 Poster: A snowHead
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I’m planning a long ski road trip from mid-December 2025 to early February 2026 with my 11-year-old son. I’ve been checking Booking.com for places in:
Méribel
Grimentz
Courchevel
Andermatt
Madonna di Campiglio
Verbier / Nendaz
Gstaad
…and almost everything shows as unavailable — no listings, no prices, no options. It’s hard to believe they’re already fully booked 9–10 months in advance.
So:
Am I just too early and calendars haven’t opened yet?
Is this common for these resorts?
When do listings usually open up — especially for Booking.com or family-run pensions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ankitind, very possible that calendars aren't open yet. Bookingdotcom charges accommodation owners a large commission, so a lot tend to leave availability blocked until nearer the time. Maybe wait until June? Season is only just coming to an end now and no-one thinking about next winter just yet.
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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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@ankitind, too early!
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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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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| @ankitind, very possible that calendars aren't open yet. Bookingdotcom charges accommodation owners a large commission, so a lot tend to leave availability blocked until nearer the time. Maybe wait until June? Season is only just coming to an end now and no-one thinking about next winter just yet. |
Which is the right month to book, then? Last year I booked in September, and many people told me by then all the good places were already gone.
So I’m trying to be more proactive this time — but now it feels like I’m too early instead!
Any tips on:
• When exactly most calendars (especially for French and Swiss resorts) go live?
• Sites other than Booking.com where I can find free cancellation and good options for ski resorts like Méribel, Courchevel, Grimentz, Verbier, etc.?
• Whether messaging properties directly works well?
Thanks — really appreciate any advice from those who’ve navigated this before
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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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@ankitind, it might depend on what type of accommodation you're after.
We tend to book apartments and while many places won't put accomodation out till the season ends, I've already booked our Feb half term accommodation for 2026, so I disagree slightly with those who say it's too early.
Easy jet flights are out till March 2026, and feel many people once they get their flight sorted want to get their accommodation sorted. That's what I do anyway.
If you've mapped out your route and timelines, then you'll know where you'll be in the busy times like Feb half term or Paris school holidays. I'd try and get those sorted first.
Accommodation for Jan for example can wait as they'll be plenty available.
If you take a look of Airbnb for example there are plenty of apartments already listed, and the best value ones for the busy times will get booked up early.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Nope, not too early but depends on the provider. We’ve just booked our P&V apartment for Easter 2026
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For the sort of accommodation mentioned, such as family pensions etc, it probably is. Major operators may have released their availability but even Oxalys in VT shows no availability for next season yet.
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Thanks everyone — this is super helpful!
For those of you who’ve already booked for 2026 (like @Handy Turnip and @FiFi_Trixibell), would you mind sharing:
• Which platforms or websites you used to book your apartments?
• Whether you go for listings with free cancellation or flexible dates?
• And what your general booking strategy is — like do you book key dates first and fill the gaps later? Or do you wait for more listings to show up by summer?
I’d love to learn from how experienced Snowheads plan their season out!
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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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Try Interhome for Switzerland- more choice.
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So for us, we’ve now refined our process!
We drive because it’s given us flexibility to ski extra days, see other places (stopped in champagne region on the way home last time) juggle the kids, take stops when we want and lug all our own gear. I’m still traumatised from flying 2 years ago and a particularly bad travel day involving Chambery and a hysterical toddler plus a gazillion bags and no trolley…
Anyway
- we spend tesco vouchers on Eurotunnel - just a standard ticket, however we’ve usually been bumped to an earlier train if M25 travel has been kinder
- we stay in Belle Plagne and in the Pierre and Vacances apartments. We book a 6 person apartment for husband, myself and our 2 kids and it’s still usually only around the 1100 mark. We got a reminder this week that bookings were opening, which to be fair is about 2 months earlier than we were expecting. We’d already discussed our plan on the journey home from Feb skiing this year so we just booked again straight away. We have to go at Easter next year as took our daughter out in term time this year and so don’t want to get fined.
- in a couple of weeks we’ll likely get a discount code for the Eurotunnel as well. Can’t remember if we can use this with tesco vouchers tho.
Many people will do things differently. We’ve never booked with booking.com for skiing. When we used to go to Morzine, we used Alptitude which are excellent. It’s much easier to plan when you know what areas you like/want to go to/what times of year etc.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks @FiFi_Trixibell,and @Nadenoodlee — super helpful tips!
I did check Interhome but didn’t find a major price difference vs. Booking.com. On the other hand, Booking.com often offers:
• Free cancellation until much later
• A faster, smoother UI (though not my priority right now)
Right now, I’m not married to any platform — whoever gives better prices or flexibility wins.
I usually fly into a nearby airport and then rent a car — I know public transport is great in the Alps, but the car gives me flexibility to:
• stay 20–30 mins away from the resort
• explore less crowded places
• not worry about ski buses or fixed transfers
This year I’m also using the Magic Pass, so I’m planning to:
• stay in 2–3 central towns
• drive each day to nearby Magic Pass resorts
• park at lift stations (usually 5–15 CHF/day)
• ski the whole day and return in the evening
That way I can explore a bunch of places across Switzerland without changing bases too often. I’m planning a 50–55 day trip, so this keeps things affordable and fun!
Would love to hear if anyone else has done a similar Magic Pass + rental car combo.
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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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@ankitind, as a (small) accommodation owner we use Booking.com amongst our channel mix.
1) many places won’t have released their 2026 availability quite yet (possibly around/after Summer). Booking.com recently imposed some changes on providers limiting/restricting their cancellation policies/payment terms and that may also be discouraging some operators from listing too early.
2) use Booking.com as a search engine and then see if accommodation providers have their own website/booking engine. You should find better deals and payment terms…..not guaranteed, but worth checking, IMO/E
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You know it makes sense.
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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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| Jäger wrote: |
@ankitind, as a (small) accommodation owner we use Booking.com amongst our channel mix.
1) many places won’t have released their 2026 availability quite yet (possibly around/after Summer). Booking.com recently imposed some changes on providers limiting/restricting their cancellation policies/payment terms and that may also be discouraging some operators from listing too early.
2) use Booking.com as a search engine and then see if accommodation providers have their own website/booking engine. You should find better deals and payment terms…..not guaranteed, but worth checking, IMO/E |
Thanks @Jäger — that makes sense and really helpful to hear it from the provider’s side too!
Quick question: I totally get that booking directly might avoid the 10–20% commission that Booking.com takes — but one thing I really like about Booking.com is the free cancellation policy (often up to just a few weeks before arrival).
Do most direct booking engines offer similar flexibility? Or do they usually have stricter cancellation/payment terms?
Just trying to weigh the potential savings against the flexibility — especially since I’m planning a long multi-base trip, so free cancellation gives some breathing room if plans shift.
Thanks again!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@ankitind, from my own point of view, I have exactly the same cancellation terms on BC as on my own website. 25% non-refundable deposit, 75% balance due 8 weeks before arrival. Others may have different terms, you are able to set them yourself. Hotels I stay at usually have free cancellation if I book direct, unless I choose a cheaper, pay in advance rate. I usually release my availability 3-6 months in advance, which is usually after others have booked direct.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ankitind, most, if not all, the resorts have websites which list accommodation, with a FAR bigger choice than booking.com, though in France many will be self-catered apartments, rather than hotels. Your trip includes some very busy and expensive weeks (Christmas and New Year) and some cheaper January weeks. For the former you'd be well advised to book early, and maybe stay flexible for the later weeks? Bear in mind that cancellable booking can work both ways! For the busy weeks, for good places in France, I'd reckon to pay 25% on booking.
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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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@ankitind, try VRBO, i have booked apartments for meribel mottaret mid dec 25 and VT mid march 26 through them.
have used them lots of times and always manage to book accommodation through them some time over a year out from arrival, generally just a small deposit needed and with free cancellation options.
i always try and book via the "instant booking" option if i can, otherwise you may need to wait for the owners reply, and sometimes the advertised price isn't the correct one for those dates!
i then use booking.com for overnight stays on the journeys (we drive) to and from resort.
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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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| Origen wrote: |
| @ankitind, most, if not all, the resorts have websites which list accommodation, with a FAR bigger choice than booking.com, though in France many will be self-catered apartments, rather than hotels. Your trip includes some very busy and expensive weeks (Christmas and New Year) and some cheaper January weeks. For the former you'd be well advised to book early, and maybe stay flexible for the later weeks? Bear in mind that cancellable booking can work both ways! For the busy weeks, for good places in France, I'd reckon to pay 25% on booking. |
That's the question. How early? By what months, apartments lists their availability on VRBO or Bookingdotcom
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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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We love Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis and like staying at Catrina Resort or Base Camp in Andermatt. Bonus being if you end up at one end a bit too late to make it back on skis, you can just get on the train 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| Try Interhome for Switzerland- more choice. |
I've looked into that one before, and no, absolutely not more choice. Not a single listing for my village where there are dozens on booking.com and airbnb, which are why I use those channels but not Interhome.
As for timings - yes, it's not unusual for next season's listings to only be opened at the end of this one. I opened mine a few weeks ago because of several people wanting to book early, but normally would only do so once things have calmed down.
It's not exactly a major chore, but you need to look carefully at the dates of Christmas/NY, school holidays etc. and decide how to incorporate into your pricing, availability and minimum occupation equations. For example if Christmas day is a Sunday I would allow a Friday arrival date in apartments that would normally be Saturday only, that sort of thing.
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@Chaletbeauroc, loads where I want to go (mainly not heavy traffic resorts like PdS).
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Which month I should be looking at for booking for next season?
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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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@ankitind, there is no answer other than check regularly as everyone has a different date.
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But don't neglect the resorts' own websites. Which will be gradually listing more places over the next few months.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Our apartment in La Tzoumaz (Verbier - Quatre Vallées) is already booked for Christmas and New Year 2025/26. Our in-resort agency (4v4s) is already open for bookings, but the consolidators may not be. So I’d say you may have to go to resort agencies and as mentioned, resort websites in the meantime. As apartment owners, the deadline for reserving our own trips was about a month ago, after which time bookings would be open.
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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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| Quote: |
Our apartment in La Tzoumaz (Verbier - Quatre Vallées) is already booked for Christmas and New Year 2025/26.
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And I suspect it's not the only one. If I were doing a similar family holiday for this coming Christmas I would already have booked the place we rented last Christmas!
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A good way to see if things are booked up or just not released yet is to go to an early season week that never books out....or even go just before the season starts. From what I'm seeing in the Aosta Valley, there is still almost no availability.
On the other hand, when I was dreaming up this trip, I was looking at availability for early Feb 2025 about a month or two prior to see what options will be like in 2026 when I go. There were tons of available rooms on booking.com at good prices. For those few that are available now for Feb 2026, the prices are highly inflated. Going by last year, I expect them to come down 2-3 months out or so.
I'm looking at going before the UK half-term so YMMV.
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You know it makes sense.
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| ankitind wrote: |
| Jäger wrote: |
@ankitind, as a (small) accommodation owner we use Booking.com amongst our channel mix.
1) many places won’t have released their 2026 availability quite yet (possibly around/after Summer). Booking.com recently imposed some changes on providers limiting/restricting their cancellation policies/payment terms and that may also be discouraging some operators from listing too early.
2) use Booking.com as a search engine and then see if accommodation providers have their own website/booking engine. You should find better deals and payment terms…..not guaranteed, but worth checking, IMO/E |
Thanks @Jäger — that makes sense and really helpful to hear it from the provider’s side too!
Quick question: I totally get that booking directly might avoid the 10–20% commission that Booking.com takes — but one thing I really like about Booking.com is the free cancellation policy (often up to just a few weeks before arrival).
Do most direct booking engines offer similar flexibility? Or do they usually have stricter cancellation/payment terms?
Just trying to weigh the potential savings against the flexibility — especially since I’m planning a long multi-base trip, so free cancellation gives some breathing room if plans shift.
Thanks again! |
You’re welcome
Booking.com did allow multiple options for providers to set their own terms. As mentioned, they restricted this practice fairly recently, dictating either cancellations up to a date fairly close to arrival or a non-refundable policy, where payment is due on booking (for example). They also used to allow deposits to be taken with balance due just before arrival. Also now withdrawn (AFAIK). From our own point of view, we offer better book direct terms at better prices. Consequently we get more direct bookings than in previous years - better for everyone, all round. But thats just our experience.
Good luck, whichever route you take. 
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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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| Origen wrote: |
| If I were doing a similar family holiday for this coming Christmas I would already have booked the place we rented last Christmas! |
We have been going Christmas since 2019. Never booked before Sept.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I can't speak for the Austrian resorts but certainly in Italy many hotels and apartments only use booking.com and other sites for the "Off season" this includes summer. The only way to book them for ski season is either direct or through the local tourist board. e.g. https://www.campigliodolomiti.it/en/plan/hotels-where-to-stay
Also, some will take provisional bookings for the next year when people leave. So the apartment we've used for a few years in Corvara takes a provisional booking without deposit when we leave but don't fix their prices until August. At that point they send us a reservation and we either pay a deposit or cancel. Any cancellations are then made available on their website so presumably other places do the same and you might see more availability then.
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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 i was curious and checked what Travelski for Les Menuires for the week 20th - 27th December has...i think there are more than 33 Appartments usually. I suppose many are not open the availabilities until now. In Airbnb there are plenty although...
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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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@ankitind, it's not Booking.com that decides on free cancellation or not, it's the owner's decision. And short-term free cancellation for the Christmas/New Years period will be very very scarce anyway.
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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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Ive booked 5 weeks again in Les Menuires.
Good discounts for early booking and return customers.
Only a small deposit taken.
Season isn’t over and I’m already excited for the next.
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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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| Casa wrote: |
Ive booked 5 weeks again in Les Menuires.
Good discounts for early booking and return customers.
Only a small deposit taken.
Season isn’t over and I’m already excited for the next. |
This time I am trying to book for a week in Merible in late Jan - but not able to get anything on bookingdotcom.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I’ve booked directly, and by passed booking.com.
Something I always try and do, after using a booking app like air bnb, virbo, or booking.com is to keep and save the owners contact details and build a good repor with them.
This enables you to book directly with them privately outside of the apps.
Saves you a small fortune.
Obviously you don’t know the owners contact details until after your initial booking.
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@ankitind, for Meribel, I would probably be looking to contact the tourist office for the sort of accommodation you said you were looking for. They will still be open until the weekend. IF they have no availability sorted, they may be able to give you some idea of when they will have dates sorted, and maybe even be able to contact owners and see if you can book.
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The place we usually stay at uses Gites de France (though we go direct now we've been there so many times) and they have availability in early 2026 on the site
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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: |
This time I am trying to book for a week in Merible in late Jan - but not able to get anything on bookingdotcom
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There are LOADS already on the meribel resort website. From small and inexpensive to big and luxurious. I just did a random search on a mid-January week. Why the fixation with booking.com?
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| Origen wrote: |
| Quote: |
This time I am trying to book for a week in Merible in late Jan - but not able to get anything on bookingdotcom
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There are LOADS already on the meribel resort website. From small and inexpensive to big and luxurious. I just did a random search on a mid-January week. Why the fixation with booking.com? |
I checked the official Méribel site — most listings there are either very expensive or already linked back to Booking.com. I’m trying to find something around 100-120 euros per night, which has been tough so far.
I do like Booking.com mainly because of the clean interface and easy booking process, but I’m not married to it — happy to use any platform or local agency if it helps me find better value. Open to tips if anyone knows alternatives that list budget-friendly options for late January!
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FAQ
