Bulgaria's Bansko Best Value for Ski Holidays

Bansko in Bulgaria has been named the cheapest family ski holiday destination in Europe, according to TripAdvisor.

The survey compared hotel costs, meals, drinks, ski passes, hire and lessons over the course of 7 days for a family of four in 42 European ski resorts, before announcing Bansko a clear value-for-money winner.

TripAdvisor's survey identified Switzerland as having four of the 10 most expensive resorts in Europe, with St Anton, Austria ranking as the most expensive at an average cost of £5,000 per family.

Bansko best value for family ski holidays

Bansko, in south-west Bulgaria topped the poll with packages costing the least at £1,631, almost a third cheaper than St Anton.

Second in the poll was Spain's Sierra Nevada, where costs totalled £1,930 followed by Winter Olympics host resort, Sochi in Russia at £2,025.

After St Anton, St Moritz was the second most expensive resort at a cost for a family of four of £4,811, followed by Val d'Isere in France (£4.606), Zermatt in Switzerland (£4,572) and France's Val Thorens at £4,565.

The survey heralds further good news for Bulgaria's tourism sector which has enjoyed considerable growth this year. Bulgarian Hotelier and Restaurant Owner Association, Blagoy Ragin recently commented that the sector expects around 6% increase in visitor numbers this winter.

Not only has Bansko been identified as the best value for family ski holidays, it is also a well-known resort for ski novices, making it the perfect destination for young families. Out of 16 runs in total, 30% are for beginners, 45% intermediate and 25% for advanced skiers, providing enough choice to keep the whole family happy.

The tiny medieval town of Bansko has been rejuvenated by ski tourism, with 5-star luxury available at the Kempinski Grand Arena hotel which enjoys direct access to the gondola ski lift. The old cobbled streets are crammed with tavernas and restaurants to cater to every taste, providing a wealth of choice for maximum enjoyment.