Prices

OMG, just looking at Feb half term with a tour operator as per usual....have I missed something or have prices shot right up? I work in a school sadly. Looking at about £3000 for myself and hubby to go France or Italy. We diy at Easter in the motorhome because we have more time to drive down but need to fly in Feb to get 6 days skiing in. Nervous about diy at half term in case I mess it up, I like the security of a t.o. Thoughts and advice welcome.

We've DIY'ed a few times at half term, mainly to Norway and Sweden. Saved a lot and got flexibility on flights and accommodation.

It is a nightmare and hard to get round it but the advice is (as you'll know) usually to try to pick a place less prone to the massive half term price hikes (eg avoid France) and thinking outside the box - maybe travel by train, but not the 'ski train' which has the same price problems, but other scheduled services, can save a lot though obviously more hassle than a TO booking. Am seeing a real push by Scandinavian resorts to get UK Bookings with some new flight routes but not sure if prices a lot better or not in Feb half term.

Thank you, will definitely be looking at alternative resorts this time. I guess look at flights or train first and then take it from there.

Hi Michelle. Have a quick look at Are in Sweden. Flights (LGW to Ostersund-Are) for half-term currently about £300 per person return. Apartment in Are centre for about £600-800. Transfers about £160 for there and back. Ski pass about £200/person. Ski and boot rental about £80 (nowt flash, mind).

Thank you, will do

Hi Michelle,

Don't rule out Austria either, there are many great little resorts where you can get a hotel for decent prices, and you get to choose depending on ski area from Salzburg, Innsbruck or even Munich if you want to fly. Not done it, but I am pretty sure there are a few rail options from Munich to several ski resorts. It's also not too bad to drive to, we take about 10-11 hours from Calais depending on traffic.

edit. You can also fly into Memmingen in Germany for resorts towards the western side of Austria, but not sure what the transfers would be like from there.

The TO's load on a massive premium for half-term :thumbdown: . Its a pity that the Department of Education does not stagger the breaks as they do in France and stop concentrating all traffic into a single week :x

Try to do it DIY if possible and you should be able to do it much cheaper :thumbup: . Your biggest obstacle will be finding reasonable priced flights at this stage but if you avoid the obvious "ski" airports like Geneva, Salzburg or Innsbruck, you may find something less exorbitant! For example, flights to Munich will open up all of Austria and even the Dolomites if you are prepared to hire a car (some train options but more limiting and more time consuming).

Zurich is also worth considering and then take the train into Austria or even look at Swiss resorts (though prices here can be high).