Who has booked for this season and where are you going?

[RhubarbFairy]

Thought I'd start a new thread to share excitement about getting back to the mountains.

We're off to Austria in exactly 33 days and none of us can wait. I'm perpetually excited about going, but as it draws closer even my husband keeps counting down now. Work is frantic for us both at the moment and we're both ready for the tranquility of the mountains and our only decision being where to stop for lunch.

Children have grown like weeds since our last trip though so new base layers, salopettes and jackets have been purchased. Husband grumbled that it was the 'hidden cost of skiing'.

We had Austria booked but back in September there were rumblings of validity of vaccinations and testing for lift use so moved it to Ruka in Finland and so excited to go in 29 days. So glad we moved it as Finland seems very straight forward 👍

Oh never thought of Finland! Have you been before?

Yes, off to Finland too. Just less than a month a way. Will be so disappointed if restrictions are brought in.

@Schulte Yes we’ve been before - going to Ruka which we loved last time. It’s a totally different vibe to Austria but we really enjoy it - cold, beautiful, more Nordic chill than Apres Techno!! But looking like we’ll get to which is all I care about!! @itsgonnabe Fingers Crossed!!

@SarBear1980 isn’t it dark most of the time though? And presumably much colder than in the Alps? Do you fly via Helsinki? I’m looking into it now as a plan B!

@Schulte It is darker, a beautiful blue light and slopes do open a bit later but there is night skiing too. With regards temperature it can have really cold -20 days but I was colder in Kaprun at the top of the glacier in the wind and colder in Tremblant than I’ve felt in Finland. We are going with Crystal and fly into Kuusamo which is only a 30min transfer to Ruka. It’s a small resort and apres isn’t the same but we love it just as much as Austria but in a different way. It’s one where you buy loads of duty free and snuggle in with a fire, movies and sauna.

Tbf, we don't do the après scene either so that sounds good to me. With two DC (10 and 8) and afternoon a busy day, we're all content to lounge around in onesies or PJ's with a trip to the pool and sauna for me if we can be bothered.

After not afternoon

We’re cancelling Austria for feb half term. Looks impossible for teenagers under 16 with only one jab.

No booking necessary - I live in a Swiss ski resort! 😜 Need to get the DS5 new skis & boots though as last year’s are too small. And I’ve ordered myself new cross country skis as I’d like to do more CC this season.

Just waiting for the snow now! Hope you all manage to make it to the slopes ⛷

We are supposed to be going to Austria for a week at Xmas, flying early on 24th, have been so looking forward to it, but not looking too good at the moment, I'm in a position where I'm not sure what to do, wait and see as they say it's only for 20 days, or cancel now before we have to pay the full amount!

@capercaillie agree...am gutted, think we will cancel too. So sad for them (& us) because they need the business - I thought at one point teens wld be allowed in with testing when there but that looks like it's not allowed now. Suppose other counties double dose teens

Thank you @SarBear1980, it does sound good. Definitely our plan B then!

To those worried about when to cancel Austria hols - if there is a lockdown and your accommodation is therefore closed then you should surely get a full refund. Not sure about flights but most airlines allow some form of rebooking at the moment.

I’ve got Austria booked too, but it’s for end Feb so not panicking just yet.

@bestbefore - it’s so sad. We would love to be going again. We weren’t keen on going with needing to test the teenagers but given current policy, they won’t get in - can’t see that changing in short-term

Val Claret, Tignes in January 🤞

France in January, Italy in February 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

@capercaillie

We’re cancelling Austria for feb half term. Looks impossible for teenagers under 16 with only one jab.

Everything considered I will be waiting for an update from the Austrian Government prior to or on 13th December regarding cancelling our Christmas trip.

It might be worth holding back on cancellation until at least the end of the current lockdown on December 13th. Possibly an announcement might be forthcoming at this time for 12 to 15 year olds.

“A solution is being worked on “

From Austria.info :-

Children under 12 years are currently exempt from entry rules; for minors between 12 and 15 years, a solution is being worked on (Exemption: In Vienna, children from the age of 6 require an entry test).

We're waiting it out. We'll lose the flight money if we cancel, so we need to see if the airline cancels for us.

Haven't told the DC there's a chance we won't go. They're so excited.

Keeping everything crossed for reopening on the 13th and all back on.

We’re booked to go to Austria over new yer and are really unsure what to do. DH is keen to cancel but DC (older teens so both double jabbed) are desperate to go. I’m really torn, even if we ‘can’ go I’m not sure whether we ‘should’.

Hotel can be cancelled until 14/12, flights can be changed (at a cost) but need to get on with booking parking, transfers, dog boarding etc if we’re going. Tempted to hold out until 13/12 to see what it’s like in Austria after look down before making a decision but it’s getting tight.

Same as you Card1gan . We are booked to go to Soll on 8th January . To complicate matters we live in Dublin but had an Easyjet voucher to use up so we go Dublin - Gatwick - Salzburg.
I can't find info about testing in Salzburg airport and I think our nearest test centre when in Soll is 12 k away .
We have 4 teens and 1 child and don't want to disappoint them but so many 'unknowns' and the uncertainty is really unsettling me. It's such an expensive holiday and such a treat but will it be spoiled by last minute restrictions, the worry of being stuck there etc.
One teen in university and the course is very fast moving and a younger in a state exam year .
Will be interested to know what you decide !

@FoodieToo have you made a decision? We made the decision last night to cancel our holiday. It's been the most likely outcome for a few weeks but we didn't want to admit defeat. Today was the last day to cancel the hotel and get our deposit back so had to make the call. We're holding out on the flights with Jet2 in the hope that they are cancelled so we can get a refund, we'll lose that money if we cancel now.

I'm gutted and have not admitted defeat to the children yet as they will be so disappointed. However, it is the right thing for us to do because of the current situation.

Ah sorry to hear that, Card1gan. We cancelled on Friday . Very disappointing the second year in a row.
I have neither the heart nor the energy to reschedule.
It's a pain in the ass!

@FoodieToo sounds like the conversations in your house were very similar to ours. We too are cancelling for the second year and are thoroughly fed up by the lack of excitement over Christmas/New Year. Not even going to think about booking anything far away but may, if restrictions aren't in place, book a few days away in this country to give us something to do.

We'll see, not in the mood right now...

Sorry for everyone who's had to cancel plans.

Hopefully better news for us.

We've finally managed to get my DD12 her Italian Green Pass! DS16 has had his second vaccine and it's in the app and Italy have just announced no change to rules, valid till 31st Jan, except it's 24 hours for the antigen test.

Starting to get a little bit excited that we may yet see in Hogmanay on the slopes!