Bantering with Ian Wickham on the Sleeps till ski-time? thread got me wondering:
1: Are last minute bargains a thing of the past?
2: Have the tour operators had a change of tactics and are they 'just refusing to blink first'?
3: Is this the price we pay for a season with 'epic' snow conditions, where every man and his husky dog decides he is going skiing, resulting in even the less snow-sure or more 'out-on-a-limb' resorts being pretty close to capacity and therefore able to demand 'top dollar' for what little is left?
A quick search on a well-known tour operator's website brought up the following, a-hem, 'bargains' for next week:
France: 7 nts S/C Brides-les Bains £505.
Italy: 7 nts H/B Passo Tonale £504.
Austria 7 nts H/B Seefeld £752.
Disclaimer: I personally have nothing against any of these resorts. They were just the cheapest on offer from London in those three countries departing next weekend. I would just have expected to 'bag' any of those last minute 'deals' for quite a bit less money.
Does anyone else have an opinion on this?
Last minute bargains?
Login
Really enjoyed Scheffau and SkiWelt in January. Looks like the snow is still really good :thumbup:. Have a great time there. Know exactly what you mean about more than one ski holiday. Even if you do 'blag' three next year, it still won't be enough! -)
To Create or Answer a Topic
Started by Gaz C in Ski Chatter 24-Feb-2013 - 44 Replies
Gaz C posted Feb-2013
Edited 1 time. Last update at 24-Feb-2013
Andyhull
reply to ' Last minute bargains?' posted Feb-2013
Most operators have cut their capacity in the last couple of seasons, so it's only to be expected that with great conditions there won't be many deals.
If you want a great deal you need to be booking early for next season, Skiworld are currently offering 2-1 deals on lift passes, ski hire and ski carriage for 13/14.
If you want a great deal you need to be booking early for next season, Skiworld are currently offering 2-1 deals on lift passes, ski hire and ski carriage for 13/14.
Tony_H
reply to ' Last minute bargains?' posted Feb-2013
Couple of things.
No, deals are not a thing of the past at all. You have to know when and where to search.
But an mr hull points out, when conditions are this good, they don't need to discount, and with both flight and accommodation capacity reduced by many tour ops this season, at the moment you aren't going to get the big discounted deals.
Be patient, something will come up last minute, last room in a hotel or last 2 seats on a flight will bring about massive discounts as and when they become available.
But at the moment, as gaz says, they're all full up because we want to hit the slopes while the snow is good.
Last jan I had a week fully catered in adh for half price booked 3 weeks before, £375 all in. That's a deal.
But with half term only just gone and French holidays coming in to play, resorts have been and will be busy for a while.
I predict march bargains soon so if you can, sit tight and wait.
I will have a quick look and report back on any deals I've come across for the next couple of weeks.
No, deals are not a thing of the past at all. You have to know when and where to search.
But an mr hull points out, when conditions are this good, they don't need to discount, and with both flight and accommodation capacity reduced by many tour ops this season, at the moment you aren't going to get the big discounted deals.
Be patient, something will come up last minute, last room in a hotel or last 2 seats on a flight will bring about massive discounts as and when they become available.
But at the moment, as gaz says, they're all full up because we want to hit the slopes while the snow is good.
Last jan I had a week fully catered in adh for half price booked 3 weeks before, £375 all in. That's a deal.
But with half term only just gone and French holidays coming in to play, resorts have been and will be busy for a while.
I predict march bargains soon so if you can, sit tight and wait.
I will have a quick look and report back on any deals I've come across for the next couple of weeks.
www
New and improved me
Tony_H
reply to ' Last minute bargains?' posted Feb-2013
Ok. Austria must be getting the snow big time because the prices are through the roof next week or 2.
Best all round deals I can currently find going away 9th march are rocket ski around £500pp either catered chalet or chalet hotel which is flights, transfers, bed, breakfast, evening meal and wine.
They're not particularly discounted but for all round value for money for someone desperate to get away they do a very good job.
I can recommend the hotel beausoleil in alpe d'huez as its in a superb spot on the piste.
Le Corbier is also coming up, not an area I know much about except its blissfully quiet on the slopes there.
There's also a chalet hotel in claviere next to montgenevre and close to sestriere which would now worth a look.
Happy hunting......
Best all round deals I can currently find going away 9th march are rocket ski around £500pp either catered chalet or chalet hotel which is flights, transfers, bed, breakfast, evening meal and wine.
They're not particularly discounted but for all round value for money for someone desperate to get away they do a very good job.
I can recommend the hotel beausoleil in alpe d'huez as its in a superb spot on the piste.
Le Corbier is also coming up, not an area I know much about except its blissfully quiet on the slopes there.
There's also a chalet hotel in claviere next to montgenevre and close to sestriere which would now worth a look.
Happy hunting......
www
New and improved me
Rocksy
reply to ' Last minute bargains?' posted Feb-2013
Last season we had a February (2012) week in a catered chalet based in Chatel. All in, it probably cost us not far off £1000 each. When we came back I noticed lots of great deals for the next month but it was too late for me to get time off work so we missed out. We could have had an all in half board deal inc lift pass in somewhere like Soldeu for less than £500 half board.
Fast forward later in the year and I have a very cunning plan for this season, I book a week's leave in January and a week's leave at the start of March and by booking at the last minute sure we can have two weeks for the price of one. Can't we?? It'll be easy…
We go stir crazy all over Christmas constantly looking at the holiday prices everywhere, me looking at a cheapie in Andorra, remember £500 each all in, so we can have the same amount of cash for the March trip and my wife looking at spa hotels in Bad Gastein. In the end just when we were about to be committed to a mental institution, we compromised on a week in Sporthotel Manni's in Mayrhofen. To cut a long story short we had £300 from out total budget left for a week's holiday for the two of us at the start of March. So my cunning plan wasn't so cunning after all but our Mayrhofen week was truly fab. In the end it was worth more to me to get the holiday I really wanted booked, I caved at ten days to go and more importantly keep my sanity and my wife from killing me.
P.S. Did I say we're off to the Scheffau in the SkiWelt on Saturday, we'll just not talk about where our budget has gone. I will say one positive thing though as it's my first year with two ski holidays and it sure as hec will not be our last. Wonder can I do three next year, I will be 50 after all…
Cheers,
Mark.
Fast forward later in the year and I have a very cunning plan for this season, I book a week's leave in January and a week's leave at the start of March and by booking at the last minute sure we can have two weeks for the price of one. Can't we?? It'll be easy…
We go stir crazy all over Christmas constantly looking at the holiday prices everywhere, me looking at a cheapie in Andorra, remember £500 each all in, so we can have the same amount of cash for the March trip and my wife looking at spa hotels in Bad Gastein. In the end just when we were about to be committed to a mental institution, we compromised on a week in Sporthotel Manni's in Mayrhofen. To cut a long story short we had £300 from out total budget left for a week's holiday for the two of us at the start of March. So my cunning plan wasn't so cunning after all but our Mayrhofen week was truly fab. In the end it was worth more to me to get the holiday I really wanted booked, I caved at ten days to go and more importantly keep my sanity and my wife from killing me.
P.S. Did I say we're off to the Scheffau in the SkiWelt on Saturday, we'll just not talk about where our budget has gone. I will say one positive thing though as it's my first year with two ski holidays and it sure as hec will not be our last. Wonder can I do three next year, I will be 50 after all…
Cheers,
Mark.
Gaz C
reply to ' Last minute bargains?' posted Feb-2013
Rocksy wrote: Did I say we're off to the Scheffau in the SkiWelt on Saturday, we'll just not talk about where our budget has gone. I will say one positive thing though as it's my first year with two ski holidays and it sure as hec will not be our last. Wonder can I do three next year, I will be 50 after all…
Cheers,
Mark.
Really enjoyed Scheffau and SkiWelt in January. Looks like the snow is still really good :thumbup:. Have a great time there. Know exactly what you mean about more than one ski holiday. Even if you do 'blag' three next year, it still won't be enough! -)
Rocksy
reply to ' Last minute bargains?' posted Feb-2013
Thanks Gaz, fingers crossed for a great week in and around Scheffau. I only started skiing in my mid 40's and I'm loving it. This year is our first Austrian adventure(s). Just having fun working our way around.
Re more trips yes the more the merrier though I'd love to do a big trip of at least a month some time. Not sure to where or if the logistics are doable. Now that would be a great trip for my 50th :D
Re more trips yes the more the merrier though I'd love to do a big trip of at least a month some time. Not sure to where or if the logistics are doable. Now that would be a great trip for my 50th :D
Ian Wickham
reply to ' Last minute bargains?' posted Feb-2013
Here is my two bob's worth through experience of the last three weeks which has made me more anti TO.
There is still plenty of capacity as in hotels in resorts which are paid for I was told three months in advance, the direct expense of an unsold holiday is the air seat ...... now what they ( The TO's) do is to sell off the plane seat, which is what they have done this year, I can understand it but not very good customer service.
The prices this year for last minute have been ridiculous £1000 + for an apartment for two in France.
I have finally got myself sorted but it will not be the Alps ... any ideas :D
There is still plenty of capacity as in hotels in resorts which are paid for I was told three months in advance, the direct expense of an unsold holiday is the air seat ...... now what they ( The TO's) do is to sell off the plane seat, which is what they have done this year, I can understand it but not very good customer service.
The prices this year for last minute have been ridiculous £1000 + for an apartment for two in France.
I have finally got myself sorted but it will not be the Alps ... any ideas :D
Topic last updated on 28-February-2013 at 19:31