 Poster: A snowHead
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It was news to me, but looking at a trip next year (French alps) and the January prices are several hundred more than early March. The operators are being cagey as to the reason, just saying they found demand increased in January this year so now their prices reflect this.. but why? Because spring is coming earlier, or because of particularly good snow in the early season?
We’re deciding between end of January and early March and leaning towards the higher priced January if it means better snow. Of course I’m aware anything can happen conditions wise! Any thoughts?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@kelse,
Which resort(s) you looking at, and what specific dates?
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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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Well that ties in with anecdotal evidence in Tignes this season. We were all bemoaning how busy Jan was compared with pre-Covid and there was no longer any ‘royalty skiing’ on Saturdays. Roll onto March - the conversation was ‘where is everybody!’.
Not sure on the underlying reasons.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| chocksaway wrote: |
Well that ties in with anecdotal evidence in Tignes this season. We were all bemoaning how busy Jan was compared with pre-Covid and there was no longer any ‘royalty skiing’ on Saturdays. Roll onto March - the conversation was ‘where is everybody!’.
Not sure on the underlying reasons. |
Climate change -- Noticeable that the Sella Ronda has become busier in January than previous years :: January is the new February...??
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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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Flachau area busier in January these days. We don't ski on the weekend
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@kelse, May I ask who is charging this extra amount? The end of January and the second week of March (just after the end of the school holidays) are usually the same amount. But the rates for apartment hire in Les Arcs have not been announced for next season yet.
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Winter olympics & Disability olympics will put squeeze on places for people to go elsewhere.
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| Kenzie wrote: |
@kelse,
Which resort(s) you looking at, and what specific dates? |
La Tania in 3V and 24 Jan or 8 March
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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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| johnE wrote: |
| @kelse, May I ask who is charging this extra amount? The end of January and the second week of March (just after the end of the school holidays) are usually the same amount. But the rates for apartment hire in Les Arcs have not been announced for next season yet. |
I was on the La Tania Seasonaires Facebook page and the admin ‘La Tania’ said this - as far as I’m aware they promote tourism in the area. I'm also in contact with an agency, Extreme Ski Services, about booking and they said the same thing.
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Perhaps people are concerned with lack of snow towards the end of March. We've always gone in Jan as better snow and lack of people, hopefully not too many thinking the same
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Same here. January was full-on but mostly because Easter and Fashing/Carnivale was so late this year. Punters, especially school trips (not just UK) front loaded. The whole season was marginally above average temperatures, but precipitation evened out by April. March saw some great skiing, especially the first couple of weeks and apart from the first week, nobody was here.
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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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Interesting comments thanks all. We’ve usually gone in late Jan as it’s cheaper (and quieter) and thought it would be a treat to try March for a change. But perhaps we’ll stick with Jan and suck up the extra cost as we’d prefer crowds to ice/slush. Guaranteed massive March snowfall now 
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You know it makes sense.
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Having spent my early years going on ski hols in january mainly due to cost and a perception that march was too late and these later years going in early march. There is little chance of me going in january nowadays . Longer days in march generally a tad warmer , much improved snow management on piste the pleasant outdoor seating for lunch in the sun if lucky .Far better value for money overall if a tad more expensive some would call it bang for your buck. Its more than 50 years since my first school trips and in the time since ive only missed 3 years one childbirth not me the wife and one covid and one too busy earning a living . Over the years ive had a few poor experiences in jan particularly earlier in the month, lack of snow,( The worst was with kids walking down the pleney run in morzine on grass reckon it was 40 yrs ago long before so called global warming ) bad weather etc but ive been lucky in early march as cant recall a wish id not bothered going feeling on any trip .
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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@kelse, A grand will get you a week in the Hemel Fridge!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@RedandWhiteFlachau, I went to Tignes all in for less than a grand (including lift pass and spending money) in December 2024.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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In France, I reckon the second week of March (immediately after the French school hols) is the week most likely to optimise that elusive combination of snow quality, length of day and lack of crowds.
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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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@kelse, On a serious note, go in March although ensure that the half term holidays are finished in every region/country in Europe.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Markscotski wrote: |
| @RedandWhiteFlachau, I went to Tignes all in for less than a grand (including lift pass and spending money) in December 2024. |
"You" might well have done, but the OP said "We're" so assuming more than 1 person, I doubt they'd manage that. I could have added that I skied the whole season for €475 if I'd wanted to be facetious.
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Interesting to see other resorts' experiences, I hadn't really given a lot of thought to it, but looking at my bookings, yes, January this year was much busier than January last year, almost a three-fold increase. I've always had lower prices and more flexible dates for January; nearly all of the bookings were for part weeks, the most was a 6 night stay.
Currently I haven't changed anything for next season; should I leave the availability but increase the prices? No, I still wasn't full up like February, so I think I'll leave it.
March was just slightly better than the previous year, but slightly skewed by the staging of the Ski Mountaineering World Championship. If I'd known about that enough in advance I could really have made a better deal of it by increasing prices for that week, but I have had other things on my mind this year.
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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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Reasons:
1. Winter Olympics 2026
2. Shorter ski seasons
3. Euro-UK-Russia family vacations now extend well into Jan
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We have been going in early March for years but giving January a go next year as snow seems progressively worse in the afternoons in March as the years go by.
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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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| kelse wrote: |
| La Tania in 3V and 24 Jan or 8 March |
Go to a different agent. My apartment is rented out through Lamy in La Tania who set the pricing and they have charged those two weeks at the same low season price for the last two seasons.
The year before they were both mid season price but January didn't rent, not for me anyway. I thought at the time it was too expensive. The other week they still ask too much for is the first week of March which they price at almost the same as Feb but when there's only one region still on vacation. That's only rented for one week and a weekend in the last four years.
Pricing mandate's not out for next season yet but I doubt it will change for your weeks. I almost had full occupancy in January this year for the first time ever; it would have been full but for a cancellation of w/c Jan 4th.
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| Markscotski wrote: |
| @RedandWhiteFlachau, I went to Tignes all in for less than a grand (including lift pass and spending money) in December 2024. |
Just returned form a week in Tinges. All Inclusive hotel with lift pass inc via Sun Web was £550, Flights £150 return, another £100 for a shared transfer. Spent a bit eating and drinking out which was optional 
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