Am I wrong to want to book early?

A snowHead

So I'm in discussion with some friends about skiing next year, and it's been agreed that we'll go to Tignes. 4, or maybe 6 blokes in the 40something age range, some of us (including me) not having skied since 2010. Sad

However, what hasn't been agreed is that we will actually book it. The last word on it was "we'll get together in a couple of months, and sort the exact date out, and then book something in November"

Whereas I would rather agree everything now, and book ASAP, to get any early booking offers.

Trying to get a "late" deal seems far too hit & miss to me, and I would prefer the certainty.

Am I being unreasonable, or even wrong? Puzzled

A snowHead

DaddyLouLou, we all do things differently but I'm with you Laughing

If you're organising then you call the shots. Unless you have a very flexible group of 6 then I would get on and agree a date.
I book my group trip early. This ensures good prices for accommodation and flights and as several of us work together, it means we are organised with regards to annual leave and covering the unit. Also means that you can spread the cost quite nicely.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

If you're herding a bunch of cats there are benefits in getting booked early - people get to put their money where their mouth is in terms of committing. From your OP I'd bet that allowed to drift the 4 or possibly 6 will end up at 2 of you by the time you actually got to go once family, work, cashflow, illness, injury, gig tickets, that match on Sky etc are taken into account.

Otherwise if you're not tied to school holidays and not too fussy there's not usually that much to be gained by early booking though TOs do seem to be balancing their incentives in favour of early committers. November is probably the worst time to book from that perspective - too late for incentives, way too early for distressed inventory.

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When are you thinking of going? If it's a peak week (Christmas, New Year, Half Term) or you want to stay in a particular place, then booking ahead makes a lot of sense. If it's a low-season week then there will still be plenty of availability and you could just book a week or two before you travel and get the best discounts.

Booking in November you will fall between early booking discounts and last minute discounts, so that seems like the worst of both worlds.

If you are booking a DIY rather than tour-operator trip then it can make sense to decide which week you're interested in well in advance and book the travel (as that tends to get more expensive as you get closer to departure) and then book accommodation at the last minute when you know where the best snow is.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I agree with the post above although as a rule I prefer late booking where possible , this is for last minute deals and better assessment of snow conditions.
If this is not a factor booking early means you don't miss the accommodation you want and you often get much better discounts than you do booking after the summer .

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fatbob, mine are sheep but the sentiment is the same Toofy Grin

Sorts the wheat from the chaff.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

DaddyLouLou, looks like there is a consensus.

My only addition, back in the days when we ever organised groups, it swiftly became apparent that the only way to keep things even was to simply say, "I/we are going <here> on <these>. If you want to join us we used these agents/TO/flights/accommodation".

And let everyone else sort themselves and their own responsibilities out.

After all it is free

Booking for 2 people, later is better but a group of six is hard to sneak in anywhere, so waiting for late discounts is a big risk. Add to that any requirements for regional flights and you need to be really flexible to take advantage of good prices, if there are any seats left (N.B. a group of six is not going to be flexible, no matter what they tell you, when you have to take into account jobs, families, other bookings, budgets etc. I'm with fatbob on this one, herding cats indeed.)

If you know what you want, get them committed. You will likely only need to put down a deposit anyway.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Thanks for the input.

Personally, I'm thinking of going between mid-Jan and mid-Feb, but obviously not half term as blahblahblah speaks the truth.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

DaddyLouLou, my 2p's worth.....

We're in a similar boat, looking to book a week in jan (away from busy weeks) for a group of us. I've been looking around, and the current "early bird" deals look reasonable to me if you can shop around, probably only £100 ish (once you factor in offers on lift passes etc that tend to be offered at this time of year) more than you'd pay on a late (but not very late!) deal. The benefits, you can pick and chose where you get to go, and can possibly play TO's off against one another to reduce the price further. Also, knowing you're booked and going is a definite incentive to save up each month between now and then, and possibly pay the trip off throughout the year, rather than waiting and having to fork out for the whole thing in one go.

One final point, November is (as others have stated) definitely between the "early bird" and "late deal" options, so surely a bad time to be booking??

snow reports

DaddyLouLou, you won't, as others have said, get any discounts booking in November - worst of all worlds.

If you are planning self catering, between mid Jan and mid Feb, I would decide on a date and book flights NOW and then book accommodation much nearer the time when you know what the snow is like in different places.

In terms of cost there's not much financial advantage in a group of 6 (as opposed to social advantage). If you can persuade a couple of your mates to sign up for a date, and book flights (or book everything if you are wanting a package deal) then the others might fall into line.

If you just book flights there are loads of accommodation option for 2 - 6 people and car hire, or transfers, can be arranged later.

If you are specific about what you want - things do get booked up. I just took the last 3 rooms for that week in a small hotel we like. I organised one guide 2 months ago, as 3 weeks of the month we wanted him he was already booked so I grabbed him quickly.

I tend to consult our group during the previous season skiing about where they would like to go. I then make a decision about the 3 holidays and enquire about the availability of guides and hotel prices and availability. Then I look into the main transport and transfers.
Finally in about June I contact the dozen people in the group to ask which holidays they want to go on.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

Though there are some good options for going away on your own, including the SHs bashes. Or UCPA. or Warren Smith or similar outfit. You don't have to depend on flakey mates.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I always book early, single rooms are in big demand!

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Flights now, car hire at least several months ahead and accommodation a few days before departure (particularly if you want non standard days)

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You have been specific about Tignes. I can tell you mark Warner are doing dome good deals for single occupancy rooms in Tignes.

Have a look at the website check your dates, for me room sharing is now a deal breaker.

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Btw I didn't do the link I just typed mark Warner

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Kel, that happened to me the other day - irritating. Is there a way to edit out a hyperlink?

After all it is free

I've booked 3 weeks already for next season, again because I want a single without a single supplement. I also know what and where I want to go as well as when - 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year and 1 week at the beginning of February. No deposits required and no high season mark-ups either, all booked directly with the hotelier in person.

Book early and you get what you want when you want it, but you need to know what exactly it is that you want. I will book up other weeks on a more as and when basis according to snow conditions and my work schedule. I take very little holiday outside of the ski season and save up my holiday allowance to go skiing as well as clocking up as much overtime as possible in the summer seasons.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I'm another needing single rooms that's already booked. I'm also travelling all the way from Australia so can't really afford to 'wing it' if I want to go to specific resorts.

Help!!

Am I wrong to want to book early?

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