 Poster: A snowHead
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Ski world have passes included and £250 pp off the list price. I was just quoted £1600 all in to st Anton for a week on 3rd February. Doesn't seem that great of a deal. We went with them a few years back but can't find the booking to compare. Thoughts?
By all in I mean everything and meals in a chalet. Snowboard carriage no lessons.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Is that each, for two people?
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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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| Gainz wrote: |
Ski world have passes included and £250 pp off the list price. I was just quoted £1600 all in to st Anton for a week on 3rd February. Doesn't seem that great of a deal. We went with them a few years back but can't find the booking to compare. Thoughts?
By all in I mean everything and meals in a chalet. Snowboard carriage no lessons. |
As pam w says it depends if that's for two people or per person. For two it sounds a good deal. If it's per person, it sounds pricey.
So break it down...
The 6-day HS adult Arlberg pass is €401 (around £350), so if it includes 2 of those, plus snowboard carriage for two which is usually about £50 a pop (more on budget carriers), the holiday is down to £400pp for your flight, transfers, room and meals with wine. That's pretty good value for what is an expensive resort in February high season. It's not like it's a really late deal, as you have a month to prepare for it.
You will be paying more than a few years back as the pound is weaker and energy & food costs have inflated. I doubt you could do something comparable cheaper using the DIY route.
If it's for two sharing in a decent, well-located chalet and fits your dates, I'd jump on it.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Is that each, for two people? |
Current Skiworld "Last Minute Deals" showing £1439 pp to Chalet Kapall on 03/02/2024. Saving £350 pp.
Positively untempting at that price. 
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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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If you pick an expensive package and then add a known fixed discount, you can't be surprised at the final quote?
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I’d be very surprised if it’s £1600 for two. From what I’ve seen, £1600pp all in is not a bad deal for a week in St Anton.
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| skimastaaah wrote: |
| pam w wrote: |
| Is that each, for two people? |
Current Skiworld "Last Minute Deals" showing £1439 pp to Chalet Kapall on 03/02/2024. Saving £350 pp.
Positively untempting at that price. |
Thanks, I should have looked it up before commenting. It's certainly no bargain, but St Anton in high season is a pricey place to be!
I'm just glad I did my visits to the Arlberg in cheaper times. I got a very late Ski Total chalet deal in Lech for £299 and another time I shared an apartment with 2 mates in Dalaas and we commuted up to Stuben, it was €75 per night, so my share worked out less than £20 a night. The flights with Ryanair to Friedrichshafen were 'free', they don't do that anymore! This is going back 10-15 yrs though when costs were lower and sterling was stronger.
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We have been with Skiworld 18 times. We have never had a single issue. They do have some quite expensive chalets in their itinerary as well as some more budget stuff. More info is needed here.
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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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We have been with Skiworld 18 times. We have never had a single issue. They do have some quite expensive chalets in their itinerary as well as some more budget stuff. More info is needed here.
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@luigi, I'm out in the Arlberg the week before the OP. Paid £409 for BA flights to Innsbruck 2 passengers AND Car Hire for a week in the BA Sale earlier this year. And just short of £1K for 4* accommodation in Stuben. That's less than £700 per person for a bespoke Arlberg ski trip.
I've had brilliant last minute deals over the years but they seem non-existant now.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Sun 31-12-23 10:21; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@luigi, That ski total deal must have been a real bargain. What year was it. Sonneck or Alexandria?
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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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Sorry guys I thought I added the pp bit!
So it's per person, and the breakdown went like this;
Flights £320
Carriage £58
Transfers £200
Pass £350
Chalet makes up the rest.
Prices are approx but fairly accurate. If it was for 2 I don't think we'll be having this conversation 
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@Gainz, So that equates to £672 per person Accommodation, and Dinner, & B&B. Yikes, that's not such a bargain after all.
Have you compared with DIY options and building your own independent holiday equivalent?
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You know it makes sense.
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@Gainz, The chalets they have in St Anton do look quite slick. Skiworld are maybe moving a bit more upmarket these days, we haven't used them since the start of Covid ( not for any reason, the cookie just hasn't crumbled that way)
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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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Yeah so the pass in effect is supposed to be free but I think they're bumping up the price of the chalet to cover the costs. I think we'll keep looking maybe hold out for a couple more weeks cheers
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Poster: A snowHead
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Is £672 per person Accommodation, and Dinner, & B&B at a mid-market chalet at St Anton expensive these days? Back in another century, when Austria was very much cash oriented, my regular skiing buddy and I worked on the principle that we needed to take a suitcase of notes to go there - and if we couldn't afford to do that, we wouldn't go. Fortunately, then, we mostly could afford it, sort of, and we always had a great time. But skiing at St Anton has never been cheap. All the more so since the old railway station's restaurant, with food at normal railway station prices, has gone.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@achilles, I've stayed in St Anton many times with Skiworld, and at the Chalet Kapall (which is on "offer") and mainly pretty good holidays with them.
Now that Austria has upped the prices somewhat I now think twice about skiing there. Much better value and some great places/skiing can be found elsewhere. I'm even getting tempted to go ski in France again.
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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: |
So it's per person, and the breakdown went like this;
Flights £320
Carriage £58
Transfers £200
Pass £350
Chalet makes up the rest.
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Ski carriage seems pretty low, are you sure that's not each way?
Also, you have to add in ski world's comission. In the package tour business anything under 10% would be very generous so let's say £160.
So around £500 for chalet and food. With increasing energy and food costs it doesn't seem crazy for a nice chalet in a good location (I have no idea if that is the case here). I do agree though that the "free" lift pass is achieved by just moving the cost elsewhere rather than an actual free lift pass.
That's not to say there are not cheaper ways to do things. But comparing DIY to package tour is not really apples to apples. Part of the extra cost is for convenience.
Unfortunately with crazy lift pass prices the days of sub £1k package tours to the big resorts are long gone.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| boarder2020 wrote: |
| crazy lift pass prices the days of sub £1k package tours to the big resorts are long gone. |
Really? 
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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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With the pass free that leaves £320 flights, £200 transfers and yes the carriage is £120 rtn.
So the chalet is in effect £1000 pp in a triple room!!
That is expensive IMV.
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| skimastaaah wrote: |
@achilles, I've stayed in St Anton many times with Skiworld, and at the Chalet Kapall (which is on "offer") and mainly pretty good holidays with them.
Now that Austria has upped the prices somewhat I now think twice about skiing there. Much better value and some great places/skiing can be found elsewhere. I'm even getting tempted to go ski in France again. |
Or Italy??
My 5nt trip for two in late Jan is as follows:
Ryanair STN to Venice £180 with seats and 2 cabin bags each.
Car hire: VW Golf 6days £75
B&B 5nts: £267
Total £522 or £261 pp
Obviously liftpasses, ski hire, insurance, airport parking, fuel & tolls and food on top of that...but can still be done fairly economically DIY.
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| Gainz wrote: |
So the chalet is in effect £1000 pp in a triple room!!. |
Plenty of deals for 2 Grand a week on Booking.com for those dates. You would possibly find half decent flights/prices with BA who are currently running a "Sale", or one of their Fly/Drive 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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| Quote: |
Total £522 or £261 pp
Obviously liftpasses, ski hire, insurance, airport parking, fuel & tolls and food on top of that...but can still be done fairly economically DIY.
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So less nights than the skiworld trip and doesn't include plenty of stuff. Lift passes alone at the big resorts are now £300+. Ski hire £100+. It quickly adds up. Of course there are cheaper options going to smaller resorts, but for comparisons sake it should resemble the ski world trip.
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@luigi, you've not accounted for food snd wine in the evening. Fuel/tolls/parking for the car, ski carriage.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Mother hucker wrote: |
| @luigi, you've not accounted for food snd wine in the evening. Fuel/tolls/parking for the car, ski carriage. |
I know, I already mentioned that...
| luigi wrote: |
Obviously liftpasses, ski hire, insurance, airport parking, fuel & tolls and food on top of that...but can still be done fairly economically DIY. |
| boarder2020 wrote: |
So less nights than the skiworld trip and doesn't include plenty of stuff. Lift passes alone at the big resorts are now £300+. Ski hire £100+. It quickly adds up. Of course there are cheaper options going to smaller resorts, but for comparisons sake it should resemble the ski world trip. |
Not a direct comparison as such, and yes, I just calculated the upfront costs already incurred, but maybe shows how costs can be contained by doing it DIY and thinking laterally.
Of course if it must be St Anton, you pays your money and takes your choice! 
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Mon 1-01-24 11:17; edited 2 times in total
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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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| Mother hucker wrote: |
| @luigi, you've not accounted for food snd wine in the evening. |
If self catering you’d be eating if you were at home too! And the wine is cheaper abroad so really you’re saving money.
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What breaks me DIY is the crazy transfer prices and crappy flight times.
I just costed a trip to tignes,
£800 pp b&b at hotel arilon with flights and carriage
Pass £343
Transfer £1200 private no shared available at right times
Flights silly o'clock both ways
Hmm that deal to st Anton isn't looking so bad now.
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You know it makes sense.
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Silly o'clock flights are definitely a turn-off. It's like missing two nights sleep. But you'd be daft to pay £1200 for transfers, @Gainz. Renting a car would be less than half that.
Self-catering can also save a lot of lunch money if the accommodation is well placed. You can eat well - with great cheese and charcuterie, fresh bread and salad, and French supermarkets always have a good choice of ready made soups. And that definitely beats the awful scrums and lunchtime queues in French places in school holidays. Leisurely lunches on the slopes are a real treat at quiet times, but not in the school hols.
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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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Try Heidi.com who have a clever algorithm that matches accommodation, flights, and transfers.
Excluding lift passes you can go to Tignes next week with them for £500 pp, £600 if flying civilised hours.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Alternative transfer to Tignes ( assuming Geneva arrival): train to Bourg St Maurice, thence Altibus to Tignes?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Gainz, I didn't think it was too bad given how nice the chalets are. It may not be the bargain of the century, but it wasn't a terrible deal either. As far as I can tell, the only way to get a really really good deal these days (ie, post covid, had way more impact than brexit), is to plan well ahead, book it all yourself and be prepared to think out of the box and compromise (or go on a bash). £1500 ish to a smart catered chalet in early feb ( don't forget, since covid, half term boundaries have become blurred ) to St Anton including lift pass sounds pretty competitive to be fair.
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