Poster: A snowHead
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I know we usually get a calendar on here of the various school holidays and was wondering if anyone had the dates for next season yet?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Mouth, I don't think you need to worry much about any other than the French and the UK half term.
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Netherlands:
Christmas is 21 December to 5 January
Feb:
Middle and South Region: 15 -22 Feb
North Region: 22 Feb - 2 March
Decide for yourself if the Belgians and Dutch holidays are insignificant
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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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under a new name, Not if you're going to Austria
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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To be fair, more Dutch ski Austria than France or Switzerland because 1) most Dutch speak German rather than French 2) Austria on balance is cheaper than Switzerland
Having said that, my attorney and my accountant ski Switzerland, I guess that pretty much says it all, doesn't it?
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Alpe D'Huez was rammed with Belgians for their half term last month. However although it was busy I'm sure it would have been a lot busier the next week for UK half term and the start of the 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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HeidiAmsterdam, thank you for your very fine observations of the Dutch...
Mouth, one might also consider the Germans who 'invade' Austria in the first week of Germany: http://www.schulferien.org/
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Suedtirol also very popular with the Dutch. When we were there this UK half term there were hardly any Brits but lots of people from NL where it was school holiday time in the south. You only have to travel on the motorways in Germany to appreciate how popular skiing is in NL.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Claude B wrote: |
Alpe D'Huez was rammed with Belgians for their half term last month. However although it was busy I'm sure it would have been a lot busier the next week for UK half term and the start of the french holidays. |
Don't underestimate the Belgians, Chatel was also rammed with them that week too.
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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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Anyone know of a site that lists all the UK holidays? All the ones I have found require you to search by county, which is going to mean a lot of trawling.
I want one like the French site oriented around week i.e. Listing the counties that will mostly be on hols that week.
All I have ever seen have presented the information from the wrong pov for me...
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under a new name, there was a one that used to be posted by Boredsurfing from one of the tourist offices. perhaps South-west?
I did have a google, but it doesn't seem to have been updated recently.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Hells Bells, I think thefatcontroller used to post one too, I googled too but couldn't find one for next year.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hells Bells, ooops! I am talking about a different chart sorry
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hells Bells, perfect. Absolute accuracy not necessary, it's just a guide to pricing.
Thanks!
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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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Hells Bells wrote: |
under a new name, there was a one that used to be posted by Boredsurfing from one of the tourist offices. perhaps South-west?
I did have a google, but it doesn't seem to have been updated recently. |
Since the demise of Regional tourist baords such resources are no longer updated
Google did find this http://www.halftermdates.co.uk/
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks everyone that is really useful. Just planning next season and potential dates/weekends..
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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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under a new name, Just look at the prices advertised by the TOs, if it's double normal rate then it's a British school 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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In Austria and parts of Italy beware of fasching or Carneval week which changes dates every year. Next winter 2013/2014 it will be during the first week of March. Prices for hotels will rise in this week if your booking Independtly. Not sure how it affects TO prices though
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jimmybog wrote: |
In Austria and parts of Italy beware of fasching or Carneval week which changes dates every year. Next winter 2013/2014 it will be during the first week of March. Prices for hotels will rise in this week if your booking Independtly. Not sure how it affects TO prices though |
Fasching coincides with the start of Lent - hence the reason why the dates change iaw the dates for Easter.
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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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some really useful info here. But I need advice!
So what the recommendation. Im looking at Hants half term dates of 17-21st feb 2014.
Looking at the French website that's the same as Zone C (Paris).
The German site is Saxony and Thuringia
Dutch, is middle and southern region
And the Belgians are the following week.
So France or Austria or even Italy? (cant afford swiss)
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Anybody?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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snips73, I could be wrong but I think Paris and UK at the same time is the worst scenario for French Ski Hols, but I would be pleased to hear I am wrong!
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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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Quote: |
I would be pleased to hear I am wrong!
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sorry to disappoint, but you're right.
Going to France when it's both UK and Paris half terms is madness, frankly; there are plenty of other places to ski.
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You know it makes sense.
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It would seem that some of Wales, definitely us, has 22nd Feb to 1st. March which coincides with Paris and Northen France. Is that as bad as coinciding with the English week and does anybody know if Italy would be better (quieter) that 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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I had a hunch it was avoid Paris week. How disappointing,
So how about Austria which is the same time as NL (middle and South) and Germany (Saxony and Thuringia) .
I was lucky enough to do a halfterm in 2012 and it was pretty quiet, but our half term seemed to have been different than the rest of the EU.
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Poster: A snowHead
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snips73,
Dutch middle and south is less of an issue. In the heavily catholic areas, they will be changing their holiday to coincide with Carnival, which is later. But anyway, in the south, especially, which is also less populated, they tend more to do Carnival than ski... It is NL north which is more of an issue.
Personally, I think I'm going to head to Switzerland, for multiple reasons, least of which is my own little private protest over this ski instructor issue (which for me is just an EU non compliant cross border issue). It's going to cost me a few pence more, but hey-ho, I'm thinking it will be worth it also to avoid the busyness as indeed the school holidays are not as balanced as last year, and I suspect that will impact crowds on the slopes and the prices.
The Germans will be going to Austria, and as I said before, a larger portion of Dutch also go to Austria, as more Dutch speak German and French, I would say it is 65/35 split. I would think Italy would be a good choice.
We haven't seen our holiday schedule yet, we will for sure get the one week starting 22 Feb, but often they add days on one end of the other, and depending on how much it is, I may also head to Italy, but if it's just the one week, I'll stay in Switzerland, it shaves 2 hours off the driving time, each 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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Hi Heidi, thanks for the advice and inside knowledge
I guess I need to look for some good recommended family destinations in Italy or Switzerland
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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 have already committed myself and my family to half term in L2A next year....had a feeling that the French would also be off that week, but no real way around with my son in his last year of A levels.!
Other than not going. ...can anyone advise if it would be better for me to get away early on the Friday prior to the break up and get as far south as possible on the Friday evening, then having the short journey the following morning. looking at doing an overnight stop in an IBIS or equivalent. The following Saturday 22nd, we are thinking of doing all day in resort and making the most of it, travelling back in a oner (we both drive so can alternate) and travel through Saturday night.
Has anyone done similar to this, or any other advice would be welcome.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Quote: |
can anyone advise if it would be better for me to get away early on the Friday prior to the break up and get as far south as possible on the Friday evening, then having the short journey the following morning
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Yes, definitely. Friday heading south will still be busy, as you won't be the only one with that idea! You must book a hotel very early though, as thousands of people will be aiming to stay as close to their resorts as possible. Aim to be up the mountain by 10 am, though you probably won't have access to your accommodation till later (might be the possibility of a room to change, if it's a chalet or hotel).
Skiing the last Saturday is a good idea too. Leave later, when the mayhem has died down, though if it's a good skiing day there will probably be some local day-trip traffic down the mountain around 5 pm.
If it doesn't work out to drive up to your accommodation really early on the Saturday, make it after 6 pm.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Quote: |
We had amazingly quiet slopes too, for half term.
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Yet another advantage of sticking to areas off the British TOs map.
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pam w,
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