 Poster: A snowHead
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Newbie here so a BIG hi to everyone!
I am looking at booking a ski trip with my partner for Jan, I have never booked a ski holiday myself before.
Where do I start?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Brochures? Google?
If you want any useful suggestions you might have to give people a bit more information regarding what you want and how much dosh you have to spend.
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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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hey,
sorry, I did think i hadn't put enough info on there.
right ive been boarding for about 4 years, ive only been on holiday once with my brother to Oberstorf 2 years ago. My Partner is a confident skier too.
We have around £2k and are looking at going for a week. Im not saying we are looking at using all of that as a good deal is always good. Ive had a look online at different site bit i'd like to book the whole thing from flights, acommodation, transfers and lift passes all in 1, or if anyone has any better suggestions on how i could book it and where?
My partner also needs to hire boots and skis where ever we go too so any ideas of rough hire prices too?
sorry if ive asked some novice questions, just want to make sire im booking it all ok.
Thanks
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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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Easy way will be to book it with tour operator like Crystal Ski, Inghams or Nielson.
If you are going in January and are flexible I would wait and grab last minute deal.
My fav counry is Austria but you will get more offers to go to France and this will be safe bet for sure.
2K should be more than enough for a week for 2.
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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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Thanks Tom, i'll have a look at the tour operator.
I was looking at France or Austria, where are the recommended places there? We are in our mid 20's so looking for some good resorts with good mountains and a bit of nightlife in the area.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Austria - Saalbach, Mayrhofen, Ischgl...... and many more, v.good night life and apres. There are fairly cheap B&B deals to Mayrhofen with tour operators.
France - hmm 3 Valleys, Tignes, Les Arcs, Les Deux Alpes, Serre Chevalier... There should be deals nearer the time for catered chalets..
Livigno in Italy is not bad if you are beginner or early intermediate, cheap, snowsure, good lifts, easy wide slopes but stay central for night life.
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Thanks Tom, great help, thats the sort of info i was looking for 
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To keep it simple you would be better off booking through an operator but beware brochure descriptions. After all, while they provide a guide, they are essentially advertisements. Have a look through them, choose a few resorts and then do some research on those. This site is good for starters. There is a search facility you can use. Once you have narrowed it down to a short list open this thread, tell us where you are thinking of going and you should get some further advise on your options.
Also have a look at.
http://www.ifyouski.com/ski-resorts.aspx
and
http://www.wheretoskiandsnowboard.com/
FWIW Austria and Italy are cheaper than similar resorts in France although it can vary. Ischgl is very good for boarders and has great apres and night life but is expensive. A more reasonable choice in terms of cost would be Mayrhofen.
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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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Go to Austria in mid-Feb.
Warm, optimal snow, beginner-friendly, and buzzy not busy.
Your new addiction will cost you tens of thousands over the next few years 
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Hi gazzarino,
If you are looking to book now for January, you could get something really quite nice for £2k.
If you go for one of the big resorts you'll need to keep out of that around €80 for boots and skis for your partner and around €500 budget for liftpasses as the prices of these depend on where you go, leaving you around 1500 for flights, transfers and accomodation.
If it's your first trip a catered chalet is probably the best bet as it'll give you a chance to meet some other folk, and you don't need to worry about cooking, finding restaurants etc at night when you're exhausted.
With that budget have a look at Inghams, VIP ski, Ski Val, YSE all of which have flights, transfers and chalets included in their prices and offer a bit of extra luxury without being too over the top.
Happy planning!
Heather
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I've had very good experiences with Ski Olympic in recent years, they run chalets in France, and basically all you need to do is get to the right airport with your bags packed and everything else is dead easy from there.
Worth a call, I don't think you will struggle with you budget - if you find a chalet for £500-750 each for flights, transfers, accommodation and most meals, then you've got spare for lift passes and gear hire and the odd meal and drinks.
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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 everyone for your help... i'll start looking and planning and let you know how I get on 
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Sounds good - have a great trip!
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You know it makes sense.
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gazzarino, some of this has been said, but for your first time:
Book with one of the majors (least chance of hassle), book late, and book everything all together. If you're quite gregarious, you might want to look at a chalet, if you and your partner like your own space, a hotel/apartment might suit better. Austria would be a good choice, though not the only one, but more importantly check the conditions, and choose on that basis, like for like.
You might be able to do it for a grand, as a couple, plus spending. Lessons would add more.
For a couple of grand you could have two weeks in Canada, plus spending.
Good luck.
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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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thanks johny, ive been looking at thomas cook, what other major holiday companys do you recommend?
also ive been looking at Mayrhofen as it seem to look the liveliest in austria.
thanks
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Poster: A snowHead
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gazzarino, we always used Inghams before going diy. Always had a very good service and would recommend them
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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oh right, thanks, do they sort everything for start to finish then, as in - flights, accomodation, transfers, lift passes?
thanks for the info
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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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| Whitegold wrote: |
Your new addiction will cost you tens of thousands over the next few years |
for once I agree Whitegold
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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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First Choice, Thomas Cook, Thompson, Crystal, Neilson, Inghams etc etc though there is some overlap there with the TUI group companies.
There are a plethora of smaller companies that may give equal, or better service, but the majors generally offer the least chance of a headache, though no company are infallible.
Booking late try: http://www.lastminute.com/site/travel/holidays/skiing/homepage.html
But if you book through any agent, it's not normally that difficult to find out which TO is offering the deal, and IMO it's always better to go direct.
Google is your friend.
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cran
cran
Guest
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Just decide where you want to go, check you can get cheap flights and transfer, then use google (or whatever) to find the the cheap hotel deals with lift passes, book the hotel, book the flights and transfer... go on holiday...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hey everyone, just thought i'd give you an update...
We went to Thomas Cook and booked Hotel Strass in Mayrhofen today.
Cost us £1779 all in with my partners ski and boot hire and lift passes too.
Has anyone else stayed at this hotel before?
Thanks
Garry
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gazzarino, I haven't stayed in the Strass but it has a good reputation. It couldn't be more convenient, right next to the gondola. The hotel also has a night club and a bar open to the public, both of which are good. I really like Mayrhofen, decent skiing, good apres and nightlife and a pretty resort. There are a number of other resorts you can ski on the same lift pass. All in all I'd say you made a good choice.
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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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| gazzarino wrote: |
| Has anyone else stayed at this hotel before? |
Yes! Last week, so there was no snow  .
Hotel was lovely, food great, staff very friendly and helpful. Pool and jacuzzi are in a separate area from the spa/sauna facilities so if you are a bit shy you can avoid the "nakedness compulsary" bits! I can certainly recommend it. In fact, we asked reception for a piste map as we were considering staying there in winter.
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