 Poster: A snowHead
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I have in the past booked early for the ridiculously expensive February half term. Unfortuanately, I really do not have any other choice otherwise I would not go.
However, I have not booked anything yet as I did not know whether I would be able to afford it. Luckily a small windfall came my way.
I asked the travel agent about a couple of places I fancied and they were all booked. So I said what have you got for half term and he then said there was too many to list!
I am wondering if it would be best to book up now as I think the best packages may have gone, or is it better to wait until just after Christmas to get a last minute deal.
I got a last minute deal a few years ago and I got the most fantastic slopeside Hotel in La Plagne (Terra Nova) for next to nothing. Not sure whether that was because I flew from Edinburgh and I think the half term is different.
I do not mind which airport I fly from (except probably Bristol, Cardiff which are miles away from me) I also do not mind booking up independantly, but would prefer not to.
There will just be me and my 16 year old daughter.
Would prefer slopeside but above that would prefer guaranteed snow. Have done USA a couple of times and it is a bit far for one week.
So is it best to
a. Scout around now for a good deal
or
b. Wait for a deal at the last minute.
Looking for some advice from the experts here.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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KillerQueen, welcome to Snow Heads
Doesn't sound as if the travel agent was very helpful!
If you are flexible about where you go and what you want, you may be OK to hang on for something for just two people, but equally may not be! We have been fully booked for half term since early summer and could sell all properties several times over. However, if you try posting something on the Chalets Direct Solutions Room, you will get responses from independent owners - some may be great, others will be completely unsuitable for what you want, but worth a try. In most cases though, you'd have to arrange your own travel, and flights won't be cheap now. I know you prefer a package, and if so, it may be worth trying a different travel agent. Good luck 
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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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Thanks for this. I did feel he was being a little unhelpful. I think I will try a different agent.
I realise that most properties could be sold several times over in the half term. It may be that the ones that are left are rubbish or too expensive.
Was just wondering if it would be worth hanging on till the last minute.
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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: |
Was just wondering if it would be worth hanging on till the last minute.
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I'm usually a proponent of last-minute, but I would say not, for half term, if you're set on going and not infinitely flexible about where. Flights will be expensive, whichever way you do it - the likes of easyJet are now hideous prices for half term.
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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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| KillerQueen wrote: |
Thanks for this. I did feel he was being a little unhelpful. I think I will try a different agent.
I realise that most properties could be sold several times over in the half term. It may be that the ones that are left are rubbish or too expensive.
Was just wondering if it would be worth hanging on till the last minute. |
It's not always the case that anything left is because it's rubbish - it may well be too expensive though  - but instead, it could be a genuine cancellation. We have had a number of cancellations for the other main peak of New Year, but they have been snapped up almost immediately. Try another agent, perhaps a smaller independent one, if you can find one, and see what they come up with.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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As an ex-teacher, I understand your pain! Some suggestions:
For big holiday weeks (and they don't come bigger than Feb half-term) book TO and book early. I got a decent deal with Crystal last year and the holiday was excellent.
If wanting to DIY, (I have done both for years) then the "real" airlines often work out cheaper than the "budget". Lufthansa often came up trumps for us.
(this usually means a wait and transit at Frankfurt or Munich
Some private owners don't use this week as it is too busy. You can sometimes get lucky through an accommodation bureau or better still word-of-mouth contact.
Do not be put off by reports of over-crowding, lift queues etc. You can always find room even in the busiest of places. I have a series of "crowded half-term piste" pictures on the snowMedia zone, and they show miles of empty piste.
Good luck!
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KillerQueen, forget the travel agents - in my experience they generally know next to nothing and are merely able to search on multiple tour operator systems easily and show you the results, which you can do yourself by visiting each website in turn - try the usual suspects such as Crystal, Neilson, etc to get an idea of prices and location - at the moment, Crystal are showing lots of availability for the half term week (assuming you mean 19-26 February, as a very small number of local government areas have dared to be different), with prices starting from about £750pp for B&B in "allocated on arrival" accommodation, and lots of options across France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
As you've found, there's likely to be a reasonable amount of options left at this stage, although the prices will not yet be discounted. If you wait, you could get it cheaper, but you may also find that there's nothing left which appeals - having said that, anything which is allocated on arrival is what's left after they've sold the named properties, so it could be a bit out of town, or lower grade, but you could always get lucky, and even the worst is likely to be OK, so waiting has its benefits if cost is a concern.
[Edit - brain crosswire moved February halfterm to March]
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 8-11-10 18:14; edited 1 time in total
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Ousekjarr - do you mean 19th - 26th February? That is half term week.
19th - 26th March is a cheap week as mid term and after french holidays.
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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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Doh! Of course I mean February... 
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i never book this early, i usually book my ski holiday 1-4 weeks before i go. i would wait, there is always places left.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ricklovesthepowder, do you go at half term, though?
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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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Thanks for these replies folks
| Ricklovesthepowder wrote: |
| i never book this early, i usually book my ski holiday 1-4 weeks before i go. i would wait, there is always places left. |
Do you go at February half term? Where do you go and what price do you usually pay?
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KillerQueen If all you want is two beds in a ski resort you will be able to pick up something whatever week you travel. If you have a long list of "must have" criteria then the longer you leave it the less chance you have of meeting them. One of your "must haves" is the week you want to go. This will limit your choice but by no means will it make your task impossible.
There is no right or wrong answer. Only you can decide what is on your list of requirements and how flexible you want to be regarding resort choice, board basis and flight details.
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You know it makes sense.
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I have been at deb half term and Easter holidays. Never had a problem. The only thing I would book is the flights for now. I usually stay in a catered chalet and pay £400-£500'per week.
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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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| Ricklovesthepowder wrote: |
| I have been at deb half term and Easter holidays. Never had a problem. The only thing I would book is the flights for now. I usually stay in a catered chalet and pay £400-£500'per week. |
Have you ever booked a package late.
I booked a late package in La Plagne a few years ago that probably would have cost me double. I do not know whether I was lucky or whether there are always deals.
I went to a hotel on the slopeside and it was probably because it was expensive that I got it.
I was hoping that this was not just lucky and I can get a good hotel at the last minute.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'd not expect to find any late deals with the TO's for Feb halfterm.
I usually book late with TO's, but when I was looking at 1/2term last Feb there was nothing late/cheap. It was a last min chance to go that week so it had to be booked late. Luckily Lufthansa had a deal on flights from Manchester to Milan and I put the rest together from there. Laterooms.com for the hotel and took the train for the transfer (hire car fell through when I lost/misplaced my licence on the way).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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if you are able to change your dates slightly then you could go to one of the ski accommodation finding agents who specialise in flexi breaks even over the half term weeks. However, worth doing this sooner rather than later in order to get the cheaper flights. EG Thursday to thursday or even Monday to Sunday if you are happy not to have a full week. Am talking from 13 years of experience selling this type of hol.... but don't think I am allowed to mention the company. Look in the back of the ski and snowboard mags to find companies advertising these. Good Luck
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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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If you know what you want and have the budget book it now. With dodgy change over days at Christmas and New Year and a late Easter, Feb half term is under even more pressure than usual. If you can swicth to Xmas or NY haggle like mad though ... there is a lot of spare capacity about!
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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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KillerQueen, have a look at www.morealps.com they have availability in some of their chalets for Feb weeks. I must declare an interest MoreAlps is my son's company, they have chalets in La Rosiere. You could also check out the La Rosiere Tourist Office on www.larosiere.net they a complete listing for chalets, hotels and apartments in the village and operate a centralised booking service, hope you find something.
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