Winter is coming! The new 2017/18 winter season is almost upon us here in the northern hemisphere and many people are already planning their winter vacations. The most popular questions being when and where it’s best to go. Planning for a group, or even a single family, can be a hassle as you have to keep in mind everybody’s schedule, who’s working, who has school, university and so on. For those of you traveling without children, this is much easier as you’re more flexible with taking time off. With children your vacation dates are pretty much forced on you and everyone else with children. In this post we’re going to take a look at European school holidays and give some advice on when to book your vacation to Bansko, children included.
For those of you who’ve set your sights on Bansko for your vacation it’s good to know when the school holidays are. Below we’re going to list the British, Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish school holidays, as those countries combined represent most of people visiting Bulgaria’s premiere resort for skiing. But we’re going to start out with some tips first.
Good to Know
Christmas & New Years
This one is self-explanatory, as most Christian countries have a break during the same period. Christmas itself is considered a family holiday and many people prefer to stay at home with relatives, rather than travel. This means that the resort is not that full during Christmas. Most people coming to Bansko during this vacation time come directly for New Years eve, due to the great parties all around the resort. One of the best times to visit Bansko is just after the Christmas holidays and before the mid-winter vacations during February. During this time the resort is much emptier and prices for many accommodations are slightly lower.
New Years in Bansko? Visit the Starchevata Festival.
Mid-Term Break
During the school mid-term breaks most winter resorts in Europe fill up as it’s the easiest time for most parents to take time off, without having to take out fake sick leaves for their kids. The most crowded time in Bansko is during the beginning of the British mid-term, especially during the first weekend. That is when there’s a mix of British tourists on vacation, Romanians and the Greeks who come during the weekends. Ques are mostly concentrated at the base gondola station and Bunderishka Polia, where most of the beginner slopes are.
| Country | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 10.02 | 25.02 |
| Bulgaria | 04.02 | 08.02 |
| Romania | 06.02 | 14.02 |
| Russia | 02.01 | 15.01 |
| Turkey | 19.01 | 05.02 |
| Greece | – | – |
Easter/Spring Holidays
If you’re required to going skiing when the kids are off school, then this may be the best time to do so. A combination of smaller lines, softer weather and big amounts of snow, make end of March skiing our favorite. In 2018 many countries, UK included, will have time off while the season is still open in Bansko, so it’s worth considering.
If you are planning on visiting Bansko for the first time, make sure to check out our “First Timers” section.
Ski & Board Traventuria is a leading provider of lift passes, equipment rental, airport transfers and ski school for the Bansko area. To book your next ski vacation in Bansko with us, please check our website – www.skibansko.bg
