 Poster: A snowHead
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Just a heads-up....Crystal have now introduced their Buy One L/Pass, get one free. This will push prices up when people start booking.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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They're also giving a £100 voucher, with a discount code, for booking holidays in the 26/27 season. Valid till end of May 26.
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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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Inghams are also offering a BOGOF deal for a limited time..
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I've always found these deals to be a bit smoke and mirrors. If you miss the bogof there will be something else to hook you in later on - unless you are looking at a period of high demand in which case they will rinse you for as much as they can.
The price of the holiday doesn't seem to bear any relation to the offers they have on either - so you might get a free lift pass but then the package price as a whole may be more expensive than when the offer wasn't in place. I find it very frustrating and don't really trust them as a result. I have booked with them before but will only do so if it looks like an absolutely knockout package or if I have a burning desire to organise nothing myself.
I've just done a like for like comparison with a competitor. Two persons, same flight, same room in the very pleasant hotel & of course on the same date (10th Jan) Crystal come out just under 10% more expensive - near enough £400 - even with the lift pass offer.
Pays to look beyond the headline offers..
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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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| obmij wrote: |
I've always found these deals to be a bit smoke and mirrors. If you miss the bogof there will be something else to hook you in later on - unless you are looking at a period of high demand in which case they will rinse you for as much as they can.
The price of the holiday doesn't seem to bear any relation to the offers they have on either - so you might get a free lift pass but then the package price as a whole may be more expensive than when the offer wasn't in place. I find it very frustrating and don't really trust them as a result. I have booked with them before but will only do so if it looks like an absolutely knockout package or if I have a burning desire to organise nothing myself.
I've just done a like for like comparison with a competitor. Two persons, same flight, same room in the very pleasant hotel & of course on the same date (10th Jan) Crystal come out just under 10% more expensive - near enough £400 - even with the lift pass offer.
Pays to look beyond the headline offers.. |
Which competitor?
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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 used Crystal for many years but for the last holiday switched to Sunweb who are better value.
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The comparison was with Sunweb - and that is with the add-ons such as transfers & extra luggage to make it an equivalent package.
Perhaps Crystal are offering something the others are not - maybe rep support or a more joined up experience? If that is important then perhaps worth paying the extra. When we've travelled with them they've been fine and nothing to complain about.
What annoys me about them is the dangling of limited time offers which then turn out to be anything but. Same with their parent company.
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Thanks. I've used Sunweb before and always look at their prices too. I've found that sometimes they are cheaper than Crystal, sometimes not. Both of these companies have clever people running their pricing team I'm sure. I *generally* have found that the BOGOF offer period is the cheapest time to book with Crystal (although not necessarily by much). Out of curiosity, what was the place you did a like-for-like comparison of?
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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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@obmij, so Sunweb do flights now?
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@ nbt Yes - you can choose to include flights and transfers. You can also choose to remove one or all lift passes if not everyone in your party wants to ski.
@greengriff
I used the Tirolerhof in Zell as it one of the promoted hotels and they bother offer it, flying from Liverpool. I agree it's good to check all options. The price differences for the same product can be pretty big..
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@obmij, Thank you.
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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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@obmij, which Zell? There's a Tirolerhof in Zell am See and Zell am Ziller.
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| greengriff wrote: |
| I *generally* have found that the BOGOF offer period is the cheapest time to book with Crystal (although not necessarily by much). |
As someone who goes with Crystal a lot, I have found that to be the case....unless they do a very reduced pre-Christmas offer.
This year, I booked early as we are a big group and wanted a particular Hotel (The Langley in Tignes Lac), as my Daughter is Vegan and I know they cope.
I booked at the end of May. Since then, the price only went up €46 and then the BOGOF offer came in.....which given the L/Pass is being quoted as €439, produces a substantial saving. If there is strong demand to that hotel, the basic price will go up.
At the minute, this would leave the holiday - flying out of Dublin - at €1611 (£1390) for Flights / Transfers / HB / Lift Pass....which isn't too bad. Gone are the days you could get the basic holiday for £700 - 800 along with the BOGOF offer.
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You know it makes sense.
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@swskier I used the Tirolerhof in Zell am See
Btw I am not trying to beat up on Crystal here. They are absolutely fine. They can be pretty good value when they use their own planes.
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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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| obmij wrote: |
They can be pretty good value when they use their own planes. |
I think that is likely true.....especially as the Ski Carriage charge is much lower with Tui than the likes of Easyjet (which they use from Belfast).
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
| Gone are the days you could get the basic holiday for £700 - 800 along with the BOGOF offer. |
Those days don't actually seem that long ago!!! 5 years maybe? Like everything else, ski holiday prices have been on a relentless climb over the last few years. And whilst Mr Kiplings cakes going from a quid a pack to 3 quid has done me a massive favour (and increased my life expectancy) by stopping me from buying them, I *do* want to keep buying ski holidays. So far I've been able to squeeze the pips of my life a little harder to keep going, but if they keeo going up at this rate I'm going to have to stop 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Crikey
I have just priced up some hotels that we have previously stayed at through crystal in the month that we usually go on (march).
I think I can honestly my ski-ing days (at least with a tour operator) are over as those prices are (IMHO) ludicrous.
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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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It's crazy isn't it? I had a look back and the last time I got a 'good' deal was only Jan 2023! £900 per person half board to Les Arcs including lift passes. I've just paid nearly double that for a much smaller resort for Jan 2026.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I got a quote from"weski" for a week 14th March, at the Hotel Bristol in saas fee , on a b&b basis , solo occupancy ( they have single rooms).
Ive stayed there before at Xmas 2022, at half board for £850 (crystal)
Weski quote: £2918 .....
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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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Holy mother of god!!!!! That is depressing. It would probably be cheaper to book a holiday for 2 and just have the other person not turn up!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Surely some of these companies are shooting themselves in the foot. Or is it just going back to the days where skiing is a rich person's sport?
I do feel though that more and more you're having to pay a premium for going high while the lower resorts struggle due to climate change.
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| Smokies and Wine wrote: |
I got a quote from"weski" for a week 14th March, at the Hotel Bristol in saas fee , on a b&b basis , solo occupancy ( they have single rooms).
Ive stayed there before at Xmas 2022, at half board for £850 (crystal)
Weski quote: £2918 ..... |
Their website says 160-175 CHF HB for a single room. So those most be luxury flights and transfers with Weski to make up the remaining £1800!
https://www.hotel-bristol-saas-fee.ch/en/rooms-rates/winter-prices/single-room.html
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Oh, well that has just shocked me as well.
I have now just priced up some winter sun holidays that we have previously been on.
The Self Catering ones have not gone up by much (if at all),
but the All Inclusive ones have risen quite a bit (but still cheaper than skiing)
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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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| kiteman69 wrote: |
| .....I think I can honestly my ski-ing days (at least with a tour operator) are over as those prices are (IMHO) ludicrous. |
Feeling your pain.
We did Crystal last year and although I feel we got a good deal at a peak time (Christmas in Sestriere, HB, £950ea for the four of us) because we booked late, I am feeling like I'm getting priced out with the major TOs like Crystal, Inghams, Neilson. That took some saving to afford that and if we go again at Xmas, it means sacrificing a Summer holiday to afford it.
We've done 2x Sunweb trips and although at cheaper times (Easter), and doing it with another family, it's worked out better value overall, even with the faff of having to organise Eurotunnel, tolls and stopovers for the drive there and back. I've felt like I'm more in control of the 'quality' of my holiday.
Note to major TOs; display prices as total price based upon the number of people you've selected, and show it with the lift pass included. Saves all the hassle of having to go through the motions only to find out a lift pass adds 50% for each person
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We're doing a week with Crystal in January. HB for £760 didn't seem too bad. I'm mystified by all those here who say booking direct is cheaper. If I price a decent 3 or 4 star hotel in Austria they seem to be more than the complete package with a TO (not always, but mostly). I DIY oftern enough when it suits eg Was in Serfaus twice in the last year at the Garni Belmont and that was cheaper than a TO to say, Mayrhofen and way cheaper than Crystals' first and only at the time offer to SFL. And I like to stay in the Landerhof in Mayrhofen but it's not necessarily as cheap as Crystal at a similar hotel.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Note to major TOs; display prices as total price based upon the number of people you've selected, and show it with the lift pass included. Saves all the hassle of having to go through the motions only to find out a lift pass adds 50% for each person
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But not everyone will WANT a lift pass (or the same lift pass) for everybody and prices will depend on numbers. So I don't think this is a reasonable request!!
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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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Booked Hochsolden for next March on May 1st this year with Crystal, upgraded the room, booked plane seats and ski carriage, total cost £3452.00 no lift pass as I may purchase in resort. With the lift pass BOGOF the cost is higher than what Ive paid. The basic cost varies a lot throughout the year. Dynamic pricing
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Inghams BOGOF ends on the 4th Aug
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You know it makes sense.
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| Origen wrote: |
| Quote: |
Note to major TOs; display prices as total price based upon the number of people you've selected, and show it with the lift pass included. Saves all the hassle of having to go through the motions only to find out a lift pass adds 50% for each person
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But not everyone will WANT a lift pass (or the same lift pass) for everybody and prices will depend on numbers. So I don't think this is a reasonable request!! |
Obvs personal circumstances play a part, but for what I'd imagine the average holidaying Brit wants, then all-in packages at least give a better guide on first glance as to what the overall spend is. Maybe that's why Sunweb is gaining such popularity, albeit many of their holidays are on a self-travel basis.
Offering a 'lift pass included' price as the doesn't seem a bad idea, as you can always deduct lift passes or upgrade them (to say expanded areas).
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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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Sunweb are just as - if not more - annoying because they don't give you a transfer cost until you've gone all the way through to the end and are just about to pay. All of these companies must deliberately choose to make their pricing obscure at first glance. I can only assume they do it in order to make quick like-for-like comparisons that much harder.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@greengriff, I've given looking at the Sunweb site -- their pricing/search function is too 'opaque' for me!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| greengriff wrote: |
| Sunweb are just as - if not more - annoying because they don't give you a transfer cost until you've gone all the way through to the end and are just about to pay. All of these companies must deliberately choose to make their pricing obscure at first glance. I can only assume they do it in order to make quick like-for-like comparisons that much harder. |
You could be right. Doesn't seem like the ski industry is helping make holidaying as simple as it could be
I can see why some people just completely disregard TOs and go total DIY
I'll admit that I've only ever used Sunweb as a self-drive option; I would like them (and other TOs) to give better info about accomodation though, especially bed configurations. I suppose they're at the mercy of the property owners giving them that info but it's not helpful to the customer
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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: |
better info about accomodation
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Last year whilst checking deals on Inghams you could chose the floor, room number and beds for the hotels I looked at. Can't check on that this year as their updated website hangs for me.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We go with TO because theoretically they will get you there and back and deal with delays, bad weather etc and it’s just easier all round.
I doubt we could do it cheaper than Crystal from Edinburgh. La Tania self catering, reasonable apartments, ski from and to 5 metres of front door in January 2026 at £766 per person. And in January La Tania is pleasantly quiet.
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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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Crystal BOGOF ends after today.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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There were also some decent solo deals with £100 off a fair few trips
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@HutToHut, I would guess that you were looking at properties where Inghams have the whole house, or specific rooms, on full guarantee, a bit like how they used to run their chalets and chalet hotels.
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| toyah807 wrote: |
| There were also some decent solo deals with £100 off a fair few trips |
Where were these solo deals to please, and what sort of money? Cheers.
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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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@greengriff, SOLO100 was the code to use. Also ends tomorrow. I also received the Crystal BOGOF email this morning and further down there was also a link to solo deals so I assume if you do a normal search for 1 it will throw them up. At a glance I saw prices around £800 upwards before the reduction. I didn't delve too deeply as I would probably diy solo if needs be
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FAQ
