 Poster: A snowHead
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If you are going here then Cancel Now!
If you go on Chalet Holidays make a mental note - Never Book!
Unless, that is, you like Student Accommodation! Very Dirty Kitchens and staff that can't get out of bed!
Seriously outrageous - pics / blog will be posted soon!
By the way this is not even a real company (you probably paid by cheque) if cashed it is unlikely will receive any funds back! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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NorthWestFace, Bad holiday then?
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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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Holidays from Hell ? 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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NorthWestFace,
Hi already booked, can you post the pictures as I still have time to cancel not going until 5th March
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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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Hi
We had a similar experience to North West Face. In fact it sounds as if we'd written that piece! Although we actually paid by credit card (and ended up having our money taken by a completely unrelated third party!!!)
If you go to http://ski-fidelity.blogspot.com then you can see what it was like. Compare it to the website and weep!
The worst thing in the end was the management's (Martin's) attitude. When we looked into the company on our return they seem to be a more than a bit dodgy. They claim on their website to be a limited company registered in the UK... they're not. They've got more addresses on the go than you can imagine.
If you need any info please feel free to get in touch via the blog.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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chandlou, welcome to SnowHeads.
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chandlou Welcome to Snowheads.
We were in Les Deux Alpes last year and stayed in a catered chalet, booked through Airtours. Although the chalet was in a very good position, its cleanliness did leave a lot to be desired.
We got there on the Saturday afternoon and the chalet host (a young scottish guy aged about 25) was just sitting around smoking and the place was like a tip. We were told to "pick" a room which wasn't so bad as you could have the opportunity of choosing a really good room like we did. On the chalet hosts day off, the whole chalet decided to cook in; the state of the kitchen was extremely bad. All in all, a really good holiday, but the chalet was terrible. Incidentally, that particular chalet is not in Airtours brochure for this coming season!
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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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RDSpearing, We are booked this season in the sister chalet Papillion - did you go in the end, and if so how did you find it. Was NorthWestFace's experience a one off or is this company to be avoided at all costs  ....?????
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rudey, welcome to snowHeads! 
You might want to send a message to RDSpearing (underneath the snowHeads logo at the top of the page) as they don't post very often and might not see your post above.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
RDSpearing, We are booked this season in the sister chalet Papillion - did you go in the end, and if so how did you find it. Was NorthWestFace's experience a one off or is this company to be avoided at all costs ....?????
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Hi Rudey
No did not go in the end
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Tue 2-01-07 19:42; edited 1 time in total
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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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Hi Rudey
We went to Chalet Delta last year & enjoyed it enough to be returning this Feb. We found Martin helpful & friendly - hopefully will have same experience this year. The chalet was clean when we were there & the food some of the best I've had on a skiing holiday (the chef had only been there a short time when we arrived).
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You know it makes sense.
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OK I take it all back - DON'T use Ski Fidelity. We did have a great holiday with them last year but we were supposed to be staying with them from next Sunday and on Tuesday they contacted us to say they are in financial difficulty so we can't stay in the chalet we had booked  (Chalet Delta in La Tania). To be fair they have organised alternative accommodation for us in Courchevel 1550 - so fingers crossed!!
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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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Just put Ski Fidelity, into Google and the Snowheads warning link to this page is on the next line to their link. No wonder they are in financial trouble. Let's hope folk that have paid good money will not lose out, and still get some sort of holiday.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hang on - surely you're not implying that people should not heed warnings of poor service for fear of someone else going broke?
Best thing about this type of forum is that you get to hear from real punters not the cherry picked good ones which go into brochures. If someone is providing poor service then they deserve to go bust
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Boris,
For sure they don't deserve to be in business. I just hope they have'nt taken folks money without supplying a holiday.
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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 am surprised that anyone in the UK would book through a travel company not affiliated with ABTA.
To the best of my knowledge, a quick scan of abta.com indicates Ski Fidelity is not an ABTA member.
Neither, it seems, is chaletsdirect.com, which appears to be a partner.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Whitegold, chalets direct only advertises accommodation as far as I know. Each chalet owner pays to add their accommodation to the site.
blizt, I hope you didn't book you flight through them.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Whitegold wrote: |
| I am surprised that anyone in the UK would book through a travel company not affiliated with ABTA.. |
On what grounds is that oh wise one? Are you a travel agent? If you are suggesting it a degree of 'customer service' or 'standards then you would be wrong ...
What do you know about the industry, bonding and the regulatory framework? Do you know the difference between ABTA and ATOL and what that means for the customer or provider?
Do you know the differences between travel companies, TAs and TOs? Do you know why individual chalet owners (and consequently their customers) may have little interest in bonding?
As has been said above ABTA membership/affiliation may do no more than guarantee an impersonal experience ...
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Agenterre, I don't think he appears to ,as Ski Fidelity are definitely not a Travel Agent, or Tour Operator, no selling of packages involves. They are simply an independent Chalet Owner as far as I can see, and there is no legal requirement to be bonded. Chalets Direct are an accommodation listing site, and do not sell the accommodation on their site. They are simply an advertising method for chalet owners. Booking and payment are done direct with the owners. It is no excuse for selling substandard holidays though, but their financial difficulties are probably due to the alleged poor start to the season, and maybe the negative press coverage.
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Helen Beaumont, Sorry, he doesn't appear to do what?
In a thread about a (poor service/financially troubled) Chalet operator / Owner ( poss) he tells everyone only to book ABTA-registered orgs . Excuse me for drawing the obvious conclusion !
It is either irrelevant or a suggestion to only book bonded-TOs as opposed to people like yourself !
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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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Agenterre, sorry, Whitegold doesn't appear understand the difference between TA's TO's ABTA and ATOL, think we;re arguing over the same point of view here. I must have had too much wine with lunch!!! I was agreeing with you.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I have no idea of the difference between TO, ATOL etc - however was always under the assumption that booking through a registered company gave you some protection in terms of refunds if they go bust? Accept it isn't a gaurantee of quality.
HAve booked the last few years with tried and trusted companies so have to admit never check whether they are or aren't!
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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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Boris, It is a natural assumption - but incorrect.
ATOL - is a public-compensation scheme which provides protection for 'Tours' (2 or more 'element' holidays) , seat-only charter and pre-ticketing schedule seat sales. It is run by the CAA.
ABTA is a travel agent Trade association, membership of which guarantees nothing other than standards and processes. It even has barriers to membership which could be interpreted as 'anti-consumer' if you were a tad wicked!
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Not sure if this is still correct or not, but if BA went bust tomorrow, your flight wouldn't be protected. This may have changed though.
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You know it makes sense.
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Helen Beaumont,Depends! ... now we're into IATA membership and the channel that you bought your ticket through and whether it was seat-only or part of a package --- getting a bit of saddo really!
Historically IATA member airlines 'bail one another out' ... there is a financial process for this to happen.
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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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blizt,
Whiteplanet in either Les Arcs or Motteret. Fantastic Chalets & great food.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Helen Beaumont wrote: |
| Agenterre, sorry, Whitegold doesn't appear understand the difference between TA's TO's ABTA and ATOL, think we;re arguing over the same point of view here. I must have had too much wine with lunch!!! I was agreeing with you. |
ABTA lowers risk for vacationers.
It is a recognized quality standard.
ABTA has roughly 7k members.
Members stick to a rigorous Code of Conduct.
Tour operators belong to ABTA.
Travel agencies belong to ABTA.
Household names and specialist firms belong to ABTA.
Big and small.
Online and offline.
ABTA-bonded companies account for up to 45% of independent travel arrangments made by UK residents
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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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Agenterre = agent provocateur
Troll alert 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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professorpool, I don't think Agenterre could be accused of being a troll.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Agenterre, I also wish that you-know-who would learn to use paragraphs.
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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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| Whitegold wrote: |
ABTA-bonded companies account for up to 45% of independent travel arrangments made by UK residents |
Up to 45%? Both 10% and 44% would satisfy that statement!
However, you do seem to be pointing out that more than half of independent travel arrangements made by UK residents are made with non-ABTA bonded companies.
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Darn It ! I've risen to the bait
| Whitegold wrote: |
ABTA lowers risk for vacationers. |
On what basis do you make that comment? None of your following or preceding comment/'facts' supports it.
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| It is a recognized quality standard. |
Says who? You ? Them ? Quality of what ?
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| ABTA has roughly 7k members. |
Pertinence to the subject under discussion? Nil!
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| Members stick to a rigorous Code of Conduct. |
And what would you know about it other than regurgitating what you can find on their website? Demonstrate your knowledge
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| Tour operators belong to ABTA. |
Do you know why? I doubt it. Let me tell you ... so that they can sell other products than their own
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| Travel agencies belong to ABTA. |
DOH !!! What a surprise, TAs belong to their own trade association !
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| Household names and specialist firms belong to ABTA. Big and small. Online and offline. |
So your point is ?
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| ABTA-bonded companies account for up to 45% of independent travel arrangments made by UK residents |
apart from the 'up to' nonsense , you fail to comment that 20 years ago perhaps 95% of such arrangements were made through them ... so they really are a busted flush?
As usual you will either not respond or spend 5 days doing internet research to drag up other unquantified stuff.
We all 'recognise' your posting style as one done for effect (wannabe Mgt Consultant are we?)
I look forward to your considered response and hope it has more substance ( fact , humour, rant - anything will suffice) than everything that has preceded it.
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FAQ
