do contact Bansko Blog to book the few dates this is still available for the ski season.
Its always good to hear owner's enthusiasm -especially when its combined with experience and realism. Check out the audio podcast here:
Often there's no one better to review an apartment than an owner, and Richard gives his personal perspective on what it means to him. Al who stay in thie top floor maisonette will enjoy a very special Bansko experience.
Contact for availability. Week rental prices from £285.
Please feel free to comment on this blog or the audio podcast with Richard.
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Greek skiers and snowboarders are surfing the web for Bankso accommodation bargains. There are early signs of Greeks planning even more trips to Bansko than last season.
This Bansko Blog has seen Greek web surfers, second only to UK surfers, and in recent weeks an increase in room enquiries.
In previous years, there were complaints that the resort was too much of a building site. But this year many of the buildings and roads are finished. But is this the reason?
Prices Down
My guess is that the increase in demand is down to low Bulgaria prices.
Euros in pockets mean that Bansko offers Greeks accommodation often priced in GB Pounds due to the many UK property owners. This means that often rooms are over 20% cheaper than last year. With so many rooms in Bansko - shopping around on the net is making a ski break more affordable than staying in Greece!
Then of course those Bulgarian Levs mean cheaper in resort drinks and food compared to a typical Greek resort.
Bankso's Reputation
Some Greek web surfers reported that they view Bansko as a resort only now ready to offer quality facilities. They have heard that the huge construction site feel is now largely historic and much more of the resort feels ready.
Bansko in so close to Greece. Under three hours from Thessaloniki, Greece's second city.
With televised ladies super G from Bansko, there is positive news. Much needed amongst the sea of gloom right now.
The official opening of the Bansko ski season will take place on Saturday, 29th of November. World famous skiers will show their skills on “Alberto Tomba” ski slope. (www.visitbulgaria.net)
The olympic champions Hanni Wenzel and Andreas Wenzel, the world downhill champion Harti Weirather, the Italian ski legend Gustavo Thoeni and the multiple winner of the World Cup, Marc Girardelli will be the participants in the ski demonstrations.
The show of the masters will start at 12.30. The festival program will go on at 4.00pm with a concert of Romanetsa and Enchev, and the stars from Music Idol ІІ – Nora, Toma, Yasen and Denitsa. The stage will be situated next to the first station of the cabin lift.
Snow conditions are looking good.
Its snowing with more snow on its way. So if you weren't sure - now is the time to book your Bansko trip.
Why not get some friends together? Book cheap in UK pounds! Just 1.18 euros = £1
Mountain Residence 3 is like your best friend. And like your best friend, Mountain Residence 3 beckons you to go back and see and stay there.
Click on play below for audio version of this review:
It may be because its just a few minutes walk from the gondola. Or that the Happy End Bar and Pub also a few minutes walk away. Just look how convenient this accommodation is.
Or the fact that the ice rink is just a minute away along with shops, ski/board hire, bars, mehanas and cafes.
Or possibly because the apartments to rent here are large, and very well furnished.
Or the spacious bedrooms, with plenty of storage. Or the contemporary Bulgarian art works and photographs.
But most of all its a place to stay that comes recommended by previous guests. Why is this accommodation deal unbeatable? Quite simply we want you to come back again, and again like others.
That is why we guarantee that if you find something of similar size and location we will match the price! Can't get fairer than that.
Imagine such comfort and convenience at such a low price. You can afford to come to Bansko and stay here.
Price from a genuine €29PER TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT, NOT PER PERSON. No extras. No catches.
In fact, MY RECENT INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED that a two bedroom here is less than a one bedroom at some others which are over 900 metres away from the gondola!
satellite TV - English, Greek, German, French and Bulgarian channels
DVD player
kettle, toaster, iron and ironing board
cooker, microwave, fridge/freezer
bedroom 1: one double bed can be separated to two singles
Not sure yet about Bankso? Then check out this video:
bedroom 2: two single beds
sitting Room: large with double sofa bed, sofa
kitchenette, oven, hob
dining Room table - seats six
bathroom - shower, wc
broadband wired internet in sitting room and bedroom
lounge seating for 5
linen and towels provided
own balcony
apartments sleeps 6 max (£30 pppw supplement for more than 4 persons)
mountains views
quiet building with separate entrances
massage
gym
sauna
steam room
jacuzzi and plunge pool
safe
ski locker located in basement down stairs are convenient to use.
underground parking places.
Mountain Residence 3
Guaranteed Lowest Prices for 2 Bedroom Apartment
From 1st May 2009
1 to 2 people: €29 per night
3 to 4 people: €34 per night
RESERVE NOW: NO UPFRONT PAYMENT REQUIRED
OFFER MUST END SOON (For all bookings from 1st May 2009) (CLEANING INCLUDED)
Extra person on sofa bed €9 per night.To book just email me your dates and pay on arrival.
I GUARANTEE To Match The Price If You Find Cheaper
If you find an apartment on the web that is more than 80m2 gross area in size within 300m from the Gondola Station, built within the last five years that’s cheaper than this and includes cleaning - then I will immediately refund the difference. Just notify me within 24 hours of booking.
No Catches
Same No Quibble Price MatchGuarantee For One week Bookings For Rest Of 08/09 Ski Season
enjoy your stay with full in resort representative on hand
No smoking. No pets.
Guests Comments:
"Hi Lance, Have just got back - all was great the apartment was lovely, great position and just what we needed." Mark Dudley, Gloucs. February 2009
"Your apartment is excellent and Mountain Residence 3 has great positioning indeed! I'll recommend it to my friends.....
One of the best part about it is the positioning: it's 3 minutes walk from the gondola, 5 minutes walk from the center of the town.
Emil Comsea (pictured in Bansko), Bucharest, Romania. January 2009
...We had a perfect holiday in Mountain Residence 3.The 2 Bed apartment was very comfortable and spacious.
Being so close to the gondola meant a stress free start to the day and at the end of day jacuzzi was just what was needed to unwind.
Thanks for all the info and look forward to staying again in 2009. Best Regards." Patrick Bell pictured left, Manchester, UK (April 2008)
"great week in Bansko. we even got there in time to buy lift passes and hire skis! The ski instruction was tops and Mark even got down the tomba black run whilst i finally got to do a tandem paraglide - amazing.... arrive with friends next year. thanks again for your apartment which was just right." Jane Sipson & family, Wandsworth, London, UK (March 08)
"thanks very much, everything was very comfortable and staff were helpful" (October 08) Simeon Kristoff, Ealing, London, UK
"really clean much bigger than it looks. thanks for the welcome beer" (December 08) John O'Shea, Dublin, Ireland
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Balkania Travel have just called me to let me know of a great £79 flight offer which will not last long.
This is a genuine direct flight offer on Bulgaria Air.
You get assigned seating, free baggage, free non and alcoholic drinks and free food. You also fly on BG Air's BRAND NEW A319 AIRBUS AIRCRAFT.
I have found Bulgaria Air to be very reliable and using the new Terminal 2 in Sofia makes it a generally a good flight experience.
Three Easy Steps for your ski trip:
1/ Call Vania at Balkania Travel Tel: 0044(0) 207 636 8338 2/Quote their Offer Code: BB11
Note that you may find not all flights are £79, some are £89 BUT all will sell out fast for peak February weeks.
I have used Bulgaria Air a lot and its a very reliable service for taking on and off on time. The in flight service is much improved on board from three years ago.
If you hear of good flight offers please let me know so others can benefit. Its now the time to get the cost of our skiing down!
UPDATE: ITS SNOWING!! 8 days until season starts
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Hello, my name is Lance Nelson. Thank you for visiting my Bansko Blog. Please click on play above for audio version.
I was born in 1965 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
My parents, originally from the south of England, moved up to Huddersfield in West Yorkshire in the 50’s so my father could be near work.
I'm the youngest of four children, and fortunate to be have been taken on family ski holidays from such a young age.
But less lucky with the "hand me down" ski clothes!
My father got the skiing bug. So our week abroad was in the winter, usually Easter, for a weeks skiing.
My first skiing experience was in Obergurgl, Austria – aged 5. Leather lace up boots, with ankle moving technique, is a world I remember. A far cry from the carving skis and boards we enjoy today.
Not long after came those high plastic boots, sure to bruise your shins to painful blue. Some of you may recall these days. Ski clothing was just ski pants, goggles and socks. The quilted thin everyday anoraks seemed perfectly okay for Easter temperatures, I think.
In the 80's the high street C&A department store sold skiers the bright ski suits. Those days saw our family ski trips working their way around a diverse range of Austrian, Italian and French ski resorts.
My memories of these annual family ski holidays are the finest. And skiing still, for me, often brings back those great memories.
Recently it was the evocative smell of wood fires in the Bansko town that prompted me to remember past trips
But now, like so many others, I enjoy that warm healthy glowing feeling at the end of the day on the slopes. My often aching knees never diminishing the fact that it was all worth it.
Twelve years ago, I started running an annual “lads” ski trip. EasyJet low cost flights from the UK had made this possible. The idea came about as I realised I was quite good at organising others. And that, like me, there were plenty of friends, and friends of friends, wanting something to look forward to after Christmas. It also enabled me to guide opinion on which resort to try.
A long weekend in January was the norm. Resorts close to Geneva airport such as Verbier, Portes Du Soleil resorts of Les Gets, Avoriaz and especially the Chamonix valley were the usual favourites.
It was in Chamonix that off piste skiing was introduced to me by a rather ambitious French ski guide. For the first time in a while, I was getting down stuff I wouldn’t have even dreamt of. That's the beauty of going skiing. You progress.
More recently, I have been having some less than wondrous attempts at snowboarding. The jury is out on this one.
My other main interest is paragliding. Having been flying since 1990. Taking off on a wide range of mountain and hills around the world, including Sopot in Bulgaria. I'm still always checking the weather for a good opportunity to go flying. Here’s a picture flying in June 2008, near Builth Wells, Wales (UK). Aside from paragliding, I enjoy mountain biking - if I get time.
My work career has been in banking and finance. Mainly management and sales, risk and business development roles.
I worked for divisions of Royal Bank of Scotland for ten years as well as EMC (IT), and GE Capital.
If you’re still with me, then I’ll bring this right up to present. I've been coming to Bansko since 2004 and this blog was borne out of a need to show pictures of my apartment to skiing friends who were looking to go skiing. But they asked me questions, then others did too.
Questions such as how to get there; airport transfers; tuition; cr̬ches; babysitting; lessons, restaurants and accommodation Рhotels, chalets, apartments. I also wanted to ensure visitors got the best out of Bansko so I decided to share my experiences of the area and the services I have used on this blob.
I have also been fortunate to travel around Bulgaria at various times of the year and enjoy a great network of fellow skiers and paragliding friends to help. But there has been a lot of trial and error along the way. So, after some positive comments, and also some requests from Bansko property owners to rent their apartment's too, I kept this blog going.
There are many businesses in Bankso visiting this site. Some have asked me to review their services - which I do so when I am able to.
These are recessionary times and, in the same way some of us are adjusting our shopping to Aldi or Lidl budget supermarkets, we are also looking at other cheap ski resorts and summer mountain resorts. Quite simply, we are changing our habits very quickly. We are now motivated to find low prices and value in places we previously would not have considered.
So it the same with skiing destinations, they evolve over time. Bansko's time has arrived.
Bansko and Bulgaria are perceived as cheap by some. It is quite cheap, especially if you enjoy a drink or two. But my goal is for visitors to return in the belief it offers great value for money.
Bansko does deliver for "price conscious" tourists. That’s often why they came in the first place. But its value and service that brings us back to a place.
Ensuring value is this blogs theme. With visitors arriving from all over Europe, more choice and more facilities will continue to enhance Bansko's unique appeal.
But things can always be better. Bansko changes so I aim to give realistic and timely advice on what I experience, and what I learn. Regular Bansko web sites are often out of date. Here I can pass on those changes quickly.
Expect to see news and reviews on child care, transfers, bars, clubs, events, activities, services, ski lifts. You will also get some guest interviews from residents, tourists and local service providers.
My desire is to see that the tourist comes first. If they come and enjoy the Bansko and Bulgarian experience, then I know they will most likely return again soon.
If you are looking at Bansko for the first time, I hope this blog helps you. However, to get the most benefit you need to receive updated infomation along with related deals that help to drive maximum value from your time in Bansko and Bulgaria.
So do register your name and email on this blog now. I’ll also send you regular reviews and tips - not always shown here as sometimes they can be a little controversial.
Sign up now and you will receive useful info straight away - including my new report in written and audio form, "7 Little Known Ways To Get The Best Out Of Bansko" all for free.
This is an opt in email system. I guarantee no spam. Your email will never be sold or rented, and you can opt out receiving Bansko newsletter - whenever you like. Finally, please can you comment? Good and bad experiences. Email me onlancenelson1@gmail.com. If you like what you read, please pass it on.
Dave talks about living in Bulgaria, the rare mountain goats, fishing, local village life, traditions and their Friday and Saturday nights dancing.
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Local prices (1.5 lev for a beer) and local atmosphere make this a place to either stay or visit when you are in Bansko.
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