Crystal Ski

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 16:54:27 GMT, "Nick Hounsome"
wrote:


"Ace" wrote in message
.. .

I gave up on 'package' ski holidays a long time ago. The freedom, and
two extra ski days, to be gained from driving and doing it yourself
became a much greater factor than the presumably cheaper prices of
package deals.

If you can handle the driving and are happy to cater for yourself after a
hard day's skiing then fine or are made of money then that's great.

Well yes. Clearly if budget reatraints are primary then you're always
going to get these sorts of situations, which largely occur due to
short-term, underpaid, staff being used. If you want the better
service, food, professionalism etc. there are plenty of more
specialist operators out there who'll be happy to oblige. For a price.
"You get what you pay for."

You are aware, I suppose, that Thompson and Crystal are the same
company?

My point was that by the end of the season the chalet/club hotel staff
seemed to have it sussed even though they were obviously not an
exceptionally bright/conscientuous/sober bunch.

Yes, a valid point, and inevitable in the circumstances.

Presumably they do try to differentiate Crystal/Thomson somehow or why keep
them separate?

'Branding'. I think they've been moving the Crystal brand more towards
chalet-hotels, nanny services etc. etc. Keeping two major brands also
lets punters believe they have more of a choice than is actually the
case.


--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.

Flaine had sacked most of their staff in Flaine by the beginning of February
this year. The 18yr olds they had brought in thought their job desription
read, " go out and get ****ed every night without any regard for looking
after the guests".
"Ace" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 16:54:27 GMT, "Nick Hounsome"
wrote:


"Ace" wrote in message
. ..

I gave up on 'package' ski holidays a long time ago. The freedom, and
two extra ski days, to be gained from driving and doing it yourself
became a much greater factor than the presumably cheaper prices of
package deals.

If you can handle the driving and are happy to cater for yourself after a
hard day's skiing then fine or are made of money then that's great.

Well yes. Clearly if budget reatraints are primary then you're always
going to get these sorts of situations, which largely occur due to
short-term, underpaid, staff being used. If you want the better
service, food, professionalism etc. there are plenty of more
specialist operators out there who'll be happy to oblige. For a price.
"You get what you pay for."

You are aware, I suppose, that Thompson and Crystal are the same
company?

My point was that by the end of the season the chalet/club hotel staff
seemed to have it sussed even though they were obviously not an
exceptionally bright/conscientuous/sober bunch.

Yes, a valid point, and inevitable in the circumstances.

Presumably they do try to differentiate Crystal/Thomson somehow or why
keep
them separate?

'Branding'. I think they've been moving the Crystal brand more towards
chalet-hotels, nanny services etc. etc. Keeping two major brands also
lets punters believe they have more of a choice than is actually the
case.


--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the
Ski Club.

"ash" wrote in message
...
Flaine had sacked most of their staff in Flaine by the beginning of
February this year. The 18yr olds they had brought in thought their job
desription read, " go out and get ****ed every night without any regard
for looking after the guests".

Interesting. Although I would have blamed the senior staff more when I was
there.

I would have thought that this sort of staffing was a natural for
psychometric testing (not that I'm generally a fan).

Does anyone know if they use it?

"Nick Hounsome" wrote in message
. uk...

"Ace" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 08:48:28 GMT, "Nick Hounsome"
wrote:


"robert jones" wrote in message
...


Crystal are dreadful.

snip

I've only been once with them to Le Totem in Flaine for the second week of
the season and was amazed that despite running the place for years

They only took it over in 2002, IIRC...

they had transferred none of their experience from one season to the
next -

...but even one year should be enough, I agree.

they were learning everything the hard way and at our expense

Sadly, this is likely to be the case more often than not. There's
seldom much continuity of staff with the larger operators from one
season to the next so they start with largely untrained and
inexperienced people each year.

I don't think I will go catered in early season again with anyone but
certainly not Crystal.

I gave up on 'package' ski holidays a long time ago. The freedom, and
two extra ski days, to be gained from driving and doing it yourself
became a much greater factor than the presumably cheaper prices of
package deals.

If you can handle the driving and are happy to cater for yourself after a
hard day's skiing then fine or are made of money then that's great.

Contraiwise I went to Courchevel at the end of the season with THomson (I
think) and despite the fact that we had a competition to spot the latest
staff injury every morning at breakfast they always did well for us -
probably because it had all become automatic by then.

You are aware, I suppose, that Thompson and Crystal are the same
company? To the extent of sharing resort-level management. I'm
surprised you didn't suss this from the number of Thompson guets and
reps you must have seen in the Totem.

I think that there are basically only 2 companies in the mass market and I
can never remember who is part of which.

My point was that by the end of the season the chalet/club hotel staff
seemed to have it sussed even though they were obviously not an
exceptionally bright/conscientuous/sober bunch.

Presumably they do try to differentiate Crystal/Thomson somehow or why keep
them separate?

Same plane, same transfer, and maybe the same hotel. Often the only difference
is the brochure.

On one skiing holiday, Inghams managed to leave me and my family behind. They
just took my case which had all the documentation in it! We only got home
because a Crystal rep had a mobile phone and was able to call Inghams.
My only complaint about Crystal/ Thomsons is that they want to charge you for
using a credit card to buy a lift pass on the bus.

(I now take my own mobile phone!)


--

Michael Chare

"Michael Chare" wrote in message
...
"Nick Hounsome" wrote in message
. uk...

"Ace" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 08:48:28 GMT, "Nick Hounsome"
wrote:


"robert jones" wrote in message
...


Crystal are dreadful.

snip

I've only been once with them to Le Totem in Flaine for the second week
of
the season and was amazed that despite running the place for years

They only took it over in 2002, IIRC...

they had transferred none of their experience from one season to the
next -

...but even one year should be enough, I agree.

they were learning everything the hard way and at our expense

Sadly, this is likely to be the case more often than not. There's
seldom much continuity of staff with the larger operators from one
season to the next so they start with largely untrained and
inexperienced people each year.

I don't think I will go catered in early season again with anyone but
certainly not Crystal.

I gave up on 'package' ski holidays a long time ago. The freedom, and
two extra ski days, to be gained from driving and doing it yourself
became a much greater factor than the presumably cheaper prices of
package deals.

If you can handle the driving and are happy to cater for yourself after a
hard day's skiing then fine or are made of money then that's great.

Contraiwise I went to Courchevel at the end of the season with THomson
(I
think) and despite the fact that we had a competition to spot the
latest
staff injury every morning at breakfast they always did well for us -
probably because it had all become automatic by then.

You are aware, I suppose, that Thompson and Crystal are the same
company? To the extent of sharing resort-level management. I'm
surprised you didn't suss this from the number of Thompson guets and
reps you must have seen in the Totem.

I think that there are basically only 2 companies in the mass market and
I
can never remember who is part of which.

My point was that by the end of the season the chalet/club hotel staff
seemed to have it sussed even though they were obviously not an
exceptionally bright/conscientuous/sober bunch.

Presumably they do try to differentiate Crystal/Thomson somehow or why
keep
them separate?

Same plane, same transfer, and maybe the same hotel. Often the only
difference
is the brochure.

On one skiing holiday, Inghams managed to leave me and my family behind.
They
just took my case which had all the documentation in it! We only got home
because a Crystal rep had a mobile phone and was able to call Inghams.
My only complaint about Crystal/ Thomsons is that they want to charge you
for
using a credit card to buy a lift pass on the bus.

(I now take my own mobile phone!)


--

Michael Chare




Oh well, I have to say that I have used Crystal eight times since 2001 and
apart from the first (horrific) Saturday Lyon/Courchevel transfer they have
been pretty good. A lot does depend on the individual reps but the managers
of the club hotels tend to balance out any short falls. Crystal don't
charge for debit cards and I find their overall card policy fair enough.
The only real gripe I have is the safety video on the TUI planes which ends
with a puke-making "mission statement". I wish these companies would fire
their consultants.

"Ace" wrote in message
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 08:48:28 GMT, [snip]
I gave up on 'package' ski holidays a long time ago. The freedom, and
two extra ski days, to be gained from driving and doing it yourself
became a much greater factor than the presumably cheaper prices of
package deals.

Me too, the only contrary factor being the possibility of a really cheap
last minute deal, which at peak season IMO can't be matched by the d-i-y
approach due to the extortionate cost of flights at half-term. Saturday on
the empty slopes is bliss! At full-price the d-i-y wins hands-down and with
the internet and CCards is now quite easy. A small alpine hotel run by
locals for their nationality is a real treat compared to the 'Clubhotels'
beloved of UK tour operators. But driving does have additional costs which
need to be taken into account.
Next year I'm driving but also keeping a sharp eye on the last minute offers
as soon as the snow comes good.
mutley

ash wrote:
Flaine had sacked most of their staff in Flaine by the beginning of February
this year. The 18yr olds they had brought in thought their job desription
read, " go out and get ****ed every night without any regard for looking
after the guests".

I have a feeling I might be tempted to make the same interpretation of
duties based on the salary and accommodation that goes with the job.

Then again, I do book packages (avoiding TUI when possible) if only
because ourside of high season they seem the cheapest option, especially
from regional airports. I suspect you get what you pay for, and I can
live with that.

-Sarah

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 09:42:00 +0100, Ace wrote:

I gave up on 'package' ski holidays a long time ago.

I've never done a single one, and don't expect to start anytime soon.
There's plenty of independent operators who survive on good quality of
service, and getting oneself to the alps nowadays is pretty trivial
anyway.
--
Champ

"Champ" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 09:42:00 +0100, Ace wrote:

I gave up on 'package' ski holidays a long time ago.

I've never done a single one, and don't expect to start anytime soon.
There's plenty of independent operators who survive on good quality of
service,

Actually they survive on the huge wads of cash that people like yourself who
can afford stuff like heli-skiing provide.

The rest of us, who are trying to get as much skiing as possible on the
cheap, go for the special offers.

and getting oneself to the alps nowadays is pretty trivial
anyway.

heli? where do the skins go?
Jonny