Just 52,000 euros for a Bansko Bolthole

Bansko is without doubt Bulgaria’s number one ski resort and is the longest established of Bulgaria’s three (Borovets and Pamporovo complete the trio). Bansko has the best snow record and the longest ski season (15 Dec - 15 May) and over the past two years, 35 million euros have been invested into the resort to being it bang up-to-date and in comfortable competition with its western European counterparts. So much so that Bansko has recently been voted Europe's most improved ski resort in the first Great Skiing and Snowboarding Guide 2006 Awards.

Set at the foot of the majestic Pirin Mountain range, just 160km from the capital, Sofia, Bansko, which was one of the bidding cities to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, has a lot to offer. The skiing area is at an altitude of 2,000 to 2,600 metres and marked ski runs cover a total area of 65km. Snow conditions are generally excellent, but can be enhanced courtesy of the 44 snow cannons should the need arise. Beginners and experts are well catered for, as are snowboarders who flock from all over the world to enjoy the first snowboard park in the Balkans.

As all good resorts, Bansko has a vibrant yet elegant night scene. Traditional Bansko taverns, ‘Mehana’, exude charm and atmosphere offering fantastic cuisine, a good selection of fine Bulgarian wines and more often than not, live folk music. The more energetic can frequent clubs and discos until the early hours.

Being a traditional working town with a population in the region of 10,000, rather than a purpose-built resort, there is rich heritage and architecture to explore, even when the last of the snows have melted. This make rental potential a year-round possibility, particularly with the brand new Ian Woosnam Pirin Golf & Country Club under construction a mere 6km away from the centre of Bansko. The 18-hole course, Spa and Wellness Centre, sports complex and equestrian centre, currently under construction, will dramatically improve summer rental opportunities and add to an already rich array of summer activities in the local area, from hiking and fishing to canoeing and horseriding.

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