 Poster: A snowHead
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Now only £399, was £850.
Now only £550, was £600.
There's never much detail on a holiday website. Which of the two will be better value?
Obviously, the answer is closely related to the length of a piece of string. But what do people do to ascertain what they might be getting? (Obviously mentions of champagne, outdoor hot tubs etc. are fairly clear as to what they offer...)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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James the Last, Much more info on the Toour company sites as opposed to the agents sites
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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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It certainly is a "piece of string". Can easily cost anything from £400 to £4000. What, and where, and when, are you looking for?
There's usually enough info to ascertain WHERE the chalet is - a key consideration for me. At present, there are some fairly stupendous offers. For example, if you want £1,730 off a week in a chalet (  ) have a look at http://www.descent.co.uk/whats-new.htm.
For more sensible prices, see http://www.leski.com/index/info/SPECIAL_OFFERS/215
We went to Courchevel 1650 with Le Ski some years ago and were impressed - that was a last minute offer, too.
Most of the websites seem to give you a fair idea of what you'll get - as Frosty the Snowman says, look at the TOs own sites. If you come up with any specific suggestions then Snowheads, between them, could probably give you a fair idea of what to expect.
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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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James the Last, I can do you £160,000. Feel free to bring 15 friends.
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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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parlourFriends? What are they? When you're as rich as I am, you don't need friends.
This from le ski made me laugh. Champagne reception once a week, canapés twice a week. Car servicing every 12,000 miles.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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James the Last, brilliant, my car could do with a service t-belt etc all need doing so it might be good value...
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| James the Last wrote: |
| How much does a week in a chalet cost? |
If you've spent a week in a casino you'll know that the cost is based on what you spend.
I spent nothing at all, disguised as a chalet girl.
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| James the Last, Much more info on the Toour company sites as opposed to the agents sites |
So how to find out who the TO is, rather than the agent. Google can be some help if you search "Chalet X Pennines" but only if you can tell which of the hits the TO is.
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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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James the Last, go to the Tour Operators website - the online "last minute" clearing houses are a pain. There are loads of TOs out there. If you give us a bit more info about when, and where, you want to go (and how many people) we can probably come up with some good ideas.
What's so funny about "champagne reception once a week, canapés twice a week". You were seeking some information! That tells you that the company is a notch up from those who provide no canapés or champagne, but not in the league of those who provide it every night. A useful indicator...
When we went with Le Ski (last minute, booked 48 hours before departing, own travel) the food was stunning. Generally we went to much lower budget chalets - and we generally found them pretty much as described in their brochures (it was before the days of websites)
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What's so funny? It just seemed so prosaic. Your bins will be emptied thrice weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; towels changed twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays; and champagne served once weekly. Our dedicated plumbing staff check all gutters once a month, and it is recommended that you replace your tyres when worn to 6mm.
I'm also very suspicious of "free" champagne. It's generally bought down to a budget, not served up to a quality. [But then this is why package holidays are such a poor idea, generally. As I'm planning one, I should just stop moaning!]
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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James the Last, depends who you stay with really. (re Champagne)
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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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Based on previous experience though if you do decide to stay with parlor he will be upset if you drink cheap champagne...he will expect you to bring some decent stuff, he has an educated palate you know!
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James the Last, I'm not sure what your problem is with this. You initially complained that there was very little detailed information about chalets on the websites, then when you get detailed information, you complain that it's "prosaic". Prosaic stuff like - how many metres to the nearest lift, how big is my bedroom, is there an en-suite bathroom, what kind of thing is served for breakfast, is just the kind of info that I - and obviously lots of other people - want about a chalet.
As for the "quality" of the champagne, there is a huge range of catered chalet holidays available, from very cheap, to eye-wateringly expensive. In the chalet where my son is cooking, in Meribel, he has 200 bottles of absolutely top notch stuff. But you can't book a bedroom there.
Broadly speaking, you will get what you pay for, especially if you trawl Snowheads opinions before making a booking. Do you want to pay a lot of money for exceptional food and top quality champagne? Personally, I am just as happy with a good quality Cremant de Bourgogne.
Where do you want to go, and when, and how much are you prepared to pay? There are some fantastic bargains around.
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You know it makes sense.
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rungsp, for everyday drinking I favour 96 Belle Epoque, for special celebrations I can be tempted in many directions...
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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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"Champagne" is not helpful information. I too would (generally) much rather a €7 C de B than a €12 Champagne. On the other hand, if a site promised "sparkling wine" I would expect Pol Remy (ever had that? it's white wine that is carbonated in exactly the same way as is lemonade). I would rather a small, clean, freshly decorated room than a large, dirty one with damp patches and peeling wallpaper and no door on the en suite!
parlor, 1985 Bolly might be tempting.
pam w, The problem is, it's just not the information you need. The photographs of food on the Le Ski looked superb. That's helpful.
I suppose, what I want to know is what nobody will tell you e.g.: is the bathroom light, clean, well ventilated and airy - or damp, cold and mouldy; are the towels new this season - or not; are the beds proper, quality, sprung mattresses - or foam; cotton/linen sheets - or polycotton; is the Champagne chosen because it's the cheapest thing in Mammouth yclept Champagne - or because the person choosing is knows about wine and has carefully chosen a good value producer; when was it last repainted; how happy are the chalet staff?
Which ties nicely back into what you said "you get what you pay for". I'm sure you do. But my opening question was
Now only £399, was £850. Now only £550, was £600. Which of the two will be better value?
One of these holidays - £850 - is twice the cost of another - £399; another - £550 is 33% more expensive than the other at £399.
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Poster: A snowHead
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James the Last, tell us your requirements and snowHreads will give you the answer.
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