Our top 7 tips for getting the best deal on your skiing holiday:
1. Shop around
The 2006 season saw a declide in sales of skiing holidays by all of the major ski holiday companies, as the shift to independent travel continues. To combat this, the industry has a mountain of discounted packages and specials to keep the budget-conscious coming to the slopes. There are lots of good deals this year, so shop around.
2. Book early
Not only will you get a choice of the best places to stay and the best flight times, but the holiday companies and some of the ski resorts themselves offer attractive incentives for those planning and booking early. For example, some ski resorts offer discounted lift passes if you book by the end of November and the ski companies have a range of incentives for early bookers, offering as much as £300 off per couple.
3. Book online
Even if you plan to book with one of the large ski companies, check to see if they offer incentives to book online. For example, Crystal Ski offer up to a £120 discount for those who book online.
4. (If you are booking independently) Compare the cost of buying flights and accommodation separately with booking a package with an online ski company
Look at the cost of a package with the online only ski specialists and the larger online travel companies, including the likes of Expedia.com (who have a dedicated ski section each winter). Because they have the buying power, these companies offer great deals on flight and accommodation packages and can often sell a flight and accommodation for what we would pay for an airfare.
5. Don't travel at weekends
The airlines, Eurostar and the ferry companies charge more to travel at the weekend, when demand is highest. Book trips leaving and returning midweek for the biggest savings (see tip 7.....)
6. Ski off season
The best deals are when the season is just getting started and in the slow months of January and April. It costs less to ski before Christmas at virtually every resort, and the spring season deals are fantastic. If you know your resorts you should still get snow. Avoid Christmas, anywhere near the schools half term and Easter.
7. Stay Longer
If you're an independent skier, booking your flights and accommodation separately, look at the cost of adding a couple of days to your holiday. Flights (or travelling to the resort) is usually a big part of the cost of your skiing holiday. If you add a couple of days in a hotel to a week in a chalet, it lengthens your skiing holiday and reduces your average cost per night. Okay, your holiday is going to cost you more, but your cost for an extra 2 days at the end of a holiday can be as little as £50 a day. Wouldn't you pay £50 a day to ski?
