What does a half term week skiing in France cost?

[egbok]

Last year we did a last minute long weekend at Morzine with the kids (4 and 6) skiing for the first time and liked it well enough to consider going back to do it for a full week. I'm just not sure if we can afford it.

So roughly how much should I expect to pay for a week's skiing/accomadation (we'll drive) during half term in france, thinking Morzine/Les Gets? We don't need childcare, but the kids should have lessons and we're happy to ski together in the afternoon. Also is there anything we could do to reduce the cost?

Thanks!

[AHappyMum]

Hi Egbok,

I was just browsing the unread messages and saw yours, and thought, this is one i can answer - my DH and I actually run a catered chalet company in Les Gets!

Re the cost, that week is THE most expensive week. It's hard because you're tied to school hols, but if you can go at Xmas it'd prop be a bit cheaper (though the snow is less sure then). And Easter would be cheaper still. Per person rates will be in the region of £600-700, but this should include your food, breakfast, afternoon tea and 3 or 4 course evening meal, or high tea for kids), accomm and transfers. You should get a discount for your children too, paying 20-50% of the adult price.

To save money, if transfers are included in the price of your holiday then you should be able to get money off. Ski hire and lessons and passes are all pricey - ?150 for an adult pass, a bit less for adult ski and boot hire, and the lessons for 5 mornings are I think about ?130.

You may find that places are already booked for half term - people reserve spaces in chalets reeeeally early. It might be worth thinking about going self catered. I'm not sure about prices, but the Les Gets website will have some info on this:

www.lesgets.com/en/votre-hebergement/index.html

Unfortunately, skiing is an expensive holiday, and even more so for families... it's great fun though, isn't it?!

[greygirl]

i think you can reduce your costs by:
driving (as you said)
going somewhere small, and non-france (eg bulgaria, italy andorra but it depends on how old your kids are as to whether they can have lessons)
self catering may be cheaper (depending on how much you eat out and what you cook)
booking early - half term is expensive and popular, so the cheap places may have gone, but it's worth looking to see, especially if you don't mind where you go. consider easter as it is cheaper, and warmer.
we like snow bizz but i think they will be booked up for half term by now, but you it's worth a shot, and they do a big discount for drivers.

and yes skiing is so good i take a very cheap holiday in the summer to allow me to pay for it - i am currently trying to persuade DH to take me away for a long weekend without kids as a birthday pressie.

[Dru77]

My half term Snow Bizz holiday is still up for grabs!

[fedupwithdeployment]

Go to a small "untrendy" resort, drive and stay perhaps out of the main resort area.

I was in Les Orres last year (we go there a lot) and while there were few English people there, the ones I spoke to all said they were there because it was so much cheaper than the 3 valleys etc. And it is a great resort, lots going on and 88km of piste.

We have a house nearby, but it is busy at half term.

Also think about Easter, not half term. It is lots warmer, so eating picnics /cheap sandwiches outside is a lot more feasible than at Christmas when it is freezing and you end up in pricey restaurants.

[Alpinechildcare]

Definitely go at Easter. It's warmer, much cheaper, the slopes are quieter, and the snow is always as good as at Feb.

My husband runs a catered chalet too, so I've just asked him and he says for a family of 4 at easter it should be around £3000 for catered accom, ski hire, passes and getting there.

Hope that's helpful.

PS: I always recommend the train to France changing in Paris. If you book in advance it's about £100 each and means less faffing around with transfers, luggage etc and is usually quicker than flying if you take into account hanging around time.