J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

The issue of DIY v TO mainly depends upon your individual circumstances. If you are in a position to use £39 flights/free airmile flights, and can get a train close to the resort, and are savvy enough to get good accomodation costs, DIY will often beat TOs.
Last year, We did DIY in the Skiwelt at New Year, paying only 45 Euro for HB.
My lowest cost was free return airmile flights, 19 Eu/night accomodation, 30Eu train fare each way. I even hitched up from rail station to resort!

I normally buy a season pass. The effects of this vary, but last years pass covered half of Tirol, and worked out at £70 a week, c/w £170/£210 average.
I agree that chalets generally offer good value, but I would not choose to do that again. Good for some, not for me.

Have skied several times across the pond. In general, depending on where you go, snow conditions are usually as good as you will ever get to ski in. It is true that when the $/£ was good for us, we chose to take advantage.
It is certainly true that air fares have become more expensive, relative to european short haul.
Car hire is about the same. Condo rentals about the same but you get more for your money. Lift passes are VERY expensive~ but, you get a lot of lifts for your money, and the piste management is much better than Europe.

I had six and a half weeks, all in Austria. On all barring two days, I had really good skiing. OK, I accept that I find joy where others find misery, but people are different. I enjoy skiing on ice, slush and in the rain, it just varies the challenge.
Certainly, I have experienced several seasons with worse conditions, although I can only account for the last 43 years of ski conditions.
I didn't catch any evidence of bussing to different resorts, unlike 2007, where high resorts were turned into lift queues.

Been to Kaprun, summer and winter. Big skiing on the glacier. If you don't get bad mountain weather, it's good skiing.

We didn't stay in Kaprun, so cannot comment on the village.

Inghams are offering 10 days:

http://links.email.inghams.co.uk/servlet/MailView?ms=MzY4MzQwNTMS1&r=NDg3NDE2NDgxNwS2&j=MTA2Njc0NDMwS0&mt=1&rt=0&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=dotd&utm_term=wall&utm_content=email-190711&utm_campaign=facebook-dotd-wall-email-190711

Then that looks like DIY, which, if you have attractively timed flights and transport links can be a good shout.

Hi Smartee, I'm not sure about the independant market. Large numbers go in through Munich, Geneva, Grenoble, et al. They do not always conform to weekend flights. The lift companies do not list by nationality. The TBs do, although I would not like to be the collator of that data! There may be a developed algorythm, but Crystal is looking to downplay all others. Do they have an agenda? My feel for the independant market is that there is an upturn.

Cannot agree more, Ian. I started out in skiing as an extension to my mountain activity. I love the mountains, year round.