Skiers and snowboarders flock to the likes of France, Italy and Switzerland in their thousands each and every year, but the slopes can get crowded and when you consider ski passes, ski equipment hire, accommodation and après ski, prices are far from wallet friendly. If you are a savvy skier however and want to save some money this ski season, why not consider Eastern Europe? Prices are generally much cheaper, there’s awesome post slope entertainment, excellent powder and picture perfect landscapes. To be honest, it’s brilliant across the board so here, in no particular order, are the top 5 ski resorts in Eastern Europe.
Bansko, Bulgaria
Arguably Bulgaria’s premier ski resort, Bansko is the resort that you are most likely to have heard of. It boasts excellent facilities with a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets and set among the stunning Pirin Mountains, the slopes are second to none. The resort sits at an altitude of between 6,500ft and 8,500ft offering wondrous views of town of Bansko and surrounding landscapes. With a variety of pistes suited to all abilities and an acclaimed ski school, it’s a resort that appeals to all ages and abilities with a long ski season, running from December to May each year. Following a busy day on the slopes, you will be spoilt for choice with a range of restaurants, bars and nightclubs to keep you entertained in the evening and the traditional town is great explore both day and night! Combine your visit with a trip to Sofia.
Zabljak, Montenegro
Durmitor National Park is the setting for Zabljak ski resort in Montenegro with the town of the same name being at the highest altitude of any in the Baltic region. Downhill pistes are limited but the area offers plentiful cross country skiing and with a ski school and equipment hire available at very reasonable prices, you can’t go wrong at Zabljak. The ski season here lasts from December through until April.
Poiana Brasov, Romania
Served by Bucharest Airport, the town of Brasov is found in central Romania, with the ski resort of Poiana Brasov adorning the Postavaru Massif. In a stunning natural setting surrounded by coniferous forest it is a firm favourite among Romania’s resort offerings. Here you will find 9 ski slopes which you can enjoy at cheap prices as well as good, modern facilities. The resort remains open year round and enjoys in the region of 120 days of snow each year. This is an ideal resort for beginners and improvers with a nice après ski environment offering a selection of restaurants to suit all tastes.
Zare Lazarevski, Macedonia
Found in the Mavrovo region of Macedonia, the ski resort on the slopes of Bistra Mountain is known as Zare Lazarevski after its founder. Its location is unsurpassed, offering natural beauty under the protection of the national park. Ski lifts have the combined capacity to transport over 6,000 people per hour and with the ski centre having recently benefited from improvements, the facilities are quite good. The surroundings offer a variety of other activities too so non-skiers can still enjoy their time here.
Bovec-Kanin-Sella Nevea, Slovenia
Found in Soca Valley, Bovec ski resort is great to visit if you wish to combine your trip with a bit of local sightseeing, for the area is a particularly beautiful part of the country. The ski area Kanin-Sella Nevea is in fact the first and only cross border resort in the region, allowing access with one ski pass from both the Slovenian side and Italian side with a piste and cable way connecting the two. Excellent powder snow coverage makes for excellent skiing conditions with excellent views. The pistes are predominantly suited to intermediate skiers but there are options for beginners and experts too.
So, if you want a skiing holiday this winter but haven’t got the cash to fork out for expensive resorts, why not consider a trip to Eastern Europe which boasts preferable prices and perfect powder!
Have you ever gone skiing in Eastern Europe? Which resort did you visit? Leave us a comment below.
By Kerri Ware from Economy Car Hire
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