a birthday weekend in the snow

OldAndy wrote:Brighton and the South Downs is not snow sure in March.
:roll:

And the Gondola is a bit dodgy.

Henski, there are enough positive people on here to maximise your chances of doing this, and there is certainly sufficient expertise.

1. I agree that aiming for short transfer locations is a must.
2. Thursday to Sunday is almost certainly a DIY ~ so we need to know your nearest departure airport. Also, we need to know the date(s), both for choice of location, and for our research.
3. Accomodation may be a bit tricky for just 3 nights. But everything is possible.
4. Depending on the flight situation, the price may not be a barrier. For instance, you might not need lift passes for the first day, and you might get away with sharing a points card. Also, ski school might do a special deal for your party.
Travel out "late Thursday night"? Remember, you have time to get to the airport, check-in, flight time, and transfer time. Finish work Thursday lunchtime?

Look out for 13 newbies hitting your slope in March, folks.

I cant see how its possible for the budget. It would have to be done DIY anyway based on the days required.
Tell you what, give me the details of where you want to fly from, where you want to go to roughly (ie France, Austria, etc) and I'll come up with the best I can find as a suggestion, but despite being a realist - thats not the same as a negative person, Dave :roll: - I really don't think its do-able.

I'd suggest you're looking at the following rough costs:

£150pp flights min including bags
£40-£50pp per night B&B min = £120-£150
£50pp transfer pp
£150pp for ski school for 3 days min
£50pp per day for lunch and dinner and refreshments min = £150
£50pp per day for birthday nights out (as lets face it you are going to party every night) = £150

I'm up to £800 already......

Henski

It is possible to do it but £400 including ski passes and lessons will be pushing it!

I've found a deal for £319pp that is half board to Morzine. The draw back (depending on your view) is that it is travel by coach from London. It leaves on a Thursday and comes back Monday.......

The same site is advertising £475 for a 4 night weekend flying.

Or...... why not go to Aviemore and get an all inclusive package for £220 each and thats 3 nights 2 days and includes hotel accommodation, dinner, bed & breakfast, skis, poles, boots and ski instruction classes! :lol:

Brimster wrote:Or...... why not go to Aviemore and get an all inclusive package for £220 each and thats 3 nights 2 days and includes hotel accommodation, dinner, bed & breakfast, skis, poles, boots and ski instruction classes! :lol:

Thats a very simple one to answer.

Flights from Gatwick to Geneva £38.53 outward and £54.22 return.

Got to go out sledging now. Plus I'm reluctant to spend more time searching when I have absolutely no idea of the important specifics e.g. which airport, what time on the Thursday can you travel, is there any flexibility at all on days of the week, does your £400 include beer and food money or is this on top etc etc.

Another important question - and this could end up being a dealbreaker on your budget... will you all be complete beginners before you go, or is there somewhere you can get lessons beforehand i.e. indoor snowdome, dryslope - anything really?

Happy to have a good go at this, but really need more info first. If you could answer the q's put forward across the whole thread it would help a lot... :D

I couldn't resist one more look... Gatwick to Munich - outward under £30, return under £40 per person. Much better times too.

Gimme more info...!!! :lol:

If it didn't have to include the weekend I could do it for about £400.

That chalet hotel Les Melezes I stayed in, in Tignes does short breaks of 3 nights, cost £169, EasyJet Gatwick to Geneva return about £70 (including one bag), 3 days of ski lessons total 9 hours about £125, I don't think a lift pass would be required if they are all beginners because they could use the free beginners lifts and I don't suppose anyone would check if they use the free ski shuttle bus. Ski hire about £40.

The chalet includes free transfers to and from Geneva, breakfast, lunch, tea and supper, and has in house ski hire. They could have 3 days ski-ing for 3 nights accommodation because the transfers take place in the evening.

http://www.mountainsunltd.com/short_breaks/view/tignes-chalet-hotel-les-melezes

Total = 169 + £70 + £125 + £50 = £404

But if they include Friday and Saturday the chalet is an extra £60 and EasyJet is about £70 more.

Extra expenses would be insurance, buying/renting ski clothes and goggles, getting to and from the airport in the U.K. the bar tab in the chalet, and whatever they drank and ate out on the slopes.

My other idea would be to do what I did - stay in a luxury spa hotel in Manchester, go shopping and sight-seeing and ski in the snow dome.

It's a lovely idea - I hope it works out :D

Ally