Cheap first skiing holiday

[shivs1974]

I'm trying to work out whether or not we can afford to go for our first skiing trip next year. Looking at max £2k budget...to include flights, transfers, ski/boot hire & lift passes.
Restricted to school holidays...as dh is a teacher.

Am I mad? Is it possible? Was looking at cheaper places...Andorra? Or someone else? Can anyone help/ offer tips or tell me that I'm deluded?

How many of you are there?

Are you happy to go self catering in slightly cramped accommodation?

Will you need ski school or can you already ski?

Sorry for the delay in replying...there'll be 4 of us. 3 complete beginners so will need ski school...and I haven't skied for 15 yrs so I'll need it too.

Kind of okay about cramped accommodation...not ideal but our budget isn't huge so I'm realistic! And okay with self catering too...

Hmmm ok. It depends on how much you're willing to chance it really.

If you're willing to leave it last minute, you can quite often get heavily discounted chalet holidays as they want to fill the last places. These can come down to 300 ish each for accom, food and flights/transfers (but you have to be not fussy). Ski hire, lessons and lift pass would be extra though, as would lunch, but I think you could still come in under the 500 each mark.

However... school holidays less likely to have last minute deals... though they do exist. How long are Dh's holidays? Could you do the week before christmas, or the week after new year? as these are less popular.

If not willing to chance it... Andorra, or some of the smaller/less known resorts in Austria would be your best bet, in a self catering apartment.

I definitely think it's possible - just may take some hunting! and some discipline while you are there ie don't have lunch in mountain restaurants.

That's really helpful...dh works in a state school so we're restricted to full on proper peak holidays :-(
I guess we'll have to chance last minute and not tell the children....otherwise they'll be ridiculously excited & we'll be skint!!

Ah, ok well if you go the last minute route I recommend Ski Solutions and Alpine Answers, they have lots of good last minute deals on chalets, and can give you an idea of which are the pricey resorts too.

The major ski companies (neilson, crystal etc) will offer apartments - discounts are rarer but they definitely do happen.

If you go at Easter make sure you go somewhere with access to a high ski area! High ski resorts can be pricey but you can save money by staying in the lower, better value resort and taking the cable car up every day.. for example ski in Avoriaz but stay in Morzine.

Thank you, thank you! Lots of really helpful advice. Will start looking and making some options...ready to see if we can bag a bargain later on.

Have you looked at Bulgaria? I went there a few years ago and it was significantly cheaper than when I had gone to France.

I hadn't but will do...I kind of knew that France and the usual old school places would be out...unless I win the lottery....imagine!

There are some lovely smaller French resorts that would be great for beginners and not too expensive. Somewhere like Puy St Vincent for example might be worth you looking at. Let me know if you want some more info?

We have stayed at the Four Seasons chalet in Samokov close to Borovets in Bulgaria and had a fantastic affordable holiday with excellent service. It has all five stars as well. I would really recommend it. They are also doing lots of work on beginner plus slopes this summer to add more snow cannons for the coming season.

Thank you all. I found a chalet which looked good in Bulgaria but once we added in flights (£200 each), ski hire & pass (£200 each) and lessons (£100 each), we were well over budget. Boo hoo! I'll have a look at the other suggestions but think we will have to curtail skiing for a little while and save up some more...

www.sunshineworldpoland.com/html/february_half_term_skiing_snowboarding_holiday_special_offer.php

Found this for you :)

Oh thank you. I'll have a look when I'm on my PC as I can't see the link on my phone. Thank you x

Any joy? I am pricing up skiing for a group of us to go next year. Major operators are coming in at £3k all in for self catering, and about £3.5k for half board.

This is more expensive than our usual DIY trips... If you drive, rent a small flat out of main resort - might get something fir £350 ish. I think £2k might be achievable.... But it is undoubtedly more hassle. Also avoid trendy big name resorts. Google places like Reallon....tiny, but you will save on lift passes and coffees.

I've been to borovets aswell. There wasn't much snow this year (feb) so a few of the runs were closed, and the slopes were quite icey.
I also thought the snowboarding school was crap (someone took pity on me and gave me a few tips because the teachers just couldn't be arsed)

I would also look at www.odalys-vacances.com

I've been at the Valmeinier Residence (Lumieres de neige) a few times - basic, but some weeks are dirt cheap. You could book a separate ski school there. It's quite a good resort as well.

Use Balkan Holidays for Bulgaria holidays rather than doing it all individually, it works out much cheaper and the lessons are a reasonable quality. They are cheap and cheerful but perfect for beginners who don't want to spend a fortune. It'd also be worth pricing Andorra through Crystal or Neilson. X

Agree with minipie that if willing to leave until the last minute, you'll definitely get something. Esprit always seem to have good deals for families at the very last minute and to France rather than some of the much smaller places.

www.espritski.com/