Latest posts for the topic "Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??"

Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Tue, 1 Nov 2016 18:21:45 GMT

We're horribly unorganised this year at chez BB.

We still have teenagers in tow so are stuck with either Christmas/NY or Easter. Feb half term unlikely as teenager no. 1 is now at Uni and doesn't get a half term break.

We've been eyeing up Sat 17th to Sat 24th Dec as a possibility but it's obviously an early week in the ski season and therefore we are a bit reluctant to book now in case in ends up being the same as last year (i.e. no snow!). We were in Val d'Isere for Christmas last year. The skiing was actually very good compared to most places but it did cost an arm and a leg and we need to spend less this time round.

Therefore to the main point of this topic. If we wait until say week commencing 5th Dec, will we be able to jump on to last minute deals based upon more certain snow conditions or is last minute holidaying a thing of the past? Never done it before (summer or winter) so hoping for some wise words....

Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Tue, 1 Nov 2016 18:50:41 GMT

bedrock barney wrote:will we be able to jump on to last minute deals

Almost certainly.

As you might expect, after two late-starting seasons and with Xmas Day on a Sunday, Xmas has been tough to sell this year. I'd expect there to be deals around...

bedrock barney wrote:is last minute holidaying a thing of the past?

Definitely not! It increases every year.

FWIW, we (family) are hoping to be away the same week as you or maybe the week before - and I doubt we'll have anything booked before December.

The above notwithstanding, the weather models are getting very interesting from this weekend onwards... so if you do see a particularly good deal, and it's where you want to go, then go for it. Otherwise wait.

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Tue, 1 Nov 2016 20:28:16 GMT

Most encouraging. Thanks Adders.

If you come across any mega deals let me know. :mrgreen:

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Tue, 1 Nov 2016 21:02:09 GMT

bedrock barney wrote:Most encouraging. Thanks Adders.

If you come across any mega deals let me know. :mrgreen:

Just take a look in the J2Ski holiday section, there are some pretty good deals in there already. If the snow dumps as it is looking, you may not need to go any further than your favourite wibble site! :)

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Tue, 1 Nov 2016 23:38:37 GMT

FQ is spot on regarding j2ski offers. I have used a couple.

For my regular Niederau January visit, I book early with easyjet, then quickly follow on with my regular accommodation. Hence my flights are at lowest cost, and my accommodation remains at a modest cost.

But then.... I was once awakened by Frau Mac, who urged me to drink my coffee, and start packing.

This was pre internet days. She had been on teletext during the night, made the call, got a great deal, and booked us for Tignes the same day...

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Wed, 2 Nov 2016 11:55:37 GMT

Hi Bedrock. The one thing I noticed when going on various websites last night (trying to avoid engaging with slightly-stressed daughter sitting GCSE Maths today) was that the flight days for breaks around the Christmas period this year are all over the shop. A lot of Crystal flights are on Tuesday, easyjet to Are are on Thursday (I think) and igluski flights were on Friday. Still a lot of holidays out there. And the prices aren't bad either. Perversely, it seems that the falling pound and poor snow record for Xmas last year have lead to lots of people not booking and some good deals being available.

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Thu, 3 Nov 2016 12:20:33 GMT

God morgon Dobby...

I feel your pain re. GCSE's.

Yes, flight times are a bit wonky (especially to french resorts where they have geared up for Tues to Tues). We had considered Are Sweden but worried about thin snow cover and lack of daylight.

There are very good deals in lots of places but it feels like a total punt at the moment. It might be snowing down to 1400m this week but it could easily warm up and melt again during the month.

I'm thinking of waiting until the first week of December and this may allow enough of a forward look to the 17th (which may or may not then open up lots of lower resorts).

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Thu, 3 Nov 2016 12:38:07 GMT

Hi Barney. Share your concerns about light in Are (about 4.5 hours daylight at Christmas) and snow melting. Worth waiting I think - I reckon there'll be lots of deals still on for that week, even if you wait until early December.

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Sun, 6 Nov 2016 12:33:12 GMT

I fully agree with the tip of booking last minute. We (couple) are going to the Alps on this week (17-24th Dec) since many years. I always book the hotel on the week before or up to 3 days before leaving, choosing the ski region depending on the snow conditions. We often drive to Tyrol (e.g. by Sankt Anton); no need to book a flight and it's more convenient for skiing at several resorts on the same week. Hotel prices are superb on this week in Tyrol, sometimes even the ski passes are cheaper. By the way, I live in Barcelona, the same distance to the Alps than from London!

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Mon, 7 Nov 2016 12:08:48 GMT

Hiya, the deals are definitely there. We've been going to skiing for Xmas with extended family many years and love it, as even in bad snow years there's still enough to ski and we've had white Xmas every year (if not at the resort level then higher up :)
I too, normally book the flights early in the year and then book accommodation in the resort where there's more snow about 2-3 weeks before the flight. This year did hold back booking for Xmas as for family reasons can do our annual ski trip only over Feb half-term (expensive one!). Also couldn't find the flights/dates/times suitable for us.

Anyway, took a risk and booked for us (2 adults+13year old) a very reasonably priced package deal to Italy (as like it there) for 20-27 Dec a week ago. Would think that there will be more late deals available, especially if you are not fussy about where to go.

Booked independently for Feb half-term extended family trip long time ago as didn't think I'll get a deal for a resort/hotel we wanted to go to.

Happy last minute deal finding :)!

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Mon, 7 Nov 2016 15:30:43 GMT

Last minute booking is a lottery - sometimes you win and sometimes you don't.
The more in the party the harder it is.
The gremlin is often the flights - those at sensible times go first and even if the bargain holiday is there you may have a 6am flight from an airport miles away.

School hols are always busy but that is often useful as the airlines have a lot more seats available.

As a serial late booker nor my children have grown up, my experience is that holidays start expensive and gradually drop up to about a month away
After that the prices climb again, particularly the hotel based ones where the hotel may sell rooms to many tour ops or independently.
Very last minute bargains do come up at a few days notice - usually where a party has cancelled in a chalet or hotel, providing there are flights. The problem is if you have fixed weeks that you have to go on you may have to accept something to make sure you get a holiday. If dates aren't fixed you just move on to next week or the one after.

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:10:53 GMT

Thanks for all the replies. Getting a bit twitchy here today looking at resort webcams! I'm eyeing up Val Thorens at the moment and may decide to go for it now if we can secure a decent deal.....

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 21:41:38 GMT

Andymol2 - thanks for the info - am trying to wangle a cheeky trip in Jan. with a mate, so thinking about best time to book

Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Sun, 13 Nov 2016 18:54:08 GMT

Hi adders. What do you mean by "models are getting very interesting this week"

Admin wrote:

bedrock barney wrote:will we be able to jump on to last minute deals

Almost certainly.

As you might expect, after two late-starting seasons and with Xmas Day on a Sunday, Xmas has been tough to sell this year. I'd expect there to be deals around...

bedrock barney wrote:is last minute holidaying a thing of the past?

Definitely not! It increases every year.

FWIW, we (family) are hoping to be away the same week as you or maybe the week before - and I doubt we'll have anything booked before December.

The above notwithstanding, the weather models are getting very interesting from this weekend onwards... so if you do see a particularly good deal, and it's where you want to go, then go for it. Otherwise wait.

Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Sun, 13 Nov 2016 19:11:20 GMT

Ade73 wrote:Hi adders. What do you mean by "models are getting very interesting this week"

Hi Ade - that was written nearly 2 weeks ago, and referred to the turn to cold and all the snow that was then in the forecast... which is what has duly arrived since. 8)

Interestingly enough, you might be interested to know that the interesting thing about the latest forecasts is that they are quite interesting in an interestingly similar way... -) It looks like another decent round of snowfall building about a week out (i.e. next weekend). Interesting, no?

Re:Has anyone booked a last minute ski holiday??

Sun, 13 Nov 2016 19:20:23 GMT

Hi adders, I found that interestingly interesting as I was interested in your interesting reply. Haha. Sorry I didn't realise it was written weeks ago. I think it should be a nice few days looking at present conditions and forecasts. The link to VD opens the day I arrive also.