How much should i expect to pay

[GoofyIsACow]

For a family of five to ski in February half term? Just 3/4 days would do.
I have never done it before but DC’s have had some lessons and DH has been once as a teenager.
Would love to go to Italy but not if it’s going to be much more expensive!
I have been reading lots if the threads in this section and there is some great advice so thank you!

Shoukd have said I have been looking at Sunweb as recommended by a friend, ski passes are included in the price.

Catered or self catering?? If you’ve been looking at Sunweb, then you’ll have an idea of prices.

Basically - skiing is not cheap
Holidays during school holidays are not cheap
Skiing holidays during school holidays are really not cheap!

As a couple with not children, DH and I got flights at really antisocial times and rented a studio flat - worked out about £500/week/person 12 years ago (Europe cheaper to get to, but US cheaper to stay in).

Sorry, posted too soon... I priced up DH, me and 2 DC, catered chalet, flights from Manchester, Feb halfterm etc and it was north of £6000. Think I looked at Italy, can’t remember if that included ski passes or lessons.

I don’t really know is the short answer, i look each year then we always book a summer holiday and skiing gets shelved for another year!
A friend goes with a big group and really rates catered chalets which they all share but with it being just five of us I didn’t think that would be an option as it sounds mega expensive!
Our summer holiday usually ends up being a huge amount due to the type of holidays we plan so that’s fine, I just have no idea what I’m doing, it seems like a whole other world to me!

Cross posted there sorry, i’ll have a look at catered chalets again i think it was chaletsdirect my friend mentioned

Thank you for that, I found some on Sunweb which were around £2k for the accommodation including passes but would need flights on top and gear (plus that was for 4 because i was struggling to find accommodation which would hold five, story of our lives!)

We've never managed to pay less than £6000-7000 for a week for a family of four in February half term. Possibly if you drive yourself over and book accommodation it might be cheaper though. It can be hard to go for less than a week during the February half term as it's such a busy time that everything is block booked by the big travel companies. Would you consider the Easter holidays? Much cheaper, however you have to pick your resort more carefully.

I would estimate £1500 per head. Also you may find in half term that you need to sign up for a full 5/6 day group ski school as it will be really busy and less flexible. Some resorts start lessons on Sunday, others Monday.

Self catering is the cheapest option. Still pricey for Feb half term - it's the most popular skiing week in the year! Go for a smaller less popular resort to cut costs.

We’ve done feb half term for 4 for about £4000 in 3 valleys by driving and self catering but didn’t need lessons. We usually book an apartment that would sleep 6. You’d struggle to book for less than a week at that time though.

We’ve stayed in some shit holes before as people’s budget was v.v.low. We’ve stayed like kings. You can do it for £2.5k according to my friend with 5, self drive, self cater, poor lift location outside a big name resort. Same snow though! We spending about £8k for 4 (I’m fussy now)

As teachers with children, we've always had to go at Feb half term (as I don't like going at Easter). We used to organise it ourselves and therefore manage it in the ballpark of £3K. That was by flying to Marseilles ( much cheaper than Geneva etc) and getting cheap snow-bus transfers (22E pp) up to one of the resorts such as Vars/Les Orres. We went with friends and stayed in a variety of self-catered apartments. We would eat out on the last night and either snack on the mountain for lunches or, if we had a ski in/ski out apt, pop back for bread and cheese. Lift prices in the Southern Alps are much cheaper than in the northern resorts, and ski hire is a tad less too. We did Ski School for the first few years, and one year with a fair few kids the same standard, found it was cheaper to hire a private instructor for them. After that, we stopped lessons (apart from the odd hour here and there to develop skills) and just all skiied together in a variety of group combinations, depending on numbers/ability/inclination.
Agree with the point about it being very hard to find less than a week at Feb half term, as it's so busy then. That said, some friends managed 4 days in Spain last year, (Mon-Thurs I think, flying to Barcelona) and getting something on an Air bnb equivalent.
We have a healthier budget nowadays, so have ventured up to the pricier northern Alps, but I have to say the trips aren't significantly better/nicer. The catered chalet in Meribel 2 years ago was great, but the weather was shite and the skiing no better than elsewhere. I love the almost guaranteed sunshine of further south - in 10 years I think I only ever skiied in two white-outs. The rest of the time it's been glorious sunshine and masses of snow (high resorts).

Thank you so much everyone, i think i am going to have to persuade DH to forego our summer holiday one year! Sounds like we can’t do both!

its doable for less money if you aren’t fussed about flashy accommodation, catered chalet with all the luxuries or exclusive resort. Snowsure is most important thing anyway and that’s always unpredictable. Over the years we’ve crammed two families into a small apartment with sofa bed for DC and it was fine, apart from sleep and shower you’re hardly in it anyway. We’ve booked own flights & doing SC air b&b chalet with friends this year and its really brought the cost down. there will be last minute offers too.

We always do separate flights and accommodation and as long as you're prepared to be flexible you can come in at around 4K catered even in half term. Ie. Non fancy accommodation, not ski in ski out etc. We've done it for that in Italy, France and Austria.

Goofy we pay 3k for three of us all included But we do not use a package holiday. I book everything myself. We stay in quite a pricey resort too. In italy. Pm me if you like

We've decided to pull the DC out of school for a week as even paying the fine will be cheaper.
2 adults, 2 children
Flights in half term -£3000
Flights the week before - £300
Accommodation in half term - £1500
Accommodation the week before - £700
School fine - £240
It's a 2 bed self catering apartment via the HomeAway app.

Lessons were the same whichever week. We have paid around £130 each for the DC. That's lessons for 4 hours a day, six days a week. But this particular ski school charged the same for 4, 5 or 6 days so the DC might do half days occasionally so that we can toboggan etc together. This included their equipment hire.
DH and I have a private instructor booked for three 2 hour sessions and have paid separately for our equipment. Can't remember offhand what that was.
Lift passes were about £500. Again, the same in term time and holidays.

We have spent money on clothing and equipment before going. Some new, some second hand. We've bought jackets, salopettes, gloves, socks, helmets and goggles.

Unlike other holidays we go on, this one is prettyu h all paid for before we go now, apart from food and drink. Usually we budget for activities and days out, but the skiing is the entertainment this time.

How old are the DC. If they're over 12 and classed as adults the price is more.

We have done it for £4k before but it took very careful planning and it was staying in a hotel where the DC went free under age 10.

Hi there,
Teachers here too - I’m telling you - being out priced for holidays and none of our family and friends ever wishing (can’t blame them!) in addition to the pressures of the job ha e really made us question changing careers. It sounds extreme but I can’t stand the the thought of my children growing up and have never have had the chance to holiday with their cousins or friends. It makes me so cross. Could I be cheeky? Could you let us know the names of the resorts the you found were cheaper in the past? Many thanks in advance

* ever wishing to join us that should have read

Easter is cheaper but less snow sure so you have to pick high resorts to be on the safer side. We did this the first year we went as a family.

Subsequent years, we went Feb HT. Be organised and book flights early for better prices. There will be no “bargains” for Feb HT other than a small discount for early booking/repeated customer loyalty.

Cheaper if self drive and Sc in an apartment a distance away from first lift. I SC in our summer hol but never for a ski holiday and I wouldn’t drive to ski only for 3 days unless I lived near the mountains! With young DC who are now teens, I’ve opted for the easiest - chalet board in prime location close to a lift.i pay for this though and budget £6k all in for a family of 4 (12+ so adult prices!).

Not going this year - house repairs and Y11 GCSEs so eager to definitely book for 2021.

agree with sansou. why not book for Easter this year (somewhere high and family/beginner friendly, more sunshine and its cheaper) then book well in advance for Feb half term 2021.

Easter is such a risk with the snow. Feb snow is perfect. Self drive is a no brainer really, hire a car and off you go without waiting for the transfer and taking ages. I agree on not being too far from the slopes or lift, with young children being as close as possible is a must. I would
Not want to rely on car or transport but with older children or teens a bit of a walk is ok. But self catering is def the way to go ime. So relaxing. And I don’t like cooking.

Flights must be booked in advance yes and ideally fri to sunday with a night in a b&b near the airport or en route - works £££ cheaper than a sat to sat flight. Tried and tested.

We drive, self cater and book apartments direct with resorts tourist offices - last season a week at half term and a week at Easter and averaged out it was just over £1k per head (family of 4, ds 9 &7) per week door to door so including everything tolls, hotels en-route, apartment, fuel, food, lift passes, spending money. This included €600 for the bizarrely expensive ski school at Easter. We're doing the same this year and it's cheaper so far as managed to book cheaper accom and tunnel crossings.

Hi. I agree with the Southern Alps trick via Marseilles. Also, I think about doing long weekends or Easter instead with kids. I recently wrote some tips on planning half term skiing if this is useful: skiyetimagic.co.uk/hlaf-term-ski-holiday-hacks-blog-post/