Where to Ski And Snowboard - Savings for half term skiers

Savings for half term skiers

2nd June 2011, by Chris Gill

Families looking to take a winter sports holiday during half term next February will find it cheaper than last season, especially if they book now.

Booking your holiday early may not always get you the best discounts, but there are exceptions.

The February half-term is one of the most expensive and sought after weeks of the winter season. But next winter there is an advantage to British families: it falls outside the busiest week in France, meaning that tour operators can offer their accommodation at much cheaper prices than on the same week last year.

And due to its popularity, those cheaper peak week prices are unlikely to be offered later in the season. Lagrange’s accommodation prices are between £100 and £400 less for the week commencing 11 February 2012, than they were for the equivalent half-term week last season - which ran from 19-26 February.

With preview brochures out now, and bookings open, key dates are already selling fast. Lagrange specialises in French apartment holidays and some example comparisons if you are hesitating over securing your family holiday are:

A two-bedroom apartment in Les Chalets Edelweiss in La Plagne 1800 is on offer for £1880, compared with £2295 last year. A similar apartment in Les Fermes de Samoens, in Samoens (Grand Massif ski area) is now £1125 - the equivalent half-term holiday last year was £1420.

Lagrange has also announced that bookings for next season have begun a month earlier than last year. So keep an eye on their website as accommodation is uploaded.

Ski Collection has also cut prices on the equivalent holidays. For example, seven nights departing on 11 February 2012, staying in a two-bedroom apartment in La Rosiere is now £257pp - a saving of £32pp and including a FlexiPlus Eurotunnel crossing.

Elsewhere, Inghams is offering lower prices until June, but there are also discounts on child ski packs and free child places. And they have 21 more chalets to choose from next winter.

Many of Le Ski’s smaller chalets are fully booked for half-term, particularly in Courchevel; but there is plenty of availability on the others.

Most of these deals run until the main brochures are released, and if our recent poll is anything to go by then almost 40% of people visiting our website plan to book their winter trips during the summer – earlier than might be expected.