J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Wanderer

Eggman wrote:I was going to buy a new Icepeak jacket in a sale last season but as O/H pointed out I didn't really need one )

Doesn't the OH understand the difference between needing and wanting???

Spotted some nice looking salos by Icepeak in a local store. Has anybody else tried this brand and, if so, how have they found it?

andyoneil wrote:I'd looked at Flaine but seemed to be all self catering (cetainly with the big TOs like Inghams etc)

Andy

Crystal do run the Clubhotel Le Totem in Flaine. I stayed there a few years ago and going back at end-Feb. Perfectly adequate hotel now being operated by a Swedish company for Crystal. Food was excellent last time we were there but don't know how the new operators are getting on! It is relatively reasonably priced - some friends have just booked for end-Feb for €699 out of Dublin on a full board basis (discounted by €170 from brochure price).

andyoneil wrote:If it works for me I'll buy you a pint in Dicks! (just the one you understand as that's about the same price as a £100 saving on lift pass) 8)

From memory, the pint in Dicks is quite reasonable early in the evening but gets progressively more expensive as the evening wears on and the punters no longer notice or care! Be warned!

AB wrote:TJ (my son) has just flown out to Salzburg to start training again with the GB team. He took 8 pairs of skis (4 x ski rolls @ 20kg each) + 1 large sports equipment bag @ 20kg + 1 checked in bag @ 15kg plus 10kg hand luggage. All checked in on-line. Total weight of baggage 125 kg. The flight with all that was just £140.

And we do not get any special deals or treatment as part of the GB team!!

AB

He must have booked this flight a while back. The current baggage fees according to the website are £80 return per ski bag, £30 return for 1st checked bag (with a measly 15 kilos) and £70 for a second checked bag. By my reckoning, the baggage charge alone would come to more than £500 on a similar booking being made now!

As for special treatment - forget it. Ryanair don't do special treatment for anybody - I heard Michael O'Leary being interviewed recently and claiming that he had been charged for excess weight on a flight during the Summer!

Having said all that, I don't disagree with your basic point. With Ryanair what you see if what you get and they can sometimes give great fares (not always - try getting a decent fare on a busy weekend). They are also pretty punctual, as long as they actually fly. I am always slightly nervous of using them to more marginal destinations as it is not unknown for flights to be cancelled and passengers to be left stranded in small out of the way airports with no facilities.

My attitude is simple, if they are sufficiently cheap or convenient to override the irritations involved (e.g the constant marketing of cigarette replacements, scratch cards, etc on flights, the sometimes rude and unhelpful staff, risk of being left stranded, having to reject the "optional" travel insurance about 5 times when making a booking, etc), then go for it.

Tony_H wrote:I am just about starting to get p***ed off with snow now :shock:

Retract immediately Mr H.

The snow is, as always, wonderful. The problems are

- Not being able to ski on it (at home);
- Other people walking/driving on it and compacting it so that it becomes ice;
- Councils being slow/ineffective in dealing with the icy roads and footpaths;
- Having to go to work when it would be much more fun going to the park to play in the snow.

Enjoy Dave.

It will be some change from Neidereau and I havde no doubt that you will enjoy it mightedly :D

Scarlet Fez wrote:

Wanderer wrote:Scarlet

Will probably be in Soll for a few days from 23rd. Maybe we'll get to watch the rugby somewhere together and have a pint, though I will be more interested in the London Irish v Leinster match obviously!

Anyone else in Soll around that time?

Wanderer - You never know our paths may cross, we are staying at the Postwirt. London Irish - Leinster kicks off I think 1800 UK time, we SHOULD!! land Innsbruck 1730 local (1630 UK) so its fair to say we will miss that game but it should be a cracker. In our group there's only me (Scarlet- less said the better) and a Tiger that are into their rugby so we may have to stick with the others to be social of course. Any bar you can suggest that we should use as a base camp. I have actually heard the bar in our hotel is half decent. Ten of us aged 40-53!! Like a laugh but our best dancing days are long gone!!

The bar in the Postwirt is usually quite lively in the evenings, usually with live music that will suit your (and my) vintage. There are a number of other bars within a short walk so you can easily cruise around and find what you like. For immediately after skiing, I would recommend the bar at the bottom of the piste (Moonlight Bar, I think). It is usually great fun with lots of OOmmpapa signingc and europop, often led by the bar staff. The Whiskey Mueller is the main disco but it tends to be very young!

At the moment there are only two of us travelling but we may still be joined by one or two more. I will be wearing a bright yellow, blue and black ski jacket and a black hat Guinness hat (living down to the stereotype I am afraid), though obviously not indoors in the pub!