 Poster: A snowHead
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Last season I booked a late deal with Inghams to Panorama which was a great success (10 nights at Pine Inn + travel = £400 bargain) so I'm planning to do the same again this coming January to Fernie. I was concerned that with accommodation allocated on arrival we would be dumped in the Cedar Lodge about which I've read a few bad reviews. However this year it is no longer on the list of hotels that Inghams offer. 
So which out of the remaining hotels in Fernie on that list is the best, and which is the most likely to be allocated on arrival to last-minute-booking plebs?
Stanford Inn
Wolf Inn
Best Western
Lizard Creek Lodge
Park Place Lodge
Or is there still a chance we could end up in the Cedar Lodge?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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For 400 quid stop being so greedy.
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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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I stayed in Cedar Lodge last year. Didn't even notice anything wrong with it, then again I was there for the mountains and didn't spend much time in it anyway.
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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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I wouldn't worry too much about the bad reviews, the guy from Edinbro sounded like a complete joker. Looking to pull in a ski resort if you aren't female is ambitious at the best of times.
You'd be very lucky to get the latter 3 on your list & maybe the Wolf's Den. Like the others say though if you're really picky about accomodation then book it in advance. At the price you are looking to pay the accomodation is essentially free.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| fatbob wrote: |
| Like the others say though if you're really picky about accomodation then book it in advance. |
Yes that's my point I guess. I don't like the look of Cedar Lodge whereas all the other accommodation seems decent so I was considering booking in advance to get either Wolf's Den or Stanford Lodge. However now that CL isn't on the list I will be booking AOA and just want to check that it is very unlikely that we will end up in CL.
Has anyone ever booked AOA and been given accommodation that isn't in the tour operator's brochure?
| fatbob wrote: |
| You'd be very lucky to get the latter 3 on your list & maybe the Wolf's Den. |
What is Stanford's Lodge like? It looks quite nice in the brochure/pics - 4*, big pool, water slide!!! I know you have to pay for a bus from Fernie town centre to the slopes but what about from SL - is there a free bus? Also in the evenings - is the bus to the town free or not?
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| hd wrote: |
| Has anyone ever booked AOA and been given accommodation that isn't in the tour operator's brochure? |
Yep, well actuallly it was a late booking with named accomodation but it was stuff that they didnt normally offer - they do it to pay for the flights, I think, when the accomodation is offered by aonther company in the group
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| Quote: |
Has anyone ever booked AOA and been given accommodation that isn't in the tour operator's brochure?
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No, but when I used to do last minute deals I didn't do an AOA deal precisely for the reason that in the smallprint somewhere they usually reserve the right to use accommodation not in the brochure - and I was concerned about location relative to lifts or buses, with kids.
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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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Stanford Lodge is the new name for Riverside Lodge AFAIK - its in no-man's land, neither in town nor on the hill & you will have to rely on buses I guess though don't Inghams sort punters with some sort of pass for it?
If I was Inghams I'd keep a few of the cheaper motels up my sleeve to sell AOA to without undermining my core bookings but that's just me. To be honest I wouldn't expect to be even in Stanford Lodge for the sort of money you indicate.
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When I went to Fernie back in 2003 I asked where people stayed who went AOA to Mike and Liz the reps and they told me the Super8 motel and if you did the resort AOA you end up in Panorama !
Obviously this was a while ago now though !
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I have friends who did resort AOA a few years back, they ended up in Panorama, the rep confirmed that was always the case. Not a bad option, really, quite a nice little resort for the kind of price you pay
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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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nbt, yep we had a great 10 days in Panorama Jan '07, admittedly with what the regulars were calling the best snow they'd seen in years though. Mmmm...Taynton bowl...Founders ridge...choccy brownies at the summit hut... And all for £400 a bit of a bargain really, although any budget considerations went out of the window as soon as we signed up for the heliskiing! 
Helen LS, thanks for that info. Might have to ask Inghams what their official policy is wrt AOA's being given accomm not in the brochure as we really don't want to end up in some crummy motel!
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Has anyone ever booked AOA and been given accommodation that isn't in the tour operator's brochure?
We have done this with Inghams a few times in the summer
More often than not its been in acomadation thats not in the brochure at the time though has been sometimes in the next years one.
We have always found the places aceptable for the price payed but dont expect a five star place from a cheap deal but if its the way you can manage to get to the slopes go for it
It has to be better than sitting at home watching the rain
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