Poster: A snowHead
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Arghhh, it's such a nightmare booking a group holiday for 24-30ish people for a club holiday. Even through various agents tour companies want instant deposits even before having a chance to confirm who wants to come. Group discounts aren't what they are made out to be e.g. no free places with hotels. And once you get on holiday groups can be less well supported. Thoughts or good experinces worth a mention.
Paul & Mags
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What's your budget?
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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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As last 2 years I've organised group holidays for 19 and 24 people to Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez using Thomson/Crystal.
All contact/organisation was through email with them.
Told them what I wanted, and the guy came back with a price and was able to haggle with him a couple of times to get small reductions in different places. I initially told them an idea of the number of people that were going, and when happy with the price i told him the number that were going and he held off 27 places on the plane for me, even thought it was reduced to 24 and it was 2 weeks before i got the deposits gathered up.
In Les Deux Alpes we stayed in a Thompson Club hotel and our rep was there fairly regualry. I have to say she was very good, and very helpful for us, meeting some peoples dietary requirements, organising skidooing and parapenting for the group.
In Alpe d'Huez we were in apartments and rep was there at a time which we usually didn't get to the apartments until after so I never spoke to him the whole week.
It can be a fair bit of time/effort/stress gettin it all sorted, but definately worth it.
A general feedback from the Alpe d'Huez trip was that it was very expensive there, it would be a fairly heavy drinking/partying group with some saying they spent £900-£1000 while there.
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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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Try an operator which has a specialist groups bit - Equity does, has a good reputation.
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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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paulmags, For good service try companies llike Silver Ski or Ski Olympic. They have some big catered chalets. Service as said is great, Silver Ski do some eacellent early booking discounts eg Book 32 pay 24 for certain dates. Ski Olympic give a free place at 9,17, 24 persons. I have booked 6 large group holidays (3 with each company) and they have both been IMHO top value for money.
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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'd second trying smaller companies - Equity agin I'd presonally recommend, Ski Olympic have always been helpful, Ski Miquel are helpful as long as you;re flying out of Gatwick - don;t try to get a large group out of Manchester though!
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Do any of them smaller companies fly out of Northern Ireland?
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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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Not sure, would look at independant flights sleazyjet etc, as this tends to be more flexible - there are flights from NI to Geneva...
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Yeah I had priced it DIY last year with flights, transfer, acomodation etc and was working about £50 cheaper per head, but in the end just went with Crystal, in case somethine went wrong, dalayed coach or the likes and missed flight or something, I'd have 24 people looking at me to sort it out.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for all that. After some frantic work we have manged to get sorted out. We used some of these tips and what we haven't will bear in mind for next year. It's with a local agent who seems keen and able to do a good job. It's likely with Inghams who just haven't previously worked well for our groups however maybe 4th time lucky ! Thanks everyone.
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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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Where are you going?
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It's off to Zermatt next year as it's one the bunch of us haven't been to and a top resort. This year 33 of us did Whistler. Before that similar numbers did Val, Les Arc, Alp d'Huez and many more before that. You'll know it's always a major task organising - well done to you !
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