Serious Question

A snowHead

......about to book flights to Geneva for 20-25th January. Obviously snow conditions aren't great out there at the minute. I usually book accommodation 3-4 weeks before I go, but looking at snow reports and web cams I really am not sure where to go or book. Should I wait until last minute or will the snow have arrived by then and all be ok?

A snowHead

There will be snow by late January.

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

I'd wait until last inute if you're able to. It is indeed likely that there will be snow by late January, but on the other hand I've seen seasons when it has snowed once at New Year and then pretty much never again all winter. It's also possible that some places will get lots of it while others get none. Wait and see.

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Yes, there will be snow, but not necessarily of equal quality everywhere. There's still not a huge argument in favour of booking accommodation at this stage. Can you not do a standard Sat/Sat or Sun/Sun week? You'd have a hugely greater choice of accommodation and probably cheaper. Your dates, spanning 2 normal weeks, are not ideal.

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@pam w, a lot of companies and chalets do sunday to Sunday so don't see it being an issue. Especially in late Jan which is a quiet time for skiing. Think I will wait until the snow situation improves.

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Impossible to say what conditions will be like at the end of January, regardless of what conditions are like at the moment. Could be epic, could be dire. That's the same as every year, so I don't think you need to do anything different from what you normally do in terms of planning your holiday.

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@Ricklovesthepowder, yes, if you want to go to a catered chalet and just pay for your 5 days I'm sure that'd be fine; seems a shame, though.

After all it is free

Conditons look pretty good now on the webcams, most areas seem to be open. I can't imagine the end of Jan will be any worse. The advantage of booking earlier means you get what you want, but if you're prepared to wing it, then fine.

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Conditions often vary quite a lot in January waiting can help get better conditions. The worst conditions I can ever recall on a skiing holiday were in Tignes in January so nowhere is really exempt.

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@queen bodecia, if the weather continues as it is, the end of January will be an unmitigated disaster.

You know it makes sense.

Much more likely to get decent transfers included in a week long rental.

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

@Lizzard, 50cm of snow forecast over the next 6 days and the long term forecast looking like more of the same. Where's the unmitigated disaster?

A snowHead

In fact Zermatt has got 80cm of expected snowfall over the next 6 days...

A snowHead

8/46 Zermatt

Are you sure that's not 8cm?

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@rogg, so where do Bergfex get their weather forecasts from?

http://www.bergfex.com/zermatt/wetter/berg/

Admittedly the expected snowfall has gone down a bit since I looked earlier this morning, but on the whole I've found Bergfex to be pretty accurate in the past.

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@queen bodecia, grand total of three forecast for here between now and next Thursday, with 0° isotherm rising to 3500m at the end of that period.

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@Ricklovesthepowder, of course it is possible there will be no snow anywhere until 2016. But highly unlikely most or all places won't have acceptable snow by end of January. I would go ahead and book now- somewhere high if you want peace of mind

After all it is free

there are likely to be some good last minute bargains for that low season week - and more places likely to be willing to sell you just 5 nights.

And if there's still no snow there'll be loads of bargains. Twisted Evil

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@pam w, Bergfex are forecasting snow in Flachau, albeit at the top

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@holidayloverxx, yes, plenty of precipitation around - more in the east I think, but some fairly grim freezing levels, depending on which forecast you look at and heavy rain forecast at village altitudes across the board, it seems. It's not looking great for Christmas at the moment, it has to be said. It could still change - the only thing the forecasts agree upon is that the outlook is very uncertain. And it will almost certainly change by the time the OP goes in late January. I can still see no logical reason for booking now, I must say. You can always "aim very high" but most of the nicer places aren't that high, and if it's cold and windy the likes of Val Thorens and Tignes are fairly horrible, especially for a non skier.

Since the OP is going in late Jan my advice would be wait till mid Jan, make a shortlist then based on snow conditions as they stand, and where it is you feel you'd like to go as a couple. Watch the prices for accommodation, watch the forecast and when you see the price/forecast/location you want all in one, book.

The Op's in a bit of a limbo time, not early enough to book and get an early bird discount, not late enough to get a last minute discount and book by snow conditions. Wait it out Rick.

You know it makes sense.

Yes going to book the flight to Geneva then wait until first week of Jan to get s good deal.

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

You will probably get a better deal 48 hours before.

A snowHead

Booking the flights this weekend and will wait for snowfalls to decide on resort and accommodation. All a bit of a risk at the moment.

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