 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello All,
I've been lurking for a while and have searched the forums without luck, so I thought I'd start my first topic. Please forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong place (and point me in the right direction) or if I'm covering old ground.
It's 15 years since I last skied (and I was never very good), and I now have a wife and 7 old daughter who have never been but are keen to try. For various reasons, we'll have to book last minute. I'm tied to school holidays, so we're thinking about the first week of April (departing Sat 31st March or Sun 1st April). I'm not fussy about where we go (though given neither of my girls have been to proper mountains before, I'd like to show them proper mountain scenery if possible). The priority is more about decent childcare (lessons plus options of things to do, preferably that allow me to ski some afternoons if I'm up to it) rather than the ultimate skiing. I'm looking at fully catered options - chalet, chalet-hotel probably - as we're not good at going out and finding affordable food when we're abroad (and I don't want to cook).
I looked a few weeks before Easter last year and there seemed to be a few good deals around for 2 adults + 1 child (we only need 1 room). However I didn't go as far as ringing up to check availability etc. Am I mad thinking I might be able to get a decent holiday at a decent price last-minute in the Easter holidays? Has anyone tried, and better still had success?
Thanks in advance,
Mike
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Am I mad thinking I might be able to get a decent holiday at a decent price last-minute in the Easter holidays?
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No. Welcome to snowheads. 
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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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mgrolf, sure you will have no problem, Easter never sells out like New Year & Half Term.
Welcome to 's
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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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I have been able to get late bargains at Easter in the past for Val d'Isere, La Plagne and Les Arcs. Usually plenty around especially if, as you say, you are not too fussed about where you go. The Les Arcs deal was with Ski Total who are renowned for child care options.
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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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mgrolf, ski-ing has changed quite a bit - for the better - since you last skied. Easier, more fun. Make sure you book all 3 of you into ski school (obviously all in different classes).
How "last minute" will you have to book?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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pam w, probably no more than 2 weeks before, though I might be able to stretch it out to 3 weeks. My plan is to start looking at the various TOs 2-3 weeks before (so mid-March) - I'm hoping I'll be able to use one of the ones that get good family reviews on here (Esprit, Snowbizz, Ski Total, I'm sure there are others - haven't compiled the full list yet).[/b]
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mgrolf, You should be OK,but you will need to hold your nerve  There 'will' be deals,but they don't linger for long.I'm recently back from Christmas in Austria...grabbed a deal 5wks prior to going.Most in the chalet paid around £200 more than me! Surprisingly,the High St agents can be your friend here  Its more competetive than ever,and many will price match...the net is not always the cheapest? Watch out for fluid priceing(Crystal are renowned for it).As you are all novice skiers,pretty much anywhere would suit you;so English speaking ski school and childcare would seem to be your priorities? Its Easter,so aim high.Les Arcs,La Plagne and Les deux Alpes being good choices..but there are many others.LDA often features for deals,lots of beds to fill(and the swimming pool is in with the lift pass  )
So,do some resort research and narrow it down a bit.Fully catered will narrow it a bit further.There are plenty of places to ski...other than France.Look at Italy,especially around the Sella Ronda area,lots of cruisy blues.Don't worry about your daughter....she'll nail it in no time,and you will then be funding her ski trips until she's 30  
Welcome to snowheads....you've started in the right place
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you will then be funding her ski trips until she's 30
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how true
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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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We haven't been skiing since the birth of our daughter (now 5) but fully intend to next year. When it was just the two of us we always booked last minute as the best deals appeared 14 days prior to departure day of choice. Inghams used to drop prices on Thursdays 2 weeks before so we just chose a country, a resort and left the accomodation to chance but always got a fabulous place, dirt cheap. 
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Welcome to snowheads! We'll be booking last minute for Easter - I did a dummy run last Easter and there were loads of deals if you are not too fussy, particularly Canada. An option could be the Family bash if it happens..... 
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