J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Far Queue

baillie353 wrote:Just out of interest, has anyone ever looked around, randomly found a pretty cheap deal that's booked to leave say, in the next week or two and taken it?
If so, how did that plan out for you and what was the estimate on the booking? :) I'd love to look around for a last minute deal in Feb to get away twice this year, just want an idea of what i'd be looking for

Yes, I have done and will do so again.

I have even arranged a trip on the Thursday for four of us to leave on a Eurostar on the Friday evening. My Ski gear is always kept pretty much ready to go, so a quick pack and I can leave. Usually I am OK with work to go on short notice, and my brother and the other guy I go with mainly, both run their own businesses so they will be aware I am looking for trips, and will let me know in advance when they cannot go.

In terms of savings, I think my best ever was to get a Mark Warner holiday at about 50% of the brochure price, including the massive loading for me being a single occupant in a room. I did that less than two weeks before the trip, and joined my Sister, her husband and some of their friends (they had young children with them, hence the Mark Warner) in Tignes.

Frankly, if you are not worried too much about going to a specific resort, then I think booking last minute can be excellent value for money.

We usually go DIY unless it is across to North America, but this year a TCO managed to have an offer at the time we were looking to book our main trip, and it worked out the same cost as DIY, except it also included half-board and the use of the resort reps. So we are off to Soldeu, in Andorra on the last weekend of Jan.

That will be a Family orientated trip. The "boys" will then try to do two more trips subject to work etc. and we will sort those DIY as last minute jobs.

If we do Europe, we either drive or go by train, so it is very easy to DIY. Some of the resort agencies offer very good deals. Two seasons ago, I managed to get an appartment in Val D'Isere during February, sleeping up to 7 people, just by the Ice Rink, for a total of 650 Euros. I thought that was very good value for a prime location, excellent appartment. We even had a patio area :D

rossyhead wrote:really??? (sorry admin for being not only off topic but off the subject of skiing!!)

thats the one i was looking at-does HD movies and zoom during movies is it decent?

Apologies too Mr Admin, but to answer the question, so far I am very happy with it. It is a bit too early to have had lots of use, but the pics I have snapped seem to be very good. Also, it has a brilliant closeup (not sure if it is officially a macro). I may have to try taking shots of individual snowflakes later :lol:

I have not yet shot any video footage.

FYI, I purchased a Panasonic TZ7 three weeks ago, and got Dixons (or whatever they are now called) to match an online competitor price of £210 in my local store.

This camera was over £350 last March in Livigno, with prices back home running at £310-£320.

snowb4ndit wrote:Apparently it's quite heavy in Wimbledon!

Bet that will please the locals :lol:

:lol:

Hope you have your Skis waxed and ready to go.

It has also just started snowing here in Bromley (SE London), but looks very light and I doubt it will last long :cry:

Ian Wickham wrote:

rossyhead wrote:im going up in middle of next week for another booze run and to look at cameras, mine bloody broke two days ago!!

worst time of my life ever for it to break! raging

Watch the prices they are not always cheaper in Livigno 8)

I have to agree with that. I was in Livigno earlier this year (last Ski season) and I waited till I went because I wanted a new camera. :( The one I wanted was actually quite a bit dearer than back at home, so I ended up not bothering.

The good news is that I have just purchased one for the coming season, and by waiting most of the year I have saved another £100.00 :D

Trencher wrote:Save yourself sixty pounds, and buy a couple of pairs of these.

http://www.safetystock.co.uk/safety-glasses/

Trencher

:D Excellent find Sir. And a great place to make sure you have your high vis vests for anyone driving through France.