 Poster: A snowHead
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Just interested on others thoughts?
I have just (Tuesday) booked a weeks catered chalet for x4 departing today (Saturday) - for my son and friends.
Whilst trawlling through all the usual sites it seemed to me that there was a HUGE amount of choice and some real last minute bargains to be had! - I am talking packages including flights and transfers as well as chalets only - some of a very high standard at a rock bottom price.
I was only looking at France - primarily the 3V.
It appeared that there are a lot of holidays going for a song, certainly more than usual for a January - what do you think??
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Serious under-occupancy going on here if anyone fancies luxury chalets in Alpe d'Huez and can travel tomorrow.
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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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Lizzard, cant travel tomorrow, but Alps d'Huez is on my 'to do' list, possibly for this March. Would you kindly let me have details of your chalet please. PM me if you prefer?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I am getting emails every day with some really amazing prices but no good to me I can't get away to take advantage of the deals tied to school hols 
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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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I suspect all the tales of avalanches, poor snow and high profile accidents have put off a good number of floating voters.
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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 skiied 3V the first week of Jan - was one of the best weeks skiing ever - snow was fab (i'm not that into off piste - so was not too worred about that) - had plenty of fresh snow / powder and almost spring like weather - I honestly did not hit a bit of ice all week - slush yes - but no ice! And everywhere was sooooooo quiet! If people want to go skiing now is the time to go - surely - if you can of course!
Sarah - take the kids out of school - I always do - I know thats another topic so we wont go there! But I agree - I was getting some ridicuoulsy cheap deals via email - and they were genuine - I checked!
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Annoying for those of us that booked at full price.
I could have got my imminent holiday at less than half price.
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can someone please let me know where you are finding these amazing 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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I've noticed more last min bargains this year than usual.
£199 for la plagne, catered chalet, london flights, free ski carriage. Going on Sat if you book the day before......a few of those deals around the last couple of weeks.
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We've just arrived in Les Arcs, paid £299, half board 4 star inc flights from Manchester and transfers, just go on any of the majors websites and look for last minute deals, we do it every year....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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limegreen1, I get emails from inghams and alpine elements which have had really good catered chalet and self catering deals - try igluski for a look across most of the market. I'm off next week on a holiday that was booked back in November. The same deal is only about £50pp cheaper now than when I booked with only Gatwick as a departure point so I'm not too fussed.
If your flexible on where you go and are happy flying from Gatwick there are great deals to be had for the next couple of weeks.
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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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better get a beer and settle into some browsing ! ...
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limegreen1, try www.alpineanswers.co.uk They have plenty of inclusive chalet deals from under £300 incl flights, transfers, and chalet board going 25/26th Jan.
Alternatively check out Crystal Ski late deals, if you don't mind a mass market TO.
Just needs time in front of your computer!
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You know it makes sense.
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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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We were in MK Snozone today and at the Crystal shop there was a weeks holiday half board in Bansko for £180 going 25th Jan. Bargain. Disgrace that we need to pay almost 10 x that for Feb Half Term.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Been watching for an italy holiday and theres great choice..a lot more than last year
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
Disgrace that we need to pay almost 10 x that for Feb Half Term.
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alangibson73, you going to Bansko for half term?
Why's it a "disgrace"; do you not believe in a free market in ski holidays? 
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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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Not that much going from Northern Ireland - mainly to Austria where the snow is poor. Dublin departures have a bit more but i think they have limited the ski holidays here over the past few years.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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No I am off to Italy in Half Term and I think it is wrong that the price of holidays in half term go through the roof. Your description of a free market would equal others people description of bring ripped off.
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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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| pam w wrote: |
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Disgrace that we need to pay almost 10 x that for Feb Half Term.
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alangibson73, you going to Bansko for half term?
Why's it a "disgrace"; do you not believe in a free market in ski holidays? |
Indeed, we struggle to rent our apartment in January yet can rent it out 10x over in Feb half term. It's a short season of course we are going to charge what the market demands.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Limegreen - let us know - out of interest what you find / where you go? Skiworld and Skitotal, if you dont mind larger TO's have good last minute deals. Its worth looking at the smaller independent chalet operators, of whom the majority are very good - some will let you do a a week mid-week to mid-week meaning cheaper flights? - A bit of juggling I know - but could be a bargain!
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With the last couple of dumps of snow this week in the PDS we saw a quick increase of enquiries
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sun 2-02-14 14:36; edited 1 time in total
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About to start looking in the hope of finding something for next weekend!
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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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| Quote: |
at least the lift companies don't increase the cost for a lift pass:D
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Some do.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I suspect that once the winter olympics start and, particularly, finish there will be a rush of customers and prices will shoot up again. I wonder if many TOs have booked lots of accommodation this year expecting there to be a lot of interest.
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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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| Quote: |
I think it is wrong that the price of holidays in half term go through the roof.
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*sigh*
1. This is called 'what the market will stand'. I'm not going to flog something for a tenner at a time of year when I can sell it five times over at £100. This would be stupid.
2. That bargain break in Bansko which you think is so reasonable is being sold at break-even or more likely a loss in order to fill flight seats. It exists because the TOs make their money at peak times, ie half term, Christmas/New Year and Easter. Yes, you are subsidising everyone else's cheap holidays. Possibly you should have thought of than one before breeding.
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| alangibson73 wrote: |
| No I am off to Italy in Half Term and I think it is wrong that the price of holidays in half term go through the roof. Your description of a free market would equal others people description of bring ripped off. |
So you are distressed that TOs have to charge low prices for the low season?
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You know it makes sense.
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| Lizzard wrote: |
| .... Yes, you are subsidising everyone else's cheap holidays. Possibly you should have thought of than one before breeding. |
Oi! Don't knock the present generation breeding. Today's babies are tomorrow's tax payers paying my pension. I love my grandchildren. OK, I would anyway - but you get what I mean 
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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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So take someone who doesn't 'breed' for whatever reason (fertility problems, lack of a suitable partner, or simply not wanting to), surely the amount they have paid in tax and NI over the course of their working life will more or less cover the amount they 'claim back' in terms of healthcare and state pension when they retire? Why would they need someone else's kids to subsidise this? Not to mention the fact that today's workers are heavily encouraged to save for their own personal pensions as the state pension is gradually being wound down.
Or do you just mean in terms of timings? In which case I'm currently paying for someone else's kids education right now. Daft argument if you ask me, not a justification for deciding to breed...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| alangibson73 wrote: |
| We were in MK Snozone today and at the Crystal shop there was a weeks holiday half board in Bansko for £180 going 25th Jan. Bargain. Disgrace that we need to pay almost 10 x that for Feb Half Term. |
£1800 for crowded Bansko is criminally insane of any punter that pays it As others have said it's just the price, everyone at low season basically gets stuff at lost-leader pricing to cover overhead (if they are savvy enough). If you seriously have a problem , organise yourself and enough fellow HT ers to impact TOs at HT through a boycott of their products.
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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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| Quote: |
£1800 for crowded Bansko is criminally insane of any punter that pays it
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he's not - he's going to Italy, so was comparing apples and pears. It's such a tired and daft argument. Absolutely nobody has to go skiing at half term. My daughter and son in law are teachers and never have - when they can afford a ski holiday (which isn't a huge expense as they stay with me and I do the airport transfers) they ski either at Christmas or at Easter, both of which are cheaper and a lot less crowded.
I stayed in France for half term once because I had visitors who wanted to come then and who needed my support, transfers, translation, housekeeping, ski guiding, etc etc  Never again - and that was in a "quiet" resort with no TOs. My niece and family will borrow my place at half term next month, paying £150 to cover costs and make a small contribution to upkeep. They will drive down, don't need any help from me and could not afford a half term holiday any other way.
If I could only ski at half term I wouldn't bother, frankly. Pay all that money and stand in lift queues? (Incidentally, I don't know why the lift companies don't do elastic pricing, seems logical - a lot of lifts must run at a huge loss in January with entire slopes empty).
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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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| Quote: |
Don't knock the present generation breeding.
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I'm not knocking the breeding, just the whining about its consequences.
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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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| Quote: |
I'm not knocking the breeding, just the whining about its consequences.
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Fair enough!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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[quote="pam w"]
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My niece and family will borrow my place at half term next month, paying £150 to cover costs and make a small contribution to upkeep. |
Bloody hell thats generous, can you adopt me please??!!
As a side note, if you are fed up with TO's ripping you off, don't use them. Book flights yourself, book a self-catered chalet (many owners on here offering SH discounts) and a hire car. To hope that TO's will NOT try to maximize their yield (as they are entitled to IMO), is wishful thinking.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sun 2-02-14 14:37; edited 1 time in total
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Last season in val disere all the locals disappeared at half term as they expected crowds and queues. Lo and behold they didn't come... The resort was eerily quiet and stories of poor year for many was heard. I would expect the same this season and whilst it is great to bag a bargain I feel that too many more seasons will see more independents give up. That said, the properties are there now and they have to make a return .... Something's got to give.
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Getting back on track - a little, with the original topic - does anyone think March (low season weeks) will pan out similar to January??
In my expereince - Jan has ALWAYS been bargain month - with March a very close second?
But - just out of interest - as this Jan has seemed to have produced some exceptional bargains - will March follow suit????
I guess - this will slightly be weather / snow dependent???? We shall just have to wait and see!
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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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I could cry when I see the deals for mid Jan. I am one of those market forces that only have school holidays to travel. So I man up, bend over, and accept its going to hurt.
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£180 for a week's HB, F & T to Borovets is cheap....
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