 Poster: A snowHead
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Ricklovesthepowder, Ah, wait till children become part of the issue.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ctskifam, cost at half term more than the economics at the moment I think. Half term in a catered place with easyjet flights will cost over 6000 pounds. It is just not good enough value with the state of pound verses euro.Forthe first time since 2002 we are not going away as a family ski ing. Kids would love to but eldest is now in senior school so have to go at half term. Easter hols at her school too late for reasonable snow. Other families feel the same. Shame as it is pricing people out of the market. glad to see your bookings doing well. There must still be some cash in the home counties
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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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Wayne,
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Mind you "some" of our wonderful councillors won't be able to look at the website on their, publically funded laptops. Due to using them simply to look at porn sites. Oh and if anyone asks, they were doing research . Not sure why there is no link to this story on the councils website ?? . No worries though you can see the details here here .
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aw you have got to feel sorry for them, with a gesicht like that the chap in the middle isn't going to have them queuing at the door is he?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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chrisb - why don't you either go skiing the week before Christmas or book an apartment for half term?
I'd have thought even at half term you'd be able to have a family skiing holiday for £3000 - £4000. Maybe you could look at the cheaper resorts such as Les Orres in the Southern Alps?
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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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snowymum, Chrisb has used Skifamille, as I have , it is a great family holiday, allowing for adults to get skiing in and spend loads of time with our children, but because the nannies are great and are doing the children in the morning, and afternoon if you want, the parents get time together and skiing. I loved the fact I had time in the morning to ski as much as I wanted, get back for no fixed time , see the children go and have a hot Chocolate with them, then spend a couple of hours skiing with them till their tea was ready, leave them to it, go and shower and then enjoy the complimentary beer before dinner.Then all jump in the hot tub fantastic.
Yes , its expensive, but going on a £2000 holiday and skiing for either 2 hours in the morning or tag teaming the skiing with my wife would not work. Also the nannies have an unquenchable thirst for building snowmen , sledging and hot chocolates, which the children love.
I am sure someone will be along and say they have great family ski holidays for £6.75 per head, but I know what works for me.
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snowymum, Yes fair comment about dates, although family committments mean that the week before Christmas is no good, and as lightningdan, says an apartment in half term is not really the same. Actually I don't think £4k for an apartment hol is that good value really. My other half likes to put her feet up and that would be less likely than self catering. It really depends how much you are willing to give up the summer hol to get the winter one. It is not a cut a dry choice in our house. In 2005 (I know 6 years ago) we went with Crystal to Morzine the week after half term I admit, and the cost for the 4 of us was about £2500 in the Viking Hotel inc childcare. Yes the kids were younger and the exchange rate was better, but it felt much better value, and sepaking to other families we know they say very similar things.
If you live in the South East there are more travel options - drive, rail, more airport choice and I expect that helps the cost.
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Lightning Dan - Thank you for letting me know what works for you 
The reason I posted on this thread was not to comment on Ski Famille, who appear to be nice family run company offering enjoyable skiing holidays, but to say surely it is better to look for a cheaper skiing holiday than not go at all?
If Chrisb has children who are older than 5 and wants to take them skiing at half term then he does not need strictly need an all day nanny service does he?
We like a bit of luxury on our ski holidays too and we have had access to a swimming pool and jacuzzi on most of our family skiing holidays. Sometimes we have treated ourselves to first class rail tickets to get there.
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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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chrisb - We are indeed in the South East and tend not to fly to skiing hols.
I don't want to get into the great apartment versus catered debate but just to say I like a rest on holiday too so we don't do that much cooking. Most apartments let you borrow fondue sets and my husband enjoys doing a fondue on a couple of nights. We have the plat du jour at the mountain restaurant at lunch and eat out some evenings. We have enjoyed having more space in an apartment as opposed to being all four together in a hotel room. The MGM CGH apartments tend to be very well appointed with nice swimming pool and spa facilities.
I am not saying you'd have to spend £4000 on an apartment holiday. You could probably get one for less than that depending on what you go for and how much you eat out.
We don't regard apartment ski holidays as inferior/superior to catered, just another option to consider.
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snowymum, yes fair comment. I have not stayed in a MGM apartment or similar but they do look good in brochures. I had looked at one through Erna Low in Samoens. Two bedroom one was going to be £2300 for half term, flights £1600 and transfers on top. Stopped adding up at that point......
Where ever you go this season hope you have a good trip.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Markymark29 wrote: |
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People spending months considering DIY trips then finding out it’s actually more expensive than booking with a TO
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I spend 0.1 nano second considering a TO holiday and then book 3 DIY trips in June/ July for next season when the cheap flights come out from Lufthansa/ Swiss........ its not all about price (even though I believe my trips are cheaper anyway), its about value, and mostly about being in control and doing what you the skier want rather than what the TO believes you want IMO. I have not been on a TO holiday for years, and dont know many that have..............viva t'internet (sorry to all TO's if I've offended anyone, but I get insulted when TO's slash prices the week before I used to go and then was sat next to gloating people around the dinner table telling me what a bargain they got, and also fed up waiting on transfer bus for the Gatwick flight thats 2 hours late, oh sorry its now another 2 hours, and seeing the clock ticking when I've been up since 3am thinking I might be able to ski all day on arrival, only to be sat at the airport at 12 noon listening to excuses).  |
Sounds like you've been on bargain bucket trips then. Loads of tour ops that dont do that...
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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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| Markymark29 wrote: |
I spend 0.1 nano second considering a TO holiday and then book 3 DIY trips.
fed up waiting on transfer bus for the Gatwick flight thats 2 hours late, oh sorry its now another 2 hours, and seeing the clock ticking when I've been up since 3am thinking I might be able to ski all day on arrival, only to be sat at the airport at 12 noon listening to excuses). |
I think we may be tweaked a nerve here.
Either you have had a bad experience, you are relying on anecdotal non-evidence or you are simply making a general assumption, to justify your decision to DIY. There’s no need: if you enjoy DIY’ing, fine go for it.
I would suggest that normally our coaches pull out quicker than you would be able to complete the formalities to collect a hire car.
This excludes the time when one of our coaches reversed into another of our coaches in Venice airport in 2010. Cost me a fortune in coffees for 100 people while I organised another 2 busses. Oh well, stuff does happen now and again 
Mind you the best bit was that it was the owner of the coach Co that reveresed into another of his busses - so noone to shout at 
I have watched the reps from Crystal, Neilson, Thomas Cook, Equity, etc at the various airports we use and invariability they direct their clients to the bus and, as soon as everyone has come out of the arrivals lounge, they depart.
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Wayne, glad they've improved their service then, as my experiences have been somewhat different with lots of waiting around for other flights to arrive.
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You know it makes sense.
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Hells Bells,
It does happen. It's simple economics. Say a 50 seat transfer coach costs €1,000 (each way) and you have 25 people arriving on flights at 10am and 12noon. What would you do, bearing in mind that that there is not much difference in the cost of coaches of different sizes.
It’s simple for someone organising a one off family holiday to look at it and say well I would do this, or that, whereas given the same choice with higher numbers they would (if they had any sense) operate in the same way as a TO or they would very quickly find themself out of pocket (in a BIG way). The simply economics of operating large scale, high volume, logistic strands, mean that "sometimes" you simply have to operate with non idealised methods, but this not the norm.
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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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Wayne, not saying there is anything wrong with waiting for a coach to fill up, provided they keep their clients informed, and not leave them sitting in a freezing coach for several hours with an expectation that they will be departing in 30 minutes.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I booked almost a year in advance for a family full board week in La Plagne and got what looks to be a good early booking discount plus half price lift passes. I only did this as its the first ever trip for wife and kids and I couldn't stand to wait last minute and maybe not be able to go. Having committed so far out I have simply had to put money aside to pay for it. That said I have had to take the kids out of school for 5 days as to go in half term is absolutely unaffordable.
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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 think it is what works for you. i usually book a couple of days before i go. the longest i booked once was 14 days.
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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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I booked for a trip in may for an october trip, Will prob book the jan trip in dec! Moneyes will be an issue
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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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What's the science behind this? I think can see what it is, but I am naturally cynical and wondered if there was a corporate explanation? After a week skiing in Italy January 2011, we booked for the same accommodation, a chalet sleeping 19, the week after we got back. Located in Val Di Fassa, Italy and booked with Crystalski, we had previously missed it when the entire chalet had been booked by one group the previous year. To make sure of that accommodation in that week we booked early.
Having booked our group of six into it, thirteen beds remained and the following week Crystal bumped the price up by £80 per person. Great I thought, good job we booked. I noted recently however, that with beds remaining, the the price has now dropped to £50 per person less than we originally paid in January this year, so we have been penalised financially for giving our money to Crystal in January, albeit we did guarantee our accommodation, surely some other benefit must prevail!!
Have done DIY before and will probably return if that's the way I am treated.  
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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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What about New Year week? Crystal have been doing half board for a family of four (in 2 rooms) for about £2400 from Edinburgh. I imagine other airports are the same or cheaper. We alsways go this week and it always inbvolves some sacrifice (ie driving to Manbchester last year to fly to Val d'Isere) but always works out affordable-ish.
Aren't most schools breaking for Easter at the end of March, a last minute should be feasible then too, we usually pay about £2k at Easter, admittedly not £6.75 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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As a DIY-er and TO Booker I find DIY to be more expensive, I'm beginning to think I'm doing something wrong.
TO full week at New Year 2 rooms for 4 people half board to Soll with Edinburgh flights and transfer £2400.
DIY to Mayrhofen tail end of Jan for 4 nights £560 per person half board. How do I make this cheaper? (Serious question, esp as I haven't included beer in this calculation)
TO full week Easter to Mayrhofen 4* HB penthouse suite swim in/out Edinburgh flights and transfers £2200.
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mfamily2, I'd be surprise if Crystal don't run a revenue optimisation model e.g. early bookings push a particular week/property into the next pricing tier, if it continues to be popular up another tier, inactivity in bookings - downward adjustment etc.
Personally I'd have thought there might be something in it from both sides if a TO could guarantee that early bookers would never be undercut on a particular property but with volume dynamics of the industry it's hard to see mass market players in this position.
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mfamily2, the same thing happens with DIY. Flight prices can vary on a daily basis. You might find the same flights you have booked cheaper a week later, or double the cost. You're not being treated badly, this is how the travel industry operates.
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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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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| You might find the same flights you have booked cheaper a week later |
Is that not quite rare? I personally have ever seen prices on flights I have been interested in go down with time (and of course we keep an eye on Geneva flights a lot), though we did have a guest who found that situation with an Edinburgh-Geneva flight once and so called up - after I'd discovered on snowHeads that you could do this - and got the difference refunded (don't know if they're still doing that though). It was a very small difference, but totally understood the principle of the thing - it's rubbish to make someone feel penalised for being organised/keen when it comes to holiday planning!
I have been on package holidays in the past when people have asked me how much I paid for it as they were clearly delighted with the last minute bargain they got. So tacky.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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miranda, rare, but not unheard of. EJ and RA often have sales, offers etc.
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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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Lufthansa flights (when they still exisited from Edinburgh ) used to go up and down all the time.
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FAQ
