 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all, Have recently immigrated to the UK from New Zealand to work and travel. Since winter now has arrived and not much to do I thought I would look into a ski trip to Europe.
Me and a couple of mates were looking to go around the 4th of January, for a week in Austria or possibly France. (Guess depending on snow conditions) As it will be our first trip skiing in Europe we will be looking for a resort with a bit of everything. And will probably prefer an apartment type set up with self catering.
Was wondering what are the top ski holiday companies for cheap travel and accommodation packages?
Also how do you find the deals for booking last minute? And are there any companies out there that offer good cheap last minute deals that are worth looking into?
I assume booking within around 1-2 weeks is considered late? And dose this have a very big effect the choice of resorts you can pick from?
Any info would be much appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Downhill21, Booking within 1-2 days is considered late.
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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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Unlikely to get a deal if looking 1-2 weeks before the date, the only times I have made serious savings was booking Friday afternoon and then flying the next morning. You need to be really flexible about your requirements and it helps if you are a 'standard' size group and can get to any of the major airports, its also unlikely you will get ski carriage if its a busy flight.
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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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I used to work for a TO in the French Alps so here's my tips:
Don't be overly fussy about which resort you want to go to.
Do some research now into prices, availability etc. Ian 4th is the cheapest time of the year so you may well see some good bargains now.
The main (big) tour operators are TUI (Thomson, Crystal, first Choice); Neilson; inghams/espirit/ski total; directski. But also have a look at iglu.com and ifyousku.com who are online travel agents.
Use high street travel agents, especially those attached to the big Tos.
And, most important: last minute means last minute ie the Thursday or Friday before Saturday travel. Especially using a travel agent, that's when the real bargains are to be had.
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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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Hi,
We got a decent deal last year with Kwik Travel to Alp Dhuez. Booked about 2-3 days before we left, think we paid around £500 for a fully catered challet with flights and transfers included. Seem to remember the other people in the chalet had paid nearly double that
people recommended Iglu Ski but I found their website and app a complete waste of time, you end up searching for an apartment to fit your group and it shows that they all have 4 places say. Then when you click through its not for 4 people atall but some other random number and the price doesnt relate to what they're showing either. I wasted hours on there before giving up, I wont be going back on their site again.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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2 adults and one child 5th Jan in the crystal 2000 in courchevel for 1099 sounds pretty good.
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Just booked with ski beat for the 4th Jan got some good deals
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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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Thanks for the info. Think we will wait to after Christmas before booking. Hopefully find somewhere good.
I have been looking at the main ski holiday sites Iglu, Crystal, Thomson, inghams. and have found a few issues while searching for places. Nearly all prices shown are for two share even thought when searching I enter in 3nr for guest staying. Also found hard to determine actual deals offered on trips, as a lot of sites have some huge discount % shown on trips and other sites don't, but all have around the same final prices.
Wondering if it better to go DIY instead. Or are the packages the cheapest/best way?
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Shed loads of great deals around now for 4 January. A half-price package for the cheapest week of the season is far cheaper than DIY - assuming you're happy with a catered chalet, which doesn't feel very 'foreign' and puts you in with others.
Suggest a call to Alpineanswers who are (IMO) *very* good as an agent who will be able to suggest you places for three guests.
http://www.alpineanswers.co.uk/
Waiting won't get you a trip for less than £300 including flights; not worth the operator's effort shipping you out there for less than that once they've paid for your food, drink, linen and airport taxes.
I should add, the big operators have become in the habit of trying to sell their excess weeks a couple of weeks before they happen. By the time the week happens, they're all sold out so waiting for further reductions often doesn't work.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Nearly all prices shown are for two share even thought when searching I enter in 3nr for guest staying.
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that's always likely to be a problem with internet searches. It's very annoying. You might do better with a travel agent. Take no notice at all of "discounts" (as you have discovered, you need to look at the actual price to be paid).
Trying to compare TO deals is complicated by the "under-occupancy" charges (e.g. for 3 of you in an apartment which sleeps 4). Can you find another mate? And if you don't want to share a bed or bed-settee that's another complication.
If I were you I think I'd try to find another mate and then start ringing companies themselves, rather than relying on the internet, and maybe try to find a good local travel agent too.
There's a bit of a snow shortage throughout the Alps just now. That might look very different if there are good falls in the meantime, but be prepared to keep an eye on that, and possibly try to reschedule for later in January if it's all still looking a bit thin.
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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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Those 'shed loads' will be from London. Last I looked prices had gone up from newcastle. Grrr
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| Quote: |
TO deals is complicated by the "under-occupancy" charges
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If you booked late would you stand a reasonable chance of getting them to waive the under occupancy charge?
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You know it makes sense.
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Alpine Answers currently have a cracking deal for 1st Jan. £799 catered chalet in Breckenridge flights included. It is for two, I think if you have a third you get charged £250-ish under occupancy - which I still didn't think was too bad considering the destination.
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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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I'll add my two cents.
Late deals about two years ago were right up to the day off travel, because tour operators would sell off any unsold holidays, new rules were introduced when package operators started to go bust.
The late deal optima point as it stands today is about 1 month before, that being said you may find a really good deal.
The websites are very frustrating and sometimes they will advertise a headline rate, to get you hooked in and that holiday is just not there, you have to persevere, good deals are there to be had for the most hearty of souls.
I have been going last minute for the last 8 years both summer and winter, and have not failed yet to get a great deal, play these companies off against each other, speak to a person if you can.
This year I've bagged a £ 225 H/B deal transfers and flight inc, from crystal.
Also if your not bothered where you go, THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I've done a few last minute bookings and should echo the poster above, I've noticed that prices tend to creep up again 4-3 weeks before departure.
Joe
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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See the Breckenridge one I mentioned above has gone from Alpine Answers website now.
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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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Hi I can't comment on last min deals but I got a few quotes from travel agents this week looking at going first week in feb the cheapest were coming out at the £700 mark and that was to various resorts hotel and flights...So Ive gone for the DIY option I managed to get reasonable hotel with HB for 3 people for £1050 and then flights for £40 each to Sauze flying from Stansted on the 1st The only problem now is I found transfer to be really expensive so what I thought was a fairly good deal probably isnt. But still really looking forward to it none the less 
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FAQ
