Bulgaria’s Smaller Mountain Resorts Offer More Affordable Options for Skiers
BalkanTravellers.com
Thesе smaller mountain centres includе Beklemeto, Uzana and the Chumerna mountain station in the central part of the Balkan Mountain range, Kom Peak in the western Balkan Mountain, Malyovitsa, the Rila Lakes, Panichishte and Semkovo in the Rila Mountain and Purshevitsa in the Vratsa Balkan Mountain range.
Unlike Bulgaria’s three largest winter resorts – Bankso, Pamorovo and Borovets, the prices for the use of the ski runs, lifts and other services at the smaller resorts are low, with passes prices between 3 and 20 leva (around 1.50 and 10 euro).
Although the ski runs at the latter are much shorter, it is expected that this year they will attract many tourists who are trying to save money in the financial crisis, the horemag.bg website reported today.
The BNCO survey, carried out as part of a project by the European Consumer Centre in Bulgaria, gathered current information on the conditions and prices of all ski resorts in Europe before this year’s ski season begins.
According to the publication, the survey outlined several factors regarding Bulgaria’s ski resorts for the 2009-2010 season, including: a significant increase in the artificial snow-making machines, which guarantees for a longer season and against reservation cancellations due to a lack of snow; although the biggest resorts of Bankso, Pamorovo and Borovets have not yet announced their prices for this year, it is expected that they will not be higher than last season; most resorts offer discounts of around 10 to 15 per cent from the pass prices when ski equipment is rented.
In its report, BNCO also recommended that all resorts include in the price of the pass an insurance covering expenses in case of accidents in the mountain. Currently, the resorts that do this are Bansko, Borovets, Vitisha, Dobrinishte and Pamorovo. Separately, the insurance costs around 15 leva (around 7.50 euro), but it covers all accidental expenses, which are usually very high, such as searches for lost people, first aid and search actions in cases of avalanches.
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excellent smugs
