http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33676 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33676 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33675 I was there this weekend and we stayed at a guest house, where we paid 20 levas (10 euros) per bed for one night, which is cheap, considering we are in the middle of the ski season. It was an amazing weekend, the weather was great, it was sunny, there was a lot of snow, all the slopes were fabulous.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33675 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32891 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32891 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32466 One particularly impressive area was the broad meanders of the untamed Veleka River or the old forest, called the ‘Living Museum’ for its ancient trees, at Kondolovo.
Local culture is still strong, though threatened by abandonment. I attended a chapel blessing, involving much dancing and eating kurban, a local speciality – a stew made from a sacrificial lamb.
Strandja is easy to reach by flights to Burgas and hiring a car. I was superbly guided by Anja and Dave from VisitStrandja and they could speak Bulgarian, English, Dutch and German!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32466 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28158 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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28158 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24228 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24228 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22746 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22746 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22731
We missed out on the snow, but enjoyed hiking and mountain biking around Lake Iskar. Great for thrill-seekers, the owners also organise wakeboarding, waterskiing, sailing, and fishing on the lake, and horse riding or off-road motor biking.

Despite the rugged setting, surrounded by acres of flora and fauna, the rooms are surprisingly stylish and large apartments.

The restaurant will even prepare a packed lunch for a day in the great outdoors, and the swimming pool and jacuzzi are a welcome respite after a hard day's hike!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22731 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21452 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21452 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21451 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21451 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21169 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21169 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21074 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21074 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20614 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20614 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18350
Oh, and did I mention the best view of the Yantra gorge in the city, all next door to one of the best small hotel restaurants in Bulgaria?]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18350 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18061 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18061 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18060 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18060 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17379 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17379 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16391 The downstairs basement bar has a set of decks in the corner, permanently prepared for impromptu parties…that seem to take place nightly.
For a bunch of arty ravers, they put together a cracking continental(ish) breakfast, served in a basement room covered in top notch wall art.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16391 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16360 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16360 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16357
Excellent, genuine service, beautiful beaches, none of the planning deficit seen around other resorts. Just 18km from Varna for excellent shopping and fashionable cafes, nightlife, etc.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16357