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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£800 for a week's skiing in Andorra?

30 replies

Sallster · 22/11/2012 09:28

DH came home last night and announced that DSS had "signed himself up" for the School Ski Trip. £800 for a week? In Andorra? Not even flying but going by ferry and coach??!!!! Now I've skiied all over Europe and in Andorra and I know it's one of the cheaper options, so is this about normal for a school ski trip? OK it is half term and I know it subsidises staff and parents who get to go for free go along to look after the little darlings, but this seems extortionate - even with ski school, equipment hire, lift pass and meals. £800?!!!! Luckily his Mum will have to pay half, but even so. Is this about the going rate?!!

OP posts:
Rugbycomet · 22/11/2012 09:29

Does this include all food, lift passes, insurance etc???

Rugbycomet · 22/11/2012 09:30

Oopsss...sorry just re read and have seen that it does include the above. I think it's probably about the going rate tbh.

Original poster
Sallster · 22/11/2012 09:35

Jeez. Well all I can say is I hope he's not expecting another fortnight in Florida in the Summer cos that aint gonna happen!

I guess it seems a lot because it's all included, but I was gobsmacked. I've done 2 weeks in the French Alps for less!!

OP posts:
ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 22/11/2012 09:37

Normally I would say that was extortionate but add in the magic phrase "February half term" and you have your answer. It's he worst week to ski of the year.

Hydrophilic · 22/11/2012 09:40

Sorry, he's "signed himself up"? Without asking? How old is he? If he can save up to pay for that from a Saturday job, fine. If not, I would be telling him he's not going. How cheeky to just presume that you can go.

Original poster
Sallster · 22/11/2012 09:48

He's just turned 13, so no Saturday job!! Wouldn't occur to him to ask or to check first, because DH and Ex don't deny him much. I said the same thing - "how's he going to pay for that then?"

At this stage I think (hope) it's just an expression of interest, and all the pupils who have "signed up" get put into a hat and it's luck of the draw as to who gets to go. Fingers crossed he doesn't get picked. And 'fessing up I'm probably just jealous because I can't afford to go this year!!! Wink

OP posts:
GilbGeekette · 22/11/2012 09:56

DD (Y10) is having 5 days in Venice in May half term with school at a cost of £750. They're flying mind you. Eldest DD did skiing in Feb half term to Austria (via coach) a few years ago and it was about the same. Them's the breaks with school trips.

DD's school offer trips to the aforementioned Venice, as well as Barcelona, Berlin, skiing somewhere and New York! We said she could go on one (not New York at a cost of £1500) that we'd pay for but she was to think very seriously about saving money from her allowance/Xmas/birthday for spending money (which she has done).

I'm Envy 'cos I'd love to go to Venice!

MaryBS · 22/11/2012 10:00

Still not sure how he signed himself up? DD is also just 13 and I have to give parental permission for her to blow her nose! (Well, perhaps not quite that bad :o). She certainly can't sign herself up for school trips!

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 22/11/2012 10:02

The price sounds about right to me. It's nice that your DH and his ex are willing to pay that for him to go.

carabos · 22/11/2012 10:03

Agree with Mary - at DS's school you couldn't do that without the letter from home. However, you have an easy get out, which is to ring up school and ensure that he doesn't get picked in the draw. tell them its very sensitive and that's the best solution to save his feelings.

mamhaf · 22/11/2012 10:11

Andorra isn't that cheap any more, a bit less than the French Alps but not significantly so.

That is about the going rate rate which is why our DC have never gone ..it"s better value to go as a family if you all ski and not subsidise the teachers' ski trip

Original poster
Sallster · 22/11/2012 10:13

It's not that I don't want him to go really, it's just that it seemed very expensive to me. I haven't been involved in discussions around the prices of previous field trips to the Isle of Wight etc. so had no idea if this is "normal" for a school trip - sounds like it is. HOpefully if he goes and loves it, it give us no excuse not to then go as a family at some point!

OP posts:
DragonMamma · 22/11/2012 10:13

Bloody hell. That is expensive for a school trip.

Our school ran a skiing trip to Canada for £800 (which was around 12years ago).

I told my mum 'everybody is going' and had a hissy fit because she refused to send me as we all could have gone away for a bit more money. Got to school the following day and only a handful actual ended up going because all the other parents were of the same mindset.

This was the day of Teletext holidays and pesatas though

CHOOGIRL · 22/11/2012 10:13

DD (Y2) Easter 1/2 term Italy £900 4* hotel. Everything is included, ski passes, lessons, meals, activities, equipment hire. Parents can go too. Works out way cheaper than if we were to book and go as a family. We get a letter home and parents have to sign up.

squeakytoy · 22/11/2012 10:27

I would tell him to unsign himself off it, if he hasnt even asked permission to go with his parents.

School trips these days seem ridiculous to me. They are ludicrously expensive and completely unnecessary for the purpose of education.

My stepkids didnt get to go on them. They got a summer holiday each year and that was their lot.

talkingnonsense · 22/11/2012 12:30

That's actually cheap for a school ski trip in half term- even going my coach. The insurance is astronomical. Also, the staff going wont be subsidised, they will be paying! All ski trips here seem to be just over £1000 ( state schools).

Original poster
Sallster · 23/11/2012 15:30

Appears I was slightly mislead by DH's turn of phrase. When he said DSS had "signed himself up" what he meant to say was that ExW had signed DSS up having first e'mailed DH to check he was happy to pay half the costs....

I did think it odd!

OP posts:
cumfy · 23/11/2012 15:36

Probably paying for the teachers to go at a discount.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 23/11/2012 15:39

Yeah, sponging bastards. Fancy wanting to accompany a school trip and possibly enjoy themselves at the same time.

Original poster
Sallster · 23/11/2012 15:43

Rather them than me! Taking a group of 13 year olds to Andorra on a coach... imagine the smell....

OP posts:
AlmostAHipster · 23/11/2012 15:44

The price sounds about standard to me. PFB went one year and it was £700 odd. Five years later P2ndB had her trip and it was £750ish.

P3rdB is due to go in 18 months and I've not started saving up yet - eek!

soverylucky · 23/11/2012 15:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Sallster · 23/11/2012 15:54

As I mentioned - it's not that I don't want him to go, just that I wanted to check the price was about average. Seems it is Shock

OP posts:
NotQuintAtAllOhNo · 23/11/2012 15:58

I guess it depends.....

My neighbours son has to pay £350 for the same, but they are going for 5 days, and not during half term.

His sister, who went to an independent, would have had to fork out 3k for a week skiing in France, had she gone.

BackforGood · 23/11/2012 16:04

Agree with others - this sounds about right to me.
dd2 is going with the Scouts in 15months time and that's going to be £750. When each of the older two had their turn on the Scouts trip, it was quite a bit cheaper than the school trip they were offered in the same year IYSWIM, so £800 is at least what they are going to pay I'm afraid.