Ski holiday advice

[what_no_pies]

Been on a few organised ski trips (mainly in my school days) but never booked a ski trip on my own steam so would appreciate any input.

A few friends confirmed and more wanting a guide on pricing before committing. Could be anything from 4 to 16 of us.

A catered chalet and package style booking is my preference for simplicity but we're fairly flexible and if it makes sense to we will book the component parts separately and/or cater ourselves. Even willing to join another group trip or just use a hotel if that stacks up. Basically we're very flexible on how to approach it.

We're pretty much decided on doing the Three Valleys for a week in or around February. Beyond that I don't really know where to start so any input greatly appreciated.

[DCWat]

You’ll have some great skiing there - great resorts, miles of piste and great apres ski.

We stayed in a managed chalet in Courcheval, last time we were there (good number of years ago now). Breakfast was made each day by the chalet maids and some but not all evening meals, which gave us the chance to eat out too.

If I remember rightly, it was all booked as a package which included ski hire for those that needed it, lift passes, flights and transfers.

Probably worth weighing up the pricing for a package compared to separate purchases.

I’d also recommend a ski school if there are some less experienced ones going - they’ll get more out of the holiday - even if it’s just a couple of hours each morning.

[Paul Waine]

Been on a few organised ski trips (mainly in my school days) but never booked a ski trip on my own steam so would appreciate any input.

A few friends confirmed and more wanting a guide on pricing before committing. Could be anything from 4 to 16 of us.

A catered chalet and package style booking is my preference for simplicity but we're fairly flexible and if it makes sense to we will book the component parts separately and/or cater ourselves. Even willing to join another group trip or just use a hotel if that stacks up. Basically we're very flexible on how to approach it.

We're pretty much decided on doing the Three Valleys for a week in or around February. Beyond that I don't really know where to start so any input greatly appreciated.

Hi what_no, you can book flights and accommodation, ski hire and lift passes all as separate items over the internet - or book skis and passes when you arrive in the resort... But, if some of your group want an idea of pricing it will be simpler to find a tour company that offers it all. And, because of covid-19, it might be that you get a bit more protection booking a package, just in case anything doesn't work out.

Most important item, travel insurance including the winter sports.

Re dates, somewhere in Feb will be school half-term - I'd recommend avoiding, if you all can, because prices will be higher and the pistes will be busier. (Check also French schools half-term).

Good luck and enjoy.

[Bop]

Great location. Great scenery. Great skiing. You may need to sell some vital organs, wife or kids to pay for the odd coffee or beer.

[Bop]

A catered chalet is a top way to do it. Did it for the wife’s last two milestone birthdays. Food, drink, accommodation and transport all included, every day. And cheap equipment hire. If you want I’ll dig out the company name.

[Spiral]

[received pronunciation][ponce]I'm going skiing, and I'd just like the readers of the football forum to know I'm going skiing.[/ponce][/received pronunciation]

[Burnley1989]

[received pronunciation][ponce]I'm going skiing, and I'd just like the readers of the football forum to know I'm going skiing.[/ponce][/received pronunciation]

How very grown up of you.

[Burnley1989]

I think sometimes, for what you can save it isn’t worth the hassle of booking everything separate and risking one or two things not going to plan.

I’d love to go myself when my kids are a little older, it must be almost 20 years since I went with school, it was fantastic.
I quite like the catered chalet option!

[ClaretDiver]

[received pronunciation][ponce]I'm going skiing, and I'd just like the readers of the football forum to know I'm going skiing.[/ponce][/received pronunciation]

What a childish post.....just because someone has an interest rather than sitting on their backside because they have no life outside of their screen...

I am a scuba diver and very often I will ask on message boards for advice on dive destinations....although when I do it is usually on boards of like minded, broad-minded people. However, there are probably several, as has already been proved, people on here who have had a similar experience..

So grow up and accept that people have different interests and sometime turn to fellow Clarets for advice on said interest.....

[claretonthecoast1882]

Envy such an ugly trait

[Newcastleclaret93]

Been on a few organised ski trips (mainly in my school days) but never booked a ski trip on my own steam so would appreciate any input.

A few friends confirmed and more wanting a guide on pricing before committing. Could be anything from 4 to 16 of us.

A catered chalet and package style booking is my preference for simplicity but we're fairly flexible and if it makes sense to we will book the component parts separately and/or cater ourselves. Even willing to join another group trip or just use a hotel if that stacks up. Basically we're very flexible on how to approach it.

We're pretty much decided on doing the Three Valleys for a week in or around February. Beyond that I don't really know where to start so any input greatly appreciated.

Great location, if you fancy something a little different I can’t recommend Chamrousse high enough. Small ski resort in France, I have had a fantastic time there on a few occasions.

[dibraidio]

French kids holidays start 4th Feb and end 6th March. The busiest week will be 11th to 18th of Feb because that's the week that all three regions overlap. That'll be the most expensive period of the winter too.

[evensteadiereddie]

As pointed out above, with current circumstances as they are , I think you'd be better off looking for a company that offers the full package.
You have the protection if, God forbid, anything goes awry over the next couple of months and your decent-sized group number might get you the price of ski-passes down.
We're off to Italy with Crystal, fingers crossed, in Feb and we got passes at half price.
A lot of UK companies will be desperate for the custom.

[evensteadiereddie]

[received pronunciation][ponce]I'm going skiing, and I'd just like the readers of the football forum to know I'm going skiing.[/ponce][/received pronunciation]

[grunt][chav]I'm not going skiing, and I'd just like the readers of the football forum to know that I'm not going skiing and feel very bitter about that.[/chav][grunt]

[Hipper]

https://ukcop26.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... lained.pdf

[alf_resco]

[received pronunciation][ponce]I'm going skiing, and I'd just like the readers of the football forum to know I'm going skiing.[/ponce][/received pronunciation]

Very unlike your usual "superior wisdom" slant.

Sad.

[Devils_Advocate]

Last time I went Skiing (hadn't been since I was a teenager) I forgot all about insurance and on the first day did my cruciate near the top of one of the biggest mountains. Getting myself down was some effort and not the best afternoon ive had in my life.

Luckily it was northern Italy in March, the weather was in the 20's and cos it was a group of about 30 of us so everyday there was always a few happy to have a day off and come on the p*ss with me.

Over the next few years I had 3 knee ops to get it fully sorted and never skied again but did manage to get back to playing non competitive 5 aside eventually

[evensteadiereddie]

Wow, that could have been expensive if you'd been stuck up there. Shame about the end of your skiing career but at least you remained mobile and your bank account wasn't terminally injured.

[Jimmymaccer]

We’ve used Crystal on the 3 times we’ve been skiing, and also always gone in ski school ,cos it’s a great way to learn your way around the resorts runs. We’ve never had a problem with them and we’ve always been well looked after.

It’s a fab holiday so enjoy!

[TheOriginalLongsider]

I’ve booked separate flights etc a few times. But by far the easiest and usually cheapest is just booking with Crystal a week in advance. That way you get cheaper prices and can be pretty sure about the snow You may not get your first choice of resort but if you’re flexible then it won’t be an issue. We usually spend £1,000 each but that’s for everything including spending money.

[Volvoclaret]

Been practicing skiing down Snaefell jimmymaccer?

[Spiral]

Haha whoa okay, my bad. Intended as a bit of a light hearted dig but obviously came across way worse. Soz for that.

My advice would be that if you french fry when you should've pizza'd, you're gonna' have a bad time.

[Jimmymaccer]

Been practicing skiing down Snaefell jimmymaccer?

Too windy up there!

Hope all well in Worsthorne!!!

[Volvoclaret]

Cold and wet ie normal.

[what_no_pies]

Thanks for the input. A few nuggets of information there which we've already picked up on and will definitely inform the approach.

[box_of_frogs]

We use Crystal too, but normally Austria. Good info ref the French school holidays. Add UK and other European holidays into the mix and that makes mid Feb very expensive!

Many French resorts are at high altitudes so almost certainly guaranteed snow.