Late Booking...is it worth it?

Very risky late booking for new year, a week either side of the Christmas break fine, but on a peak week choice is going to be restricted and the savings not as big.

AllyG wrote:

mdonaghy644 wrote:

AllyG wrote:Total = £446 p.p. (plus food and drink for the week).

I'm not saying this is the cheapest price you could find, but it should give you an idea. And I haven't included a price for ski/board hire or insurance.

That's a great help - thanks. Breaking it down like that makes it a lot easier to digest. I know that last year I paid £560 for flights, accomm, transfers, lift pass, equipment and a week's lessons, so I think that sounds about right! I would be happy to be paying around £450/£500 for everything!

I'm afraid it would be more than that, after you've added in ski hire and lessons.

Bronze ski hire through Off the Piste = £69
ESF lessons 2 1/2 hours 6 afternoons = 119 euros (about £95).

New total = £610

And the 3 valleys link may not be open that early, but even if it isn't there is plenty to ski in Val Thorens itself.

It sounds like you had a real bargain last year. Where did you go?

Sorry, by everything I was only talking about the cost before we left, not including food/drink for the week, or lessons which I think the four of us could get on fine without now.

Last year we went to Pas de la Casa on the 8th January, and I paid £559 for flights, shared self catered accommodation for 4, equipment hire and lift pass and beginner lessons for the week. I would say while we were there I spent another 300euro or so!

Talking to the other three involved last night I think we're almost certain about going on the 15th December for a week before Christmas!

If you decide to go to Val Thorens, just avoid the mountain restaurants unless you want to blow a big hole in your pocket :shock:

Last time I was there I noticed a hot dog stall type place where a lot of people seemed to be buying chips etc. fairly cheaply for their supper.

And apparently a few weeks before I was there (the same pre-Christmas week that you're going) UCL and Oxford uni ski clubs were in Val Thorens. And my daughter's uni ski club will be there that week this year.

As Lillywhite mentioned earlier look at the holidays provided by the UCPA (Union des Centres Sportifs de Plein Air) a non-profit French organization that makes outdoor sports holidays available for people of ages 7–39.

http://www.ucpa.co.uk/
http://www.chamonet.com/accommodation/hotels/ucpa-chamonix.html

Prices include: accommodation, breakfast, lunch & dinner, lift pass, ski / board hire and instruction, but not flights and transfers. Before booking check out the price of the transfer, as (depending on resort) they can be expensive.

Is there anything being run by your Uni at all? My daughter is going with hers 15th to 22nd to Tignes, really good price.

michelle63 wrote:Is there anything being run by your Uni at all? My daughter is going with hers 15th to 22nd to Tignes, really good price.

Our university doesn't have a Ski Club, which is a disappointment. We're only a small university of 1200 students - a teaching college.

The ski companies don't offer anything for 15/16th december so at the minute we're looking at booking everything separately.

just had a quick look on ucpa , loads of availability left, Flaine all in except flight/transfer 399 euros is the cheapest on there but V/T, serre che and a fer others also available. If I were you I'd check flight availability from your nearest airport and then see which resorts are compatible, check train transfers as well as coach or taxi. :)

lilywhite wrote:just had a quick look on ucpa , loads of availability left, Flaine all in except flight/transfer 399 euros is the cheapest on there but V/T, serre che and a fer others also available. If I were you I'd check flight availability from your nearest airport and then see which resorts are compatible, check train transfers as well as coach or taxi. :)

Thanks! Really appreciate the help as I'm more or less a newbie to this whole thing!