 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm not sure if I'm really allowed to write rude things about a tour operator!!! But ours was rubbish. They are based in Brighton. If you know what it's like to plan a ski trip, all the risk assessments, the aggro, the joy you will know how it feels to be repeatedly let down. Even before we left they could not advise me of what our evening activities were and so I couln't make risk assessments and had our big cheese at County Hall threatening to pull the trip without them. The rooming list also arrived 3 hours before we left.I just want to moan about a few things because I would really hate for anyone to use this hopeless company and end up with the same problems as us! Firstly they changed our pick up time so that we left at 11pm at night, we had 43 12-16 yr old on a ferry at 2.25-4am with no shops/cafes open. Going over the coach company did not have a 100km sticker so we travelled through Germany at snail's pace, we were stopped by customs in Munich and as the company did not have the correct paperwork we were fined- well the coach company were but I had to pay it as they didn't have any money, oh I also had to pay 440 euros for fuel because their credit card pin didn't work! The hotel was poor. This is my 4th ski trip and I have never been asked to share one room with 5 female teachers sleeping in bunkbeds- it was like doing a black run every morning! Still there was a boys room for 12 next door to us. The food was indifferent, the hotel did not know that there were 6 veggies for the first 3 days so they just ate what they could, nor did they know there was a nut allergy although the tour company should have told them. As we were sharing with another group- a different provider, they had arrived before us and had booked ALL entertaiments and food before us. This basically meant that we ate after them every night and every night there wasn't enough food and we had to go and ask for more!! The tour company booked a bowling evening- 2 lanes for 50 people so we decided to not even bother. We had the local reps in who promised faithfully that they would amend the situation but went back to the UK that night! The upshot of this was that we had REALLY poor food ever after and got locked out of the boot room every day- all 50 of us in the freezing cold! The day we left we had 3 rooms for 50 pupils to get showered and of course because the other group got there first the showers had already been used by 70 people before us- nice! and nice and cold! Oh not forgetting the coach drivers. They had a single room with 2 beds in so they couldn't even pass between them, everyday they looked worse and worse and told us that they were having no sleep- this was a REAL health and safety risk and again the company ignored it totally. We stayed in Aurach near Kitzbuehel- try and avoid our Pension if you can it was like a cross between rising damp and fawlty towers. The only fab things were what the company did NOT touch. Weather -fab, all 43 kids-fab ski instructors(schischule Aurach) the best we have ever had!!! Please think long and hard about using this provider because they really do not care, they will fobb you off with anything!!!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi schatzi
I'm leading a school trip to Les Menuires in 4 weeks time with a Brighton-based tour operator, and already planning the next one for December 2008 with the same company-SkiPlan. Mind you, they all seem to be based in Brighton...so it's hard to judge who you're talking about! The only other company I have recently used in that neck of the woods is EquitySki and they were fantastic on both occasions we've been with them.
So.....how about dishing the dirt?? Have I already named them, or it is someone else?
Cheers.
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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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schatzi, welcome to Snowheads. I hope you feel better having got that off your chest. It sounds absolutely grim - you haven't named and shamed, though? You must have been proud of your kids. 
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If you are commenting on your own experiences, rather than re-telling third-hand what happened to someone else, I see no problem in naming companies that have provided a poor service. You may also wish to draw their attention to this thread so they can respond publicly to your comments. Sounds like you had a rotten time, to say the least.
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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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schatzi, oh that does sound rough. I would sue the back bottom out of them.
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Schatzi
1st of all welcome to Snowheads.
I would bet money that the company you booked through was S** B****. Am I right let me know.
1st of all if it is this company you pays for what you gets !!, and if it is them they specialize in school trips and you are not going to get the Ritz. On my 1st ski holidays over 30 years ago which were with the school we slept 8 to a dorm with a shower and a basin in the corner of the room and it didn't put me off skiing.
If it is this company, I go on a trip every year (this year was my 3rd) with this company and about 80 of us (Adults Only) take the hotel over and we have a superb time, but I would not take the wife, due to the accomadation she does not do 'roughing it'
Last years trip was to Tignes and the manager thought he was still talking to the kids who had just vacated. After a few of us quite firmly but fairly put him in his place, we no longer had any problems. This years trip was to ADH and the manager and staff were superb, maybe they had been forewarned.
Can see how they wouldn't cope with a hotel full of kids though, 90% of the staff are no more than kids themselves.
Let me know if I am right  .
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Kel, I went on an enjoyable trip with Ski Bound to tignes this season. It was good value IMHO
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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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Our plan B for December was also SkiBound-to either their Tignes 2100 hotel or Vieux Village hotel in Val d'Isere. Didn't go with them in the end because I didn't like what I'd heard/read about either hotel, and other staff had warned me about their admin!
But until Schatzi gets back, we're only guessing.....!
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Mon 25-02-08 23:24; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Come on Schatzi, spill the beans.
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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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schatzi, hey, you got a free trip didn't you? Name & shame or there's no point.
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As I said you gets what you pay for
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Kel, not in the case of school skiing. IMO kids' parents have been paying well over the odds forever. Schools need to show a bit more nous and go indy.
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You know it makes sense.
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Kel, yes you're paying for one in eight which ups the cost (in theory) by 12.5% but it's far far more expensive than it need be given the sub-standard accom & travel arrangements. Dare I say this?... it used to be suggested that there were lots of brown paper envelopes involved in securing school bookings. Does that go on? A myth?
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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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schatzi, it must be really frustrating that your FREE ALL EXPENCES PAID trip didn't go acording to plan. 
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I would really hate for anyone to use this hopeless company and end up with the same problems as us!
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Then tell us who it was !!!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Kel, yes, yes & yes  Bode Swiller, I think the cost for the kids at hotel 2100 in Tignes was £600.
This was ALL in & included:
Lift pass
6 full days ski school
7 days full board
Gear hire
Insurance
Evening entertainment
Good value IMHO
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Frosty the Snowman, coach or plane?
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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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I was full of admiration for the teachers in our hotel. A freebie?
NO WAY
Oh & the kids were great too.
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Plane from a local airport to Grenoble, then coach
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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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Odin, maybe some teachers on school trips are loafing, but many - maybe most - are working hard, for up to 24 hours a day, to make sure the kids get a good holiday. Some school trips seem ludicrously expensive but others keep prices down and give priority to kids who have not skied before, because their family don't, or can't, take them skiing. It's no wonder some teachers have given up on extra-curricular activities if your reaction is typical.
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Would any have swapped places withschatzi, ?
Thought not.
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Frosty the Snowman, OK, £599.98 not too bad.
Kids have it way too cushy these days. When I first went we had three to a bed and our masters thrashed us to sleep with their belts... these days I pay extra for that.
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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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Kel, great value, but i do prefer our family/group chalet holidays 
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We don't even know if schatzi went with Ski Bound, it was only an assumption !!!!.
its time she named whoever it was then I can go to bed  .
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Kel, maybe Schatzi is a feller, who had to share a room with 5 female teachers? That's why it was like doing a black run every morning.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Kel wrote: |
| 3 hairy arsed 40 something pot bellied wanna be's. |
You were in our room?
You should try the EoSB
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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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IMO kids' parents have been paying well over the odds forever. Schools need to show a bit more nous and go indy.
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£700 to £800 for:
- travel
- full board accommodation, choice of hot or packed lunch
- six days ski pass
- daily four-hour lesson for six days
- equipment hire
- full evening ents programme
- 24-hour supervision
What do you want, blood?
Independent is all very well, but consider being stuck at an airport with 80 kids and having Ryanair tell you that they're sorry about the strike, here's your money back, goodbye.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A group that I went with paid around the £600 mark and stayed in a very nice hotel. As Lizzard details above, I think that if you look at most ski trips, to get full board accommodation (most kids were sharing 3 to a room, no bunks), good quality equipment hire, 4 hrs a day of lessons plus evening ents, oh and 24/7 supervision including a teacher having to do the hospital trips.........
I honestly don't think that it is a rip off. And yes.....most of the teachers have to work hard. even when they're not running around after kids, just being responsible for 40 teenagers in a dangerous environment is worth a bit of free skiing.
Odin, you tell me that the teachers on the trip where that young lad died last week were "enjoying a freebie". I think not 
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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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What do you want, blood?
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of course.
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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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Hi it's schatzi! Sorry didn't realise my comments would be so interesting to others so went off to bed. I would like to say that a/ I am not a man!! b/ I am a modern language teacher c/ These people (Odin)who say you're getting a "free" holiday really get on my thrupnnies! There is NO such thing as a free holiday especially with 43 teenagers!! I wasn't quite sure how to work this page to reply but funny how so many of you guessed right it was Skibounders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really don't expect luxury but it was my 26th school trip in 15 years so I do not what to expect and what is/isn't ok. Best bit was the skiing, slightly slushy in the afternoons but lovely powder in the mornings, wonderful Alpenhaus restaurant and some fab instructors, it was the first time I was really pushed to ski. They were also quite nice to look at.
Thanks for all your comments- you really cheered me up!
Still never going with skibound again though! I am off to write rude letters to them although I don't know why because I am certain that they don't care!
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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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schatzi, they are part of TUI these days, so no, they probably don't care. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hi Lizzard! How do you know these things??What is TUI is it Thompson group?
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Anyway guys, I am going to start planning next ski trip this week I do this because I really love skiing and I love taking kids who have never been before because they get so much out of it. Also I can bribe them to take a language this way if I didn't I think we would have virtually no males taking French or German and I would be doomed to a life of teaching PSHE.
If anyone can recommend someone good that they have used before I would be so gratefu and if anyone knows of somewhere nice in Kitzbuehel to stay that would be good too.
Anyhow Lizzard how come you're sitting in the French alpa and I'm in East Sussex. Hmmmmm
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schatzi, I am sure you will get somewhere. They are a big school provider and you could get a long way with your complaint. Ski Bopund were part of First Choice, whicjh is now part of TUI (Thomson, Crystal etc).
Do keep us informed.
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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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| Quote: |
TUI Travel - A Giant Of The European Travel IndustryTUI AG (Touristik Union International) is a large international company based in Germany. The well known TUI ‘smile’ logo is used to represent a number of companies including the popular UK tour operator Thomson Holidays. The recently formed TUI Travel PLC was created through the merger of First Choice Holidays PLC and the tourism division of TUI AG. TUI Travel consists of over 80 Tour Operators in countries all over Europe, and has around 155 aircraft. In addition TUI AG also has a number of airlines, Cruise ships, retail stores, and container ships.
There are approximately 3,600 travel retail outlets in the TUI group and over one hundred TUI AG owned airlines serving 180 destinations worldwide, making TUI the largest holiday fleet in Europe. TUI Hotels and Resorts is also the biggest hotelier in Europe and owns 12 holiday brands in 30 countries. Altogether TUI Hotels and Resorts consists of around 285 hotels and over 160,000 beds. TUI acquired the Hapag-Lloyd shipping company in 1998 and is one of the largest shipping companies in the world.
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Why Kitzbühel?
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Blimey thanks for that DB you know your stuff and Frosty I am going to moan my skiboots off on this one and I will let you know of course.
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FAQ
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