It’s the third year in a row that the Easter holidays look like they’ll see more snow in resort than the Christmas and New Year holidays did.
That, travel agents and tour operators are telling us, is having an effect on our booking patterns, particularly with Easter ski breaks generally costing less than in winter too.
So more of us are booking our main ski trip at Easter, which means availability is being booked up more quickly and inevitably prices for remaining availability are driven up.
*** Scroll down for current Easter deals we’ve been made aware of ***
Other factors include the news from the courts that the government looks set to win its case to force parents to only take their children skiing in school holiday time means the chink of light for families hoping to save money by travelling in term time seems likely to be extinguished.
“The big theme for Easter is the huge numbers of former Xmas and New Year skiers transferring to Easter, after 3 years of late snow at the start of the season. Peak date skiers are often families who have no choice but to ski in school holidays, and the sunny conditions in April often suit children better than the wilder cold of the early season. You can’t beat T-shirt skiing!”
says Richard Sinclair who runs the successful snow holiday specialist travel agency sno.co.uk
When Are The 2017 Easter Holidays?
The main Easter fortnight for English schools runs from the 1st April with Easter itself at the end of the holiday on Sunday 16th.
Scottish schools are more likely to be on holiday starting a week later around 8th April and run until the 23rd.
In terms of how busy (and thus expensive) each of these three weeks will be, the most “peak” of the two weeks is the first one, commencing Saturday 1st April, and the following week commencing 8th is slightly cheaper, with the third cheaper still.
“This shift in demand from early to late season trips has moved the prices a little but Easter remains better value than the February Half Term, because it’s not quite as snow sure,” says Richard, “The biggest message we’re sharing to look after our customers, is not to wait for a late deal anymore at Easter – it’s so popular now that the only things left will often be in the lower resorts, or with accom-only/self-drive as the flights start to run out.”
Where To Go?
In April, as in December, you are travelling at what is normally one of the ends of the ski season so the advice is normally to aim high in altitude or in latitude.
Conditions can always vary at any time of the season of course and whilst at most areas in Europe 2016-17 has so far not been one of the snowiest, we may get a full blast of winter and huge snowfalls in March (or April). But do have a good chance of good snow on an April ski holiday looks for ski areas that are (largely) above 1800m.
What To Expect
If you have not skied in April before you should be in for a treat.
Longer daylight hours and a more relaxed atmosphere is the norm. Slopes are usually less crowded, in resort prices are typically lower and if it’s a warm sunny day you may choose to end your skiing mid-afternoon, take a long lunch then enjoy some other activity in the long daylight hours of the late afternoon and evening.
Easter Deals
£400 Off A Catered Chalet Week in St Anton
Crystal are offering a week’s catered* accommodation at the finest Chalet Regina in St Anton, Austria, from £579 per person (two sharing; save £400pp) including flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and transfers (price given is for departure on 8 April 2017). *Catering includes: cooked breakfast, afternoon tea and cake, evening meals and free wine. Direct flights also available from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and Stansted
£200 off in Snowsure Tignes
Inghams is offering a seven night holiday on a catered board basis (including buffet breakfasts, afternoon tea and cake and five-course evening meals with complimentary wine for six days) at the three-diamond Chalet Hotel Le Dome in Tignes, France, from £799 per person, based on two sharing. Price represents a saving of £200 per person and includes return flights from London Gatwick and airport transfers. The package is valid for travel departing on 1st April 2017.
15% off Easter skiing in Sainte Foy
Peak Retreats is offering 15% off an Easter peak week (from 1st April) departure week to St Foy in the French Alps when you booked before 12/03/2017. The holiday is 7 nights self-catered at 4* self-catered apartments La Ruitor from £233pp (was £274pp).
Le Ruitor is located in a quiet neighbourhood 600m from the lifts, offering great views of the valley and resort, Peak Retreats report, adding that the property has a traditional chalet structure with contemporary standards of comfort, plus an indoor heated pool and spa facilities.
Save £215pp in Morzine
Flexiski’s ‘The Retreat’ chalet is located in Le Lavanchy, just a few minutes from Morzine and the Portes-du-Soleil ski region in France vand just one hour from Geneva airport.
Flexiski are offering a four-night stay in The Retreat from £815 per person (saving £215 per person) on a chalet-catered basis (including buffet breakfast with an optional hot dish, afternoon tea, pre-dinner drinks and canapés as well as a four-course evening meal with wine). Price also includes return flights from London, airport transfers and a twice daily private shuttle bus to and from the ski lifts. Departs 12th April 2017
Take the Family to Les Gets this April with Esprit Ski
Esprit Ski is offering the Chalet Monet in Les Gets, consistently rated as one of the friendliest resorts in the French Alps, from £905pp over the main Easter week from 02/04/17. This centrally located chalet is 4 minutes’ walk from the nearest piste and boasts an outdoor spa bath and sauna as well as a home cinema. This price is based on a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children 2-10) from £3615 and includes return flights from Heathrow to Geneva, transfers and seven nights chalet catered accommodation including buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and a 4 course evening meal with complimentary wine.
