 Poster: A snowHead
|
I've been having a bit of a look around at some ski trip possibilities over this last couple of days for next season and there are some good deals to be had on the "Early Bird Specials" so it appears.
Only thing is I don't know how much of a difference it makes if you wait and then book something as a late deal? If you see something just right in a really good location in the resort you wanted to go to is it best to get on and book it or are there always good location hotels in the late deals as well usually? I've never booked anything as a late deal before so I don't know what sorts of accomodation/bargains you can get?
Thanks 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Remember nothing is guranteed with a late deal. If you've got something/somewhere you particularly want to do then book it early. Otherwise, unless you're particularly picky, then you can get some decent deals with late bargains. However, there weren't many really good deals to be had this year owing to the large amount of snow at the start of the season (everyone got interested so the prices went up, along with exchange rate fiasco).
Late deals seem to be really good if you like SC or Chalet holidays, or you like Val Cenis... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
skisimon, ah thanks for that. Yes I can see what you mean, there didn't seem to be huge savings when I had a quick look at the late deals earlier on in April, the very month where you would expect to see good deals considering Easter was in March this year. I would also be after a single ensuite room for myself and the places I've looked at only seem to have a few of them available at the most, so that's what's tempting me to book now.
I've seen a couple of holidays with £140 off the price if you book early, by May 5th. Good thing is though you only have to pay £40 or something to book it which aint bad at all.
By the way, is the whole of Feb next year pretty much either half term holidays in the UK, or French half term holidays pretty much every week in Feb depending on the area of France taking the holiday at the time?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
skisimon, you mean where you have gone entirely on your own, or you have booked on your wown and met up with people in resort or something?
Nah, not penny pinching at all, I'm not too concerned about the price of it (within reason of course) as long as it represents good value to me and its nice and comfortable with own loo, bath/shower and a warm comfy bed in the location I'm after. I've not long come back from Val D'Isere and the accomodation was rubbish I thought for the money, very tatty and although the bus service there was really excellent I'm going for location next time where I can just click my skis on and go! I've picked resorts where it is highly likely they won't have trouble with snow cover, or there is access to other places quite easily that should be alright, of course though you can never tell though can you.....
I suppose my main worry about booking early is just in case I miss out on something I could have gone on instead! You may be able to answer this for me....this may help me with my booking woes.....apart from the SBB proposed in hopefully Austria which seems like its going to be 31st Jan-7th Feb, what date is the MSB and EoSB usually? Is it likely to be same weeks as this year but moved to the corresponding Saturday? I.e 7th-14th March for MSB since it was 8th-15th this year, and 18th-25th April for EoSB since it was 19th-26th this year?
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
A couple of my trips were entirely on my own, usually staying in a chalet for the atmosphere of everyone eating together etc. I have usually ended up meeting people. My last two solo trips were DIY though.
I'd probably go with one of the deals you can get now given what you've said - you can never be too sure of what sort of accommodation will be left for late bargains, although it's rarely the good value, clean and comfortable mid-range hotels... It seems to be one extreme or the other, or more often SC appartments and chalets.
MSB was a week earlier this year (possibly something to do with Easter), so not sure about that one. EoSB should be the week you suggest given past dates (but don't hold me to it  ).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, the chalet idea is what I'm looking at as well for precisely that reason as addition to it being in a good location, I'd rather get on and sort my own ski trips out for myself then if anybody I know wants to tag along then they can and perhaps get some accomodation nearby if they can't get in the same chalet/hotel as me at the time. You can end up waiting until the cows come home if you wait for friends and stuff to make their mind up/book the time off work etc etc! Or they haven't got the money to go or something like that.
EoSB shouldn't be a problem as I've got no clashes with that, its the MSB which might pose a problem depending on when it is, I see it was 17th-24th March in 2007, so assuming the same logic considering Easter is back to April next year. I haven't been to any bashes so far so I don't want to rule any out for next season in case I fancy going to any of them. Am definitely up for the SBB Austria week if it goes ahead, as long as it is the week 31st January-7th Feb!
Thanks very much for your info.
Emma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last year I booked a late deal three days before going, I was promised a specific hotel and on arrival surprise got put in a s**t tip. I kicked off and got moved. This year tried to book for a full week but could not get anywhere for a single so this year I have already booked two trips so as not to miss out. There seems to be a trend in the travel industry as a whole that there are not the late deals that there used to be only a couple of years ago, and those that there are tend not to be much cheaper and with less choice than if you had booked early.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There may also be a snowheads trip in January to Austria so keep an eye out for that one too
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
There may also be a snowheads trip in January to Austria so keep an eye out for that one too
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
VolklAttivaS5, If you book late (and it's a high season week you want) you may not get the location or quality of accommodation you want. But it might be cheaper.
Not always though. For example, if you want to stay in anywhere Chamonix over New Year for example, you'll be struggling to book much later than October. And as for the person who described themselves as "desperate" to find accommodation on December 30th...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Well worth doing IMV 
