 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
I am new to the forum and I'm seeking a bit of advice. I've recently moved to UK and I have no idea what is the best way to go skiing from here. I live in South West and I feel a bit isolated form the snowy mountain peaks of Alps which were within driving range from my home country.
So the question is how do Britons go skiing? What is the best way to get to ski resorts? Driving? Flying? I've just quickly checked easy-jet ticket prices to Munich and Venice (I usually ski in Tyrol and Dolomites) and the price for 1 person + hold luggage + skis comes up to about £200+ which sounds quite expensive, considering all the other costs on top. Is this a regular price or are there better deals? And what do you do after landing, how do you get to the ski resort? What are the most popular resorts with best airport connections?
As I've said I have always travelled by car or coach so all this is new to me, so any tips are most welcome 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@NetRino,
There really is no one answer, it will depend on where you live, how many there are of you, when you plan on going and how far you book ahead.
Flying high season at short notice can be extortionate, get in very early and it can be surprisingly reasonable.
Packaged holidays taken low season can be very economical and include the flight and accommodation, taken at short notice they can be amazingly cheap.
There is less variation to the cost of driving and the economies depend very much on the car an
D how many you can fit into it.
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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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If you really want to take it easy on yourself, go to Crystal and book a late deal with them. Just pick the best of what there is. Cheap and VERY easy.
I just did Ellmau for 3, half board in an apartment, with lessons for one and gear/ passes for all, for £1750. Everything is done for you.
Perhaps do that this year and do DIY next year?
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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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The price you have quoted is more than the average price I pay but it can certainly be more booking late in high season.
Popular airports to fly to include Geneva, Salzburg, Munich,Zurich, Turin, Lyon,Grenoble,Chambery, Innsbruck, Milan, Memmingem & others.
Onward transport varies hugely in cost and efficiency. I most often rent a car but I am usually going with several others.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| NetRino wrote: |
Hi
And what do you do after landing, how do you get to the ski resort? |
As far as French resorts go, there are coach transfers running several times a day from Geneva airport. IIRC cost Geneva/Val d'Isere is around €50 per head each way, for example. Reliable and stress-free in my experience. I don't know what equivalents exist in the Dolomites or Tyrol but I imagine they exist.
I'm self-employed and time is money. I have driven but won't repeat that unless I was doing it with at least one other driver who was prepared to jointly drive non-stop and the person I usually go skiing with doesn't want to do that, so we fly.
Personally I book a self-catering apartment, book flights and transfer and eat in a different restaurant every night. No stressing over whether the chalet staff can in fact cook. Booking all the arrangements is easy & probably takes me an hour. If I was going somewhere I didn't know, I might use a tour operator.
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1. Do you have any ski buddies living here? Going as a group will bring the cost down, at least 2 of you flying & sharing accommodation and 4 of you driving by car and sharing fuel, tolls & Eurotunnel cost.
2. Booking early for scheduled flights is nearly always cheaper. If you have left it late, think out of the box...Basel, Stuttgart, Nice, Bologna, Milan, Nuremberg, Graz might have cheaper options, but you will likely need to hire a car, so only worth it if travelling as a group of 4.
3. Booking late for holiday packages is nearly always cheaper, check out deals on http://www.igluski.com/ , then Google the accommodation name and haggle direct with the company by phone.
4. Being in SW will make it more expensive, as there's less choice from Bristol, let alone Exeter, compared to bigger airports around London, Birmingham, Manchester.
5. A third of Brits ski in France, as it's the closest to us and has some serious ski resorts, but if you're flying it makes little difference...I also prefer Austria & Italy.
6. Going later in March should be cheaper than February.
7. If you have friends back home going skiing, maybe you should grab a cheap flight home and join them on their trip, visit family at the same time.
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| luigi wrote: |
6. Going later in March should be cheaper than February.
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Good point, if you can avoid the UK and French half terms, that's worthwhile.
From the SW you could consider Flybe Southampton to Geneva.
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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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FAQ
Lots more snowHead advice if you need it 
