If there’s one message that is coming out loud and clear from the ski industry this year, it is that skiers are looking for better value for money, both in terms of the cost of their package, and in resort.
Operators have responded by keeping prices in line with, or below, last winter – Mark Warner’s prices are up to 20% down year on year.
Although operators say bookings have been sluggish so far, the fact that the big boys have cut capacity by 12%-15% means that peak weeks are also likely to sell out faster than last year, and early bookers will get the best deals.
New destinations
Lapland continues to increase in popularity, especially among clients who want more than skiing. Inghams has added the resort of Salla, which offers a host of activities including reindeer rides, husky dog-sledding, snowmobiling and ice fishing.
Bulgaria is also tipped to do well with budget-conscious Brits. New developments for 2009/10 include the four-star Vihren Palace spa hotel in Bansko, featured by Inghams.
New ski-in ski-out accommodation in Canada’s Revelstoke has prompted Ski Dream to feature the west coast resort, as well as Sugarbush in Vermont, for the first time.
Crystal Ski has added the sprawling US resort of Mammoth in Sierra Nevada, an area with a good snow record and runs for all abilities. It has also added La Toussuire in France – part of Les Sybelles ski area – the quiet village of Itter in Austria, and Hinterglemm, which has easy access to the Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang ski area.
Special offers
Crystal Ski has launched Ski Plus packages at selected hotels, which include lift passes and ski hire in addition to flights, transfers and accommodation.
Inghams has new all-inclusive ski packages to Slovakia, Andorra and Romania including lift pass, equipment hire, tuition and half-board accommodation. In many resorts, it is offering free lift passes, free ski hire and two-for-one on ski and snowboard lessons.
P&V is offering one free night at Christmas and Easter so clients who book for eight nights pay for seven. Clients who book before October 31 get a 10%-15% discount on most December, January and March dates.
First Choice Ski has a number of special offers in its second-edition brochure including new incentives for families such as free child places in selected accommodation, and free lift passes for children in more than 50 resorts.
First Choice’s Winter Saver packages include flights, half-board in three- or four-star properties, lift pass, ski and boot hire, or ski carriage, starting from £449, in January and March 2010.
Thomson is offering free lift passes for children in more than 60 resorts, and free child places on every departure.
Also new is discounted ski or snowboard lessons at the Chill Factor in Manchester and the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
Ski Total has 16 Crunch Buster deals including a £150 per couple cash-back offer, two-for-one adult ski hire, and one in five free group places.
Neilson is offering discounts of up to £150 per person plus £100 per person off ski packs, including equipment hire, tuition and lift passes, on all bookings made in September.
New flights for winter 2009/10
Inghams has new flights to Berne in Switzerland from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham.
For the French Alps, Crystal has added a service from Belfast to Grenoble, doubled the number of its flights from Stansted to Chambery, and added a third flight from Gatwick to Chambery.
Bmibaby is introducing a new route to Grenoble on October 25, operating twice a week from East Midlands, Birmingham and Cardiff, plus once a week from Manchester.
Neilson has launched a new charter from Gatwick to Fagernes in Norway, and new flights from Bristol and East Midlands to Sofia, Bulgaria.
Flybe is launching weekly flights to Geneva this winter from Norwich, flying every Saturday from December 19 until March 10 next year, offering access to nearby resorts such as St Moritz and Grindelwald.
