The Year of Quality Overall, the market is slower than last year but quality is selling well. There is strong demand for the top-of-the-range chalets in the leading resorts. Quality 4* and 5* hotels are also much sought after, particularly for Christmas and the New Year. Group bookings are at a record level which reflects the attractive early booking incentives.
Satellite Resorts Budget conscious skiers are targeting lesser known resorts with direct ski lift links serving the Port de Soleil and Trois Vallées. They are telling us they prefer to maintain the quality of their accommodation even if it means moving to a new resort. In the Portes du Soleil, Les Gets (for families) and Avoriaz (for boarders and freestylers) are selling well. In the Trois Vallées areas like Les Menuires and the lower 1650 and 1550 levels of Courchevel are seeing strong sales.
Christmas and New Year The majority of skiers traditionally hold back booking for Christmas and the New Year until the first serious snow falls. This year is no different and there is good availability at all price levels in most resorts. The only exception is for large groups looking to take over an entire chalet. Currently there are very few low price deals but more are expected in the next few weeks.
Easter Easter is very late - Easter Sunday is April 24 - so most schools have brought their holidays forward. As a result, the peak weekends with be April 2/3 and April 9/10. Inevitably, these have been selling fast and quality hotel and chalet accommodation in the top resorts is already at a premium. People planning to ski after the school holidays will have to head to the higher resorts to be sure of good snow so places like Obergurgl in Austria and Avoriaz in France are especially popular and organisers of larger groups will soon find it difficult to get their ideal accommodation.
Favourite Resorts Current top sellers are Val d’Isere (luxury), Les Arcs and Val Thorens (value-for-money), and Pas de la Casa and Livigno (budget).
Current Top Deals
Christmas A week at the Chalet Nemone, in Val Thorens, departing 20th December for 7 nts chalet board (breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner with wine on 6 nights) and flights and transfers from London Gatwick costs from £680 per person. This is a saving of £60 per person on the original price. WAS £740 NOW £680
New Year A week at the Chalet Champs Avalins, in Val d’Isere, departing 26th December for 7 nts chalet board (breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner with wine on 6 nights) and flights and transfers from London Gatwick costs from £873 per person. This is a saving of £28 per person on the original price and also includes buy-one-get-one-free ski & boot hire! WAS £901 NOW £873
Luxury A week at the Chalet Klosters, in Val d’Isere, departing 9th January for 7 nts chalet board (breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner with wine on 6 nights) and flights and transfers from London Gatwick costs from £779 per person. This is a saving of £100 per person. WAS £879 NOW £779 Budget A week at the Pepi Gabl Hotel, in St Anton, departing 29th January for 7 nts Bed & Breakfast (Buffet Breakfast, Half Board available at a supplement of £23pppn) and flights and transfers from London Gatwick costs from £429 per person. This is a saving of £220 per person on the original price. WAS £649 NOW £429