Half-term skiing - in the States or cheap european site ?

Decadent_Fool

I'm after a bit of advice, and hoping that I can get some help here (please)

My party is 3 adults and 1 child, and we're all looking to learn to ski or snowboard. We had initially looked at Bulgaria, and then Poland, however I'm keen if possible to make the most of the weak dollar and book somewhere direct in the States.

However, been a newbie to skiing, I've no experience of either cheap Europe or the US. I would book independantly if going to the US, as this would surely make more use of my bucks ? (and not see the tour operator make more profit instead!)

Would cheap Europe with a tour operator end up the same as a weak dollar US ?

Thanks in advance.

mjr600

There is no such thing as a cheap ski holiday no matter if you go to the US or Europe.

West Coast USA Banff etc is generally considered the best place to ski, Stowe/Killington on the East Coast. The ski passes in America are often very expensive compared to Europe so its swings and roundabouts and flights often cost more.

I suggest Europe as your best bet to start, stick with a tour operator for the first couple of years and get ready to take kids out of school for a week to get the deals and book well in advance for the free childs places.

Can I suggest you forget boarding, learn to ski properly, anyone over 25 on a board looks a right £$%%£ and you'll spend less time on your bum.

Its late in the day to get a discounted holiday when the schools are off at this point, expect to pay through the nose and consider these rough costs on top of your holiday price.

Suitable Clothing Per Person - No less than £120

Ski/Boot/Pole Hire Per Person - No less than £90

One weeks ski pass per person - No less than £100

Lessons !!!!!!!!! - No less than £100 in a group, more for private

This is what I suggest........

Find out if you like skiing before you commit a couple of grand for a weeks holiday. Locate a dry outdoor or indoor wet slope near to your house, book a few lessons and then decide if you want to become a skiing family. BE WARNED it becomes an expensive addiction if you take to it.

If you like it and can do the basics after UK lessons, DONT book lessons on holiday. Find the nursery slope and keep an eye out for the groups who are having lessons. Watch them like a hawk, copy what they do and if you are in anyway capable you will progress faster. When we began after a week we could tackle the intermediate runs whilst the ski classes were still on the nursery slopes and we saved all the cash :-) Cheeky but so what !!££!!

After you first holiday you might want to buy your own skis, boots and poles, expect a bill of no less than £300 each for these in total. In the long run you'll save on hire bills.

I can comment on France, Austria and the USA and would suggest any of the resorts would be good for you, maybe Kaprun in Austria as a starter. Its small, it has a glacier so the snows a given if you go early, lots of easy slopes and the prices are favourable.

Friends have been to Eastern Europe with mixed views, poor food, unfriendly locals, Soviet style buildings but great skiing and good prices.

Hope that helps.

One final thing, I went to the Ski-Snowboard show in Manchester on Sunday, there was one holiday company who seemed to offer good prices on all inclusive deals in France https://www.mgsski.com . Don't know if they're any good but the prices seem fine.

lynn44

I have just booked from bournemouth to Italy for 2 adults 2 children mid Jan 3* plus half board for £1005.. we have our own ski's and board brought from charity shops and ebay ski wear purchased from aldi £40 on its 3rd season now... ski boots still in france from last year thanks to airtours.... we were offered usa for £249 pp but been told it could be minus 30 !!

Decadent_Fool

Thanks for the posts, both of you.

mjr600, you've given me a lot to think about, and I can appreciate entirely that it can become an expensive addiction; my passion is scuba diving which isn't cheap either !

Sue_S

Hi

When my children were younger and we were tied to half-term we always went to New Hampshire on the US east coast. Flights were about the same price as they would have been to Europe and we used to rent a huge condo which was absolute luxury compared to ski apartments in Europe which are tiny.

As beginners we were more than happy to ski at some of the lesser known resorts e.g. Ragged Mountain, Tenney Mountain, King Pine (try looking at www.skinh.com). I also used to ski at the mountain where there was an offer on that day, for example Ragged used to do a 2-for-1 offer on a Tuesday.

I bought our ski clothes ex-rental as I didn't want to buy expensive gear and then find that we didn't like skiiing (no chance, we're all addicts now!).

We used to fly with Virgin and found every year (for 4 consecutive years) that we were offered a bump as the Friday before February half-term is when loads of the schools go on ski trips and they can't bump any of the school groups. If you're lucky you'll only have to pay for one trip and go free every year after that :beer:

Good luck!

Pica_pica

loydx wrote: »

Hi

I found a couple of sites that seemed ok. They seemed to link to others but I got an ok deal. the first was www.skicheapfrance.com

the other was for the USA. I presume they are run by the same people. I didn't book on this one but the site is www.skicheapusa.com

there were some good deals. Its worth a look.

Lloyd

Spammer, don't click on his link. He's making money from an affiliate program AND had the cheek to have a little pop at me?!

BACK OFF PAUL, go find another site to spam.