Thanks for that - seems doable! So it looks like I will be joining you! 

Just to say have a lovely time in Sri Lanka - it was my first ever eastern holiday (went with OT) and I loved it. Bit warm and humid at times but that is what we are currently used to in Sussex! 

If you get to climb Siguria (not the correct spelling!) rock it will be good exercise for your skiing knees - rather a lot of steps!

Have fun!   🙂

Your questions.

On my trip last year the group of about 22 was split up on the first morning.  There were the never ever skied before - about a third.  They went off with a ski instructor, who I understand was excellent.  

The rest of us had the usual ski test, ie skiing down a very short hill from a button lift.  The group were then split further in two.  So about 6 (including me, in a sort of not quite beginners group).  The rest 6-7 were what I would describe as intermediate, some really pretty good.  Some of the people were pretty fit, but many of us were obviously not normally very active.

The instructor for my group was very good.  We had others in the group for most of the time and IMO the group was too big - up to 12 in the group sometimes.  We did get a good go at practicing the various exercises and there was a long and easy ski run back to the bottom of the lift, which we were doing by the first afternoon.   

For me would have liked the option to move more between groups, up or down (in my case) so that you could ski with those of the same standard if you were quicker or slower to pick things up.   Think the top group of *intermediate* type skiers was made up of people who were very different standards so it was quite hard for some and easy for others.   But then if you really wanted to move to a more appropriate group for your standard, you may have had to go into groups with no JY people, but we stuck to our groups.  Don't know how this is going to work in Austria, this time we have 3 2-hour lessons - but presumably you can buy more, which I think I would do and try to make sure I was allocated somewhere I was comfortable.

The TM was involved, although didn't butt in on our lessons, ?maybe with beginnners.  She skied along with various groups.  We had her mobile number so she could text us about eg meeting up for lunch, suggesting times and places.  Or we could contact each other with news re wait times for lifts, or we could also call the TM if we had any problems - which did happen.

Not everyone skied at every opportunity.  A couple dropped out pretty much right away.  Do think that a lot of that was due to the rubbish facilities at the resort, poor equipment, general chaos, waiting for lifts etc.   But there was a spa, swimming pool etc at the hotel.  I didn't ski in the middle of the week - my knees wouldn't take it.

The hotel was actually pretty good for our JY group - easy to socialise with each other.  

Think the hotels for the Switzerland and Austria trips look good and hopefully the breakfast and dinners will be an improvement on Bulgaria.

Any more questions please ask (but I am off to Sri Lanka tomorrow so there may be a delay 😃 ……). 

Katy

Hi Kedi,

Great to hear you're up for a ski trip.......

Hi Katy - seems to be Switzerland or Austria then, unless there is anything else in the pipeline? I also like Austria - but then I like Switzerland (having first skied in Zermat!), Italy, and then France has not been mentioned - I enjoyed the high level purpose built resorts. One thing I used to like was being able to ski right up to hotel at the end of the day! 

Couple of questions for you please.....

What was the beginners/back to ski standard like? - were there some complete beginners, nervous return skiers, not so ski-fit people (that's two out of three for me!) or was everyone super fit and confident?

Obviously the lessons and instructors vary - but was the instruction paced to include everyone or was there a lot of standing (or lying!!!!) around? Was the TM involved in the lesson time?

On your trip did everyone ski at every opportunity or did people take the chance to relax, explore or do other activities?

I like your USA add on suggestions - personally would prefer Canada! - and would suggest skiing as the add-on rather than first ..... just in case  😕

Great to hear you're up for a ski trip.  I booked the Austria trip on 23rd March this morning.  I love Austria, so very much looking forward to it.

Yes, shame no ski in North America.  It would be great if, as you say, one could be combined with something else in that area. Tahoe/Mammoth added on to LA or Vegas.  Or would be happy to see Boston and NY with a potential ski add on in, say, New Hampshire.  Or, the other way round, a week in New Hampshire, with a possible add on to NY or Boston.

Anyway, hope these ski trips take off so that next year there may be more choices.

Kind regards

Katy

Hi Kedi,

I went on one of the back to ski trips last year to Bansko.  I didn't write a review, I didn't think anyone on the forum was much interested in ski trips......... Katy

Thanks Katy - glad to hear you enjoyed the ski experience in spite of some issues with the resort. It does sound as if JY are trying to develop a successful ski holiday programme - I have noticed some holidays coming up and then disappearing on the web site - hopefully the full and correct information will appear soon.   😕 

I remember your posts last year - we both agreed that USA or Canada would be great - I was rather hoping for Banff/Whistler -  it could be stand alone or an optional add on to the winter holiday in the Banff/Japaer area. I was in Canada last September and we had snow which blocked some roads during our stay - needless to say the views were magnificent across the snow capped Rockies. 

I also remember saying "sadly never again" - but in a stand against creeping old age I decided I would retry several sports from my youth - having completed several relatively successful weeks of horse riding I got a bit overconfident and added ski cover at my travel insurance renewal - now I have to go! The balance and strength, especially in the legs, from the horse riding will hopefully aid the ski fit programme - but definitely "back to ski/beginners" for me and I anticipate it being a "one off" unless I suddenly find super fitness!  :rolleyes: 

Fingers crossed for the right holiday on the right dates!

That's great! 🙂

I'll be posting the May and June results together soon - sorry for the delay!

Thanks,

Vickie

All the best

Mandy

P.S Any word on the May photo competition results yet?

I went on one of the back to ski trips last year to Bansko.  I didn't write a review, I didn't think anyone on the forum was much interested in ski trips.  Anyway a few notes below.

I do know, that there will be no return to Bansko this year.  I know JY Alicia is very keen to get  JY ski trips established and those who went on last year's trips were contacted by phone to discuss the in depth how things went and what they wanted to see.

Well, there were,  IIRC,  22 of us.  Mostly 60s-70s, a few over 70, a few under 60.  The *baby* was 40.  About 7/8 men.  The hotel we stayed at was fine, OK the breakfast and evening meal weren't the greatest, but was adequate. Rooms had everything.  There was an excellent bar area, cheap booze and we established a really good area to meet up.  It was a good group.  Good spa and swim pool.  +Good TM who skied with us.

The problem with Bansko ski area was,  it has had no investment for many many years.  The ski shop to get the gear was completely chaotic, the long lines in the morning to get on the gondola lift to the ski area took almost an hour and didn't calm down until after lunch.  The ski area often overrun.  I felt there were some safety issues around some of the lifts, ie getting on and off - staff weren't paying attention.  The ski school and teaching was actually good, although groups too large.  But overall  the whole ski experience was very very poor.

I understand for next season the beginners/back to ski, there are expected to be 2 (maybe 3 destinations).  Being a trip to Wengen, Switz early January and a trip to Zillertal, Austria (not sure of spelling), towards the end of March.  Possibly also a trip to Italy.  (I and a few others have been in contact with JY Alicia, and given feedback on a few things).  I was hoping for North America, but I believe JY trying to get Europe trips nailed down first.  There are also a couple of intermediate trips.

I was actually hoping to do both back to ski trips, but now looks like will only be able to do the end March trip - but I love Austria so happy with that.

If you've any questions about how it went last year, happy to try to answer.

Katy

I have not been able to find any reviews of last winters ski holidays - there were several different countries and ski ability levels offered - perhaps a couple of skiers will be encouraged to let us know how it went?  🙂 Please.......