Who's going skiing and where? 23-24

Who's going skiing and where? 23-24

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Discussion

audi321

5,188 posts

213 months

Friday 22nd March
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//j17 said:
audi321 said:
The_Doc said:
audi321 said:
I really don’t understand why you guys book the flights so early. They always have sales throughout the year and an example is I’m going tomorrow for a week from Manchester to Grenoble for £300 (FOR 4 PEOPLE!). Booked it around 2 months back.

I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than £200 per person and I’ve gone twice a year pretty much for the past 20 years of which 12 of these have been in school holidays.
It's school term time, Grenoble isn't a great airport and Manchester has lots of people and lots of flights. =cheaper

If you have to plan 6months+ in advance and you can't take your kids out of school, then you are at the mercy of the market.

Tues to Tues Luton to Geneva return in the middle of January is currently £76 total. For 1350 miles of flying.
Which is insanely cheap.
A single ticket from Newcastle to King's Cross is about £70

Edited by The_Doc on Thursday 21st March 21:45
It’s not school term time? They’ve broken up today for 2 weeks over Easter? Unless some areas are split but I know most in the area have broken up today (ok tomorow is teacher training) but still Easter from tomorrow night
Schools don't break up until Thurs. 28th where I am, but ignoring that there's a huge difference between Easter and Feb Half Term demand and so prices. A lot of families won't consider Christmas/New Year ("Too early to be snow sure" or "Need to see extended family") or consider Easter ("Too late to be snow sure") so will only/always go Feb Half Term (3 out of the last 4 of which have been hotter and less snowie than their preceeding Decembers).
Sorry I’ve probably diluted my point by talking about this current Easter trip.

My main point is that they always have sales throughout the year and for those who book a year in advance there is simply no point IMO. I have booked school holidays (Xmas and half term) for the past 12 years and have always waited for their sales rather than booking a year in advance and always got a significantly better deal than some people are talking about who have booked at the first opportunity.

The_Doc

Original Poster:

4,886 posts

220 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
If I wait, there is a chance the price will double or sell out, and then I have 2 sad children, a sad wife, a week of useless annual leave, 500+ emails to do on my return and control is what I like.
That said, I'm waiting now and didn't purchase at 6am the other day.

Everyone does it differently. smile

r159

2,262 posts

74 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
The_Doc said:
If I wait, there is a chance the price will double or sell out, and then I have 2 sad children, a sad wife, a week of useless annual leave, 500+ emails to do on my return and control is what I like.
That said, I'm waiting now and didn't purchase at 6am the other day.

Everyone does it differently. smile
Booked last April for this Easter, not seen anything cheaper and I know I’ve got a holiday to look forward to. As it’s my first time for 16 years and my lads first experience not something I was going to take a chance on…

Car bon

4,650 posts

64 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
FWIW

I used to 'commute' weekly with EasyJet - Monday morning to the UK & Thursday night back abroad for the weekend.

I bought all my flights the day they were released & never saw them cheaper whenever I looked at any future sales.

YMMV

Speed 3

4,569 posts

119 months

Friday 22nd March
quotequote all
Car bon said:
FWIW

I used to 'commute' weekly with EasyJet - Monday morning to the UK & Thursday night back abroad for the weekend.

I bought all my flights the day they were released & never saw them cheaper whenever I looked at any future sales.

YMMV
This is true, I worked for a colourful LCC and the selling algorithm was most definitely s-shaped. Start low, monitor and adjust slightly then ramp up at the end. Hi-peak days like school holidays, major sporting events etc. always started from a very high baseline. They would only discount if a route was flawed and that wasn't very often.

timlongs

1,728 posts

179 months

Monday 25th March
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Some bad news coming out of Morzine today, a fire mysteriously started on Rue du Bourg last night https://www.lemessager.fr/649314527/article/2024-0...

Luckily everyone got out of the apartments but the businesses on that side of the street could be shut for a long time. One of my clients has a bar there and although he doesn't think fire damage is too bad, the water and smoke damage will be.

The_Doc

Original Poster:

4,886 posts

220 months

Monday 25th March
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From my man on the ground.

Also.it snowed, but I have predominantly bad news really

BigRickus

113 posts

112 months

Monday 25th March
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Be looking for somewhere else to get my baguettes from next week then. Hope no one hurt.

RSbandit

2,604 posts

132 months

Monday 25th March
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Driving down on Sat (stopover in Dijon) then on to Club Med near La Plagne on Sunday..hope conditions will be reasonable!

mikeiow

5,370 posts

130 months

Tuesday 26th March
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RSbandit said:
Driving down on Sat (stopover in Dijon) then on to Club Med near La Plagne on Sunday..hope conditions will be reasonable!
Yesterday in Les Arcs were the best we’ve had for over 2 weeks: a really beautiful day out!

A bit more snow forecast around Weds/Thurs - hopefully will be good for you (& our last week).


eeLee

758 posts

80 months

Tuesday 26th March
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I agree, Kitzbühel above 1200m is fantastic right now. A little icy on north-facing slopes because the temperature up there is low daytime and freezing at night.


RSbandit

2,604 posts

132 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
mikeiow said:
Yesterday in Les Arcs were the best we’ve had for over 2 weeks: a really beautiful day out!

A bit more snow forecast around Weds/Thurs - hopefully will be good for you (& our last week).
Glad to hear, our hotel is between La Plagne and Les Arcs so hope to cover ground on both sides...always a bit tricky this time of year so fingers crossed.

prand

5,916 posts

196 months

Tuesday 26th March
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Lots of Ski activity in the Prand household, daughter is just off to Claviere with her school, seemingly going the hard way with Ryanair from Stanstead, the furthest London Airport from us, to Milan, not the closer Turin. I'm sure her and the other 100 odd girls are going to have a great time, they're excited as they've heard there is a mixed school staying in the same hotel. I would not want to be a teacher on a school ski trip!

Me and younge Prand junior are flying to Geneva and hiring a car in a couple of weeks to grab 4 days in Tignes. Talking of flights above, I was able to get returns from Heathrow to GVA for £105 return a few months back. I checked yesterday as my wife was considering the trip, returns are pricier but only £160 return (hand luggage only) but to fly direct oit of Heathrow. So compared to other Easyjet flights from Luton and Gatwick at this late notice I think is pretty good, it is off peak admittedly.

We're also doing some research for a trip with another family over this NYE coming. I think we've missed the boat on flights, lots of high prices on the Saturday after Xmas, so looking at driving, with a stopover out at and possibly back just to break the journey up.

I have a question for the group, for anyone who has taken the train, is it easy (and reasonable) to do now? I guess it's a Eurostar from St P. Change in Paris, to Moutiers or Bourg?

Burrow01

1,807 posts

192 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Looks like there are a lot of people commenting on this thread who ski quite a few days / weeks skiing a year.

I am off to Obergurgl on 6th April, for a week, and need to renew my travel insurance.

Lots of the travel insurance companies seem to have quite low limits on the number of days they will cover (17 seems typical)

Who do people who ski a month / 6 weeks a year use for insurance?

Whoozit

3,603 posts

269 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Burrow01 said:
Looks like there are a lot of people commenting on this thread who ski quite a few days / weeks skiing a year.

I am off to Obergurgl on 6th April, for a week, and need to renew my travel insurance.

Lots of the travel insurance companies seem to have quite low limits on the number of days they will cover (17 seems typical)

Who do people who ski a month / 6 weeks a year use for insurance?
www.snowcard.co.uk



prand

5,916 posts

196 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Burrow01 said:
Looks like there are a lot of people commenting on this thread who ski quite a few days / weeks skiing a year.

I am off to Obergurgl on 6th April, for a week, and need to renew my travel insurance.

Lots of the travel insurance companies seem to have quite low limits on the number of days they will cover (17 seems typical)

Who do people who ski a month / 6 weeks a year use for insurance?
I have all my holiday insurance, including skiing with my bank account. It has a max of trip length 31 days. Apparently I could take unlimited trips per year. Not quite lucky enough to be able to ski for over a month in one go, probably max of 2 weeks give or take a few days in one year.

Amateurish

7,739 posts

222 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
prand said:
Lots of Ski activity in the Prand household, daughter is just off to Claviere with her school, seemingly going the hard way with Ryanair from Stanstead, the furthest London Airport from us, to Milan, not the closer Turin. I'm sure her and the other 100 odd girls are going to have a great time, they're excited as they've heard there is a mixed school staying in the same hotel. I would not want to be a teacher on a school ski trip!

Me and younge Prand junior are flying to Geneva and hiring a car in a couple of weeks to grab 4 days in Tignes. Talking of flights above, I was able to get returns from Heathrow to GVA for £105 return a few months back. I checked yesterday as my wife was considering the trip, returns are pricier but only £160 return (hand luggage only) but to fly direct oit of Heathrow. So compared to other Easyjet flights from Luton and Gatwick at this late notice I think is pretty good, it is off peak admittedly.

We're also doing some research for a trip with another family over this NYE coming. I think we've missed the boat on flights, lots of high prices on the Saturday after Xmas, so looking at driving, with a stopover out at and possibly back just to break the journey up.

I have a question for the group, for anyone who has taken the train, is it easy (and reasonable) to do now? I guess it's a Eurostar from St P. Change in Paris, to Moutiers or Bourg?
I took the train a few days ago, for a break in Morzine. It's about 13 hours door to door from the Midlands. I quite enjoyed it. The nearest station is Marignier, about 30 min from Morzine.

I do the journey to Morzine very often and I expect about 7 hours by plane and 13 hours by train or car.

I usually route via Lille and Lyon to avoid the cross Paris transfer.

Car bon

4,650 posts

64 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Whoozit said:
I've been looking at this - Snowcard are OK for the 6 week example, but still don't cover a full season. Their standard is 28 days & can be extended to 90.

https://www.snowcard.co.uk/sites/default/files/doc...

I know it wasn't the original question, but for a full season, I think you need either single trip backpacker insurance or something local to the area you'll be based in.

If anyone knows of something better, then I'm interested for next year.

Whoozit

3,603 posts

269 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Car bon said:
Whoozit said:
I've been looking at this - Snowcard are OK for the 6 week example, but still don't cover a full season. Their standard is 28 days & can be extended to 90.

https://www.snowcard.co.uk/sites/default/files/doc...

I know it wasn't the original question, but for a full season, I think you need either single trip backpacker insurance or something local to the area you'll be based in.

If anyone knows of something better, then I'm interested for next year.
Yup, Snowcard was the best for me with multiple trips a year and up to 30 days skiing.

You might have some luck searching for seasonnaire insurance?

Burrow01

1,807 posts

192 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Car bon said:
Whoozit said:
I've been looking at this - Snowcard are OK for the 6 week example, but still don't cover a full season. Their standard is 28 days & can be extended to 90.

https://www.snowcard.co.uk/sites/default/files/doc...

I know it wasn't the original question, but for a full season, I think you need either single trip backpacker insurance or something local to the area you'll be based in.

If anyone knows of something better, then I'm interested for next year.
Thanks - that looks pretty good, has any one claimed through Snowcard?