Who's going skiing and where 2020

[S100HP]

gifdy said:

I’m looking to take the family in Feb but the prices this year seem really high. We had a nice catered chalet last year for something like £650pp but I’m seeing prices north of £1K ! Any idea what’s going on ?

Combination of things. Euro Vs GBP, although limited impact Vs last year. Less supply, as quite a few Tour Ops have dropped stock and the big one, staff. Historically you've had a host who's had 1 night off a week, and earned very little. They now have to have two nights off, and they're paid quite a bit more. French employment people have cracked down on staffing, meaning all TO have a big hit of staffing costs.

Be thankful Brexit was delayed and we can all second workers for another year. Next year they'll probably have to be on French contracts...

[gifdy]

S100HP said:

gifdy said:

I’m looking to take the family in Feb but the prices this year seem really high. We had a nice catered chalet last year for something like £650pp but I’m seeing prices north of £1K ! Any idea what’s going on ?

Combination of things. Euro Vs GBP, although limited impact Vs last year. Less supply, as quite a few Tour Ops have dropped stock and the big one, staff. Historically you've had a host who's had 1 night off a week, and earned very little. They now have to have two nights off, and they're paid quite a bit more. French employment people have cracked down on staffing, meaning all TO have a big hit of staffing costs.

Be thankful Brexit was delayed and we can all second workers for another year. Next year they'll probably have to be on French contracts...

Yeah thanks, that makes sense. I’d heard something about staff contracts but didn’t realise it would have such an impact. Looks like Feb is out, may have to take a chance in April.

[GT03ROB]

GT03ROB said:

Thinking I'll probably be boring & go to Val Thorens beginning of April.

If I get time may do a few weekends at Shymbulak

I was boring so booked Val Thorens!!

[ThorB]

S100HP said:

gifdy said:

I’m looking to take the family in Feb but the prices this year seem really high. We had a nice catered chalet last year for something like £650pp but I’m seeing prices north of £1K ! Any idea what’s going on ?

Combination of things. Euro Vs GBP, although limited impact Vs last year. Less supply, as quite a few Tour Ops have dropped stock and the big one, staff. Historically you've had a host who's had 1 night off a week, and earned very little. They now have to have two nights off, and they're paid quite a bit more. French employment people have cracked down on staffing, meaning all TO have a big hit of staffing costs.

Be thankful Brexit was delayed and we can all second workers for another year. Next year they'll probably have to be on French contracts...

Weirdly, our 2020 trip is proving cheaper. We do a DIY family trip to France during the same week every year and the car hire, flights and ski hire have all been cheaper than our 2019 trip. Chalet hire, lift passes and ski lessons have remained a similar cost to last year. Total costs for 2020 will be around 15% less than 2019, excluding food and drink.

[wrencho]

Blimey I'm excited this year. More so than usual especially after finding a brill sit ski instructor last year so the little one can rip it with us!

[gifdy]

ThorB said:

S100HP said:

gifdy said:

I’m looking to take the family in Feb but the prices this year seem really high. We had a nice catered chalet last year for something like £650pp but I’m seeing prices north of £1K ! Any idea what’s going on ?

Combination of things. Euro Vs GBP, although limited impact Vs last year. Less supply, as quite a few Tour Ops have dropped stock and the big one, staff. Historically you've had a host who's had 1 night off a week, and earned very little. They now have to have two nights off, and they're paid quite a bit more. French employment people have cracked down on staffing, meaning all TO have a big hit of staffing costs.

Be thankful Brexit was delayed and we can all second workers for another year. Next year they'll probably have to be on French contracts...

Weirdly, our 2020 trip is proving cheaper. We do a DIY family trip to France during the same week every year and the car hire, flights and ski hire have all been cheaper than our 2019 trip. Chalet hire, lift passes and ski lessons have remained a similar cost to last year. Total costs for 2020 will be around 15% less than 2019, excluding food and drink.

Mmm, that’s interesting. Do you mind saying where you’re going and the type of accommodation you use ? We also do DIY - we drive across and sort out passes, hire, lessons etc ourselves. We just like the catered chalet style holiday rather than self catering or hotels.

[ThorB]

gifdy said:

Mmm, that’s interesting. Do you mind saying where you’re going and the type of accommodation you use ? We also do DIY - we drive across and sort out passes, hire, lessons etc ourselves. We just like the catered chalet style holiday rather than self catering or hotels.

We go to Morzine and stay in a quite a nice self catering chalet, but the cost is spread between a large group of us. Also means we share the cooking duties, so we actually draw up a rota of who's cooking what meals before we get there, so people can plan meals in advance. And we go out to a nice restaurant for one evening meal during the week, booked weeks in advance. Works really well for us as we have lots of kids and some people really like cooking. Also the money saved by going DIY and self catering is re-invested in the quality of the chalet and wine.

We really like self catering, although I'm not sure I'd feel the same if I had to cook every day. I generally cook once or twice during a week.

[c32dave]

Excitingly, Chamonix (well, argentiere to be precise!) opens this weekend. Looks like a reasonable early season base and an opportunity for a cheap pre Xmas weekend.

[gifdy]

ThorB said:

gifdy said:

Mmm, that’s interesting. Do you mind saying where you’re going and the type of accommodation you use ? We also do DIY - we drive across and sort out passes, hire, lessons etc ourselves. We just like the catered chalet style holiday rather than self catering or hotels.

We go to Morzine and stay in a quite a nice self catering chalet, but the cost is spread between a large group of us. Also means we share the cooking duties, so we actually draw up a rota of who's cooking what meals before we get there, so people can plan meals in advance. And we go out to a nice restaurant for one evening meal during the week, booked weeks in advance. Works really well for us as we have lots of kids and some people really like cooking. Also the money saved by going DIY and self catering is re-invested in the quality of the chalet and wine.

We really like self catering, although I'm not sure I'd feel the same if I had to cook every day. I generally cook once or twice during a week.

Thanks !

[wrencho]

c32dave said:

Excitingly, Chamonix (well, argentiere to be precise!) opens this weekend. Looks like a reasonable early season base and an opportunity for a cheap pre Xmas weekend.

Quite a bit of snow in the forecast for Saturday so Sunday could be "epic" as the kids (and nearly middle aged men that haven't grown up yet like me) say!! Enjoy.

[chandrew]

c32dave said:

Excitingly, Chamonix (well, argentiere to be precise!) opens this weekend. Looks like a reasonable early season base and an opportunity for a cheap pre Xmas weekend.

Argentiere is one of my favourite places, though you know it's not a 'normal' resort when half the folks on the lift up are carrying ice axes and ropes. Enjoy!

[Gio G]

Doing Cortina in Feb next year with some mates... Any recommendations of good skiing area and good fun places to visit in the evenings?

G

[TeeRev]

After being very involved with building stuff for the last few years to enable us to afford to retire we're catching up on missed holidays at long last.

We got back from ten days in Tobago last week and I've just booked us in with Crystal to go to Saalbach for Christmas, we've skied most countries but never Austria so thought it was about time we did.

I've done a fair bit of research on line and on Snowheads and it sounds pretty good but has anyone from here been there to give me any advice?

[craig1912]

Alpe d’huez booked for end of March. £90 return flights to Lyon and then private transfer. Third year running for wife and youngest (i didn’t go last year). Also going Monday to Monday.

[PHuzzy]

I had my flights booked to Innsbruck a while back for the 8-22 Dec, just booked St Anton for the first week as it looks like the best place in Austria for powder next week. I'll keep checking the weather for the 2nd week but based on the current weather patterns may end up at either Heiligenblut or Madonna di Campiglio for the 2nd week Cannot wait!

[Bill]

After talk of La Plagne we missed the boat booking the motorhome parking, so we're off to Samoens for NY. Haven't yet looked at conditions but the van is mostly prepped and the kids have tried on their kit. New skis to try too!

[PHuzzy]

You're in luck Conditions everywhere on the Western side of the Alps are fantastic and are in for more of the same over the next week or two.

I actually looked at changing my flights earlier from Innsbruck to Grenoble/Lyon or Geneva to take advantage of that side but it was expensive and too much of a hassle to get everything else lined up.

[Bill]

[RC1807]

Since I'm on gardening leave for Q1 2020, and our late teens daughters don't want to ski this season (!!), my wife and I can take some last minute bargains and drive south whenever we want.

I fancy trying Austria this season (not been before), and perhaps Chamonix.
Both are fairly straightforward drives from Lux.

Anyone have any good tips / preferences in Austria, please? .

[Trev27]

RC1807 said:

Since I'm on gardening leave for Q1 2020, and our late teens daughters don't want to ski this season (!!), my wife and I can take some last minute bargains and drive south whenever we want.

I fancy trying Austria this season (not been before), and perhaps Chamonix.
Both are fairly straightforward drives from Lux.

Anyone have any good tips / preferences in Austria, please? .

If going with the wife, my choice would be Kitzbuhel. It's a lovely village with nice shops, bars and restaurants, plus some great skiing.