wheres best to buy my lift pass?

I usually buy mine through the hotel as they get discount.

Smokey Barr wrote:I usually buy mine through the hotel as they get discount.

I've onnly come across discounted lift passes in a limited number of resorts, usually combined with an offer week deal with a hotel. For example, wellness week in BKK. Not at any of the big resorts though. Unless you know otherwise.....?

In France at least it is possible in many resorts for any organisation (tour operator, hotel, ski school etc) to negotiate a deal with the lift operating company for a discount.
It is then a personal choice as to whether this discount is passed on to the customer or kept as an income source by the organisation.
With tour operators they set their prices very early, before the season, and exchange rate fluctuations can have a significant effect.
200E @1:1.10 = £181
200E @1:1.20 = £167

VAT increase in France

Just recieved the following which will no doubt be rolled out to all resorts

Thank you for your subscription to the 3 Vallées Liberté, a innovative formula. We are writing to inform you that French government has recently confirmed the increase of the reduced VAT rate from 5.5% to 7%, taking effect from the 1st january 2012.

This decision is notably aimed at the transportation of people and thus has a direct impact on ski passes which were, up until now, subject to a 5.5% tax.

As soon as this measure takes effect, all our ski passes will be subject to VAT at 7%. VAT is, by nature, a tax paid by the final client : it's aim is to passed on, without distortion in the delay or amount, to all the actors in a chair right down to the final client.

The Méribel Alpina and the 3 Vallées lift companies will increase their tariffs by an amount equivalent to this 1.5% increase in VAT (for info : +1.4218% on the net tariff) on the date that this measure comes into effect.

These tariff changes will happen during the winter season and are independent of our wishes.

Tony_H wrote:

Smokey Barr wrote:I usually buy mine through the hotel as they get discount.

I've onnly come across discounted lift passes in a limited number of resorts, usually combined with an offer week deal with a hotel. For example, wellness week in BKK. Not at any of the big resorts though. Unless you know otherwise.....?

I went to Tignes last year, and will be again in Feb (can't wait). The hotel manager called me about 3 weeks before we were due to go to ask if we wanted lift passes. He managed to get about 30% off the rate quoted on the official Tignes website. I've looked for better offers all over the net, but non are as good as his.

In fact I'm just about to email him again, and order them for this year.

Make that 20%. He can get a 3 day lift pass for 95 Uros for the Espace Killy area. Usual price is 118.50 Uros. Any improvements on that please post the link. :thumbup:

Check resort website if you can buy your tickets online. For most things involving tour operators you pay a premium. Buying online you would probably have to collect them at the information desk and this will save you quite a bit of time compared to buying them at the desk and standig in a queue where half of the peope wouldn't even know what they want and spend ages each at the window.

verbier_ski_bum wrote:For most things involving tour operators you pay a premium.

Interesting, as most of the tour ops guarantee you wont buy cheaper, and offer a refund if you do. Well, some do anyway.

I'll look into contacting our hotel to see if they can do anything on the ADH passes, appreciate the heads up.