 Poster: A snowHead
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For the past few years we've gone for a holiday the week before Christmas week, booking it right at the last minute depending on where it's been snowing or forecast to snow. This has been moderately successful (the big problem last year was TOO MUCH snow).
This year that would be a very very early holiday (12-19th December). Thanks to work and family commitments the only viable alternative is to go over New Year instead (leaving on 26/27 Dec for a week), but that's always an absurdly overpriced week and is a bit inconvenient for other reasons. Although the empty pistes on the morning on Jan 1st are very nice.
So I've been wondering if it makes sense to do nothing for now. If it snows early, book a last minute trip for the early week. If it doesn't, pray it snows during the middle of December, then book semi-last-minute over New Year.
My question is: are we likely to be able to book a late New Year holiday? Or will things such as flights get full?
(We are a couple, no children. We want to go to one of the "big name" European resorts with lots and lots of varied on-piste skiing but don't really mind which one as long as there's snow. We want to travel by plane from Heathrow/Gatwick/London City or Southampton or by direct Euro$tar. We are happy to stay in an apartment, decent catered chalet or 2,3 or 4* hotel. Money isn't really an issue, but we don't want to have to massively over-pay. Happy to go with a TO or DIY, but I know that hotels do tend to fill up for that week very early.)
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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 kept an eye on this last year, as I wanted to see if there were any good last minute deals over new years; while the week before (i.e. up to 26/27 Dec) just got cheaper and cheaper as time went on, New Year week got more and more expensive until, with a few days left, all the major tour operators had virtually nothing left apart from a few hugely overpriced venues.
I'd suggest, if you're planning on going over New Years, you get it booked asap while there's still some choice. This year I'm planning on being away over Xmas but will be leaving that until very last minute.
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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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Keep you're fingers crossed for snow the week of the 12th - 19th. Late deals are few and far between over new year plus if there's anyway you can avoid the crowds new year crowds it's worth it. Can you do the 2nd - 9th Jan? Lots cheaper and lots quieter.
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Strongly agree with fijit. I'd go for a last minute early in December - not because of cost so much as the jobs of quiet pistes and no queue.
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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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Frances, I would think that any flights - if there are any - over NY will be eye wateringly expensive. A few Easter's ago (not as busy as NY) it was cheaper for me to fly club class with BA than fly Easyjet. New Year will be worse.
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Flights will be expensive at NY. If you can drive (and book the ferry relatively early), my guess is that you'll find decent-priced accommodation.
I'd be very surprised if there was no snow anywhere in the week 12-19, so you can wait and book then.
You could wait until Nov, snow might start falling early, then you can book the 12-19.
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Late deals at NY are pretty much non-existent - at least, I have never seen one. I'd hang in there, book a flight now to , say, geneva, and take it from there. No doubt this is what you've done before and so have we! often ending up in Tignes which is reliably good then. You can wait until practically the week before to book your accomodation as there'll be plenty around.
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