First trip to Eastern Europe

Hi all,

I am just beginning to plan for my snowboard trip for January 2010!

I have never been to Eastern Europe b4 and was hoping to get some info from those that are in the know :). I am thinking Slovenia or Slovakia at this stage and like the look of Jasna.

I am an intermediate snowboarder looking for as much of the following as I can get:
1) Lots of terrain, large resorts and as much variety as possible. If there was a city/town to use as a base that provided access (within ~1hr drive) to several resorts that would be ideal
2) Apres with good clubs, bars, restaurants etc. A bigger town/city with a bit of a nightlife is preferrable
3) The more fresh powder and quality snow the better
4) On a budget :)

Any advice/opinions are greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Hi Lorgan.

I live at Jasna - I moved here because of the easy pace of life, the off-piste potential of the mountain, and the affordability. The mountain is very good. I've been boarding for 13 years and it's enough for me.... There is vast off-piste, trees, and not so many people (as the Alps etc...) eager to access it - which leaves more of it for me...
Temps. get cold and so the snow stays better longer. I've found light powder a week after the last storm...

Jasna is the biggest resort in Central Europe. There are plenty of smaller resorts not too far (within 1 hr), but Jasna is the most extensive.

The resort itself consists mainly of hotels. After dark it is a bit empty. It is inside a National Park so development is very limited (hence the off-piste). The town of Liptovsky Mikulas (where I live), at the bottom of the mountain road (15km) serves the mountain, with the bulk of accommodation, bars, restaurants, shops etc...

Beers are €1 tops, even on the mountain, and you can get a 2-course lunch for €4. After a holiday in France or suchlike, that is a budget by anyone's reckoning....

Dan