Bansko Blog is now live at www.banskoblog.com. After a survey of existing subscribers, the new site is designed to deliver the information anyone interested in Bansko will need.
After 80 posts here, site visitors had steadily climbed to such an extent that a new site with web cams, advanced search facility was required. What's more I needed an easier to read text - so new site has black on white text.
Just since November over 4,000 people have viewed this site from 63 countries. Check out new site with up to date news, tips and reviews here.
Nearly 200 people have joined the site and receive regular updates.
Just click on the logo or click here to go to the new site.
Thank you for making this the biggest Bansko blog on the internet.The online authority for Bansko.
Bansko Blog hits its target of over 200 page views in one day.
With 64 visitors yesterday, this web site broke the 60 visitor per day target early. Read on for why this could be good news for you.
In just six weeks the site has not only grown, but has seen people reading, watching and listening to more and more as the content expands.
Visitors from 51 countries are represented here. Bansko Blog readership stretches around the world. The Top 12 countries are:
UK (53.4%), Greece (14.1%), Bulgaria (11.6%), United States (4.3%), Serbia (4.1%) Romania (3.4%), Macedonia (3.0%), Ireland (1.8%), Israel (1.3%), Germany (1.1%), Russian (1.0%), France (0.9%).
Will this reflect a changing mix in the future of visitors to Bansko? It will be interesting to see. But I predict a sharp rise in Serbian and Romanian visitors to Bansko over the coming months.
Over the last thirty days, 1,098 visitors looked at 2,232 pages and stayed for, on average, exactly 3 minutes. Yesterday saw twelve new email subscribers.
So Thank you for visiting today. Here's to getting the best out of Bansko
The web site's aim is to provide unbiased comment on news and reviews on Bansko. The focus is on recognising the good aspects, but also to uncover the things many don't want you to know.
An extensive read of the articles reveals important information and serves to enhance our Banskoexperience.My special thanks go to all those interviewed on the new audios - and to friends who have provided reviews and information. If you wish to help, do please let me know.
My campaign against "Rip Off Bansko" is now well under way. New visitors are arming themselves with the latest news and techniques to prevent being ripped off. This will help keep the Bansko experience a good one for all.
The site redesign is taking time, but will be worth it. Your comments on this are sought. What would you most like to see? Just comment below, or contact me direct if you prefer.
To celebrate these visitor milestones, I have a huge offer:
For just €25 a two bedroom apartment can be yours for a one week rental. One subscriber wins this offer which is open to all who subscribe by 15th January.
I will match this €25 and donate €50 to a Bulgarian charity. I will announce the offer details tomorrow.
ALL past subscribers are automatically entered.
The lucky winner gets a two bedroom apartment at Mountain Residence 3 for four people for a whole 7 nights.
The draw will be in Bansko, on Saturday 23rd January. It will be videoed to show this offer is conducted with integrity.
Ski conditions are great now with loads of fresh snow. Accommodation prize winner can use their prize from the 26th January!
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; crèches; babysitting; lessons, restaurants and accommodation – hotels, 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.
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