 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
1st post here....
Just new a bit of advice/recommendations from experienced skiers....
Basically me and OH went to Flaine this March and really enjoyed our time. We were part of a large group and not involved in the booking process, therefore no knowledge of websites/what to book/etc. We are still beginners and do want to improve.
What do you guys recommend in terms of websites/what to book???? We don't mind going to Flaine again as it is perfect for beginners and very convenient.
I have checked sites like crystalsky, inghams, nielson, etc - but they seem overpriced when booking the extras, i.e., equip. hire, lift pass, lessons...
Is it better if I just book just flights+accomodations with these guys and source myself lessons/equip.hire/lift pass???
I've also read that it is advisable to wait till New Year to check/book as price "seem" to have already been cut, etc
Any comments/reccomendations are much appreciated.
Depart: London any
Period: 1 week - any in February 2010
Destination: any for beginners (lessons a must)
Board: preferably full
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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redbaron51, welcome to Snowheads.  You probably won't find that booking ski lessons and lift passes etc is any cheaper doing it yourself - the current weakness of the pound against the euro is making things very expensive. You can easily check the prices on the flaine website - and book it all online if it's cheaper. If you book yourself, don't forget there's is a choice of ski school. I've seen several instructors from this independent school http://www.skiflainemoniteurs.com/ over in Les Saisies, where we ski - they bring their pupils over from Flaine sometimes, for a change. I've seen them in action with English clients and I get the impression they're very good (even if the colour of their jackets is truly horrible... Small groups - which makes a big difference. they will probably be more expensive than ESF but if you want to progress quickly, spending on lessons is well worth while.
When in February are you thinking of going. All except the first week is peak French school holiday times - and Flaine gets pretty busy. If you can't do the first week in February it might be nicer to wait until the second week of March, and quieter pistes.
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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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Welcome to Snowheads - I would have suggested you were looking in the right places if it's your first time. There's talk of more over-capacity so if you're only going as a couple I'd leave it till after xmas and see if the tour operators start lowering prices. If you're happy booking late and being flexible with places there's probably some cracking deals around if you book on Monday to fly the following weekend - the likes of ifoyuski.com and igluski do a good job of advertising these deals
Oh and if you're going to France, try and go the 1st week of the month, definitely DONOT go from 14th Feb as that's english 1/2 term week and is the busiest most/overpriced week in all French resorts. Personally I'd look for mid-late Jan and March 7th onwards (upto easter) as that avoids the peak weeks when the Frenchies are on holiday, and again will help to keep prices down, lift lines lower and less queuine for an apres beer.
Enjoy the trip
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Personally, I would take a note of the tour operators price for lessons, ski hire and lift passes, then do a bit of searching on google to see if I can beat any of them
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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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Hi redbaron51, and a warm welcome to SH I'd check for deals that include liftpasses/lessons as part of a package and also consider booking everything separately, flying with a "budget" airline. Depending on your level and the resort, some places have different lift passes covering a greater or lesser part of the area - you might save by buying a more restricted one.
If you might consider March, there is a trip that would suit your level that will be good value and have great instruction in small groups (max 4).
I am sure you will get a whole host of replies on this!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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redbaron51, welcome to snowHeads Check out http://www.bookableski.co.uk/ they seem to have some good deals for Flaine, but they lift pass eqp hire etc is probably not to bad from Crystal etc, if you do some searching online you may save a little bit but I wouldn't of thought you'd save a massive amount.
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hiya, ive booked with www.fasttrackski.co.uk this year (Avoriaz resort). they were cheapest. previous year was www.directski.co.uk (mottaret 3 valleys) they are also cheap. i dont think you will save much on passes. skirepublic do a 2for 1 offer which worked out cheapest last year.
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First Choice (part of Thompson) mailed me last week to say they have taken £100 off everything. I have used them for the past two years and they have been good, with good prices.
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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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Hi all,
Thanks for all posts they are really helpful especially for a noob like me.
@ Butterfly: I quite like the idea of this trip. Will check this thread out carefully.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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This forum is full of people who will tell you to wait until the last minute. Don't listen as this way lay's madness and desperate scrabbling around for the last few rooms and flights.
I'm not saying there ain't the odd trip that comes up at a ridicules price and this will be chatted about ad-infinitum in forums like this, but these are few and far between, contrary to popular (loudly voiced) opinion. If you want to go on a skiing holiday, then book one, as soon as you can.
The general rule of thumb is that the sooner your book, the more choice you have and the lower the cost. This is as true now as it's always been.
Oh, and it's almost always cheaper to book your holiday through a tour operator than it's is to try and book all the constituent parts yourself
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This is frankly drivel, it may not be simple that booking with a tour operator is invariably more expensive it depends on circumstances but it certainly is the case that DIY can be cheaper and often considerably so. There are frequent last minute significant discounts in low season weeks these are not few and far between but commonplace. They can certainly be more difficult to find high season though people do seem to find them.
Perhaps the reason why the forum is full of people suggesting booking late is because it works for them. It certainly can ensure you miss the worst of the snow.
PS
'Following on from EasyJet's closure of it's East Midlands base the availability of low cost flights = none (at what you would call a cheap price, on the dates that most people will want to travel). Don't even think about it. '
Ive just looked at easyjet flights from London where the OP is from for the last week of Feb (sat-sat) and the flights appear great value to me.
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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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Oh, and it's almost always cheaper to book your holiday through a tour operator than it's is to try and book all the constituent parts yourself
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Sorry I'd have to disagree when it comes to skiing. This year I am taking wife and three kids to Les Gets over the dreaded February half term.
We booked an independent chalet and are driving. All in (hire, lift pases & lessons) comes to £3000. The cheapest I could find via a tour operator was around £4500.
I would agree with you about more choice when booking early, but I'd say only for peak periods. We booked the chalet back in May.
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| sbirring wrote: |
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Oh, and it's almost always cheaper to book your holiday through a tour operator than it's is to try and book all the constituent parts yourself
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Sorry I'd have to disagree when it comes to skiing. This year I am taking wife and three kids to Les Gets over the dreaded February half term.
We booked an independent chalet and are driving. All in (hire, lift pases & lessons) comes to £3000. The cheapest I could find via a tour operator was around £4500.
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Was that self drive with the TO? Otherwise, you are not comparing like with like.
Although I would agree with you that whether it is likely to be cheaper via a TO does depend a lot on numbers/time of season. For a family of 4-5, who are prepared to drive, DIY will more often work out cheaper, particularly at peak season.
For a solo who wants to fly and who goes in low season, the TO is always (IME) cheaper.
And there is a huge range in between those two extremes, where sometimes the TO will be cheaper, ans sometimes not.
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You know it makes sense.
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I normally agree with a lot that Wayne, says, but this time T Bar, is correct. If you are not particulary fussed where you go and there are only a couple of you, last minute can be a great way of doing it.
Last year we did 2 last minute holidays in a chalet. Not including flights and transfers which we booked with Ryanair a long time in advance and got cheap flights, we had fantastic chalets in Meribel and Les Menuires for €210 and €240 fantastic value.
So if there are many of you book with Wayne, or some other TO to guarantee places if there are only two of you and you are not travelling at high peak times leave it to the last minute every time. BTW as pam w, said if you go first week in March you will miss out on the French half term holidays dont go at the end as this is peak season!
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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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said if you go first week in March you will miss out on the French half term holidays dont go at the end as this is peak season!
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no - month confusion - the first week in march is still French holidays - so go either the first week of Feb or the second week of March. If you decide on your week you could book flights now - there are flights available without paying an arm and a leg, and you can book accommodation later. At the very least there will be heaps and heaps of apartments available, and you can eat out in your choice of restaurants.
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Poster: A snowHead
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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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Please would everyone stop recommending waiting for last minute deals? If everyone starts doing this it'll be harder for me to find any! 
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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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Jumper, I'm sure youll manage. And you dont need the money! With the amount of southern registered cars gone up for the shopping you guys must be awash with the moolah!
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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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Wayne,
Fair enough. 
As a matter of interest are you confident enough in your products ability to sell that you will give a guarantee to anyone booking in advance that if any other holiday that you sell is reduced in proce you will give anyone booking early an identical reduction?
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FAQ
(as the people who booked EZY from East Midlands are finding out)