J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by smartski

I don't disagree that in school holidays T/O prices are crazy, I would definitely go DIY, but at other times I think costs are far closer and T/Os give DIYers a good run for their money.

I'll put my mouth where my money is...simple statement of facts:

With T/O £575 + £15 for one meal out. £590 per adult.

6th January (i.e. out of school holidays).
6 days skiing.
T/O Heathrow flights to Geneva.
Transfers.
La Plagne (i.e. main French resport)
Ski In/Ski Out accommodation.
Ski Guiding.
7x Breakfast.
6x 3 course eve meal & wine. (Need to pay one nights meal out.)

Ignoring hire, lift pass, lessons and uk costs as these are all optional/personal; or at least can be arranged whether you are with a T/O or self org.

I've ignored lunch cost as well for the moment. Personally I find the size of breakfast & eve meal negates the need for much lunch.

Has anyone any good/direct DIY comparables?

Snapzzz wrote:Thanks chris for this, i am going to be calling Crystal ASAP as i have already paid for my lift passes costing £560.
Booking via that link will save me about £140.
I wonder what they will say.

£560, is that a family Paradiski pass from your T.O.? That sounds good anyway. Where are you seeing £420...I'm getting quoted £560 from the liftpass website and my T.O. was quoting £680 :shock:

But the La Plagne side of the website isn't going live until 22nd October. (ummm....wondering if I can buy from the Les Arc side and use it first on La Plagne side?)

mdonaghy644 wrote:

AllyG wrote:

mdonaghy644 wrote:It's most likely only going to be a group of four of us, flying out of Belfast preferably but Dublin is an option too! I've been looking at Val Thorens this evening and there is quite a few reviews saying it is quite expensive?

I think you can get reasonably priced self-catered accommodation in Val Thorens. The problem is the price of the food in the mountain restaurants throughout the Three Valleys. However, if you carry a rucksack with food and drink bought in the supermarket and have a picnic lunch it's not too expensive.

Example price for you:

Self-catered apartment with 2 rooms for 4 people in the Temple du Soleil with Off the Piste, including lift pass for the week from the 15th December = £290 p.p.

Return transfers from Chambery airport to VT with same company = £55

Return flights with Flybe from Belfast City to Chambery = £101.

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!

:shock: how did you conclude £450/£500 for everything?

AllyG's example came to £446 without food or drink and without equipment. Add £20/day s/c food, £100 hire and you're easily at £686. AND AllyG's example was the 15th December not NEW YEAR, the flights/accommodation price might typically double for then.

In fairness I've never tried last minute booking, so would be interested to hear how you get on.

umm Top end is more difficult than the bottom to order

1 three valleys (shear area)
2 brekonridge (snow conditions)
3 steamboat (snow conditions)
4 alpe d'huez
5 la plagne/les arcs
6 tignes/val d'isere
7 courmayeur
8 zel am see
9 les deux alpes
10a Chamrousse
10b Snowy range
11 snow dome hemel hempstead (gets on the list for being snow sure)
12 borovets
13 aviemore (didn't even get any skis on - no snow) -still tempted to make this no.12 and borovets no.13 :twisted:

might have forgotten some (edit, added 10a)

Bedrock Barney I have NEVER skied down the hill at home ;-)

How real are early booking deals with all these "discount" hire shops? I've already booked on-line with Intersport for January and they claim I got "50% discount".

7 days hire for 2x adult skis; 2x junior (skis + boots) mixture of 'bleu' et 'rouge'quality...180 euro = £144.

That's amazing value, the 'rouge' skis were 60 euro/£48, so do people ever actually pay 120 euro in store?

Eye wateringly funny, not laughed so much in ages. Poor Josh.

Don't forget, if you're in a shared chalet this winter...tttthey could be with you. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Lizzie-B wrote:To quote Smartkski :wink:

smartski wrote: ' Not the prettiest, but I'm happy being in 'ugly' looking out to the more beautiful, than in the beautiful looking back at ugly.'

Just what Mr B says every morning when he looks at me - or maybe it is the other way round. :wink:

:thumbup: :lol:

NellyPS wrote:I found a really good one for Paradiski where you could go around the whole valley, sadly I can't remember the name of the site.

found this one this morning for La Plagne http://www.virtualvisit360.com/laplagne360/

Now that is some fantastic scenery.

New Discount Equipment hire site Started by User in Ski Hardware, 4 Replies
How real are early booking deals with all these "discount" hire shops? I've already booked on-line with Intersport for January and they claim I got "50% discount". 7 days hire for 2x adult skis; 2x junior (skis + boots) mixture of 'bleu' et 'rouge'quality...180 euro = £144. That's amazing value, the 'rouge' skis were 60 euro/£48, so do people ever actually pay 120 euro in store?

Is Ski Bulgaria really this bad? Started by User in Bulgaria, 25 Replies
Eye wateringly funny, not laughed so much in ages. Poor Josh. Don't forget, if you're in a shared chalet this winter...tttthey could be with you. :lol: :lol: :lol:

This coming season....... Started by User in Ski Chatter, 57 Replies
Lizzie-B wrote:To quote Smartkski :wink: smartski wrote: ' Not the prettiest, but I'm happy being in 'ugly' looking out to the more beautiful, than in the beautiful looking back at ugly.' Just what Mr B says every morning when he looks at me - or maybe it is the other way round. :wink: :thumbup: :lol:

Virtual Tour Websites....... Started by User in Ski Chatter, 12 Replies
NellyPS wrote:I found a really good one for Paradiski where you could go around the whole valley, sadly I can't remember the name of the site. found this one this morning for La Plagne http://www.virtualvisit360.com/laplagne360/ Now that is some fantastic scenery.

Messages posted by : smartski