 Poster: A snowHead
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Afternoon all,
Well... after months of "we are definitely not going skiing this New Year", suddenly....
(yes you guessed it)
"I think we should go skiing this New Year"
Doh... well I'm certainly not complaining, but for 2 itty bitty issues, namely:
1) We can literally only make a week work if we go Boxing Day, or the day after. Which doesn't fit with any of the standard package changeover dates for Austria or Italy (where we are aiming for)
2) I've now got my 2 DDs other halves in tow. And there's only one person that will end up paying for all this.
So, 6 of us, trying to find reasonably priced flights and - rather more challenging - hotels, when the TAs have already block booked pretty much everything in sight.
Which brings me to my asks for help.....
- any suggestions for good resorts where there may be some hotel availability (off the beaten track sort of thing) - needs to work for beginners and intermediates and have some reasonable apres/nightlife. Looking for half board in at least 3* standard hotels.
- any good TAs that specialise in bespoke type packaging - given this is going to come at a chunky cost, I'd rather have a bit of extra protection and also not have to shell out for everything up front.
All thoughts and suggestions very welcome. I have found a couple of possible options, but it's slim pickings if you don't fit in with the schedule of Crystal, Inghams and the like...
Ta
RC
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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: |
I've now got my 2 DDs other halves in tow. And there's only one person that will end up paying for all this.
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Are "DDs" daughters? Why do you need to meet all the costs? Even if they can't pay all the costs, surely they could make a contribution? For example they could contribute £££££££££ they might otherwise have spent at Christmas.
When we did early January family ski holidays (never New Year - too expensive and busy) we made it clear to the kids (all school kids) that the ski holiday would be our main family "Christmas present" to each other. Very small token gifts were exchanged at Christmas time.
Does it really have to be New Year? Presumably the DDs and other halves are no longer school kids? As you've discovered your dates are going to be extremely challenging.
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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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Contact the Tourist Information Office in a chosen resort and ask them what self catering accommodation is available.
If you are paying for accommodation then others can take it in turns to cook a meal. Eat out on alternate nights (or two nights in, one night out, two nights in, one night out).
How many of you are going? Is driving feasible?
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Off the beaten track + apres dont really go, but a good starting place for DIY is sunweb, get an idea of a few resorts within budget & match up with flights in budget. Sunweb will also offer flights along with the accomodations+lift pass combo, but you will still be left to fend for yourself with transfers.
Getting midweek flights could your biggest obstacle though
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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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@ratechaser, your biggest problem is that (at least in France) that's highest of high season - so for accommodation, no-one will break a Sat-Sat (or Sun-Sun if that's their thing) week. Or, anywhere, nowhere you'd want to sleep.
And I've done a quick check on LGW-GVA and flights are about €300 a head.
Either throw money at it or go at easter?
Or stay e.g. in Aosta down the valley and drive up every day?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Try these guys in Tignes, they cover a lot of French resorts and are very good at meeting non standard requirements:
https://peakfeeling-ski.com/
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I've had a quick look at "our" resort St Martin de Belleville (3V)-ouch! You really can't combine locations with half board hotels and some apres ski with any sort of price under £3000 for two people (and they are all booked!).
If those dates are the only you can do, the best option is probably an apartment not directly in a resort via airbnb where the owners might be a bit more flexible. I've checked round our valley and there are some options (though be wary of scammers!)-but you would need a car.
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Sunweb is coming up with a big zero and there's always something on Sunweb.... You are falling foul of Christmas and New Year falling perfectly for standard holiday bookings (sat to sat). I'd bin it off and go at Easter and save yourself a packet.
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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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 My parameters were off! Looks fine - fill your boots!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If you're looking at flying, consider flying in to less of ski holiday airport, Munich for example for Austria.
If you're happy to do so, might be worth considering booking a larger vehicle for you to drive yourself to resort to. This also means you could stay a bit further out of town to find a cheaper accommodation.
One place i've found on a quick search that could work is the Landhotel Zenzerwirt in Hippach. This is part of the Zillertal valley, and is just north of Mayrhofen. www.zenzerwirt.at
A 6 person apartment here for 26/12-02/01 is coming in at €2,227.54. 2 bedrooms plus a sofa bed. Not a bad price for a 4* hotel at those dates!
Use the Mayrhofen site to search too:
https://booking.mayrhofen.at/en/accommodations/offers/?_gl=1*16tdlaw*_ga*OTEyMDI0NDYuMTY5MDk5NTMzMQ..*_ga_V6639J96ML*MTY5MjY0NDY0OS4xMC4xLjE2OTI2NDQ3OTcuMTYuMC4w
From here you're a 5/10 minute walk to the train station in Ramsau which gives you the Zillertalbahn along the valley to all the ski resorts. There's also bus stops nearby that will take you to the Horbergbahn lift and direct access in to the main Mayrhofen ski area.
You've got an amazing apres ski scene in Mayrhofen and trains running back to Ramsau until around 8pm ish, and you're also only a 10 minute taxi ride back to the hotel as well.
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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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Given you're accepting some cost, I'd suggest Switzerland, as the hotels are less tied to full weeks. I'd start looking at mid-sized areas, like Grindelwald, Engleberg, Lenzerheide, Val d'Annivers
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I'm not sure if things are changing/have changed.
When we went 2022 we got an apartment Mon to Mon - 19th to 26th December. And it wasn't the only one available.
Just checked https://www.gsi-immobilier.com/en/ and they seem to have options boxing day for a week. Not crazy money either.
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You know it makes sense.
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The Xmas/NY changeover is saturday I think as most UK schools are off until 8th Jan. So rank length of stay, apres and cost and go from there
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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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You are going to find this easier if you can compromise somewhere.
If you have access to car(s) you can stay out of town.
Self catering is going to be lot's cheaper than hotels.
Out of town you're more likely to be able to book the dates you want.
Flights to Munich may come up cheaper.
Hiring two small cars likely cheaper than small bus for 6. (4/5 passengers in, 1 or 2 plus luggage in other).
Flights at antisocial hours and plus cheap motel near airport.
Split the party and drive with those that can be more flexible on time; and use the car for an airport run. Maybe even extend the stay for those that go by car(s).
Austria will work better than France, Andorra worth a try.
In Austria look at a pension (b&b) as well as SC don't worry about the star rating, plan and budget for meals out, and use town pool or spa facilities.
Look at accommodation in two places nearby, a two room SC will normally be OK for 6 to eat, and two to go up the road to sleep.
Pick an shortlist of 2/3 Austrian resorts and you will still find reasonable value SC or pension, especially if you are happy bus or drive to the lift.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
Firstly, thanks for the multitude of responses. I think I need to address a few points:
1) Why am I paying - well, because I can and because I choose to. But that doesn't mean I don't want to try and get the best value possible, even within limited options! DD - yes, that's the usual abbreviation for daughter, and as one is school age and one at Uni (OHs likewise) I'm quite happy to be the indulgent parent.
2) I'm specifically after hotels on a HB basis - possibly I wasn't clear enough before, but it's what we have always done on family holidays and it's what works well for us. Apartments, self catering - that's for my 'boys' trips! Everyone will have their opinion on this, and this is mine.
3) Yes it has to be New Year. Different schedules etc mean that this is our one and only chance to do it together.
@Gored, Thank you for the Sunweb tip, I'll have a play around with that. Austria and Italy are the preference. Well, ok I'd be in Courchevel or Meribel if the budget went that far, but with beginners in tow, that's a bit of a stretch. Brides Les Bains... well, only if the gondola from Meribel went later than 5pm...
To be fair, I have found one Austria option at just under £8k for all of us, all in, which is a level I'm happy with - let's see what Sunweb throws up for comparison!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ratechaser,
Since you are looking to fly Tuesday or Wednesday check that you can get lessons for your beginners. As with many things in ski resorts these tend to be orientated towards weekend arrivals. Transfers may be an issue, too.
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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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@ratechaser, have a look on the tourist office sites, we've got a hotel from 27th Dec to the 5th jan. A Wednesday to a week on Friday.
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I guess as you have 1 day flexibility, you could reduce or extend by 1 day to a 6 night or 8 night trip.
Snowtrex is similar to sunweb & probably has more Austrian options.
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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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For transfers I tend to always use Alps2Alps - they have been excellent in the past and do a discount for not travelling at peak weekend times.
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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: |
the usual abbreviation for daughter
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not on Snowheads - I've not seen it here. Is it Mumsnet? I think because so many of us on Snowheads are knocking on, we're not familiar with Mumsnetspeak.
It's great that you want to treat everybody to a holiday and can afford to be generous. Your original post didn't quite give that impression - probably just my faulty inference that you sounded slightly resentful.
Are they all skiers already? If any need lessons, that might complicate dates.
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I think DD is Darling Daughter - all sounds a bit silly to me. I think we still funded ski trips for our kids when they were at school and sometimes at uni - but at uni they seemed to be able to pour so much booze down their throats I got quite mean. When we holiday with them nowadays, and they have their own families, we pay our way but I think they often scoop up more of dining out bills. They all have piles more money than us nowadays. But then we paid to educate them… they have all avoided that - so far.
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@Kenzie, that's a good shout re: lessons. Worst case we will just hire a private instructor - for 2 absolute beginners wanting to board it could pay dividends in getting them vaguely competent in a few days.
@Mother hucker, Yep, looking at them now. Must admit this isn't the first time we have done this (at least when it was just the 4 of us) - our New Year dates last year didn't fit in with the tour companies either, but I got lucky with one of our regular hotels in Zell (after a lot of checking). To be fair, I'm already doing slightly better this time round in that I actually have a short list of options... given how little Mrs RC is prepared to compromise, that's nothing short of a miracle.
@pam w, I probably don't fit the profile of a typical mumsnet user  , thought DD was used more widely but maybe that's me outed then! Anyway, I'm not bitter or resentful - well obviously DDs could have done better with their choice of BFs but that's another issue entirely. Right now I'm just balancing the view that I can't take it all with me, with the innate need to get value for money!
If there is one possible compromise it's flying into Munich - longer xfr but I've got Avios to burn with BA so that will make it a lot cheaper...
Anyway, will update with what we settle on. If anyone is interested 
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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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@ratechaser, if you have a couple of brand new boarders and are anywhere near a snowdome it would really pay dividends to send them on a 'board in a day' course.
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@rogg, an excellent idea - we'll be packing them off to Hemel Hempstead toot sweet 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We faced a similar issue trying to find a place in France that would allow us to book mid-week to mid-week over Christmas / New Year in a resort - I knew it would be an issue but my mate insisted it would work! Despite many places showing as available on Booking.com / AirbnB / other booking sites, no one would accept our booking when requested. We eventually managed to book a hotel half-board in Brides-les-Bains.
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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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@Red Dave, it did work then..in the end
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It's not going to be easy to find something, but not impossible.
I'd look at places like the Zillertal in Austria. Probably the likes of Mayrhofen or Gerlos won't have anything (at least not at realistic prices), but there are many more villages in the valley with quite easy access to skiing that might have options.
Renting a car should open up many options in other places like Ski Amade or Ski Welt.
I can see some limited options on skiamade.com
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You know it makes sense.
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Sunweb do offer transfers if you've selected flights. Select 'see prices and book' on the chosen hotel page, choose a date/price and then 'select preferences' scroll down and there should be a transfer option.
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If you book a transfer via Sunweb, it will be a transfer by taxi or (mini)bus to and from resort.
Transfers are not included in the basic flight-inclusive holidays but can be these can be added for an additional fee. There are some exceptions, relating to last-minute holidays...
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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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It's not going to be easy to find something, but not impossible.
I'd look at places like the Zillertal in Austria. Probably the likes of Mayrhofen or Gerlos won't have anything (at least not at realistic prices), but there are many more villages in the valley with quite easy access to skiing that might have options.
Renting a car should open up many options in other places like Ski Amade or Ski Welt.
I can see some limited options on skiamade.com
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Poster: A snowHead
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Renting a car should open up many options
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not easy to find a car which will fit 6 people and kit. And the beginners will probably need more than a couple of lessons unless they are natural athletes with a high pain threshold. The "learn to board in a day" Snowdome idea is a very good one. I did that in my fifties - it was knackering and the next few days I could hardly move. I got the basics, but that's as well as lessons in resort, not a substitute.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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@Dave of the Marmottes, were you an extra/droog in A Clockwork Orange by any chance 
Anyway, I am sitting here with a beer feeling pretty darn smug about my day's work. Because through using a few Avios, and crossing my fingers and hoping the 15% Quidco cash back offer for hotels.com actually sticks, I've somehow managed to score a good 3* hotel in the middle of Mayrhofen (as in 2 mins walk to both the Penken and Ahorn lifts), half board, flights, and transfers, all for about £6k for the 6 of us. Can't believe I got such a good deal given how thin it was looking on the ground. And to a resort that we really like as well.
Yes, I did end up compromising on Munich, so a longer transfer. And the hotel doesn't have a pool, just a sauna/steam room. But, first world problems...
I didn't even consider renting a car - I had a thread going earlier this year regarding transfers from Geneva and I soon learnt it's a bit of a minefield in terms of needing winter tyres, snow chains etc... that the hire companies tend not to include as standard. That's before even getting to the issue of a big enough vehicle. austransfer.at was quoting a minibus return for about £550 which I don't think is unreasonable for the length of journey.
@Red Dave, Interesting you also mentioned Brides les Bains - it was on my radar, but the killer was that the gondola down from Meribel stops at 5pm - Rond Point is barely getting going by then!
Thanks all for your comments - now I have to get myself some new boots! But that's another thread in the making...
RC
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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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| ratechaser wrote: |
Thanks all for your comments - now I have to get myself some new boots! But that's another thread in the making...
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Go to Solutions4Feet, no need for a new thread. You're welcome
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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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@swskier, Bicester is a bit of a trek... Hertfordshire/London better unless these guys can do something spectacular with my big wide feet 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ratechaser, Profeet in Fulham
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@ratechaser, green room in the Hoff
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| ratechaser wrote: |
I didn't even consider renting a car - I had a thread going earlier this year regarding transfers from Geneva and I soon learnt it's a bit of a minefield in terms of needing winter tyres, snow chains etc... that the hire companies tend not to include as standard. That's before even getting to the issue of a big enough vehicle. austransfer.at was quoting a minibus return for about £550 which I don't think is unreasonable for the length of journey.
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If snow chains are mandatory (I think they are for that time of year) then they have to come included.
£550 is decent price - by the time you hire, collect, drop off, top up with fuel, sort out road tolls, etc. there probably isnt much difference.
You could get the train if you got plenty of time. However that means getting into Munich first. Bus would prob be the cheapest (both via Jenbach)
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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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| Gored wrote: |
You could get the train if you got plenty of time. However that means getting into Munich first. Bus would prob be the cheapest (both via Jenbach) |
If you time it well, and get a direct train between Munich East and Jenbach, its a pretty easy journey. The non direct train takes a while longer and you have the additional change at Kufstein to contend with also. But at around €80/90 return per person it's only slightly cheaper than the private transfer!
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@ratechaser, big wide feet are easy. Skinny little ankles on small feet are a problem.
But you do need to see someone who knows what they are doing.
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FAQ
