A specialist ski holiday operator is reporting what they say are some of the best Christmas week deals they’ve seen, but others say they’re already almost booked up and that as usual it’s the weeks before Christmas that offer some of the best deals, you just need to be wary of ensuring you go somewhere high altitude where good snow cover is most likely.
“The best-priced week in almost all resorts right now is the first week of Jan, departing Saturday 6th but the real headline right now is how undersold Xmas week is, with some of the best prices I’ve seen in years popping up. There’s always a bit of a snow gamble skiing in December, but the high resorts are still confident of opening by end of November, so a Christmas ski holiday is a pretty safe bet in places like Val Thorens and Tignes,” says Richard from SNO holidays.
The main Christmas week starts on Saturday 23rd December for most holiday packages so there is not the issue some years of Christmas and New Year’s days, or eves, falling on a transfer day, which sometimes puts skiers off booking and drives prices down.
However the mainstream media did focus on poor snow cover at low elevation resorts last December, failing to note that cover was average or better above 1800m, so that may be a factor. However others are warning that they’re actually almost booked up that week.
“We are 95% full for Christmas week already, however we are doing a BOGOF (buy one get one free) deal on lift passes for the week before, from 16th December,” says Mountain Heaven boss Nick Williams.
Ski travel agency Iglu Ski say that they are currently seeing varied demand for Christmas ski holidays from day to day and say they believe that most who would be likely to book the festive period are currently on their summer holidays. They believe that more consistent demand will become apparent during September and note that Christmas week will always rank in the top five most popular departures dates.
“Whilst there are a few offers available now for Christmas, this is a very popular date for skiing. Groups and families should book soon to secure the ski trip that most closely suits the party’s needs,” said igluski.com’s Simon McIntyre.
Ski Beat, one of the UK’s largest package ski chalet companies with 48 fully catered chalets, in six high altitude resorts demand is as high as ever for peak dates with many guests re-booking as soon as they return home from their previous season’s ski holiday.
“This year Christmas Day falls on a Monday by which time, our guests will have had time to settle in, ski on Christmas Eve, and wake up for a full day’s skiing on the 25th, while chalet staff prepare a full, festive four course Christmas Day Dinner, starting with canapes and champagne, and including crackers, a decorated tree and the chance to swap presents around a roaring log fire,” says Ski Beat’s Sales & Marketing director, Laura Hazell, who continued, “According to government figures, the average Brit spends over £1000 on Christmas, including entertaining, socialising, presents, food and drink. Bearing in mind that a week stay in a catered Ski Beat chalet in the Alps, includes three course restaurant quality evening meals, with wine, all travel, accommodation and breakfast, costs around the same. It’s really about where and how you want to spend Christmas.”
Image above credit: Andy-Mettler-and-swiss-image
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