 Poster: A snowHead
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Whilst I was at work last night I thought id read the company magazine to try and look like I was doing something productive and there was a huge article about how Crystal Ski won " Best Winter Sports Operator 2004"
Now I know theyre good (  ) but that good?
It was voted on my the ATC members- used to be national association of independant travel agents or something
I just thought that it was worth mentionning, I'll go back to painting my nails now ......
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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They didn't get our ski passes and lesson vouchers to us in time for the first days lesson.
They forgot to pick us up from the chalet for transfer back to the airport. (We got there just in the nick of time by taxi!)
I guess all tour ops have similar problems... I just expected more from a specialist ski outfit. 
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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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Isn't there a Victor Meldrew quote appropriate here......
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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They may have improved this year but I wouldn't know as I point blank refuse to ever go with them again.
Remember them as being really unhelpful - chalet hosts/reps who were there to ski and the job/customers were an annoying inconvenience.
For package providers have been really impressed by Ski Total and Skiworld, through great firsthand experience.
(Have never tried First Choice - mainly because of all the bad feedback - put them in the same grouping as Crystal!)
Interesting that its voted for by the Travel Agents - so what drives their motivation. My relationship with the agent always ends when I pay the money. Any problems (or praise) then I deal direct with the operator...
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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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Good grief! This is the company that dumped us in the middle of Sauze D'Oulx without anyone to show us where the hotel was, cancelled guiding because the two guides had both "hurt their knee" (told to us by the guide wearing snowboard boots and carrying a snowboard!) and then forgot to organise a bus to take us back to the airport at the end of the holiday. 
This year was their last chance for us - last years holiday with them was the pits too - they're now on my "Never, ever, again" list.
I wonder if the voting is influenced by the amount of commission earned...or am I just cynical?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Not forgetting that last year, the same holiday to Andorra cost about £100 more with Crystal than with Thomsons.... the *same* company!
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Best Winter Sports Operator 2004 = best PR department
Crystal are lower-end in terms of their service and their product (although posibly good value, I don't know). I wouldn't use them.
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OK - confession first. I work for TUI who own Crystal and Thomson so feel free to ignore eveything I say!! My observations are based on my holiday experiences - I've got no connection to the ski part of the company (sadly). Anyway...
I think most of the large companies are fairly similar. I've been with Crystal, Thomson, Airtours, Inghams & Neilson in the last 10 years and there's not been much difference. I've probably had the best experiences with Inghams (don't tell anyone!) but they've tended to be slightly more expensive.
I worked in resort for a company which got bought by First Choice and I've never gone with them in case they followed similar shoddy practices. We often had people coming to our resort who'd booked elsewhere etc. I don't know if First Choice are bad for this but I've never wanted to take the risk. I've never heard of this happening with the other companies (although it probably does sometimes).
My experience of the smaller operators is limited because if I'm not going with a package company then I'll tend to organise the flight, hotel etc myself. This usually doesn't work out any more expensive and gives me more flexibility.
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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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Too true Paul Holland. It appears that Crystal are attempting to move upmarket by charging more while Thomsons have remained the best value operator in my opinion. Yet, Crystal and Thomson hotel choices are similar (other than the fact that Crystal offer more resorts) and the transfers, flights etc are usually lumped together as are the reps in larger areas. Thomson also offer a guiding service in most resorts so what do you get for more money
I've gone with Thomsons the last few years and haven't had a problem. In fact, the rep in Saalbach this year was excellent and willingly helped us out when 3 of our party were ill. I've been with Crystal once and they were ok in terms of basic service, but seemed more disorganised when it came to events etc. This was in Kitzbuhel where it appeared there were too few reps for the number of hotels. If you want good service, choose a resort where they only offer a handful of hotels.
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The powers-that-be may feel that because Crystal wins awards like this then they can charge more for the holidays. Which is probably true.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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hayley t, We were in Soll and we didn't see the rep until the third day when she came to give us our introductory talk!!!! Very useful because we'd all been twiddling our thumbs in the chalet wondering where the ski lifts were
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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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Just part of their invaluable service then Paul!
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Apologies for being off-topic, but are you doing Kitz again this year?hayley t,
We are going for Christmas again. Boring aren't we! I'm looking forward to the new lift opening up the Pass Thurn area more easily.
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You know it makes sense.
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Chris - We're off to Mayrhofen instead. I enjoyed Kitz but the rest of the group weren't that impressed, mainly with the town (not as lively as expected) and the slopes were a bit crowded. I will go back there sometime as I would love to see the Hahnenkamm live but I really enjoyed the skiing in Saalbach this year and that is probably the first place I'll go back to after I've added St Anton and Ischgl to the list!
Just out of interest which area of Pass Thurn will the new lift cover? Maybe that is the reason for the price hike by Crystal etc!
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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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Even First Choice have hiked their prices this year
Example
We paid £281 per person s/c for 1 week in Andorra, the same time next year £422 per person! Have no idea why!
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Poster: A snowHead
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I have clients that were regular Crystal customers. they booked their 2004 holiday BEFORE they took their 2003 holiday (they like to come here to ski with me). In early December they were told that the holiday they'd booked and paid for was not available, but they could go to Alpe d'Huez instead! Now with 3 small children and going in February half term, it was clearly too late to find anything else, so in spite of their protests they were obliged to fall into line. They tried explaining that they wanted LDA because that's where their ski teacher lived, to no avail.
Do these companies CARE about their clients? Do they want them back? Aren't they INTERESTED in people who book and pay a year in advance?
I'd like to hear from someone at Crystal so I could give them a good ear bashing! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've stopped booking with tour ops unless I go across to Canada, as schedule flights are about the same price as the whole package, even if I upgrade to the same flight. a coneasiski, we went to Serre Che at Easyer for half the price of the Crystal brochure.
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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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hayley t, Off topic again - despite your highly skilled steer back at the end of your post!
As far as I can see it (the new lift at Kitzbuhel for new readers) will link the top of Pengelstein with the top of the hill behind Jochau. This will complete the link currently effected by the Giggling red and the short drag/walk combination. These have been a weak link previously I believe. Anybody nearer at hand who can update us?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Chris - the lift will make a huge difference especially when the snow cover is iffy. Previously we relied on a bus or taxi rather than risk the red run link and the short walk.
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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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hayley t, thanks for the confirmation. The red you mention has not been open at all the last 2 Christmasses. I presume the new gondola will fly over the bare stuff and take us to unexplored snow.
Maybe snowheads in the area can have a look at progress and report.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Stayed with Crystal in Canazei (Dolomites) in February this year and as far as I am concerned that is the last time I will ever book/travel/stay with Crystal again. Over £500 for a week in a new but very basic chalet along way out of the village staffed by people I can only describe as totally lacking in any hospitality skills whatsoever. I loved the village, enjoyed the skiing, had wonderful weather and the company of some great friends but the very disappointing chalet experience was the pits. The childcare facilities (which is why we booked there in the first place ) were very poor as were the staff designated for childcare. Best Winter Sports Operator 2004 - who the hell were they in competition with - Christchurch Dryski Slope? Along with may others here, I think the only way to ski in Europe now is to book independently and to listen to recommendations you know you can trust. Could we start a sort of resort review section on SnowHeads that could build up into a really useful reference library for us all?
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IceQueen, Ahhh . . . but only you know the chalet with a ‘breakfast in bed’ service! 
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Helen Beaumont, Yeah - I agree, but they were wanting the childcare bit as well, and had already paid. February is a nightmare. Actually some friends of mine manage a Crystal hotel and are really good - but then they're neither reps, nor the company!
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FAQ
