Hi folks, I'm a newbie skier looking to book a skiing holiday in winter 25/26. There aren't a ton of flight options from either of my local airports, so DIYing it is out. I've taken a look at most of the big ski providers (Crystal, Inghams, etc), but they don't seem to have many deals up at the moment. I presume flights haven't been released since I'm looking so far in advance.
So, question for the snowheads hivemind: How far in advance should you book to maximise the number of deals available?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
It depends when you are skiing
I go peak weeks (school holidays) so take route of securing flights on release, then booking accommodation when released. Booking hire car's early, but check price and cancel and rebook if it drops.
I have also sometimes booked accommodation booking.com with free cancellation. Then cancel if something better released on sunweb
If I didn't need to go peak weeks I wouldn't worry so much.
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?
In my experience, the best deals I've got was from around October time. Any earlier or later was hit or miss. You'll have to keep a close eye on discount codes.
@ToastMonkey, As above depends on when and whether you want to DIY the trip completely. We DIY in self-catering and don't normally book to September what people release accommodation.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@ToastMonkey, you say that "DIY is out". So it'll be a package? Which is actually quite a good idea for your first trip. It depends a lot whether you're on your own, or with a group/family, and WHEN you are going. And what sort of holidays you want. The timing of booking is a relatively minor consideration till you've sorted out some of that.
What dates are you looking? LeSki (chalet package operator in Val D'Isere and Courchevel+La Tania) have their prices up for 2025/2026 and they look similar to what we've typically paid for similar weeks when booking closer to the time. eg look at their 7 December prices for Val D. From £850pp for flights/transfers/accom/half-board in a shared chalet. We've booked that deal several times now. There's obviously a risk with snow that early in the season but we've not had a problem the two times we've done it.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
TBF we did our first family ski holiday Dec24' to Jan'25 (7 days) and did it the DIY way, found this to be better and in some cases cheaper than a package with a provider when comparing prices. Example being Ski Hire, a provider nor the hotel could match or come close to the deal the actual shop gave us (Ski Republic). Not only this in encouraged us to investigate and look in to things ourselves which helped with understanding the needs/ requirements without it being done for you and knowing no better. (local rules/ law, insurances and whats covered/ not covered etc).
We started booking our trip from March'24 hotel. Sep/Oct'24 Euro Tunnel. Oct/Nov'24 Ski Hire. Lift pass when we arrived. Insurances in there somewhere.
We drove as this was cheaper than flying but I know starting location can prevent this, but it also aloud us not to be restricted on what we took from a airline weight and bag perspective. On the way we stopped over night the finished the following day so we was fresh and ready to go without the tiredness of a days travel and airport/ transfer stress etc.
On the way back we drove the full distance.
Food/ drink aside from eating out, our DIY was cheaper than a provider choice.
Everyone's needs/ wants and experiences/ opinions are different so it is what you feel works best for you.
After all it is free
After all it is free
I have already booked and paid for diy flights to Munich - hire booked but not paid (can be cancelled if cheaper nearer time) and deposit paid on apartment in Saalbach for our half term trip in Feb 26 - so guess I'm early compared to most!
If your wanting to DIY and drive - Euro Tunnel have just released next winter fares so can also be booked now.
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I live relatively close to a couple of airports with quite a few flights so don't encounter this problem. However I guess if it is an airport that doesn't have many flight options for DIY'ing its not going to have masses for packages either.
If you are wanting to ski in a busy period such as during school holidays you are pretty unlikely to get any great deals and I would book sooner rather then later. If it's important to fly from your local airport personally and you have fixed weeks I would try and book pretty early as well (say in summer unless obvious good deals come up earlier) if you can be flexible on dates I might leave it a little later. This is general principles though rather than personal experience.
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
@ToastMonkey, It very much depends on when, where and who with in my case. Could be 12mths or 2 weeks.
If its got to be a popular time (New Year, ½term, etc) then earlier. First week after NewYear you could get a deal at a weeks notice.
If its a specific trip (ie, some sH bashes) then early before it fills up.
More people equals more notice before accommodation choices fill. A guaranteed single room might also need booking early.
In other words... it depends.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Ah the TO condundrum. When the OP says "deals" one wonders whether they mean deep discounts or just available options. I'd say there will never be as many options as are available right now (or say by May), the main question is whether they will have promotional discounts later vs risk of what you want selling out. For travelling from regional airports the absolute constraint is usually flight capacity (I've seen a holiday from Manchester jump £100 overnight as the TO needed to buy in extra seats above their contracted quota). There is usually even at quite short notice a B&B in say Austria they can put you in if there are enough seats on the flight to Innsbruck/Salzburg.
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.
@ToastMonkey, if you could say what your local airports are, when you're looking at going, and where, you might get slightly more targeted advice.
Most BA flights are released 355 days in advance on a rolling basis. LCY, LGW and STN schedules can sometimes be later and released in blocks.
Easyjet releases in blocks, and has released up to late March 2026.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
NickyJ wrote:
It depends when you are skiing
I go peak weeks (school holidays) so take route of securing flights on release, then booking accommodation when released. Booking hire car's early, but check price and cancel and rebook if it drops.
I have also sometimes booked accommodation booking.com with free cancellation. Then cancel if something better released on sunweb
If I didn't need to go peak weeks I wouldn't worry so much.
Hi Nicky, thanks for the recs! We're (thankfully) not limited by kids so we can avoid all the term holidays and subsequent price gouging!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Origen wrote:
@ToastMonkey, you say that "DIY is out". So it'll be a package? Which is actually quite a good idea for your first trip. It depends a lot whether you're on your own, or with a group/family, and WHEN you are going. And what sort of holidays you want. The timing of booking is a relatively minor consideration till you've sorted out some of that.
I was maybe a bit premature when I said that DIY is out. We're based in the Central Belt in Scotland so can fly from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Options from both are limited from what I've seen and those routes that are open through the winter are typically operated by package companies (e.g. TUI and Jet2). These flights seem extortionate compared to what you get in a package deal.
As for what we're looking for, we went to the Italian Alps over NY 24/25 and loved it. I'd very happily go back to the region, but would definitely go later in the season to ensure better coverage. We're also keen for somewhere with a lot of greens/blues as we're both still beginners. We want to avoid party resorts but are open to pretty much anything else. And we're totally flexible on times, too.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Dave of the Marmottes wrote:
Ah the TO condundrum. When the OP says "deals" one wonders whether they mean deep discounts or just available options. I'd say there will never be as many options as are available right now (or say by May), the main question is whether they will have promotional discounts later vs risk of what you want selling out. For travelling from regional airports the absolute constraint is usually flight capacity (I've seen a holiday from Manchester jump £100 overnight as the TO needed to buy in extra seats above their contracted quota). There is usually even at quite short notice a B&B in say Austria they can put you in if there are enough seats on the flight to Innsbruck/Salzburg.
Good question. I meant deals as in options, rather than deals as in discounts, although I'll happily take x% off it's going!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@ToastMonkey, for Crystal I know around November they run out Black Friday discount codes (think it was £75pp last year) on top of any additional discounts they give on packages. That runs for approx 2wks, so well into December. I can only assume that other TOs do similar things and also run offers at key times of the year when maybe business is a bit slower.
We booked our Christmas '24 trip in December 1st and benefitted from 'last minute' discounts plus the £75pp. Closer to Xmas there were even bigger discounts but fewer destinations so it's case of weighing up how much nerve you have to wait until the last minute on the key holiday periods. We did have to go via Manchester airport (2hrs drive) because that saved £150pp over flying from Birmingham, which is 20 mins from us, so there may have to be compromises made if budget is a key factor.
Otherwise, we DIY it (drive and book via Sunweb) and we've done it as far as 7 months out from holiday date because we know there's no pressure to get a cheap-cheap flight, and there's a plethora of self catering accomodation.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@ToastMonkey, aha.
I would still recommend looking at Sunweb. You should start to see a few offerings for next season appearing from April, and then gradually increasing until I guess June.
Without pressure of school holidays you have no pressure. I have noticed the price did drop a bit for the other apartment I costed up in same accommodation closer to time with sunweb but we are fussy and limited so I am content with paying extra to secure what meets us as a family.
You can do flights via Sunweb but I have got better deals doing them independently. Their headline prices include lift passes which makes them very good
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?
ToastMonkey wrote:
I was maybe a bit premature when I said that DIY is out. We're based in the Central Belt in Scotland so can fly from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Options from both are limited from what I've seen and those routes that are open through the winter are typically operated by package companies (e.g. TUI and Jet2). These flights seem extortionate compared to what you get in a package deal.
As for what we're looking for, we went to the Italian Alps over NY 24/25 and loved it. I'd very happily go back to the region, but would definitely go later in the season to ensure better coverage. We're also keen for somewhere with a lot of greens/blues as we're both still beginners. We want to avoid party resorts but are open to pretty much anything else. And we're totally flexible on times, too.
Mmm, I live in the central belt and regularly fly from Edinburgh and Glasgow to ski and I don't really agree with your characterisation of flight prices other than at peak school holidays In addition to TUI and Jet 2 Easy Jet and Ryanair both do destinations which change from year to year but usually have some good skiing ones. Easyjet from memory do Grenoble Geneva Milan and Munich I used Ryanair to fly to Venice this year to ski in the dolomites. I have just come back from a ski holiday using Jet 2 to Geneva where the flight prices were just under £140 per person return without luggage , though as their luggage allowance is pretty generous you certainly only need one hold item between two. Two years ago we got very cheap flights to Milan to ski in La Thuile in Italy.
I was maybe a bit premature when I said that DIY is out. We're based in the Central Belt in Scotland so can fly from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Options from both are limited from what I've seen and those routes that are open through the winter are typically operated by package companies (e.g. TUI and Jet2). These flights seem extortionate compared to what you get in a package deal.
As for what we're looking for, we went to the Italian Alps over NY 24/25 and loved it. I'd very happily go back to the region, but would definitely go later in the season to ensure better coverage. We're also keen for somewhere with a lot of greens/blues as we're both still beginners. We want to avoid party resorts but are open to pretty much anything else. And we're totally flexible on times, too.
Mmm, I live in the central belt and regularly fly from Edinburgh and Glasgow to ski and I don't really agree with your characterisation of flight prices other than at peak school holidays In addition to TUI and Jet 2 Easy Jet and Ryanair both do destinations which change from year to year but usually have some good skiing ones. Easyjet from memory do Grenoble Geneva Milan and Munich I used Ryanair to fly to Venice this year to ski in the dolomites. I have just come back from a ski holiday using Jet 2 to Geneva where the flight prices were just under £140 per person return without luggage , though as their luggage allowance is pretty generous you certainly only need one hold item between two. Two years ago we got very cheap flights to Milan to ski in La Thuile in Italy.
Interesting. Perhaps I just need to stick at it. I tried pricing up a couple of Sunweb deals with own transport and the flights to Innsbruck were costing ~£450 on several dates. Same with Turin. If you've had success, I'll try again.
EasyJet Glasgow - Turin 10 - 17 January 2026, £165 (without baggage but checking a big suitcase doesn't cost a fortune). Seems reasonable to me! And car rental is cheap there too.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Edinburgh - Munich with Lufthansa Inc 1 hold bag, £191 return for 10th Jan.
Munich will be a bit further driving but car hire seems to come up cheaper...
After all it is free
After all it is free
NickyJ wrote:
@ToastMonkey, on what dates?
My memory is like a sieve so I'll need to check when I'm home. I think I looked mid/late Feb and early March.
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Mid Feb is clashing school holidays and crazy prices....
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We are already booked for a Dolomite trip for Next Jan Edin flight.
TO booking (Inghams) I'm not a fan of DIY for winter trips.
Inghams are our most used TO for winter trips and I have found booking early gives best price if you are after a particular resort/hotel.
There are late deals that come up but you need to be flexible re resort and hotel. Going from a Scottish airport can limit the late deals but there are usally some.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@ToastMonkey, Regarding Crystal -- in the Summer they will be offering a 'Buy one get one free' offer on lift passes ::
not sure of dates, but think approx june/july/august
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.
NickyJ wrote:
Mid Feb is clashing school holidays and crazy prices....
As I mentioned, memory like a sieve. I'll check properly when I get home. I had English plus Scottish hols on screen to avoid them.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@ToastMonkey, you need to avoid local school holidays too! Most people who ski in French ski resorts are French, oddly enough....
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@ToastMonkey, The main holiday periods are Feb 7th to Mar 9th 2026.
Spring holidays are much earlier in 2026 April 4th to May 4th
I would advise avoiding the winter holiday period in France.
I suspect you get the best "deals" booking very late with a tour operator - perhaps the week before you go. Personnaly I wouldn't even be thinking of looking before October, but people seem to be booking earlier and earlier these days.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
We're a Family of 4..... This year, 2-3 weeks before once I'm sure where decent conditions will be we're limited to school holidays as well.
So it was between Andorra or Tignes/VT.......just booked at the weekend, so going to VT first week of April school holidays, flights, transfers, lift pass, catered (let's see) for £700 each I think. There are deals around if you spend some time looking and are prepared to "gamble"
Even more deals available for pairs
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Booked a week in Schladming for 17th Jan 2026 through Crystal, using a repeat customer £100 discount valid till May. I'm going solo so the 2 for 1 ski passes in the later summer months aren't any use to me. Might see what else is available in the next couple of months with other companies, but if there's not too much choice, or prices are more expensive, I'll go back to Crystal.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@ToastMonkey,
Most self-catering accommodation will not be available for next season, yet - it needs the apartment owners to decide what they are planning to do 25/26.
TOs who own their own accommodation will be taking bookings for 25/26.
It needs you to narrow down the dates you are looking at (use the Search function, top left, & search 'European School Holidays 2025-26'. They've been posted & will give you dates to avoid), countries that are of interest/resorts of interest.
If you are avoiding the peak periods then more choice will become available in the summer.
Another to look at is Action Outdoors, if you meet the age criteria. Bit hostelry, but their Flaine place is a former hotel, so plenty of twin rooms.
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?
Quote:
Most self-catering accommodation will not be available for next season, yet
Not necessarily true. The Les Saisies website already has dates up all through next season, and a fair range of accommodation available. And I can't believe they're much different from any other resort website - it's a competitive business. I'm surprised how many people seem to rely on AirBnB or VRBO and ignore the resort websites. When I booked through them for the last few years I had more confidence that the owners wouldn't cancel at the last minute if they got a better offer, as that would put them in the resort's bad books. Yes, there will be more coming up, but if somebody knows when they want to go, and what they are looking for, there's not much argument for waiting.
As early as possible, 11 or 12 months ahead, including for not quiet anymore January. The reasons … fussy on hotels and flight seats, nice to have early certainty and then relax.
Long gone are the days where ski hotels would only entertain a discussion and the vulgar subject of next season’s tariffs from around June onwards. Much liked hotels allow the same rooms to be booked to the same guests for the same weeks ad infinitum, and not just New Year and February.
Cut out the middleman or resort websites, go to hotels etc directly,
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@ToastMonkey, Glasgow and Edinburgh have lots of cheap ski flight options. Milan, Geneva, Grenoble, Chambery, Innsbruck, Munich, Barcelona, Toulouse etc. DIY will usually be cheaper unless you get a super last min package.
Last two years we have gone on family ski trips in March, booking flights around Jan, Edi- Chambery with jet2 for £60pp rtn both years, Sunweb great for accom booking, they have lots of options which always include a ski pass
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Quote:
Cut out the middleman or resort websites, go to hotels etc directly
For apartment, in France, I don't agree. The resort websites are very useful middlemen, enabling you swiftly to compare a whole range of offerings. And whilst it's not that uncommon to have accommodation cancelled or scam offerings of accommodation (various stories on Snowheads) I think if something booked through a resort website went wrong you could reasonably expect them to help you.
I'm always a bit wary of the "cancellable" options. I had to pay the whole of the rent on my chalet last Christmas by 6 weeks in advance. Which is normal. There's no such thing as a free lunch. "Cancellable" works both ways, whatever the small print says.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Origen wrote:
Quote:
Cut out the middleman or resort websites, go to hotels etc directly
For apartment, in France, I don't agree. The resort websites are very useful middlemen, enabling you swiftly to compare a whole range of offerings. And whilst it's not that uncommon to have accommodation cancelled or scam offerings of accommodation (various stories on Snowheads) I think if something booked through a resort website went wrong you could reasonably expect them to help you.
I'm always a bit wary of the "cancellable" options. I had to pay the whole of the rent on my chalet last Christmas by 6 weeks in advance. Which is normal. There's no such thing as a free lunch. "Cancellable" works both ways, whatever the small print says.
The free lunch, I don’t do this now but did dabble at the height of on-off pandemic travel restrictions, is to have a couple of concurrent no deposit and free cancellation booking.com/hotels.com bookings. One for a snow secure high altitude resort such as VT, another in a much cheaper lower altitude resort. Hedging bets to see how the Alps pans out for snow.
Another tactic recommended by Martin Lewis is to book early no deposit/free cancellation for somewhere that ticks the boxes. Wait for a period where prices are significantly reduced, book at that price and cancel the original booking in good time.
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Quote:
I don’t do this now but did dabble at the height of on-off pandemic travel restrictions, is to have a couple of concurrent no deposit and free cancellation booking.com/hotels.com bookings.
Of course you can do that - but two can play at that game! Like airlines can just cancel your flight, or move the time by two hours. The "free cancellation" offer (sometimes at an extra cost with booking.com) is something which sellers might feel they have to offer, especially if they are struggling to get bums on seats. The more "in-demand" they are, the safer they are demanding full payment at least 6 weeks ahead of arrival. It's a competitive world.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Origen wrote:
Quote:
I don’t do this now but did dabble at the height of on-off pandemic travel restrictions, is to have a couple of concurrent no deposit and free cancellation booking.com/hotels.com bookings.
Of course you can do that - but two can play at that game! Like airlines can just cancel your flight, or move the time by two hours. The "free cancellation" offer (sometimes at an extra cost with booking.com) is something which sellers might feel they have to offer, especially if they are struggling to get bums on seats. The more "in-demand" they are, the safer they are demanding full payment at least 6 weeks ahead of arrival. It’s a competitive world.
I like your style in squeezing in the link to this.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
we're limited to school holidays as well.
