 Poster: A snowHead
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I have just spent the season out in the Swiss Alpes and just really wanted to know if the rumors that next season is going to be even harder / more expensive?
Thanks for all your help!
duncan
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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funkydunck, welcome to snowHeads.
The change in the exchange rate (which probably wasn't fully factored into this season's prices) will have an impact on next season, as well as whatever inflation rate affects ski resorts.
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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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Wonderful..... lol..... Thanks
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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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funkydunck, come what may - you've got mountains on your doorstep! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes lol - I will stick to Scotland for next year (if only!)
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funkydunck, Yep a Scottish pound note will still be worth a pound (we hope) 
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You would think so, but anything can happen! haha
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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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Depends on how you travel/book.
If you pay in local currency at the time of your trip, then this year you'll already have taken the currency hit, so next year is not likely to be more expensive.
But if you book 8 months in advance via a UK tour operator, then this year you'll have been paying a price set a year ago. Tour operators have now set prices for *next* season using about the current cr*p exchange rate, so next year will be much more expensive.
My understanding is that the big operators have already cut the number of hols they expect to sell dramatically, so there are likely to be far fewer last-minute bargains available either.
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If the present trend continues DIY may not show too vicious a price rise. Some Eurozone economies are not in great shape - so the trend could continue. Who knows?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If you used home TO then they would have been working on deals set-up in Apr 08 or so....so have a look at the diff in rates then and now and assume that it will be more expensive.
However, if you booked local and about Oct/Nov, then that would have been a more realistic price ....as we did... so no, I do not expect my holiday to be more expensive. I took the hit this year..
The £ will recover slightly..as the euro will start falling, as will the CHF, but less so......IMO.
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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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Switzerland and Austria are providing better value at the moment IMHO,but who knows where the EURO will be by Xmas.
Undoubtedly last minute bookings provided some outstanding value this year,but next season there will be less chalet operators,less flights (just look at how many midweek flights have been pulled for next season especially by Esay jet,Jet2 and Bmi Baby), this gives us less choice especially for sneaky weekends as the market contracts due to the 'Crunch'.
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Who cares - I will pay what the going rate is to get my fix 
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You know it makes sense.
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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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It sure will... It's getting more and more expensive every year, so I don't see reason, why next year would be exception. Daily tickets (at least in Austria, Italy, and Slovenia) went up for about 5 or 6eur in last 2 or 3 years, and considering they cost around 36 or 37eur, 5eur is huge percentage. Same thing goes with hotel prices, just that percentage is a bit lower. But yeah... things get more and more expensive, no matter what exchange rate is.
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Poster: A snowHead
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fatbob, fine by me - don't fly and don't use TOs either!
I'm lucky/naughty and go mid-Jan (taking kids out of school) so benefit from cheap prices and quiet pistes. As we self-cater the standards will remain
There will come a point when prices are such that people will stop going and they will fall - supply&demand
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I agree. Booking with a UK tour operator will definitely get more expensive. I do think though that the current econmic crisis may make do it yourself trips cheaper, especially to the less frequented resorts. Lot's of more local resorts will probably be offering discounts and offers if the numbers drop drastically so maybe just turning up will be the only way of grabbing a bargain. I am skiing the season in NZ and they've already started to make ridiculous special offers - as an example I am getting a season pass for the 2 largest areas on the north island for under 150 pound. That would normally just about give me a week in Europe in one resort!
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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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| Boris wrote: |
| There will come a point when prices are such that people will stop going and they will fall - supply&demand |
Not necessarily IMHO. Wish it wasn't the case but I see more places (hotels, chalets etc) going bankrupt and the market volume reducing while the cost to the English skier increases.
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DB, could well be so. If the prices drop to a point where it is not worth operating, businesses will fold.
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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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Airlines are madly trying to reduce capacity - moth-balling planes, deferring delivery of new planes, cutting back routes. So, I expect the current heavily discounted prices will not last. They will cut back supply until demand forces up prices to an acceptable (from airlines' pov) level.
Bit tougher to do with hotels and lifts. They are a bit stuck - if they raise prices too far, given the current conditions, then inevitably they will drop business. The hardcore addicts will still go, but there are plenty who might find it more tempting to take up a cheaper holiday option. I suspect with hotels, you might notice some reduction in service, ie making do with fewer staff.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I aim to hide to away from all the costs by hopefully doing a season and getting a TO to employ me.... well thats the plan.....
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Spies tell me that TOs are dropping chalets like hot bricks at the moment, suggesting that those which remain will cost you more. I predict that they could also cut staffing and feed you even cheaper rubbish than they do at the moment. If you're considering a catered chalet with a big TO, tell them you're a veggie would be my advice.
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| Lizzard wrote: |
| Spies tell me that TOs are dropping chalets like hot bricks at the moment, suggesting that those which remain will cost you more. I predict that they could also cut staffing and feed you even cheaper rubbish than they do at the moment. If you're considering a catered chalet with a big TO, tell them you're a veggie would be my advice. |
An example of over-capacity a couple of weeks ago a tour operator catering more to our continetal cousins had an occupancy on their chalets of less than 20% of the total number of chalets they had for the season, the previous week was probably more like 30%...can't say they'll be taking the same number of chalets for next season, provided they're not all in 3 year tie-ups..
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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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Part of the reason myself and my ski buddies have already booked ahead for next season is, if rumours are to be believed, there will be a fair bit less available next season. At the moment, the prices look reasonably comparable, but I've only looked through a few of the main TOs...
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I'd like to see a bit more European entrepeneurship re off-peak pass pricing e.g. the US model where many resorts offer a season pass for around the cost of 6 or 7 days with blackouts for e.g. Feb holiday weeks, Xmas & New Year. Easier for "contained" resorts where they make the margin on greater bed occupancy, food & bev, ski hire etc but maybe communes looking down the gun might have to subsidise lift ops a bit?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Our regular haunt has posted next years' prices and they're up by about 10%. But if we book early we can have a 10% discount... 
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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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Recently booked with Esprit in La Ros for next year, same week as this year, as the holiday and flight supplements were less, but the add on's - child care, daughters lessons and lunches were more expensive - on balance I'm paying around £60 less which includes a better loyalty bonus this year.
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You know it makes sense.
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I wonder, if airlines are cutting capacity and TOs are dropping chalets, will there be a resulting oversupply of beds? Will prices drop, or will owners try to squeeze as much out of those who do come in order to compensate for those who don't? Of course companies that own multiple properties could simply not open some of them for the season. I would think there will be deals in areas with more independantly owned accomidations, which they cannot as easily take out of service. Sounds like a winter to self-cater or spend in a pension in Austria.
Another thought: will falling fuel prices stem the increase in the cost of a lift pass?
At any rate, I've just booked flights to Zürich for Christmas-New Years. Prices were normal with loads of flights on that route. Still looking for accomidation, but so far it appears to be reasonably priced. No decernable difference to this year. For lift ticket prices, we'll have to wait and see.
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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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Most of the places we book into are privately owned. I guess the owners still want an income so are still renting - a few are trying to sell of course. I expect there will be a bit more demand for these, possibly with a price rise, as a result of people taking the DIY route.
But mid-Jan still seems cheap
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Poster: A snowHead
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Don't forget your DIY costs can suddenly escalate if your airline decides its planes have "technical problems" (aka not enough seats sold) on your chosen dates or the French decide to have a stroppy port blockading winter.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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book late next winter
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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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| Quote: |
you might end up with an array of stuffed vegetables all week...
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Boring, admittedly, but it beats dubious cheap sausages with bits of blue plastic in.
He never did stuff that carrot.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
I aim to hide to away from all the costs by hopefully doing a season and getting a TO to employ me
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I imagine that TO jobs will be harder to come by - they'll be able to pick and choose, so prospective employees would do well to ensure they acquire as many relevant skills as possible before applying.
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what is interesting here is that everyone is talking about prices going up.. while the great leader, otherwise known as a one eyed scottish idiot.. (i'm scottish so that isn't racialist:) is telling us to fear deflation..
from what i see i think early bookers will get an ok deal, mid bookers a stinker and late bookers.. well depends..
as for countries leaving the euro.. can't imagine Italy supporting it's deficit without germany to help
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mugen, thats right, but he's talking about UK-deflation and not "mainland"-deflation. Which is why people are talking about prices going up, mainly because the pound-euro exchange rate has sunk so low.
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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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| Timmaah wrote: |
| mugen, thats right, but he's talking about UK-deflation and not "mainland"-deflation. Which is why people are talking about prices going up, mainly because the pound-euro exchange rate has sunk so low. |
To be honest i think the euro exchange rate will reverse by next year. But i dont think we will be back at 1.50 any time soon. probably 1.35 is probable if he collapse in german exportingcontinues for much longer.
but then i've spent most of my life being wrong so what would i know 
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