Booking it all separately rather than package deal?

[OhCobblers]

We normally use Crystal or similar but the price keeps going up by quite a lot so looking at a self drive trip in March.

Would love some guidance on estimated costs. Driving to Tignes (destination confirmed) and trying to secure an Air BnB for family of 4.

Is there a way to secure a good ski pass price and is it a case of pricing up a few different companies for ski rental/boot price etc ?

Would love to know if I'm missing a trick anywhere?!

We do self-drive to Tignes and have always booked a self-catering apartment via an agency in the resort - the agency also gave us a 10% discount on ski passes last year. The service charges for Airbnb are quite high which always put me off using them. Our apartment last year was £400 for a week in March and included a covered parking space (which came with the apartment - we usually book parking separately). Dh and I have own skis and boots but have used Precision Ski for dc's ski hire in the past - booking in advance is always cheaper. Make sure you book covered parking in advance too - check the height restrictions though.

One thing I've noticed is that accommodation prices are creeping up in Tignes - I think it's an attempt to lure people away from Val d'Isere; there's suddenly a lot of high end accommodation being built there, the cheaper places we've used in the past have closed and are being refurbished, no doubt to re-open at much higher prices.

Try and take advantage of skiing on the day you arrive if possible. We drive to Chambery or Albertville the day before and stop there overnight. We then get up early and drive up to Tignes, getting there about 8.30, put the car in the carpark, collect the skis for the dc and are on the slopes by about 10. We then go to the agency about 4 pm to collect keys and check in. If you buy a 6 day pass you get the 7th day free so makes it a bit more cost-effective; again, lift pass prices have gone up hugely since COVID, and the family discounts have been discontinued.

We’ve done both, and I prefer to do it ourselves rather than book a package.

We book everything separately and hire a car, it seems to make the holiday better as we can go where we want when we want.

You can get quotes for ski hire, sometimes if you book through the hotel you can get a discount. We have found a good offer this year, a hotel that we’ve stayed at regularly do offers on different weeks, and the week we want to go, they’re able to give us a discounted lift pass.

Can’t help with costs about driving to France sorry, we’re flying to Austria.

Can't comment on your destination but if it's feasible, try and book 2 elements together so it becomes a package and is ATOL protected. I usually tack airport parking onto the flight booking just for this.

@stringbean
Thanks for this. Would you mind messaging me the agency info you used for accommodation? Thanks

We usually drive and DIY but not in Tignes. I sometimes use an agent like Sunweb or Peak Retreats, that bundle accommodation with eurotunnel crossing and/or lift passes, for the ATOL protection. I sometimes just book the accommodation via the resort tourist office or direct with the apartment company (such as Pierre et Vacances, MMV or CGH).

Ski hire I book online, via snowrental or similar, usually for a good price.

I use a motorway tag for the tolls, saves a bit of faff at the booths but doesn't really save any money. Via Michelin will give you route options and an idea of fuel and toll costs. I like to split the drive over 2 days, but partly because I have young children.

Have sent you a PM

Have been organisning it myself for the last 30 years ! It's easy .
Just go on to Crystal or wherever and pick your hotel .
Then just book your hotel directly.
Flights easy , transfers easy. Hotel will help you with buying lift passes and booking gear but again this is no hassle at all.
We are a large family ( 5 kids/ teens ) and save thousands every year doing this.

We drive to Tignes 4 times a season, driving costs are around around £150 for payages, then petrol and a hotel is you’re breaking up the journey. Stock up on food at Super U or Lidl down in Bourg as the Sherpa/ carrefour montagne prices are outrageous. Fine for a top up here and there but you want your main shop down the hill.

Pass and prices are what they are, no better deals around. Where in Tignes will you be based? Have always found booking ski hire with precision ski online really reasonable.

It’s worth checking booking.com for apartments as well as air bnb, my parents regularly rent one from there in our block. Standards of apartments are mixed, everyone is going through and renovating currently so some will be much more expensive and modern or just a classic dated ski apartment for much less (which I really don’t mind).

Also make sure you have snow chains and know how to fit them before you go! Also an old pair of gloves in the chain bag for putting them on if necessary.

@FoodieToo who do you use for transfers from the airport please? Quotes I've seen are horrendous!

Try booking.com for apartments v air b and b. You don’t have the high fees via there. If you also find apartment on booking you can often find them independently by looking up name and it might be cheaper to book directly.

Prices of ski lift passes have rocketed everywhere though this year (it’s €60 a day at our local this year)

Hi , we use different operators as we are usually in different places.
I shop around and get the best quote I can .
Also ask your accommodation to check out prices for you . Sometimes they get better rates .
Obviously fly as close as possible to keep costs down .
Usually get private transfers but getting the train this year as flying to Munich and travelling down to St. Johann am Pongau.

It’s probably cheaper to hire a car for 4 of you, than book 4 separate transfers.

We only hired a car once . If you’re staying near the ski area you just don’t use the car at all . So you’re simpler using it from airport to resort and back . And it’s hassle with waiting to collect , snow chains etc .

@FoodieToo - unless you are directly in a ski resort I would say the opposite. We live 15 mins from nearest ski resort, and couldn’t cope without a car. If someone rented a place here it would costs around 1/2 or less what it would if you stayed in resort directly. So to get a cheaper ski holiday it makes far more sense to privately rent somewhere a short drive away, and hire a car.

You also then have option of skiing in different resorts if they aren’t connected. again we are in the middle of around 12 resorts. All 15-45mins away. So you can choose to ski. In different places some days (all on same ski pass)

Of course it nice to stay directly in a hotel that’s ski in ski out, but that’s not the cheaper option