Poster: A snowHead
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I have always done DIY booked well in advance. I quite fancy getting a last minute deal but I'm not convinced they exist flying from Scotland. I've had a half hearted look a couple of years and the headline price is usually quite good but by the time you get through to the booking page its quite often doubled unless you can leave from London or want to sleep 4 to a 1 bed flat. Has anyone had good last minute deals from Scotland?
On a related note I've just come back from what I fear may be my last skiing weekend of the season. I've done 25 days this year for under £2000 (including spending money) which included a weeks instruction with Inspired to Ski. Can anyone beat this for value for money???
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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lynseyf, it would appear not.... that's impressive, unless you drove to glenshee every other weekend...
What are your cash-saving tips?
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Looks like I'm booking this weekend. All my ski buddies have booked already. It seems crazy to me but it's a very small hotel and I don't want to miss out. La Thuile March 2010 here we come!
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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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red 27, 12 days in Scotland, 7 in Tignes and 6 in Slovenia so other than Tignes prettty "value" resorts. I have always enjoyed every day I skied though, can't imagine having a bad day on any slope
Do a phd then you don't have any spare money to spend anyway
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I've got my Christmas and New year holiday requests in at work, but no definite answer yet.
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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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Trying to book our Christmas/New Years trip presently. Laax central booking system doesn't seem to be accepting anything for next year yet, though. Annoying.
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ami in berlin, it will probably be September before they do I should imagine.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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mountainaddict wrote: |
After going it entirely DIY for about 8 years, I've just picked up the Inghams & Crystal early bird brochures. Talk about a . Cheapest B&B in Austria in January £400....a Zermatt 4 star hotel that we paid £450 for (about 7 years ago admittedly!!) now £850 in January.........half term prices that require a second mortgage.......£1200 for a week in North America etc etc.
Does anyone actually book from a brochure these days? And if so, why?? |
I'm intrigued - have you done an exact like for like with the £ equalling the € on parity - same dates, same airports, same transfers, taxes etc?
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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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mountainaddict wrote: |
After going it entirely DIY for about 8 years, I've just picked up the Inghams & Crystal early bird brochures. Talk about a . Cheapest B&B in Austria in January £400....a Zermatt 4 star hotel that we paid £450 for (about 7 years ago admittedly!!) now £850 in January.........half term prices that require a second mortgage.......£1200 for a week in North America etc etc.
Does anyone actually book from a brochure these days? And if so, why?? |
The brochure is to get an idea of what is available, not to actually book from.
You then look online relatively close to departure time, and get it for a lot less.
I have used TOs in each of the last 4 years, and the closest I have paid to brochure price was the first of those, at £150 off - that was also the only time I have paid over £400 for flights, transfers, half board hotel, and ski carriage.
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Helen Beaumont wrote: |
ami in berlin, it will probably be September before they do I should imagine. |
Hmm. Based on past experience, everything for Christmas/New Years is normally booked up well before September. We've booked the past two years around this time (La Clusaz and Bad Gastein). The year before in late August we tried to book Mittenwald or Garmisch and literally every apartment was already gone. We ended up in another isolated village nearby. Maybe things are different in Switzerland, but the Germans tend to book their holidays a year in advance (often in Austira) while on their current holiday.
Just emailed their central booking and was told that they are compiling their availabity now. No word on when they will release it, though.
Frustrating, because I'm trying to price different resorts and compare. I'd rather not book flights not knowing what the accomidation will cost. On the other hand, the flights will only get more expensive. So do I hold out on Laax or do I book somewhere in Austria now?
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You know it makes sense.
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alex_heney, I've pretty much always paid brochure price. I think discounts are only if you book last minute and that's never really an option for me...
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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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Alastair Pink, I love the Zillertal and Ischgl even more. Both places on the same holiday, it couldn't get any better.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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queen bodecia wrote: |
alex_heney, I've pretty much always paid brochure price. I think discounts are only if you book last minute and that's never really an option for me... |
Why not?
Although I usually book 6-8 weeks away, which is why I said relatively early.
But unless you are tied to going to a specific place, or to the very popular times, there is no reason I can think of why booking late would not be an option. Fixed dates don't matter - there is always something reasonable available a few weeks ahead.
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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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'Cos now I have ski buddies it means I have to book a specific hotel for a specific week in order to have the pleasure of their company. I booked this March's trip back in October and even then I had missed the two single rooms and had to pay extra for a double for sole use. They have already all booked for next March's trip so I will too. No discounts on brochure price available at the moment. It's just too risky to wait...
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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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queen bodecia wrote: |
'Cos now I have ski buddies it means I have to book a specific hotel for a specific week in order to have the pleasure of their company. I booked this March's trip back in October and even then I had missed the two single rooms and had to pay extra for a double for sole use. They have already all booked for next March's trip so I will too. No discounts on brochure price available at the moment. It's just too risky to wait... |
OK. You fall into the "tied to a specific place" category in that case. And yes, that does make it difficult to find bargains
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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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Ouchie! £700 for a week in La Thuile in March in a 2 star hotel!!! They saw me coming. Yikes!
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