How to book ski holiday?

livecali

Want to book a ski holiday in early Jan for a group of beginners. I want to go to either Andorra or Austria but have no idea where to start looking. I have tried topflight and crystalski but packages are quite expensive. Would like to try booking flights and accommodation separately but not sure where to look? Also how do you hire equipment/get passes/lessons?

bovril

Andorra would probably be the cheaper of the two places you mentioned.
Have a look at the direct ski website too. I've booked with them before and have found them more reasonable than the other sites you mentioned. Direct Ski might still be more expensive than a DIY holiday though.

For a DIY holiday start with the website for the resort you are interested in. Use the Tour Operator websites for information the names of resorts if you don't know them yourself. On the resort website there is usually a section on how to arrive and that will tell you the airports you could use and it sometimes gives you info transfers needed. It should also have a link to accommodation and ski schools, gear rental and passes. At the very least there should be an e-mail address for the local tourist office which usually are very helpful if you send them a mail with your questions.

flikflak

Learning to ski can be expensive with both package and DIY trips.

Its because you have to factor in flight, transfer, acomm, equipment hire, tuition, lift pass, food and drinks. It can all add up no matter which way you book it.

For example Crystal seem to be doing a package whereby you get flight, transfer, ski hire (not boots), lift pass and accomm from €529. You would then need to add tuition as extra which seems to be 106 each and also boots at €6 per day. Total = €677

Now this price only seems to be for one resort and with 4 people sharing a studio. The price differs by resort, accomm type and date or departure.

If you were go the DIY route to the same country as above (Andorra) here is a rough guide based on going in low season (early Jan). Based on 6 people

Flight to Barcelona (you could also fly to Toulouse)
€130 plus €30 baggage = 160 with Aer Lingus

Transfer - €62 each - private bus http://www.hola-andorra.com/arinsal/english/novatelgb.html#private

Accomm - apartment in Soldeu for up to 6 people €134 each
http://www.homelidays.co.uk/soldeu/apartment-flat-58343en1.htm

Ski Hire - approx €90 (cant get an exact price yet) http://www.soldeu-andorra.com/ski-hire.php

Lift pass - €227 based on last season

Tuition - From €112

So for all that its €785 then you need to factor in food, drinks and entertainment.

Thats based on Andorra. You also said you were looking at Austria which will probably work out around the same price give or take €50 for one of the smaller resorts.

If you do your research, are a savvy traveller used to independant holidays then go for it. Ask lots of questions and be sure to get money from people before you book anything. Also remember should you get stuck on the bus due to bad weather on the way back from the airport and miss your flight you are up the creek. This does happen frequently in winter.

If you would prefer someone else to do all the hard work then go for a package the first time.

Check out the brouchures from TA`s for resorts that cater for beginners as this could help your decision on where to go. Also be aware that transfers to Andorra can take up to 4 hours.

livecali

Thanks for all the help!

Fiachra2

I would advise that if you are relativly new to skiing and if people in your group are new then go the package route. The hassle and potential pitfalls involved in doing it yourself outweigh the savings you make with a DIY trip.