 Poster: A snowHead
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Lots of great ideas for next season...
What I clearly need to start doing now is spending less and transferring more money into my ISA (which is where the money I save for skiing and stuff gets put so I don't spend it) and try to limit my annual leave this year so I have 2 weeks left for next season. I'm sure I'd be able to do a week in Jan and another in March if I book them off far enough in advance...
Thanks again people...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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2 reasonable incomes, no kids (yet), no mortgage, no debt.
Might do 2 trips this year. Usually budget £650.00 Incl flights, transfers, H/B, ski hire and lift pass. £300 usually covers beer/ fun money.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| I'm sure I'd be able to do a week in Jan and another in March if I book them off far enough in advance... |
nnnooooooo - we're all saying to WAIT to book - you're paying over the odds by booking so far in advance.
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queen bodecia, I do 2 weeks a year as a peak season rep for a schools op. It doesn't pay much, and can be hard work - but it cots me nothing.
The other thing I do is go DIY to Austria. If you fly to Salzburg or Innsbruck, then yu can get the train to a lot of resorts, keeping the transfer cost down. I think the most I've ever paid for a single room in a pension is €28 per night, but I've been as low as €19 (2 years ago). I can then choose where I eat of an evening and how much I want to spend.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I meant booking the time off work!
But I'm also VERY nervous about waiting until last minute to book a ski holiday too. Last season I went to Kitzbühel in March and booked 3 weeks before. To be honest there was very little choice to find a single room for the week I wanted and Kitz was the only affordable one in a resort I liked the idea of. I think it cost just under £500 and the only others at comparable cost were Bansko, Bardonecchia and Mayrhofen. I also found availability in Alpe D'Huez and Morzine but way over my price range (over £800)...
Where do you find cheap last minute deals? When I was looking last season I contacted all major TOs (Crystal, Thomson, Inghams, Neilson, First Choice) and also emailed Iglu and Skideals and those were the best I could find...
I've already booked Courmayeur for this forthcoming March and it's £512. It would have been £430-ish but I've had to pay a supplement for a twin room for sole use as the single rooms were already full...
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queen bodecia, Try not to look just for a single room. Sometimes you can get a double/twin for the same or less than you were quoting. Eg. last season I went to La P for both trips - same TO - couple of weeks before, they dropped their single supplement. Had lovely doubles, ensuite with balconies, catered chalets close to the piste..... both less than £350 incl flights and transfers.
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That's a good point. I did limit my search to single rooms last season. I didn't realise a twin room supplement would be affordable. As it happens, I've had to do it this season as the hotel I wanted had already filled their single rooms as the supplement was only £112 (there would already have been a supplement of £35 for a single room anyway)...
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Try fasttrackski, they have the prices displayed on their website, but you have to give them a call to book, this is when they add all kinds of spurious booking fees etc on top.
You can usually find which T.O. is offering the deal by googling the name of the hotel and the resort, then simply book direct. I have had La Plagne 3* half board Easter 06 for £189, by booking 2 days before. It wasn't a planned trip but couldn't resist at that price.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Booking well in advance with TO's for signles can pay off. I was really happy with £400 for Zermatt last year, booked that almost as soon as it became available on line (9 months before?). Good early/web booker discounts available then.
If you think it is expensive for single travellers try budgetting trips as a single parent  I've always had to pay full adult price for my daughter if I go with TO.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Aren't there some early season ski weekends often on offer? I seem to remember seeing this kind of thing in the past for about £99? Sounds like a pretty good deal to get a couple of days skiing in, and quite reasonable when you compare it to skiing in a fridge.
How much did the PSB, MSB and End of season bash cost last year. That could be another reasonable priced option for more weeks on the white stuff.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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queen bodecia, Single mum and 2 kids here. In any normal situation I save all year for 1 weeks holiday (I can do it for about £1K driving with self catering in a tiny appartment in tiddly little ski station in Switzerland. Last year as a treat (for Birthday present - I hit a big zero) mum gave me the time to travel by myself. I saved extra hard and found about another £650 - you can do the EoSB with this lot as a single for £650 all in if you take skis and boots with you (might be worth considering).
This year, I am being treated to a few days skiing in December  , doing the usual trip with the kids in Feb. and dipping into savings for a second week with the kids self catering with a friend in VT in April which I am sharing costs with my skiing friend for (just hoping there is enough left post divorce!!). I expect next year to be back to one week territory for which I try to save the family allowance so the kids get their holiday.
I do get fair holiday 5 week equivalent on a 3 day week though.
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queen bodecia, just don't take any other holidays.
Only go skiing. Forget summer hoidays.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Bones, especially so this year when Tour Operators are adding supplements to cover rising costs and falling pound.
Early brochure prices that came out the end of last season are now excellent bargains.
On the other hand, there may be December bargains if you wait right up to days or even hours before you go
Companies will wait to see if the snow falling this weekend, and later in the week, stimulate demand.
Like Poker, its a matter of who can hold their nerve.
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Poster: A snowHead
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There are advantages to getting older after all - children have left home, no pets (sadly) any more to make arrangements for, mortgage paid off etc etc so we can now go off skiing at a moment's notice and book last minute deals. Single friends in the same situation nearly always get either no single supplement or very minimal one. It is a gamble however.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Depends what your priorities are house, career,work, family? Once you eliminate the baggage then you need only need go once >>
for the season, its much cheaper than going 2,3,4,6,10 times
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Its funny because I usually find one trip is enough for me.
Granted, all 3 I've been on (1 each of the last 3 years) has been a two weeker.
Don't have any expensive holidays the rest of the year- I do still get away to the Lakes or something, just not anything very expensive like a real summer holiday as it were.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Get a lodger. Spend all the rent money on ski trips. In fact, advertise for a lodger who is also a solo skier, then you can go together and save money on supplements into the bargain.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Two incomes, no kids, self employed - inherited my house. I arrange holidays with a group of 5 other friends of the same ski standard. 6 people hiring privately is the most economical number to ski with guides.
To save money go to smaller resorts (eg in the Maurienne). Drive out with a group of friends and do self catering.
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Yep I feel pretty lucky. I work 14 * 12 hour shifts a month, so plenty of time off. This year have had 8 weeks holidays  3.5 skiing, 2 in India, 1 biking in the alps, 1 biking in UK and a long weekend in Catalonia
Also have family apartment in Flaine and the boss has one in Tignes.
I'll keep quiet now...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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No income to speak of, sorta self employed/retired, no morgage, 1 cat.
I have just booked my 2nd trip of the season - xmas in Zermatt. Hmm. Spending ISA like water and I am not even iinto MSB, EOsB, Jan in L2A etc.
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Anyone got a job for a skiing project engineer ?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Personally I've minimised my general cost of living, and that coupled with a good income means that I can afford to do things like skiing.
By minimising cost of living, I always run old cars, do all my own maintenance, don't spend much on consumer items, eat quite cheaply. Bought a small flat at a low price so my mortgage costs are easily manageable.
I also spend hours on moneysavingexpert.com working out how to get the most efficient use of my money. I try to avoid paying full price for anything. eg: digital camera, buy remanufactured or end of line from the internet. Take something like car insurance. I don't mind spending a few hours looking for the best deal. Same with electricity supplier. Most people say "oh it's all too much work". I say "if it saves me £400 then that's half another skiing holiday".
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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It much worse if you are a teacher as you can only ever go at peak times, normally get 2 trips 1 normal price and 1 very cheap, i.e. staying on floors. Looks like no trip this year as Feb. half term is just too much money and Easter, is late.
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No summer holidays (we live in Cornwall). Seek deals on all skiwear and equipment (4 kids). Don't pay through the nose for anything.
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You know it makes sense.
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queen bodecia, If you're aiming for 2 trips try the first week in Jan after the russian NY ( Sat 10th this year) and a late week in March (although of course avoiding Easter whenever that is) - Sat 21st works this year.
They're really cheap and also really uncrowded which adds up to lots of per £
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Short breaks in Paradiski £99/£119/£139 for three nights catered chalet accommodation with a £30 supplement for a Friday and Saturday night - transfers from Geneva £12.50 each way. Arrive any day - you can also stay for 6 or 9 nights. Affordable way to get away - only one day off work!! http://www.mountainsunltd.com/short_breaks/view/short-break
(Forgot to say - no single occupancy supplement if you are willing to share with another same sex single. You may or may not end up sharing)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I have lots of ski trips each year, ideally this year I will get 5 weeks skiing all in. Unfortunately (depending on how you look) most of these days will be in Scotland (hours drive from my house..) With one trip abroad. I owe this all to you kind tax paying folks in England funding my free tuition in Scotland, so thank you-Middle England-for my trip to the Rockies this year! 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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make sure you don't sell all your pants arv, it's mighty cold over there
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Interesting thread this, seeing what people aim to spend on a ski trip.
I normally budget on spending up to £400 for the holiday excluding spending money.
So that includes
- flights / train
- transfers
- accommodation
- lift pass (always full area not local)
- ski hire (have own boots).
To do this you need to be prepared to do some serious shopping around, and going in a group of four or eight. Most travel agents etc will laugh when you tell them this budget but it really is possible, and you can get some serious bargains. We did a week in Livigno season before last for £277 for all above - this was in a SC apartment and was superb. March 09 we're doing three valleys for £399 - travel agent had just paid £750 for SC apartment in the same resort (Val Thorens) and was visibly shocked when I went in to tell him what I'd paid! The bargains are there to be had 
FWIW, "my" group are all 20 somethings, mainly single, in "average" but not decent salaries, happy to go at the lower end of accommodation to get good skiing!
That's how I manage two / three trips per year.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Blimey, that is good value. Fair play to you...
I don't have any groups to travel with, but I'm definitely prepared to shop around for a good deal. I thought I'd done that last season but you lot have really opened my eyes...
Regarding Stanton's post, is that for real? Yes I love skiing, but I also love my career. I've worked hard, firstly at University for six years and then working my way up to current position over a period of 13 years. I'm not ready to jack all that in yet, but give it another ten years and I may feel differently...
Also if I sold my house now (which is probably not possible), I'd lose rather a lot of money. Your post also begs the question, what do people live on if they're a 'ski bum'? From what I remember salaries are pretty poor in seasonal resort jobs, and although it's a means to an end with regards to spending a season somewhere snowy, it's not the stuff of building a secure future. Maybe some have a fat parental wallet to fall back on, but I do not. I'm on my own in the big wide world and I'd like a little bit of financial security for my future...
Anyway, thanks again to everyone for their suggestions...
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queen bodecia,
You said that organising hols yourself is a bind and I can see why you think that but.....the TOs block book and are often given the most limited and worst of the hotel rooms and you pay an arrangement fee for their limited input, inconvenient departure points, horribly long transfers if there's a disparate group (eg. Salzburg to Kaprun via Bad Gastein etc. turning a one hour trip into nearly four), well meaning but usually very inexperienced student reps who can't sort out any problems better than you could and so on. Even moreso, given your restictions, it's much easier to book last minute and to begin and end a hol that doesn't run Sat to Sat or Sun to Sun and includes weekends or mid-week trips. All of the ski resorts (and the Austrian ones are particularly good) have websites with direct links to their hotels and the hotels show, with plans, their rooms and available dates and offer non-binding enquiries. Many of them offer transfers or are linked with partners. Booking flights is so easy. Without any doubt, you WILL find loads of single rooms by going direct to the hotels and you will be offered a choice, eg. bath or shower, slightly cheaper without balcony or south facing with. We have booked indepedently for years and I've done it lots when I've been able to pop off alone. It is a jump out of our comfort zones but the benefits far outweigh the comforts! And it's cheaper. Best of luck.
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red 27, I have had a week of incredibly good fortune, may just keep 'em 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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My partner doesn't ski, but I have never been on a ski holiday where I couldn't share a room. Some TOs have holidays where they will find you a share and on Ski Club of GB holidays you always have the option. If they cannot find a sharer I think they still charge the sharing rate. Now I arrange groups to share a guide with me, so, as we are all skiing as singles, there is again normally no problem about sharing.
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When I started skiing I was earning £12.5k with a mortgage so the first 3 ski holidays I went on came to about £500/week all in ( ski hire, lift pass, spending money etc.). We went to Bulgaria, Slovenia then Slovakia and had a great time. I am now back to being a student so will have to seriously watch the finances if I want to get at least 2 weeks holiday for the next few years.
Many people think they lead quite a frugal but in reality don't. Make sure you know where every penny goes, how much do you have left after you have paid all your bills, how much of this are you happy to spend on non-essentials like going out, clothes etc. then make sure you save the rest for skiing. If I'm looking at buying something which costs £100 I always think what else I could get for the money eg. 2/3 of a weeks lift pass, what do I want more? Go to Moneysavingexpert.com and read the debt free and old style forums. There are people there who are seriously hard up and who are very inventive with money, living off £4k a year is one of the things I've read. It will make you realise just how much you can really cut back if you need to.
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FAQ
and then you'll be looking for ways to do a season.