J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by jonG

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies and best wishes for getting back, I will indeed be writing long letters to all the companies which used the crisis to make obsene profits, I understand that at certain times there may be a call to increase certain priecs to cover extra staff ,repatriation of cars etc......but to charge in some cases the best part of 500% extra for other things is appalling.

It is times an things such as this that can make life changing moments ,and it has made me look into packing in the metalwork/welding game and look into starting up my own travel/taxi company etc.

The next big problem i see will be getting refunds for my/our costs , EasyJet will provide refunds as long as you fill in their online refund form which requires receipts to be scanned and imported into the form........so that either means buying a scanner ,or getting someone else to do it for me.....its also a good screw for EasyJet as some people will simply not be able to do it ,and will not want to bother , why in such times do companies make it so hard and awkward to talk to a human being........mind you i think i've just answered my question?.


Any way the fight continues ,and if i find any shortcuts to getting refunds i will post on this thread for others in the same boat.....


Jon.

Hi All,

Has anyone else been caught up in the volcano disruption?

Friends and i caught the one of the last flights out of Luton on the 15th April, and had 4 days of fantastic skiing and weather in Bsm/Les Arcs....unfortunately upon arriving back at Geneva on 20th at the 3pm we were informed our flight had been cancelled and rescheduled for the 27th April by EasyJet :(

The people manning the EasyJet desk were of absolutely no help ( they in fact were workers from SwissPort and not even EasyJet staff who were conspicuous by their complete absense from the aiport), all they were interested in doing was pushing passengers into paying 300SF EACH to travel via coach to Calais and then onto London.

We on the other hand could not wait until the 27th to try and get airborne again or pay such charge for a coach trip decided to hire a car from geneva to Calais.....Auto europe if they had any cars left at Geneva would have been tops at 243 euros , the next cheapest was 420 euros, we had been quoted 900 euros with Hertz.

Any way 420 euros lighter my three friends and myself headed for Calais ,after 80euros in road tolls and 820km we arrived at Calais which was bedlam with over one thousand hire cars dumped by the passenger terminal ,we proceeded into the ticket office where we were met by a cue snaking around the building waiting to buy tickets to be foot passengers on the next available ferry.

Upon reaching the ticket office we were informed that the usual 19 euro ticket was now being charged at 65 euros by P&O Ferries.

Afet crossing the Cannel and having a 65 euro snooze , we then had to hire a car to get us back to Luton to pick up our own car , at this point we had some luck and faith in human nature was restored when the chap at Avis at Dover gave us a car for £87 instead of £300......bargain ,thank you Mr Avis..........and i finally arrived home some 26 hours after leaving Bourg-St-Maurice.......and to be honest we were the victims of sheer profiteering ,but after talking to some people.......we were lucky.

Passengers on a train going through Paris to Calais had to physically stop the doors from shutting so parents could storm the shops and cafes on the platforms to steal whatever food and drink they could get their hands on as the train companies had not provided any refreshments or stocked up on food and drink so parents could feed and hydrate their children ,also some had been charged 500 euros plus for four tickets from Geneva to Paris.....with just a vague confirmation they would then be able to get to Calais the same week.

Also a chap i spoke to had to hire a car in Istanbul to Greece , then boat to France and then hire a car from the port all the way to Calais, and at each stage of his journey the cost of his pre booked travel arrangement mysteriously went up by around 300 to 400 euros when he arrived to pick up his hire cars with the excuse being that they didnt think he wanted the car as he had not answered their emails......when in fact no emails had been sent......robbing B*******!



Anyway i am back now after a great few days skiing and a crap but eventfull journey, and all i have to do now is try and get my refund for my cancelled flights and costs involved in repatriating myself and my fellow chums......no thanks to EasyJet ,SwissPort ,Hertz ,P&O and the Great British M25 & M1 traffic jams




Oh well just think not long now till next season :D :D :D

:D :DHi All,

Not had a chance to get on the forum for what seems like ages, damn work an all :thumbdown:.....but mustn't complain I supose..

Have finally managed to get a week off work and will be in BsM/Les Arcs in 6 sleeps :D :D.....so if anyone is in Bazoom in BsM next Thursday night....just look out for one balding forty year old ,two blokes with knackered knees and one short slightly rotund chap......that will be us :D :D

I hope everyone has ahd an enjoyable season and all have come back safe and sound

Best Regards

Jon.

Hi,

You will have a great time in Les Arcs, will be there myself in a few weeks :D :D :D ,plenty of good runs for all abilities which will help build more confidance also, on the eating while on the go side of things , on the main run back into Arc 2000, there is a wooden hut near the bottom of the Arcabulle lift which sells hot slices of pie/quiche/tart etc and hot/cold drinks for a fraction of the prices in the slopeside restaurants, if you are staying in 1600 there is a small burger bar( on the corner) in the small under cover walkway which is also good value, and the food is wholesome and hot,but can be busy at lunchtime.

Have great time and an enjoyable safe trip :thumbup:

Jon.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Well done Geo for taking the leap .....and welcome to the dark side, where sandy beaches are just a distant memory :D

As you say about not believing you waited so long to book a first trip to the slopes, I have yet to meet anyone who hasn't been hooked after their first trip. :D

It's all downhill from here on.....in a good way though :D

jon

Hi,

Have had a nose around and found the following in Morzine which may be worth a look

www.chezlesalps.co.uk / 07850566978 - restored farmhouse in Morzine from £130 per person/per week

All the best and have a god trip, where ever you find. :thumbup:

jon.

Hi Rob,

A Satnav should be ok, are you taking one or is it supplied with the car? (not sure if you mentioned which side of Geneva you are picking up your car ,French or Swiss)...if it's the French side when returning back to Geneva make sure before you get near Geneva that it is sending you back the French way otherwise you may get stuck paying the 30euros "vignette" for the luxury of using 3 mile stretch of Swiss motorway :thumbdown:


Apart from that I don't see there being a problem with using one.

Jon.

Hi,

Sorry I'm a bit late to post something ......never seem to have as much time on my hands lately :(

betty has pretty much already posted much of what I could suggest, with the l'Alpage and Le jungle Cafe being pretty good as well. To be honest I don't get along to 1800 for beer and skittles as much as I would like.....depending o whatyou are drinking and where expect to pay around 4 - 4 1/2 euros for a demi or there abouts, it may work out cheaper to buy the " beer pression" by the pitcher :D :D rather than say a couple of k1664's etc by the glass.

If you have transport, or don't mind a return taxi trip there is the always excellent L'Ancolie near Vallandry ,and La Ferme in the little village of Le Pre (which can also be reached via the Aiguille Rouge from Arc 2000) which can make an excellent stop for lunch, as can the restaurant Solliet which is located just up the slopes above Le Pre.

A lunch booking for La Ferme would be recommended but Michele normally has something on the go, but L'Ancolie will definately require a booking for an evening meal.

Have a great time in Les Arcs and have an enjoyable safe trip.


All the best


jon.