Hi I would like some advice on when I should book a skiing holiday to Austria for Christmas week (family room for 4 pax needed). Should I book now for a 'good deal' or hang on until end of the summer?
Also I have been looking at 'family friendly' resorts in particular NIEDERAU but as I have noted that the height is only 830 - 2100m should I be concerned about that? What have the snow conditions been like at that resort at Christmas past?
The main pull of the Austrian resorts for me are the 4 hour tuition of ski school, compared to 2 hrs in rest of europe, so I can't really consider any other country.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
When to book Christmas 2013?
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Not really a problem. I still ski there between 4/6 weeks a year, and know just about every instructor, all the hotel owners, all the ski hire owners, the valley chiefs, many of the next generation, all the sleigh drivers, most of the bus drivers, all the racers, blah di blah.
It is fair to say, I have a modest knowledge of what is happening.
It is true that there are private lessons ~ there was when I worked there. That is seen as an addition,not a replacement, less than 2% of teaching capacity.
There are different ownership structures in the Wildschoenau ski schools, unlike most ski schools which are privately owned, and this impacts on their organisational behaviour.
Zell is different, it is more of a town. Leogang, (I really enjoyed the skiing there), may have a cartel issue. It would not be the first place in Austria for this to have happened! Try hiring skis in the Arlberg! (Alledgedly!)
If the main ski school in the Wildschoenau took such action as you have witnessed, the hotels would immediately form their own ski school(s), (jointly or separately)
How do I know this? Five years ago, a friend of mine, owner of a group of hotels, was going to do exactly this, set up his own school. In the end, he didn't, simply because the ski school set up a base next to his main hotel. The outcome was a total win-win situation.
The Wildschoenau is not Leogang. It is an ancient Hochtal. There are cousins across many businesses. There is co-operation alongside competition.
You perhaps might consider that this is a Leogang issue!
I have already responded to Caramel, since I was asked in a series of PMs.
Basically, if a date is fixed, and that date is in the school holidays, and if there are special requirements, such as a family room, then these needs will jump the question up the decision chain.
It tends to be that for school holidays prices will rise as the date approaches, and it is not often that near-date offers become available. We have to remember that school holidays are not just a British thing, pressure comes on from the whole of Europe, and nowadays from further afield from places such as Russia.
Also, some TOs do an early discount, which reduces the bill by a small amount, and some do 2 for 1 ski school/ski hire deals.
On balance, in that situation. I would go early.
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Started by Caramel in Austria 16-Mar-2013 - 8 Replies
Caramel posted Mar-2013
Nadia race
reply to 'When to book Christmas 2013?' posted Mar-2013
Take care - I know of 2 resorts where they have changed the ski school hours to 10 - 12.30 daily !!
more could follow next season if word gets around that they can get away with it. You will need to check with each resort , and at the moment some may not even have made a decision
more could follow next season if word gets around that they can get away with it. You will need to check with each resort , and at the moment some may not even have made a decision
www
Ferienhaus Sonnrain Leogang
Dave Mac
reply to 'When to book Christmas 2013?' posted Mar-2013
The Niederau Red ski school, (The 1st Wildschönau Ski School) has class times of 10.00am ~ 12.00 noon, and 1.00pm ~ 3.00pm, Sunday to Friday inclusive. Exactly the same as when I worked for them, about a hundred years ago.
Instructors are free to arrange to differ the times, by agreement with their class ~ this is useful if they want to get up the mountain early, or go to a different village. The instructors own the ski school, and it is their interest to give good value, and keep the standards high.
It would not be in anyones interest to change the times.
Instructors are free to arrange to differ the times, by agreement with their class ~ this is useful if they want to get up the mountain early, or go to a different village. The instructors own the ski school, and it is their interest to give good value, and keep the standards high.
It would not be in anyones interest to change the times.
Nadia race
reply to 'When to book Christmas 2013?' posted Mar-2013
Sorry Dave - thats the problem you worked for them a hundred years ago - so to speak. I live in Leogang , and our resort has changed this year- no advance warning , just changed by all 3 ski schools with the arrival of their brochures pre Xmas.
In Zell they have changed - although they have faced more difficulties and opposition because there are tour op's involved in selling ski school, which has been advertised in brochures printed long before the decision to change was made. There has been some U turns on that decision this season due to pressure , but there is a move to change. You say its not in anyones interest - it is , the ski schools are doing a lot more private lessons now, which is very much in their interest, as the income is far higher. You may of course be correct about the ski school you mention, but Carmel should check because you cant guarantee that it will stay that way
In Zell they have changed - although they have faced more difficulties and opposition because there are tour op's involved in selling ski school, which has been advertised in brochures printed long before the decision to change was made. There has been some U turns on that decision this season due to pressure , but there is a move to change. You say its not in anyones interest - it is , the ski schools are doing a lot more private lessons now, which is very much in their interest, as the income is far higher. You may of course be correct about the ski school you mention, but Carmel should check because you cant guarantee that it will stay that way
www
Ferienhaus Sonnrain Leogang
Dave Mac
reply to 'When to book Christmas 2013?' posted Mar-2013
nadia race wrote:Sorry Dave - thats the problem you worked for them a hundred years ago -
Not really a problem. I still ski there between 4/6 weeks a year, and know just about every instructor, all the hotel owners, all the ski hire owners, the valley chiefs, many of the next generation, all the sleigh drivers, most of the bus drivers, all the racers, blah di blah.
It is fair to say, I have a modest knowledge of what is happening.
It is true that there are private lessons ~ there was when I worked there. That is seen as an addition,not a replacement, less than 2% of teaching capacity.
There are different ownership structures in the Wildschoenau ski schools, unlike most ski schools which are privately owned, and this impacts on their organisational behaviour.
Zell is different, it is more of a town. Leogang, (I really enjoyed the skiing there), may have a cartel issue. It would not be the first place in Austria for this to have happened! Try hiring skis in the Arlberg! (Alledgedly!)
If the main ski school in the Wildschoenau took such action as you have witnessed, the hotels would immediately form their own ski school(s), (jointly or separately)
How do I know this? Five years ago, a friend of mine, owner of a group of hotels, was going to do exactly this, set up his own school. In the end, he didn't, simply because the ski school set up a base next to his main hotel. The outcome was a total win-win situation.
The Wildschoenau is not Leogang. It is an ancient Hochtal. There are cousins across many businesses. There is co-operation alongside competition.
You perhaps might consider that this is a Leogang issue!
Billip1
reply to 'When to book Christmas 2013?' posted Mar-2013
So the advice to Caramel about when best to book for Christmas 2013 would be sooner or later, in your view Dave ?
Dave Mac
reply to 'When to book Christmas 2013?' posted Mar-2013
billip1 wrote:So the advice to Caramel about when best to book for Christmas 2013 would be sooner or later, in your view Dave ?
I have already responded to Caramel, since I was asked in a series of PMs.
Basically, if a date is fixed, and that date is in the school holidays, and if there are special requirements, such as a family room, then these needs will jump the question up the decision chain.
It tends to be that for school holidays prices will rise as the date approaches, and it is not often that near-date offers become available. We have to remember that school holidays are not just a British thing, pressure comes on from the whole of Europe, and nowadays from further afield from places such as Russia.
Also, some TOs do an early discount, which reduces the bill by a small amount, and some do 2 for 1 ski school/ski hire deals.
On balance, in that situation. I would go early.
Caramel
reply to 'When to book Christmas 2013?' posted Mar-2013
Hi guys
Thanks for your replies. I am pleased to say that I bkd at the weekend. My kids are looking forward to meeting the ski instructors ar schischule wildschonau!
Caramel
Thanks for your replies. I am pleased to say that I bkd at the weekend. My kids are looking forward to meeting the ski instructors ar schischule wildschonau!
Caramel
Topic last updated on 19-March-2013 at 14:14