 Poster: A snowHead
|
A friend is celebrating being a father again (twins this time!) by going on a short skiing trip away with the lads. A long weekend, from Wednesday to Sunday. He is a sport billy rather than a drinker, so prefers skiing / cycling trips away with the lads, rather than drinking / clubbing.
We could go to a hotel, but on these kinds of trips we usually hang around gabbing to each other until the early hours, so we were thinking of trying to get a catered chalet for 4 nights.
I know chalets prefer bookings by the week, but as this is kind of off-peak (we are thinking of 10 - 14 Jan), I was thinking there might be something available in France / Switzerland / Austria?
Anyone got any ideas of who I should check with? Or are we best leaving it until the week before and see who has availability?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
A friend is celebrating being a father again (twins this time!) by going on a short skiing trip away with the lads
|
 and of course he'll be taking the twins with him?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
How many lads in the group?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Cacciatore wrote: |
| How many lads in the group? |
just putting some numbers together at the moment (subject to permission from the various "bosses"), but we think its going to be around 8-10
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Sack the Juggler, that's a pretty large group already, never mind odd dates... you might find a hotel a better plan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From an owner's point of view, there's a point where I'll accept a 1-week booking that effectively wipes out two weeks. Usually, as you indicate, this might be for a quiet period between the school holidays. However, most websites etc. just don't have a mechanisms for reserving anything but Sat-Sat. So this usually means a direct request to the owner or their rental agency. Also, when we use the place ourselves, we obviously don't travel Fri/Sat/Sun so although in the Booking Calendar we have 2 weeks reserved, in reality, half of the first/last week is actually free, so you may strike lucky.
My advice is to choose somewhere you know and then contact some agencies with your request. And/or the local Tourist Office* (some owners only rent via the TO to avoid hefty Agency fees). Offering to pay a full week's rental across the Weekend makes the decision simple for the owner. They don't want to be to-ing and fro-ing negotiating a pro-rata daily rate when you're effectively getting a 50% discount (in their eyes). They can then decide whether 2 weeks at 50% is better than nothing at all. Often, the Agency will lobby on your behalf if they think a discounted rental is better than nothing.
[*Every time I say this, someone posts 'Don't bother with the Tourist Ofice in Chamonix, they're rubbish'. I can only speak for our local TO who are very good]
Just bear in mind that for an owner who's already 'losing' a week's rental income, to then ask for a pro-rata day rate really isn't likely to work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| LaForet wrote: |
From an owner's point of view, there's a point where I'll accept a 1-week booking that effectively wipes out two weeks. Usually, as you indicate, this might be for a quiet period between the school holidays. However, most websites etc. just don't have a mechanisms for reserving anything but Sat-Sat. So this usually means a direct request to the owner or their rental agency. Also, when we use the place ourselves, we obviously don't travel Fri/Sat/Sun so although in the Booking Calendar we have 2 weeks reserved, in reality, half of the first/last week is actually free, so you may strike lucky.
My advice is to choose somewhere you know and then contact some agencies with your request. And/or the local Tourist Office* (some owners only rent via the TO to avoid hefty Agency fees). Offering to pay a full week's rental across the Weekend makes the decision simple for the owner. They don't want to be to-ing and fro-ing negotiating a pro-rata daily rate when you're effectively getting a 50% discount (in their eyes). They can then decide whether 2 weeks at 50% is better than nothing at all. Often, the Agency will lobby on your behalf if they think a discounted rental is better than nothing.
[*Every time I say this, someone posts 'Don't bother with the Tourist Ofice in Chamonix, they're rubbish'. I can only speak for our local TO who are very good]
Just bear in mind that for an owner who's already 'losing' a week's rental income, to then ask for a pro-rata day rate really isn't likely to work. |
Thanks for that, its good advice, we'll give it a go
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This seems a bit weird, “However, most websites etc. just don't have a mechanisms for reserving anything but Sat-Sat”, as ALL the sites we (/ve) use(d) allow queries on any dates.
AirBnB even sends weird date enquiries for dates where we’ve specifically restricted to Sat-Sat, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| under a new name wrote: |
| ALL the sites we (/ve) use(d) allow queries on any dates. |
OK, in which case it might be useful to then list them for the OP ..............
Just that's not been my experience, but of course, as an owner, I don't book places much so I'm probably out of date.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
We booked through IGOSKI last year (16 of us) for Morzine. Was very impressed with them and the accommodation was more than adequate (in complete contrast to Ski Weekends the year before)
They do Wed to Sun and also the opposite way round which is cheaper. For Morzine for example you fly early Sunday morning and can be on the slopes by lunchtime. Then you get 3 full days before flying back late Wednesday. 3 nights away but 3 1/2 days skiing. This relies on a short transfer so some of the other resorts they offer wouldn't necessarily give same amount of slope time.
I've rebooked for this March (only 12 this time) but they have impressed me every step of the way.
Ski Weekends were OK in terms of organisation but even the rats had abandoned the digs they were so bad 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@LaForet, too long a list. Many of which we - as vendors - found useless.
Start with AirBnB for apartments, Booking for hotels.
Appreciate that’s not really chalets but that's not my current expertise. In my day it was the back pages of the Observer travel section.
Also - maybe - if Chamonix, www.snostation.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
I did a short break in April last year to 'Chalet Mazot' in La Plagne (Les Coches) with mountainsun. They take 7 day bookings and short stay bookings all winter at this Chalet.
It was a fab stay and they do any day arrivals at this chalet and can do complimentary transfers if you time your flights correctly so that they tie-in with the mini-bus at Geneva.
Les Coches is a nice little village with a few places for a beer but is a nice chilled place.
Chalet is position very near to the piste and is one chair lift ride away from the Vanoise express lift so easy to ski/board La Plagne or Les Arcs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
If you want Weds to Sun, then it's worth looking for operators who do Sunday - Sunday chalets, as this would only affect 1 week's bookings. This can vary by resort (i.e. some operators do Sat - Sat in some resorts, or Sun - Sun in others). I'd contact one of the chalet booking agencies as they should have that info - in the past I've found alpineanswers to be pretty good for doing some of the legwork for my more random requests
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
I arrange a similar long weekend trip every year - currently 16 of us!
We used to go on the first flight Thursday to Last flight on Sunday, we now go late afternoon on the Wednesday to Last flight on Sunday. This gives 4 full days of skiing.
This year we're staying at Hotel Telemark in La Tania - they're happy to accommodate guests on a a nightly basis.
If Portes du Soleil is more your bag then I've used mountainmoments.co.uk based in Montriond who also offer long weekends at certain times in the season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Thanks everyone, one of the guys just threw Austria into the mix as its easy for him to get to Innsbruck, so I'm going to search a few places over there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Hi everyone, finally sorted. A mix of skiing abilities has led us to Les Gets. We got a catered chalet for a good price and exclusive use for the dates we wanted and have sorted out flights and transports, so its on!
I've never been before but from Snowheads I've heard its definitely a good ski option.
Now for the non-skiers on the trip, can anyone recommend a suitable bar / club / restaurant for them to while away the hours until we get back, or even a restaurant where they can get to on the slopes for lunch?
Oh, and any evening entertainment tips would also be greatly appreciated 
P.S I'm feeling really lucky at the moment, we are skiing in Are (Sweden) over Christmas with friends and family, then in mid Jan with the lads, then first week in Feb (before the half terms) with my other half (not booked yet). What a fantastic few weeks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good to hear you’re sorted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
