I just wanted to recommend Erzurum for any skiers or boarders out there. What a lovely place, surrounded by gorgeous mountains. The views were breathtaking. We stayed 3 days at the Polat hotel at the Palandoken Ski Center. I highly recommend everything- the hotel was great with nice views, the snow and skiing were the best- conditions perfect. The airport was only about 15 minutes from town and from Istanbul, the flight was just 1 hr. 45 min. I hear this is the best skiing in Turkey and I've even heard it called the Colorado of Turkey. Just make sure there is snow before you go, because they got off to a late start this year. But the season should go for a few more weeks anyway. Right now there is snow aplenty!

daroz- can you give an idea of costs for ski hire etc

Thanks, this is some good info.
Are all the lifts open and as Clive asked, how's the price in general?

The Polat is a 5 star resort w/ all meals/ local drinks included. So as a family of four, the going rate for a night stay would be 240 tl. Airport transfer and lift tkts were included but not rentals. Rentals were about 30 tl per day. We're lucky to have family working around there so we got some nice discounts but it all seemed very reasonable for what you get. The other hotel there to check out is Dedeman, which seemed pretty nice. Sorry, no idea about the rates. Both hotels are slope-side and looked similar. BTW, I befriended a fellow snowboarder who works at a travel agency in Ankara, so if anyone wanted a contact, I'd be happy to give her info. Perfect English and well traveled in and out of Turkey.

Yes, all lifts and trails were open. There is a gondola too.

I've always wanted to try and ski but have been put off by the general cost, the ones that you mention don't seem to bad at all, especially when you can probably save a shedload by cutting out the 5 star bit.

Food for thought, cheers

When I went to Erzurum a few years back to ski, I found that yes, the town is lovely and friendly, and the views are beautiful - but there was no snow! (This was in February). Well, there was about 10 cm on the peak. It was impossible to ski on it.

The funny thing was that everyone - the ski-rental place, the lift attendents, the bus driver - they all said that the skiing was excellent. For what it's worth, the rental place cheerfully refunded our money when we came down.

Moral of the story? Make sure you check with someone who has skied there recently - don't take a second-hand or general opinion as proof that there's snow!

2008 update. We stayed at the Polat mid-week when a double room with full board and ski passes was 123 liras per person, which is significantly more expensive than the mid-week rates at Kartalkaya. The ski-ing is definitely better than Kkaya though: more variety and much longer runs, although some of them can be bumpy. The scenery is beautiful, as long as you're not looking towards the smoke and smog of Erzurum. Equipment hire is pretty much the same price as Kkaya: 25 liras for boots and skis for a day. The Kkaya hotels, though, are more fun. The Polat says it gives you unlimited drinks all day but really only serves them at meal times in the dining area. Whereas Kartalkaya hotels have big lounge areas where you can read, hang out and drink free beer, at the Polat the lounge areas charge you for coffee or beer and it's all a bit too five-star to really relax.

Most of the people at Palandoken were Russians, Ukrainians and Iranians. Iranian snowboarders weirded me out. The Turks arrive at the weekends, when it gets much busier, apparently. Mid-week there were no queues for anything.

The Polat is lower down the mountain where it has its own set of runs, which are nice enough but a bit limited. The real action takes place at the top of the mountain. To get there the Polat has a chair lift that takes you over buildings and the main road to the centre of the village where you change to the gondola that takes you up to the top of the mountain. The Dedeman is nearer the top and has its own set of lifts there. We didn't buy a Dedeman ski pass, so I can't say what it costs. The gondola, however, takes you nearly all the way up and you can ski the top of the mountain without using the Dedeman's lifts, if you're prepared to go right down to the bottom each time and come up again on the gondola (at 3 liras a ride). The run to the bottom is long and easy and lots of fun.

Palandoken is really close to the city: 45 liras from the airport by cab and 15 or so from the city. It strikes me you could stay in town and go up to the resort every day and save some money. There may even be buses. But I can't say what the hotels in town would be like. The Kral Otel is evil, and the Hotel Oral has a scary name.

Overall, it's better than Kartalkaya, but it's not a quantum leap and it's definitely pricier. They're hosting some student games there in 2011, so expect more investment over the coming years that could make it even better. A few mid-range hotels would be good news.

[quote user="daroz" post="84602"] I befriended a fellow snowboarder who works at a travel agency in Ankara, so if anyone wanted a contact, I'd be happy to give her info. Perfect English and well traveled in and out of Turkey.[/quote]

I'll take her info...