 Poster: A snowHead
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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've little experience of this with TOs, but whenever we stay in French hotels (usually just a night or two en route somewhere) you pay for the room, not per person, with breakfast "en supplement". Quite a few rooms are potential triples. Seems much the most reasonable way to proceed. If a room costs 80 euros (ordinary sort of price) that would amount to a "single supplement" (if you care to think about it in those terms) of 280 euros a week. Obviously would be a lot more in an upmarket hotel.
If the hotel would otherwise have a reasonable chance of filling its rooms, then adding the lost "profit" on 14 meals, a fairly hefty supplement seems fair enough, in commercial terms.
It's not all beer and skittles you know, for people travelling with partners. You have to put up with them and all their little foibles (not to mention the large foibles) just to save a few bob.
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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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| rayscoops wrote: |
| queen bodecia, I would respectfully suggest that the issue is more to do with your lack of flexibility regarding how you book your holidays |
Ding, ding. We have a winner.
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pam w, I've just booked a couple of rooms for July, it was 55€ per room, breakfast extra, but a couple I looked at were slightly cheaper for single occupancy, but only if breakfast was included in the cost of the room.
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queen bodecia, have you looked at Ski Miquel for Serre Chevalier? They just charge a £100 single supplement at the Hotel de l'Europe, or £150 single supplement in their two Chalethotels there - or at least they did last year, I don't think their prices for next year are up on their website yet but should be there soon
http://www.miquelhols.co.uk/ser/infopri.htm
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| Anyway, I'm guessing it will be back to the drawing board for us. The other single lass in our group might be able to afford that supplement but I definitely can't. Boo... |
I'm sorry, but as Lizzard said, the solution is staring you in the face there - double up with the other single lass. I assume as you ski together regularly you don't hate each other so it shouldn't be too much hardship. Just take good earplugs in case she snores like a trooper and you should be fine.
I double up all the time - dozens of times to date - and frequently with people I've never met before. They've pretty much all been quite reasonable humans. The only one who snored to the level that made sleep impossible had actually been pre-equipped by his wife with a pair of earplugs for whomever he would be sharing with. It's really not a big deal. (This year I actually lucked out and got two of this year's four weeks in a single as those trips were not full and they were not peak weeks or not to peak desitinations).
If you are unwilling to do this, then I'm afraid you have to stump up the single supplement, as you are taking a bed that they could otherwise sell, it being a peak week. I don't think I have ever paid a single supplement myself (in over 50 weeks skiing). That supplement sounds a bit on the steep side, but I guess it depends on the standard of hotel you're going for etc.. If it's part of a package, including a charter flight, they probably also have to include some contribution to the flight seat that your "missing OH" is not taking, as they must match the number of beds and flight seats that they charter fairly closely.
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And on the plus side if you go with GrahamN's suggestion that leaves you with £392 worth of beer money!!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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GrahamN, Snow and Sunshine, I'm not sure that's possible. Apart from the fact that we are two single women who live alone and are used to having our own space, we book separately and fly from different airports, so doubtful we can book the same room. I also have personal problems that it wouldn't be fair to inflict upon someone else (not snoring).
sloop, I tend to stick to the 'big four' TOs because of regional flights. Ski Miquel only have Gatwick and Manchester which aren't suitable for most of my group.
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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, we've travelled on the same booking as others, and flown from different airports, and stayed in the same villa. As long as one of you makes the booking, it shouldn't be a problem. You might even get a better price if there are more of you on the booking. If you use a national travel agency it might even be possible for each individual to pay their own share at their local branch. Ski Miquel is a good suggestion too.
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Hells Bells, well I'll certainly suggest it, but I'm currently looking at alternatives too. Ski Miquel is no good sadly due to the departure airports. Best to go back to the group with a range of options and take it from there. Of course they might want to just do the Serre Che thing without me since I'm the only one that can't afford it!
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You know it makes sense.
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| GrahamN wrote: |
| .......If you are unwilling to do this, then I'm afraid you have to stump up the single supplement, as you are taking a bed that they could otherwise sell, it being a peak week...... |
The TO and/or its reps also miss the opportunity for follow on sales (eg lift passes and bar sales) to, and tips from, the non-occupant of the empty bed.
The Ski Miquel option looks a good one to me. Manchester is a very easy airport for most in the North and Midlands to get to - and car parking is very cheap there, too.
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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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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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achilles, Shimmy Alcott, it's not me as such. Manchester airport is only an hour and a half from me, but it's 3-4 hours away for some others in my group.
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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, So what are you looking for? What price range? What dates? Ok departure airports? HB? Give us the details so we can give suggestions that might work for you, rather than giving you lots of suggestions that arent going to work 
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rayscoops, what's not flexible? We're a group of 8 who need two single rooms and regional airport departures. I'm drawing up a list of alternative suggestions for my group including potentially a change of dates. That way we can decide the best option and go with it. That's flexibiity surely?
The idea behind this thread was not an opportunity for all you smug married/family types to have a pop at me for being single but more for us solo travellers (whether single or otherwise) to have a pop at the travel industry for fleecing us rotten. I realise I have to pay extra for a single room, it's just the sometimes exhorbitant amounts I object to.
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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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Shimmy Alcott, yes, let the great snowHead masses sort it out 
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| Quote: |
| what's not flexible? We're a group of 8 who need two single rooms |
What's not flexible? Try again, but this time typing we are a group of 8, who need 3 doubles and a twin room......
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Shimmy Alcott, I may suggest a change of date as an option but normally we look at early-mid March. There's 6 or 8 of us (2 unconfirmed), 2 or 3 couples and 2 singles. We need half board, 2 single rooms and flights from Newcastle, Manchester, Midlands/Yorkshire and potentially Stanstead.
To be honest I'm happy to do the research into alternatives. It's looking like a wet Sunday this weekend so will give me something productive to do!
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queen bodecia, so are you saying you will go anywhere, any date, DIY or TO, room only or half board ? post your specific requirements and see what snowheads can come up with
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Guvnor, two single rooms. Learn to read.
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rayscoops, half board only and not DIY.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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queen bodecia, So it is you who is not prepared to be flexible, as opposed to the TO? Enjoy your unnecessarily expensive 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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Guvnor, she has to meet the needs of the group so that affects flexibility. Have you forgotten you'd turned over a new leaf already?
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queen bodecia, what price range?
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You know it makes sense.
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Shimmy Alcott, I got called on the new leaf, so gave it up.....with regards to the price range, it looks like it's any regular holiday, plus just shy of £400....
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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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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| rayscoops, what's not flexible? |
| queen bodecia wrote: |
| We need half board, flights from Newcastle, Manchester, Midlands/Yorkshire and potentially Stanstead, half board only and not DIY |
dates, number of group, single rooms etc are necessary requirements but the rest is pretty restrictive. To get the single rooms you need to book with whomever has them and unfortunately Tos do not have many, and if you exclude the mass of private chalet and apartment owners then you are making it so much more difficult.
Maybe you should change the thread tiltle to refer to 'Single Supplements with TOs, Half Board, from Regional Airports in March' 
Good luck though
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Poster: A snowHead
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queen bodecia, why did you not simply book the same holiday as last year, assuming it met all your requirements 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Re-reading this, and with the greatest of respect, it's obvious as some have stated where the "problem" lies. And saying that driving 3-4hrs to an airport is a deal breaker, really is the icing on the cake.
FWIW, and to answer the OP, couple of months back I paid a single supplement of £346 on a £380 deal* (91% extra) to do something I specifically wanted. If you have specific requirements, you gotta pay.
(*single in a four, but still cheaper than the original brochure price for four sharing  )
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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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BCjohnny, I'm sure QB would drive that, the others in her group might not.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| .....The idea behind this thread was not an opportunity for all you smug married/family types to have a pop at me for being single but more for us solo travellers (whether single or otherwise) to have a pop at the travel industry for fleecing us rotten...... |
Though I am a smug married type  , Mrs a does not ski, and generally I prefer single room occupancy when I ski. I do not think the TOs are ripping us off for single occupancy - in many cases there are very good reasons for a price hike for singles - tough, but that's the way it is.
There are options - that reduce the cost (I booked the Falken in Wengen through Crystal with no surcharge IIRC - admittedly in a low part of the season - and I could have done a very good DIY deal with the Lutins at Les Deux Alpes.
As for a 3-4 hour drive to an airport being unacceptable - the mind boggles.
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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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| Shimmy Alcott wrote: |
| BCjohnny, I'm sure QB would drive that, the others in her group might not. |
You're only agreeing with me. I'm commenting on the general inflexibility of the group as a whole.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| people are increasingly staying single or becoming single rather than the often unattainable utopia of married bliss, I wonder if the travel industry will ever move with the times? |
| queen bodecia wrote: |
| rayscoops, what's not flexible? this thread was not an opportunity for all you smug married/family types to have a pop at me for being single |
You need to get that chip off your shoulder.
You aren't being flexible despite what you say. You're just showing a no can do attitude. People have offered various solutions but you just find excuses for not considering them. All I can read from you is can't/won't
It's a shame that single travellers have to pay such amounts, but most of us find ways round problems. You just keep banging at the same door thinking that some miracle will happen.
You have repeateadly dismissed the DIY approach yet it would offer a solution. The last 2 years I have gone boarding with a largish group of lads, spread geographically between London/SE and York. We all fly from various airports at different times but to the same destination so we can share transfers and then accomodation. Yes some people wait, some are rushed but it works and it's "cheap".. And we do have to occasionally share rooms with someone we don't know or aren't particularly friendly with.
If you still want to stick to TOs and on top of that actually have the numbers to be able to share a room, then I am afraid I have no real sympathy...
Yes, single supplements can be unfair (not sure they are at peak times as hotel got to cram as much revenue for the year in about 3/4 months). Stop trying to fight the problem head on and try and beat the system.
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one problem with some of these discussions is that whether people cater for themselves or not is confused with whether they stay in a hotel or rented accommodation. The single supplements are certainly stiff but, as this thread has demonstrated, perfectly understandable given the pricing structure of the industry. But a supplement of £392 a week is enough to buy a spiffing dinner in a different restaurant every night.
Another point I'd make is that if anyone is looking for a more flexible deal from French hotels it's wise to avoid the most lucrative, and busiest, four weeks of their entire year.
I did a ski course on my own some years ago and avoided the single supplement by sharing - with a stranger. Of course I'd have far preferred to have a room to myself (as would my roomie) but it was too expensive. We were both over 50, not spring chickens. I was a late arrival and the group was in the bar. I got chatting to this woman who said "I was going to have to share my room but I got lucky because my room mate hasn't turned up and it looks like I'll have it to myself". She was polite enough not to look too appalled when I broke the news.
If you have absolute, unshakeable, requirements then things do become a bit more difficult and your choices fewer. Life's like that.
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I can fully understand QB not wanting to share and that is her right, but to achieve that with any certainty at a reasonable price you really have to be flexible and consider DIY or TO or B&B or Catered Chalet etc. to make it easier to find what you want. If you do accept that flexibility and still have problems booking single rooms at an economical rate then have a moan about it, but otherwise you have to accept the situation because it is a simple case of economics
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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OK calm down everyone. This thread was not about having a pop at my group of ski buddies and our requirements, it was and still is about unfair sole use supplements.
pam w, has hit the nail on the head, the week we are looking at is in the 4-week French high season period and I can see that is why the hotel (not the TO) are imposing a supplement I can't afford. We can't go later in March as the flights are not available. However, I am going to suggest January to the group, just as a possibility. It might not get any favour, but it's a suggestion.
The regional flights are a must for some of our group, as travel to different airports, and the time it takes to do so, is not possible. It's not a huge issue for me personally, as long as it's not Gatwick. But different people have different requirements and I daresay that's where the negative comments regarding 'inflexibility' come from. I really don't need these negative comments. I'm not asking people to find us a holiday, we can do that ourselves. I'm not asking for a load of useless flaming either. I'm not asking for a miracle. We manage to find holidays to suit us all every season and I've no doubt we will again next season and subsequent seasons. I realise people keep suggesting the DIY route, but that doesn't work for us for the numerous reasons I have mentioned several times already.
I really don't have a chip on my shoulder, I'm happy being single.
So enough already. If you have any amusing or ludicrous tales of solo supplements, let's have them.
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| queen bodecia, is this for your possible Serre Chevalier trip? Which hotels are you looking at? I know the Grand Hotel in Chantemerle has small doubles that are let out as singles for a low supplement. VolklAttivaS5 stayed there so may be able to give more advice on who she booked with etc . There were however rumours that it was closing. |
queen bodecia, indeed I did stay at the Grand Hotel once, booked through Neilsons for end March/1st week of April and from memory it was £459 for the week half board including flights and transfers. The room was small and the bathroom absolutely tiny but the bed was a double and very comfortable. I'm not surprised the Grand Hotel might not be available for next season as although downstairs was alright, the rooms were very tired and showing signs of wear so maybe they are refurbishing it this season. I think of the £459 (which is not a bad price anyway half board for a single room and that wasn't a late deal either) about £70 was the supplement, certainly the cheapest supplement I'd every come across so far in France.
I find that the single supplements in France (through TOs anyway) are a lot more than in Austria for some reason, where good value accommodation for the sole traveller is quite readily available in most resorts.
The worst single supplements I'd ever been quoted was £450 for a twin room in a Skiworld chalet in France somewhere and £492 for a hotel in Gressoney. Needless to say I didn't bother as that's just too much for me. The most I'm prepared to pay for a week is about £150. I understand why they charge supplements but I just go somewhere else or stay in a different accommodation where I can get a single room for a reasonable (to me) price.
Have you looked at Ski Miquel in Serre Chevalier for your group because the single supplements are £100 or £150 last time I looked plus the accommodation looked quite reasonably priced too with flights and transfers included?
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Fri 13-05-11 13:23; edited 1 time in total
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FAQ
We often have a similar problem in that we are a family of three, many family rooms are for 4 or sometimes 5, therefore we could end up paying hefty underoccupancy supplements. One particularly memorable quote was for something like the best part of £200 for having one child on a sofa bed because in theory they could have had two kids on that sofa bed. We said we would take the holiday but not pay the supplement, they accepted our offer. When we got there the sofa bed was smallish and broken on one side anyway! Good luck with your search 
