Tour Operator Holidays

A snowHead

Hi!

I'm debating whether to go on a package holiday or go on it on my own. Besides the ease, the one thing that makes me lean towards tour operator is that apparently they organise events for you?

I was wondering whether anyone could let me know whether they're any good? Should I even bother with them?

A snowHead

JoeySnowbody, you'll get both opinions here. Some of us swear by TO holidays and some wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. I think the merits of TO largely depend on your circumstances.

For me TO is the only way, I travel alone meeting my ski buddies in resort. I prefer the security of having everything organised for me and knowing that I won't be left to my own devices in the event of a plane delay, inclement weather, volcano clouds, etc. It's also a fair bit cheaper for me, I've priced up independent travel before and it doesn't seem to make much financial sense for a solo traveller or possibly even for a couple. Then there's the advantage of the door to door drop off at your accommodation, always a bonus with lots of luggage. TOs can achieve economies of scale that are difficult to match. You also have the advantage of staff on hand in resort should you need any help or advice and yes, they do organise events, ski away days, guiding, quiz nights, etc. if you like that kind of thing. Certainly as a solo traveller I've found it a good way to meet people to ski with.

From what I understand, DIY makes a lot of sense for group and family bookings, people that don't mind organising their own transport or even driving to resort. Independent airport transfers can be expensive but the cost split between a group negates that. Many also prefer self-catering apartments booked directly with the owners or agents.

There's no right or wrong answer, it depends on what you want from your ski holiday, your budget and your circumstances.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Tell me the old, old story
of TO things we love.
of Crystal and its glory.
of Thomsons and their love.
Tell me the story simply
as to a little child,
for I am weak and weary
my brain cells have gone wild.

Tell me the story slowly
that I may take it in.
that wonderful redemption - ABTA's surely free from sin.
Tell me the story often
for I forget so soon. rolling eyes

The early powder of morning
is skied away at noon.

Tell me the old, old story
Tell me the old, old story
Tell me the old, old story
of TO things we love.

Or don't.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

JoeySnowbody, welcome to snowHeads

What sort of events do you want organised for you?

We use TO more than DIY but mainly because the transfer to resort can be quite fiddly/expensive if you do it yourself. We don't use the TO or their rep for anything else - we get our own lift passes and we pass on any 'activities' that may be on offer

Some TOs are better than others but it really depends what you want from them - childcare? Ski guiding service? Pub crawls? Or just an easy way to get you from your house to the ski slope?

How many of you are going, where do you want to go, have you been skiing before?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

JoeySnowbody,

Do you work for a tour operator ?

You'll need to Register first of course.

Wayne - are you saying....

Dont cha wish your TO was raw like me
Dont cha wish your TO was fun like me
Dont cha, dont cha?

Toofy Grin

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

achilles,

After all it is free

achilles,

Just think that everyone has heard of Thomas Cook, Crystal, Neilson, etc. and at least has some idea of what they do. And, does anyone really say Package Holiday anymore.
Just seems to be a strange questions for a 1st post

achilles, on top form today snowHead

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I would say that the OP has never been on a ski holiday as he does not know what to expect! Puzzled

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I still talk about package holidays!

Speaking of which, I wish Neilsons would hurry up and discount the Scottish October half term, I need a fix of sailing and tennis pre skiing.

snow reports

I still talk about package holidays too; must be my age. JoeySnowbody, your question as to whether they are any good has no easy answer. Some certainly are, but they're not all the same. There's a huge price range too - some operators do "cheap and cheerful" (not that a ski holiday is ever cheap....) others are hyper expensive. It's not always the case that you get what you pay for. Some lower cost operators do a very good job.

As everyone has said, it depends what you want. Exactly. If you tell us, we can probably advise further.

And welcome to Snowheads.

This is a classic troll surely. Like going on a computer games forum and saying "I'm thinking about buying my nephew a games console for his birthday, and was wondering which is better - and Xbox360 or a PS3. Does anyone have any opinion on this?"

You know it makes sense.

Welcome to snowHeads JoeySnowbody

It's a bit of an open question really.
It depends on what you class as an 'event'.

Some TO reps will be 'dropping by during dinner' to try to persuade you to go on pub crawls. In some places you might be offered bus trips to nearby resorts of 'special interest'. Other TO's specialise in family holidays so 'events' could mean 'an hour of snow-fun for the under 5's each morning'.

It tends to involve the rep earning a bit of extra cash - whether it's good value usually depends upon the specific talents of the rep concerned.

OTOH some people find Reps, touting their kick-back earners intrusive enough to put them off using a particular TO or using TO's altogether.

As I said, it's a rather open question so hard to give a specific answer - care to elaborate?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

"Which is better: skiing or snowboarding?Thanks in advance!"

A snowHead

You lot are so suspicious. I had no reason to think it wasn't a genuine question. Very Happy

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

queen bodecia you are just too trusting.

It is definitely an odd question for your first post on a forum given its general nature and the fact that a quick stroll around the forums would answer a whole load of the possible answers.

And the fact that JoeySnowbody hasn't come back with a follow up in over 12 hours given the other questions that have been asked of the OP suggests troll tendancies. (although I accept that QB didn't know that when she posted).

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Damn. I thought I gave a nice balanced reply too. Laughing

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You'll need to Register first of course.

admin fair points. In my defence it is only snowHead

s that has made me so cynical.

And thus - in reply to the OP (coz no one likes getting told off) - the big TO do indeed, "organise events" but with a bit of confidence you can usually organise the same event at significantly lower cost. For example, the "day skiing in the neighbouring resort" can usually be done by public transport or, sometimes on the free ski buses so you don't need to pay the 35 Euros per person for the TO coach. A bar crawl with a "free drink" in every bar for 10 Euros (which sounds great if you think you are going to get a small beer - usual price 3.5 - in 6 bars, how can you lose?) usually turns out to be a bar crawl where you buy your own drinks in the bar but the TO rep will give you a small shot of grappa they've bought from the supermarket outside each bar.

There are lots of reasons for going on a TO package (especially if you get a late booking bargain or 2-4-1 lift passes for early booking etc) but the "events" are not usually the best reason for using them.

admin is that OK?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

i'm just a bit wary cos of the time the op was posted. but that could just be my cynicism again... wink

After all it is free

Wow! A lot of replies!

I'll try to answer everyone's questions! I've skied a week when I was in my early-teens (now mid-thirties) so I'm not great. I'm kind of leaning towards a package holiday cause it would probably make sense to do some lessons.

I'll be going with one or two mates of mine. That's why I wondered whether if the events would help make the time better, or whether we can have the same enjoyment hitting the town on our own. I'm not sure I'd want any events organised for me. I think we could handle doing a pub crawl on our own NehNeh

I was just wondering what a ski holiday entails besides drinking and skiing.

Nope, sadly I don't work for a tour operator. I have the thrilling job of doing admin work for a stationary company...

Thanks for the help!

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

cathy but surely if you worked for a stationEry company you wouldn't ever spell it incorrectly Puzzled

Oh dear, sorry admin there I go again rolling eyes

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I used Directski this year and was very impressed by their package to Meribel (not so much their rep though). Could take a look at their packages and see what you think. I've booked with them again for next January, although this time we are staying in Meribel rather than Brides Les Bains.

For simplicity, TO is the way to go. I'd start with that first. When you become more accustomed to skiing holidays and have a better idea of what you want, then have a crack at customising your own ski trip. They both have advantages/disadvantages, best way to learn about them is try them both.

If you do go with a TO, don't feel obliged to attend any events! Take advantage of their package deal and do your own thing wink

snow reports

JoeySnowbody, Do your friends ski or board, the reason is they may want to have an say! If not, then I would go with a TO to somewhere like Soll in Austria, or Soldeu in Andorra! The reason is you will not need the gnarly parts of St Anton or the massive areas of 3V's, PdS etc. but you will want a spot that is lively enough so that you will have fun even if you or your friends do not take to sliding on frozen water!! Go with a TO for this time and then maybe look at DIY for the future!

Welcome to snowHead

s. I am sorry for thinking you a troll, but it seemed like a very foolish question a bit like will there be snow in resort X second week in January? Dont laugh we do get these foolish questions quite often!

You know it makes sense.

I didn't even know you could do that, but with commission involved it makes sense. Thanks for the tip.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

JoeySnowbody, to TO or not will always produce a 'lively' debate here.

If you haven't been for a while TO probably makes sense as they will think of all the things you may not and you get it all in the price usually.

But (just something to think about) if you have a resort in mind - it ain't difficult to find apartments/hotels on the resort website, book your flight etc yourself. Events are generally published on resort website as well - but personally never got beyond skiing, eating and drinking!

A snowHead

Boris, and dancing? You've never been dancing in ski boots? Shocked

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Could someone please answer my question about which is better out of skiing and boarding, thanks.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

You, sir, have sparked WWIII Smile

...and Skiing!!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

JoeySnowbody, if you're a mixed group of skiers/boarders and not experienced, Mayrhofen might be a good resort for you. It's cheap, lots of nightlife/bars and from what I can remember not too many flat bits for boarders to get stuck on. At least, when I went there we were a mixed group and there were no complaints! You can also get around the mountains quite a bit, the slopes aren't too tricky. It's an hour or a bit less transfer from the airport. Have a look at Crystal or Inghams for an idea of prices for the time of year you want to go.

You'll need to Register first of course.

And we will all now appear to reccomend ourfavourite resorts. I'm amazed no suggestion of La Ros yet, it's only a matter of time...

Anyway, Mayrhofen is the place to be, cheap beer, good apres, dancing girls...

I hope Mrs Doctor Ghost Dog doesn't read this forum wink

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Hahaha! Oh ye snowheads of very little faith! Laughing

JoeySnowbody, welcome to snowheads.

After all it is free

You'd better budget for a helmet too I've heard they are about to become mandatory. Don't worry you can still wear your headphones.

Have you considered driving out? You may need snowchains but you will save on having to pay excess baggage for ski boots.

...sorry but might as well combine the classics wink

Can I now ask when Easyjet's fares come out?

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