Please Advise

[SkiFan]

Hello Forum

A group of us try and visit different countries every year for our skiing holidays. This winter we would like to visit Ukraine. Our research shows 3 main resorts in Ukraine being Bukovel, Slavsko and Dragobrat. Can andybody please help and advise on what they think which will be best for us. We are all relatively experienced skiers but would like some evening entertainment and good restaurants as well - thanks

[SkiBoy]

Hey SkiFan

Hope this helps. Have a read through. I have skied in all 3 places and Bukovel is the best in my opinion.

Dragobrat Ski Resort
Drahobrat (commonly spelled "Dragobrat") is Ukraine's highest ski resort, with a base elevation at 1300 m. This puts the entire resort in the zone of high snowfall and stable snowpack. Drahobrat is the first ski resort to open its lifts and the last to turn them off — usually around May 1st. At the same time, blizzards and low visibility are more common than at other ski resorts, which can keep you off the slopes for considerable amounts of time. When the clouds clear you will be rewarded with the best views of any Carpathian ski resort. Drahobrat is located in the region with the most dramatic peaks in the Carpathians. Just across the valley is the Chornohora ridge with Ukraine's highest mountain, Hoverla, at 2061 m.
At Drahobrat you can enjoy up to 350 m of elevation drop. Five or six tow lifts from 350 to 1000 m in length reach up the mountainside as far as the summit of Stig mountain at 1703 m. The skiing is as wild as it gets in Ukraine. There are small cosy hotels located nearby. Drahobrat is located 18 km away from the nearest civilization, so the only place to buy food or rent equipment is directly at the resort. Also, there is no "private sector" of locals' homes to stay at, just a collection of hotels and small private inns. Hot water, electricity, and hot meals are available everywhere.

Slavsko Ski Resort
Slavsko ski resort (sometimes called Slavske) is located 120 km from Lviv on the Kiev-Uzhhorod railroad. Perhaps this fact alone made it the most popular ski resort in Ukraine for many years (until ]Bukovel was built after 2000). You can get on the train in Kiev, get off the train the next morning at Slavsko station and be on the slopes by 10:00 a.m. No other ski resort is so easily accessible from so many places. In addition, Slavsko has a large variety of mountains and ski slopes and has a large tourist community. There's always lots to do.
Except for a chair lift that takes you from the very base of the mountain to the very summit, all other lifts are tows. Lines at Slavsko are notoriously long*. Waits of 30 to 90 (!) minutes are not uncommon, especially on weekends and holidays. In addition, the many tow lifts on the mountain seem to break down a lot. Large moguls often form. Nonetheless, the skiing is plenty good, and skiers keep coming and coming. Ski rentals are all over in and around Slavsko.

Bukovel Ski Resort
Bukovel ski resort is a new large ski resort in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast 30 km to the west of Yaremcha. It is Ukraine's first European-class resort, with a couple high-speed chair lifts, meticulously groomed slopes and snow-making machines, turnstyles for letting skiers through lines, and ubiquitous security personnel. It's unusual to see this degree of organization in Ukraine. Bukovel resort has been carefully planned to make skiing enjoyable and convenient and to avoid lift lines and congestion. Lift lines longer than five minutes are rare.
Bukovel's base elevation is nearly 900 m above sea level, and the highest ski lift rises to 1370 m, making Bukovel the second highest ski resort in Ukraine after Dragobrat. All categories of difficulty are available. There is a very long gradual slope that is perfect for beginners, a couple short tows for children and "super-beginners," all levels of intermediate runs, and several black diamonds. Night skiing is available from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Bukovel is growing rapidly, and new equipment and runs are being added each year.
Bukovel now compares to the best resorts found anywhere else in Europe. The infrastructure caters for experienced skiers and familys. The hotels are top class and there are lovely restaurants everywhere. Bukovel is highly recommened.