 Poster: A snowHead
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We are planning a boys trip to either ADH, Meribel or Courcheval 1650 for eight in late January/early Feb.
Last year we got a catered Chalet at half price through Thompson booking in December.
Does anyone have any idea when the operators normally start discounting?
Should we book now or hold on?
Thanks for any input.
David
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It could happen at any time but from my experience it starts from mid or end of October/November time. Keep a look out though from now though, the good deals can vanish faster than they appear!
I paid only £235 including insurance for a Half Board Ski in/out hotel in Passo Tonale last year! 
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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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DavidYacht,
I always found the best January deals appeared after everyone gets back to work after the Christmas/New Year hols, the absolute best deal (£119, 75% off, 4* Catered Chalet, Balcons de Belle Plagne inc Geneva flights, back in 2003 though) I got on a Friday after New Year departing the very next day! Depends how flexible you are with resorts, dates, etc, but there is normally quite a bit of variety in early/mid Jan, tails off and prices increase as you move twd & into Feb.
The difficulty you will have in getting a really cheap deal is that you are narrowing down your resort choice and looking for eight places, the best deals will be odd unsold rooms for 2 and they could be in any resort. You may stand a better chance with a Club Hotel as these have loads of rooms that tour ops must try and fill throughout the season.
Remember that the tour ops try and judge demand so as not to have over-capacity that they will have to distress sell, but invariably it happens in the lowest parts of the season, they have to make their profit from the peak times.
Anything approaching 50% off brochure price is a good deal.
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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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Boyfriend & I are looking to go for a week in Austria 13th-20th December... would we be better off waiting a few more weeks to see if there are any price cuts? We found cheap flights (£140 return for both of us) to Salzburg which we were going to book, but they suddenly jumped to £450+ before we had decided  , so I think we'll prob have to book a package deal now...
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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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| becsinbath wrote: |
| Boyfriend & I are looking to go for a week in Austria 13th-20th December... would we be better off waiting a few more weeks to see if there are any price cuts? We found cheap flights (£140 return for both of us) to Salzburg which we were going to book, but they suddenly jumped to £450+ before we had decided , so I think we'll prob have to book a package deal now... |
I'd hold on.. as a couple you've got massive flexibility...unlike the OP who is trying to book for 8...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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look at fasttrackski.co.uk , basically it is a broker for all the late deals. Don't book with them as they add a fee, which I think is largely based on how much they think they can get away with. Just use there website to find where the deals are and copy & paste the name of the accomadation into google, I have had some fantastic deals like La Plagne Easter 06 half board 3* for £189 each.
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Shirley it depends on how many people you are? I would expect that the larger the party the early you'd want to book? Just in case.
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| parlor wrote: |
| Shirley it depends on how many people you are? I would expect that the larger the party the early you'd want to book? Just in case. |
Yes of course it does, planning a boys trip, would be probably be best advised to book. If you wait for a last minute cheapie you aren't going to get all of you in the same accomadation, maybe not even the same resort.
When I have booked last minute it was for a max of 4 and that's not really what I would consider the number for a boy's trip, well not a proper boy's trip anyway.  .
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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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what's the verdict on late booking this season?
my thinking is that with people tightening their belts and the racy euro rate there will be late bargains to be had this year???
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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luigi, roger, Roger.
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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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parlor, Over and out.
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luigi, maybe but bear in mind that much of the economics behind winter operations is to generate contribution to summer overheads - like flight seat capacity. with the demise of several locos that may mean fewer surplus seats and fewer discounted packages.
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You know it makes sense.
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David Murdoch, yeah agreed, I guess this winter we might be entering uncharted territory if more short-haul airlines fail.
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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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| Quote: |
Boyfriend & I are looking to go for a week in Austria 13th-20th December... would we be better off waiting a few more weeks to see if there are any price cuts?
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You might be better off waiting a few months to see if there's any snow. 
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