 Poster: A snowHead
|
Some friends have been looking at a chalet in Alpe d'Huez for April and suggested that we join them. Sounds good in principle but I've only ever done DIY or used very small independant companies in the past and never tried a package with a main tour operator before.
What could go wrong with a First Choice chalet holiday?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Ray Zorro wrote: |
What could go wrong with a First Choice chalet holiday? |
It could turn out to be a wooden hut in the middle of a field 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
The food could be awful ,and the wine undrinkable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
IncogSkiSno, and i thought you were going to say...
| Quote: |
What could go wrong with a First Choice chalet holiday?
|
You could end up sharing it with Zorro.
(thought I'd best say that before anyone else does )
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Helen Beaumont, is that something they are renowned for?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Ray Zorro, I'm not really sure,honestly. I'd do a Google search on the chalet too. I've only been on pne Crystal, and one Skiworld chalet holiday so I@m no expert, and although the food was good on both occasions, the wine was on the rough side. If there is an option for you all to upgrade the catering package, I would take it. The food budget they have is tiny.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Zorro,
It has a much chance of success as any holiday. If the people are fun and the hosts make an effort you'll have a great time.
You'll do all the research about location and stuff so it is only the food and hosting that can surprise you. If the deal is attactive mostly because it is cheap you may be able to offset this but adding to the food allowance. Chalet stuff might be a bit jaded by the end of the season, you could do well to give them a few incentives. If you are really worried then do your own thing and meet your friends there but you may lose things like child-sitting duties that may be shared around the chalet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Zorro, Your flight will be delayed for certain..oh and if you book thinking you are leaving at a decent hour like 10am then 6 weeks before they will write to you and inform you that it has changed to 5.30am
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
First choice is last choice for me. when we used them the hotel was awful, the food was worse, the description was accurate but uselss (ski bus passes right outside the door - well it did, but it didn't stop) and the customer service was useless. I'll never use them again.
Crystal on the other hand have been excellent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helen Beaumont, the food budget looks tiny to you because a) you aren't catering a chalet and b) you aren't buying wholesale from companies who supply your programme of 50 chalets and half a dozen hotels.
The wine, on the other hand, will certainly be grim. Chalet wine is always grim.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
boredsurfin, no, that's just amongst first-time seasonnaires who think they're being witty. I have worked for First Choice, and found it a perfectly acceptable experience. I wouldn't work for them again, but that's because they've been taken over by TUI, which I wouldn't touch with a bargepole.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
nbt,
| Quote: |
Crystal on the other hand have been excellent
|
Ironic isn't it, our 2nd worst catered chalet experience was with Crystal 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Thanks to all  . Well the deed is done, so that is one trip organised for next year. Thanks again for your inside knowledge Lizzard,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Lizzard, it was chalet staff who told me their catering budget was tiny. It wasn't really meant to be a criticism. I had perfectly acceptable cooking on both occasions, paying for standard cooking, but it was obviously done on a low budget. I did unintentionally go on a First Choice ski holiday. They had taken over the original tour op. However, the hotel itslef had been taken over by Club Med/CLub Aquarius and was an improvement on our previous visit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Ray Zorro, maybe you should have asked Lizzard who she'd be working for next season? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Last time we went to Alpe D'huez with a TO we spent 3.5 hours sitting on the transfer bus at airport whilst they waited for another plane from UK 
Never again!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
provenjohn, A private transfer is well worth it's money in my experience, nothing better than walking straight out of the airport into a minibus and then being taken straight to your accomodation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I have only been on one First Choice holidays and it was excellent.
It cost me £450.00 and included:
Full Board
Lift Pass
Ski Hire
Ski Tuition
Free Beer and wine
Flights and transfers from Belfast via Lyon
It was to the small but delightful village of Crest Voland and was Mrs JBs first ski trip.
A truly excellent week. There was even a school group from the North East and we had the best craic with both the kids and teachers. The teachers weren't on the All Inclusive deal, so we ordered the beer for them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
johnboy, sounds excellent!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
johnboy, ah, the Bartavelles in Crusty Vol-au-Vent! I managed it for a while one summer - very nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helen Beaumont, Lizzard,
Creat Voland and The Bartavelles is actually where I learned to ski with my school back in 1992, so I have a special fondness of the place. Very cosy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Zorro, I went on a first choice chalet holiday last season and the food was absolutely amazing, however, that's no use to anyone as it basically comes down to how good the cook is. So in answer to your question what could go wrong it's anywhere from nothing to everything useful eh?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Ray Zorro, What's the name of the chalet that your staying in?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lizzard, johnboy, The Bartavelles was up for sale last season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I've been with First Choice a couple of times and found them fine - decent reps and reasonable for the price accomodation (including an apt in alpe d huez but many years ago). They are actually my first choice of the big names, mainly for great in flight food and comfort - more leg room than any of the other ime.
Crystal on the other hand have not impressed but I've only been with them once - no reps on the coaches and bad ones outweighed the good in resort too. Handily our chalet staff were fab and it snowed continuously which made up for it all.
aj xx
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
katski, it is Pere Josef 1 or 2
In fact I have seen other companies advertising them and in the end our friends booked through Iglu. So I'm not really sure exactly what the set up is there
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Zorro, Pere Josef 1 & 2 are about 30 metres or so from the bottom station of the bucket lift through town and just across the road from a chair lift that will take you across town to the Bergers lifts. The run through town will drop you off about 20 or 30 metres from your front door.
As I recall these are two chalets with an interconnecting door. If you book both chalets the door is opened, if they are booked sepaerately then it stays locked.
I've been with First Choice a couple of times, including to a chalet in ADH just along the road from where you will be. Generally thought they have been OK, but I guess a lot of that rests with the staff they have employed that year - just as with pretty much any TO.
We flew into Grenoble for ADH, and managed to be in resort just after lunchtime - great for a 1/2 day of skiing!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
IIRC it was a case of us (Manchester) and one other plane (Gatwick?) that arrived just before us and then straight off to the relevant resort.
Put it like this, I collected my bag and skis, went through customes and headed off to the cash machine in the arrivals hall for some Euros. That minor detour (less than 5 minutes) made me the last on the coach!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I just don't understand why on earth anyone uses tour operators these days when you can sort everything yourself to suit yourself and no hanging around etc etc......
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
northantsred, someone to complain to when you don't like it; someone to take responsibility for sorting it out when things go wrong; laziness.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
northantsred, because its cheaper sometimes especially if you live up north with kids who you would have to kill on a 17 hour car journey 
we've paid £1080 for 2 adults and 2 kids to go to a catered chalet in ADH with crystal in January. theres no way i could beat that doing it myself ( based on the fact i wanted to go to ADH )
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Lizzard, has a good point to , if i book it all I get the blame if anything goes wrong.
now who are you working for next year lizzard 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Also this, from the Travelmole website:
"Although more than nine in ten (92%) of almost 5,000 holiday consumers questioned by the authority considered holiday financial protection to be important, over a third (35%) incorrectly believed that a DIY holiday they put together themselves would be protected should their airline, hotel or car hire company cease trading.
As result, the CAA urged consumers to check that their summer air holidays are financially protected.
Flights and accommodation booked separately as part of a DIY break are unconnected.
If an airline or accommodation provider ceases trading before consumers travel, holidaymakers could be forced to buy alternative, often more expensive, flights or accommodation, the CAA said.
If travellers cannot purchase new flights, they may be unable to claim back money already paid for the unused components of the holiday, such as hotels and car hire.
Consumers could even run the risk of being stranded abroad if their airline went bankrupt during their break, the authority added."
Curtains, I work for a schools op - unless you don't mind sharing your hotel with a bunch of teenagers, I wouldn't bother.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Lizzard, my two are 6 and 9 i never want them top become teenagers
good skiers yes, brats no
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Zorro, First Choice run the chalets and Iglu are acting as an agent to sell them. They are well located chalets giving you easy access to the bucket lifts or the cross town chair lifts. Whilst I wouldn't describe them as luxurious they are nice chalets. Can't really comment on the First Choice level of service/food as I've not been on one of their holidays. I think as with many of the large operators it is the luck of the draw really - it boils down to the quality of your particular chalet staff. You will be given the basic chalet package which is probably good value for the price that you are paying.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Curtains, my point was made with no thought to expense, although obviously it is a factor, but to convenience and also if you are sorting your own acoomodation then you are making these decisions after research and therefore know more or less what to expect.
Even with children ( I have three of my own ) it can be done, but not at those figure you have quoted, that is stunningly good value by the sounds of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Curtains,
PS is that price for flights too?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
northantsred, yes flights from manchester transfers and a catered chalet with crystal
i don't know who good it will be as it's very small i.e 3 bedrooms but as it only cost £1080 I can't complain the breakdown included 1 free child and the 2nd at £99.
there was only one room for 4 the others were for 2 and 3 , it has private shower etc but no private bath . there was space for the following couple of weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
