Beginner Skiing

Oisin4

So I'm seriously considering booking a ski holiday for me (15) and a family of six others, all adults.
I would like to go for about a week at the end of next December and I'm still a bit clueless as to what to do?
I went on directski and saw a few packages around €300 and I thought that was great but it didn't include a lift pass, is a lift pass needed if all of us would be getting lessons? (Only one of us has skied before)
I don't mind going to France/Austria all that's needed is a good bit of snow

sheesh

lift pass probably better to buy it yourself online as you will get it at slightly better price some hotels will have deals for lift pass and ski hire so keep an eye out for them too.

Oisin4

And where online would be the best place to book or should I go to a travel agent?

AMKC

Skiing is great fun. Have done it myself and loved every minute of it. Austria is a lovely country to go to and not too expensive either. Andorra and Italy are also very nice too and reasonable priced too. Its worth shopping around and seeing what deals are out there and checking out a few resorts before you decide. If you can get the ski passes online then yes they should work out cheaper that way and will be less hassle and time wasted when you do get to your Ski resort. Just make sure the website you are on is genuine and not fake. Look for the s after the http in the website address at the top of the page when paying for it for instance. Make sure the Anti-Virus and Malware software on your computer is up to date and you should be ok.

Oisin4

Is a travel agent the best bet or directski? And what time of year is best to book for say, next January?

Overflow

Direct Ski is a travel agent / tour operator. You cant really buy ski passes online, cheaper or otherwise.

You just have to buy it when you get there, you mostly like wont get any price reduction on it.
If you do go through a travel agent and they say they will get you the lift pass cheaper, then the travel agent its taking the loss on the pass and passing the saving to you.

You have to have a lift pass for your ski lessons.

Hard to say when the best time to go is, conditions vary every year.
Check out http://www.igluski.com/snow-history to get an idea, but its not a guarantee.

I like to cut out the middle man (travel agents) and book my self. Just make sure you do it early, say August/September.
I would go with Austria for your first time, excellent ski resorts, short airport transfer times and reasonable prices for food, drink etc.

Saalbach would be my recommendation for your first time, you wont be disappointed !
Ryanair and Aerlingus both fly to Salzburg and you can find accommodation on their website: www.saalbach.com
You can sort out your lessons, ski hire and lift passes when you get there, no need to book in advance and there are tons of options in the town.

sheesh

Depends where you are going really each ski area will have its own website and you can purchase the ski pass online from them and collect it from the office when you get there.

Oisin4

Thanks is it possible to get the lot for around €650pp?

hawkwind23

Firstly you need somewhere that offers a lot more than skiing.
Its a large mixed group and whilst skiing is the focus you are going to need some sort of nightlife etc.
snow isnt a major concern , as your all beginners then the machines will be plenty.

Pick an area first based on its location and entertainment.
Then its easy enough , price up flights , then hotels , apartments etc.
Once you get that sorted then its a matter of ski passes and rental.
Since your the one sorting it all out it might be worth contacting TOPFLIGHT for groups , they will give you a "free" holiday for a certain amount going and it takes all the pressure off as they sort everything out.

Have you considered Zakopane in Poland?
Its perfect for beginners and is a beautiful village in the mountains with a wealth of bars and restaurants etc.
Big bonus is that its cheap! We go each year for €500 , that includes everything including eating all meals out and drinking
and we drink and eat a lot

AlternateID

You're 15 and it's a group of 7 right? I wouldn't be counting on discounts or free holidays. It's not a particularly large group.

If you are looking at typical destinations like Austria, France and so on you'd be onto a winner if it were €650 per person. Average lift price is about €160 is Austria going up to €230 in Zillertal. Lessons could be around €160 for 4hrs a day for 5 days. That's just a guesstimate. Rental, flights, transfers, accommodation all cost and that's before you buy a drink, lunch or dinner.

I've been half board with an operator for around €650 but there's still lift pass, rental and lessons on top.

Perhaps Hawk could tell us more about Poland.

fannymagee

There's a post somewhere in the Soll thread where I've priced it all up, and all the details you'd need for booking are in the first post. Fair play to you, I hope my son is as organised when he's 15! Good luck, and enjoy!

Oisin4

hawkwind23 wrote: »

snow isnt a major concern , as your all beginners then the machines will be plenty.

I have a small obsession with snow so its kind of a must

Fattes

I think most TO's do group discounts once you reach 12 people. Depending on the resort package and hotel you book, all in it will range from €600-1,000 for your average package holiday to Austria, France or Italy. Including ski rental, lift passes and hotel and half board or B&B. In Austria budget €8-15 a day for lunch on the hill ( spaghetti Bolognese & coffee/ beer)Resorts like Mayrhofen, Flaine Tignes, Souzen Deux Livignio will all offer an excellent spread of skiing. And other activities. Best conditions for snow and weather is generally March, alpine blue skies and good snow depths.

Direct ski use the same hotels, packages and reps as Topflight but with cheaper rates as it's a different pricing model

Lift pass will average about €170 depending on resort some will do cheaper passes for just beginner areas but if you improve quickly you will need a pass with wider access

You can get taster lessons at both Ski club of Ireland and the Ski centre Sandyford. It will give you a good idea of what you are in for. Ski gear can be acquired cheaply in TK Maxx.

hawkwind23

Oisin4 wrote: »

I have a small obsession with snow so its kind of a must

We all have that obsession
Been looking at webcams and long range forecasts for months lol
sorry i misread your post , thought it was a party of 15 , but its you thats 15
Fair play to ya for sorting it all out!
You wanna make it a good un so they all go every year so pick carefully.
What about Italy? Plenty of good restaurants and bars for the folks to be entertained at nights.

Pick a few resorts you think your party would like and the good folk here will give you loads of advice on each of them.

My advice is to pick somewhere has the "winter-wonderland" feel with loads of good restaurants and bars with the onus on value for money.
Youll get the holiday every year then

dzer2

Hi O4,

It really depends on what you want.

Half board, B&b or self catering
Hotel, apt or B&B
In the Last 2 weeks you could fly to Austria with Direct ski for 250 euro per person. That included flights, Transfers and accom. for a party of 4.
You would be a little out of town and need all the rest then.
We struck a deal with the ski school this yr. as we had 6 at the one level and it was low season.
If you go to Austria check out intersport for ski hire as they give discounts for online hire up to 20%.
Most ski resorts allow online booking of ski passes on their websites but have to be collected when you arrive.
Most important that the people travelling are passionate about skiing and will ski every day. All you need is one bored person mooching around to feck up the atmosphere.

If You want any tips to the places we have being to send on a PM.

hawkwind23

Perhaps Hawk could tell us more about Poland.


I learned to ski here and it was picture perfect , like something out of a Xmas card
Ive went back at least twice a year since, I just like the place, hiking in summer and skiing in winter.

Priced up like this.

Flights £60 return (Belfast)
Transfers £10 return (bus)
double room with breakfast £80 (pp)
list pass £70 (7days in Bialka Tatzrskanka)
ski hire £30 (week)

total - £250

pints are £1.20 on the slopes
pizza £2
3 course meal in a quality restaurant £10

sheesh

hawkwind23 wrote: »

Perhaps Hawk could tell us more about Poland.


I learned to ski here and it was picture perfect , like something out of a Xmas card
Ive went back at least twice a year since, I just like the place, hiking in summer and skiing in winter.

Priced up like this.

Flights £60 return (Belfast)
Transfers £10 return (bus)
double room with breakfast £80 (pp)
list pass £70 (7days in Bialka Tatzrskanka)
ski hire £30 (week)

total - £250

pints are £1.20 on the slopes
pizza £2
3 course meal in a quality restaurant £10

where is this????????????!!!!!!!!!

sorry found it

hawkwind23

sheesh wrote: »

where is this????????????!!!!!!!!!

sorry found it

english site

http://www.bialkatatrzanska-info.com/skiing.html

webcams etc on main site

http://www.bialkatatrzanska.pl/

some more info

http://discoverzakopane.com/kasprowy_wierch.html

Oisin4

Hold on, my mom just told me I'm going skiing with my uncle and cousins in Foppolo, Italy on the 25th of February!!!

fannymagee

You sure she's not sending you to stay with your auntie & uncle in Bel Air?!

Oisin4

fannymagee wrote: »

You sure she's not sending you to stay with your auntie & uncle in Bel Air?!

Yup I didn't believe her for a while but she assured me it wasn't some sick joke :P