 Poster: A snowHead
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| chrisrawles wrote: |
| @Pamski, Do it every time I book a holiday LOL. It's good market research. Well that's what I tell myself |
It's a game of chicken!
Some need to book earlier...time booked off work...groups larger than 2...want a specific resort/accommodation...can't bear the uncertainty, etc.
But if you're totally flexible or have nerves of steel, you will get the real bargains during the week leading up to departure...I always used to do it that way when I went with my mate as we're both self-employed, so could go at the drop of a hat. Half brochure price or better was always the target which is likely easily enough to cover the TOs actual costs of carrying you, bearing in mind that they have economies of scale and they would also bear an opportunity cost of leaving seats/places empty. There's no way they are going to sell a holiday at a loss!
But by all means jump when you see something good that's cheap enough, some TOs are smart and discount that bit earlier and get to offload their capacity with a bit of profit. You need to get over the buyer's remorse though, you got what you wanted and got to secure your holiday earlier! 
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 25-11-16 12:43; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@luigi, Absolutely. At the time of booking the price had been slashed by £200 and was the same price as what we paid last Xmas so i jumped at the chance. Also getting flights from Stansted was a massive plus.
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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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@chrisrawles you need to think about the season as a whole rather than individual weeks to get a better idea of why a tour op might slash prices so much. With fixed overheads for the season that need covering every little helps with that. Plus more heads in beds can mean more commissions, extras purchased, reviews etc etc.
The snow arriving late for the past couple of seasons and awkward changeover dates which are difficult to make compatible with school holidays, flights, the UK transport network post-Christmas works and other factors have made for difficult trading conditions this season which has meant heavy discounting for late deals. The late booking deals are becoming an arm's race but I don't really see what can be done about it without an industry wide consensus. For our part we try to differentiate ourselves through a high quality service that people are willing to pay a little extra for to guarantee but it's a tricky balance.
@Adithorpe
The dates this year for changeover are difficult but I don't think it's fair to say people have shot themselves in the foot with the choices made. Tuesday to Tuesday (which we are operating) does fit into school holidays for the NY week which Friday to Friday doesn't. Boxing day changeover is difficult because people don't want to travel. Bookings comprising Christmas and NY are expensive and don't tend to fit in with family requirements (a holiday and seeing other friends a family over the festive period). Basically there isn't one way that works without some compromise. Hopefully we'll get some more snow in early December and that, coupled with more sympathetic dates for Christmas will help for 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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Don't know about Christmas - but the wife was talking to the agent about our planned trip this half term and she said that she'd had 3 separate requests to go onto reserve lists for the chalet we're taking (21 of us) in Flachau - despite her telling them that there was NO WAY this trip would fall through after the amount of work that had gone into it on both sides.
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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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@chrisrawles, the Christmas bargains aren't just this year. The last few years we've paid somewhere around £400 per person including last year when we DIY'd. We do get a slight extra discount though as we tend to have 3 of us sharing a room, however, this sometimes means we're restricted as to where we can book as there are lots of places that don't have rooms for 3.
As @luigi, suggests it's a game of chance knowing the best time to pull the trigger. I tend to not worry too much if the price drops after I've booked, I'll book somewhere if I feel that I'm getting good value for the resort/accommodation/package.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Richard_Sideways, just out of interest... which agent?
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I thought of going but Crystal were only doing xmas eve to new years eve. I looked at Inghams but they seem to have got rid of most of their Austria holidays. Coupled with a terrible euro rate thanks to Farage and Johnson, poor snow the last few years and that xmas is usually really expensive in hotels and it didn't seem worth it.
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I'll be looking to book something heading out Boxing Day for a week, but after the least few winters I won't be booking until last minute.
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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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If the canals are frozen over?
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@madlondoner, the Euro rate is fine? Better than 2009,10,11 and 13. Not miles from 14 either. Have one less beer, per day and that will usually do it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just had email from silverski 19-26/12 Laplagne /3v £399 chalet inc flight n transfer
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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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@madlondoner, have you looked at tues-tues options with Crystal?
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