Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

We're horribly unorganised this year at chez BB.

We still have teenagers in tow so are stuck with either Christmas/NY or Easter. Feb half term unlikely as teenager no. 1 is now at Uni and doesn't get a half term break.

We've been eyeing up Sat 17th to Sat 24th Dec as a possibility but it's obviously an early week in the ski season and therefore we are a bit reluctant to book now in case in ends up being the same as last year (i.e. no snow!). We were in Val d'Isere for Christmas last year. The skiing was actually very good compared to most places but it did cost an arm and a leg and we need to spend less this time round.

Therefore to the main point of this topic. If we wait until say week commencing 5th Dec, will we be able to jump on to last minute deals based upon more certain snow conditions or is last minute holidaying a thing of the past? Never done it before (summer or winter) so hoping for some wise words....

bedrock barney wrote:will we be able to jump on to last minute deals

Almost certainly.

As you might expect, after two late-starting seasons and with Xmas Day on a Sunday, Xmas has been tough to sell this year. I'd expect there to be deals around...

bedrock barney wrote:is last minute holidaying a thing of the past?

Definitely not! It increases every year.

FWIW, we (family) are hoping to be away the same week as you or maybe the week before - and I doubt we'll have anything booked before December.

The above notwithstanding, the weather models are getting very interesting from this weekend onwards... so if you do see a particularly good deal, and it's where you want to go, then go for it. Otherwise wait.

Most encouraging. Thanks Adders.

If you come across any mega deals let me know. :mrgreen:

bedrock barney wrote:Most encouraging. Thanks Adders.

If you come across any mega deals let me know. :mrgreen:

Just take a look in the J2Ski holiday section, there are some pretty good deals in there already. If the snow dumps as it is looking, you may not need to go any further than your favourite wibble site! :)

FQ is spot on regarding j2ski offers. I have used a couple.

For my regular Niederau January visit, I book early with easyjet, then quickly follow on with my regular accommodation. Hence my flights are at lowest cost, and my accommodation remains at a modest cost.

But then.... I was once awakened by Frau Mac, who urged me to drink my coffee, and start packing.

This was pre internet days. She had been on teletext during the night, made the call, got a great deal, and booked us for Tignes the same day...

Hi Bedrock. The one thing I noticed when going on various websites last night (trying to avoid engaging with slightly-stressed daughter sitting GCSE Maths today) was that the flight days for breaks around the Christmas period this year are all over the shop. A lot of Crystal flights are on Tuesday, easyjet to Are are on Thursday (I think) and igluski flights were on Friday. Still a lot of holidays out there. And the prices aren't bad either. Perversely, it seems that the falling pound and poor snow record for Xmas last year have lead to lots of people not booking and some good deals being available.

God morgon Dobby...

I feel your pain re. GCSE's.

Yes, flight times are a bit wonky (especially to french resorts where they have geared up for Tues to Tues). We had considered Are Sweden but worried about thin snow cover and lack of daylight.

There are very good deals in lots of places but it feels like a total punt at the moment. It might be snowing down to 1400m this week but it could easily warm up and melt again during the month.

I'm thinking of waiting until the first week of December and this may allow enough of a forward look to the 17th (which may or may not then open up lots of lower resorts).

Hi Barney. Share your concerns about light in Are (about 4.5 hours daylight at Christmas) and snow melting. Worth waiting I think - I reckon there'll be lots of deals still on for that week, even if you wait until early December.