Flaine

Just got back from our first ski trip in 10 years and our first with kids
(6 & 8). Self-catered in Flaine, which suited us just fine. Kids went to
ESI ski school for 3 hours in the morning, which gave us a chance to ski
alone. Not exactly 'English Speaking' instruction though, I must say.
Great skiing for the time of year, especially with a midweek dump and
clear skies on Thursday.

Checking the apartment prices in the Residence De La Foret (where we
stayed), makes it seem like we could do it a heck of a lot cheaper next
year by booking direct and getting our own flights/transfer.

Is this feasible, or do the holiday companies just block book the
apartments, seeing as they can make such a (seemingly) massive profit?

John

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 13:31 +0100 (BST), (John)
wrote:

Just got back from our first ski trip in 10 years and our first with kids
(6 & 8). Self-catered in Flaine, which suited us just fine. Kids went to
ESI ski school for 3 hours in the morning, which gave us a chance to ski
alone. Not exactly 'English Speaking' instruction though, I must say.

I'm disappointed to hear that. Who was your instructor? And did you
complain?

Great skiing for the time of year, especially with a midweek dump and
clear skies on Thursday.

Same in Tignes, where I was. Good, wasn't it :-))

Checking the apartment prices in the Residence De La Foret (where we
stayed), makes it seem like we could do it a heck of a lot cheaper next
year by booking direct and getting our own flights/transfer.

Is this feasible, or do the holiday companies just block book the
apartments, seeing as they can make such a (seemingly) massive profit?

Yes, it is, and no, they don't. Booking direct (and online) is very
straightforward. I've done so on several occasions, with each of Home
International, Astrid and Renand. The only downside would be picking
up/dropping off keys at the former two, as they get very busy at peak
times. Best to avoid Saturday transfers (which is another advantage
available to self-bookers).

The question would really be whether you could match the cost of
flights, but booking in advance there are some really cheap fares
available from various uk airports to GVA, and the SkiClub have a
special rate with Swiss anyway (less than £100, I believe).

Or you could drive, of course.

--
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.

John wrote:


Is this feasible, or do the holiday companies just block book the
apartments, seeing as they can make such a (seemingly) massive profit?
Nope, it is feasible. In fact it is very easy as virtualy all
accomodation agencies (and tourist offices) have websites. Obviously you
need to consider the costs of flights and transfers too, but with budget
airlines and a rather distressed Swiss selling seats cheaply you should
be able to pick up cheap flights too.

I'm disappointed to hear that. Who was your instructor? And did you
complain?

I'd rather not name names, but the kids complained that they 'couldn't
understand a word he/she was saying'. We had difficulty communicating
adequately at the end of the lesson to find out what and how they'd been
doing. I didn't complain as I've just come to assume now that 'English
Speaking' means 'just about able to hold a conversation'.

Same in Tignes, where I was. Good, wasn't it :-))

It certainly was :-)

Yes, it is, and no, they don't. Booking direct (and online) is very
straightforward. I've done so on several occasions, with each of Home
International, Astrid and Renand. The only downside would be picking
up/dropping off keys at the former two, as they get very busy at peak
times. Best to avoid Saturday transfers (which is another advantage
available to self-bookers).

Don't the apartments tend to book out for week blocks though? I'd have
thought it was easier to get Sat-Sat than midweek-midweek.

The question would really be whether you could match the cost of
flights, but booking in advance there are some really cheap fares
available from various uk airports to GVA, and the SkiClub have a
special rate with Swiss anyway (less than £100, I believe).

Unless I'm mistaken somewhere along the line - the apt. we stayed in was
365 Euros for the week we were there this year, and our basic
package holiday cost started at 350 pounds per person, before 100 UKP
supplement per person, room supplements per person etc. etc. I can see a
lot of change from 2k UKP to organise flights and transfers etc. if the
apt. price really is that low and is available.

Or you could drive, of course.

I don't fancy driving IMA, the drive down wouldn't be too bad, but I don't
fancy the drive back after a week piste bashing ;-)

John

What's this 'Swiss' then? Swiss airlines by any chance?

John


In article ,
(Steve Haigh) wrote:

John wrote:


Is this feasible, or do the holiday companies just block book the
apartments, seeing as they can make such a (seemingly) massive profit?
Nope, it is feasible. In fact it is very easy as virtualy all
accomodation agencies (and tourist offices) have websites. Obviously
you need to consider the costs of flights and transfers too, but with
budget airlines and a rather distressed Swiss selling seats cheaply you
should be able to pick up cheap flights too.

"John" wrote in message
. ..
I'm disappointed to hear that. Who was your instructor? And did you
complain?

I'd rather not name names, but the kids complained that they 'couldn't
understand a word he/she was saying'. We had difficulty communicating
adequately at the end of the lesson to find out what and how they'd been
doing. I didn't complain as I've just come to assume now that 'English
Speaking' means 'just about able to hold a conversation'.

Same in Tignes, where I was. Good, wasn't it :-))

It certainly was :-)

Yes, it is, and no, they don't. Booking direct (and online) is very
straightforward. I've done so on several occasions, with each of Home
International, Astrid and Renand. The only downside would be picking
up/dropping off keys at the former two, as they get very busy at peak
times. Best to avoid Saturday transfers (which is another advantage
available to self-bookers).

Don't the apartments tend to book out for week blocks though? I'd have
thought it was easier to get Sat-Sat than midweek-midweek.

The question would really be whether you could match the cost of
flights, but booking in advance there are some really cheap fares
available from various uk airports to GVA, and the SkiClub have a
special rate with Swiss anyway (less than £100, I believe).

Unless I'm mistaken somewhere along the line - the apt. we stayed in was
365 Euros for the week we were there this year, and our basic
package holiday cost started at 350 pounds per person, before 100 UKP
supplement per person, room supplements per person etc. etc. I can see a
lot of change from 2k UKP to organise flights and transfers etc. if the
apt. price really is that low and is available.

Or you could drive, of course.

I don't fancy driving IMA, the drive down wouldn't be too bad, but I don't
fancy the drive back after a week piste bashing ;-)

John


In my experience the drive back is not so bad - the channel crossing seems
to be well placed to give you a break, the hour difference works in your
favour, the potential busy parts in France are encountered early and the
last part of the drive is in UK so not so stressful as finding your way in a
foreign resort on the wrong side of the road. FWIW I'd recommend breaking
the journey down with a cheap overnight stop in France and for the return
leave early and just go for it.


--
Paul Schofield

Time flies like an arrow
Fruit flies like a banana

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 14:43 +0100 (BST), (John)
wrote:

direct appt bookings in Flaine

Don't the apartments tend to book out for week blocks though? I'd have
thought it was easier to get Sat-Sat than midweek-midweek.

Easier, yes, but it's by no means difficult to find other dates, and
not just for whole weeks. Bookings from 4 days upward are not unusual.

--
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.

In my experience the drive back is not so bad - the channel crossing
seems
to be well placed to give you a break, the hour difference works in your
favour, the potential busy parts in France are encountered early and the
last part of the drive is in UK so not so stressful as finding your way
in a
foreign resort on the wrong side of the road. FWIW I'd recommend
breaking
the journey down with a cheap overnight stop in France and for the
return
leave early and just go for it.

Well, it's always a fall-back option if we can't arrange flights/transfers
anyway. Thanks.

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 14:43 +0100 (BST), (John)
wrote:

What's this 'Swiss' then? Swiss airlines by any chance?

I imagine so. They rebranded themselves from the previous Crossair and
Swissair to Swiss International Airlines a couple of years ago.

--
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.

In article ,
(Ace) wrote:

Easier, yes, but it's by no means difficult to find other dates, and
not just for whole weeks. Bookings from 4 days upward are not unusual.

Do you know when they tend to start bookings for the next year?

John