We stayed with Piste and Peaks in Chalet Diana for our 2nd holiday in Bansko and it was better than ever.
You can see big improvements in Bansko after just one year and the slopes were very well looked after. The lessons with Ski Mania were excellent - the instructors were great with the kids and they really improved over the week.
The food was great (I think they won an award for the cooking) and the sauna was just what we needed at the end of the day!
I think we are going to join them in Italy next year but we'll be back to Bansko for another low cost ski holiday with the kids very soon.
www.pisteandpeaks.com
Google map: bit.ly/cfhIhB
+44 (0)161 408 2089
Bulgaria is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination and a number of big and small hotels are opening every year. On HotelBeam Bulgaria list there are a number of independent hotels which can be contacted directly which is good because some of these hotels are small and locally managed and are not well connected to travel agencies.
Chalet Soltir is run by an English couple. The house is 150 years old and completely renovated. It's fully catered chalet sleeping 12 people with all the mod cons and luxury you would get in a French chalet but at half the price. Our holiday was the best we had for years. The snow was great and the kids loved it.
www.whitechaletsbansko.com
00359 895 386 856
Bansko is a popular ski resort in the winter but in the summer it's even better. As well as a fantastic jazz festival, you can get out of the town and explore stunning countryside.
We will never forget standing on a remote hillside in the evening sun at the Belitsa Bear Park, where rescued dancing bears are able to live in semi-wild enclosures.
One way of accessing such sites in spite of the different alphabet and uncertain public transport is through Jordan Pankov who grew up in the area and oozes knowledge about local culture and nature. He runs day trips for small groups that you can tailor to suit you.
Check out the tour pages on banskoservices.moonfruit.com
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
Search Been there
