Skiers urged to grab late snow bargains
With prices and snowflakes both tumbling downwards over the past few months 2012 has been one of the best ski seasons for decades. And it’s not over yet, according to Directski.com.
With six more departure weekends left until the company’s last flight of the season Directski.com has dropped late season prices right down to just £178pp for a week in a ski apartment in France, with flights and transfers, and is offering savings of up to £250pp of published prices.
Directski.com’s Neal Collins said “this is the best season for a very long time. Skiers usually worry about high prices, expensive extras or worse even than that, no snow! But this year there’s been such excellent snowfall and some very competitive pricing that it really is a fantastic time to ski, particularly for beginners as prices are low enough to try out something new.
We have consistently kept our prices on average £54 per holiday cheaper than Crystal Ski’s and have ensured that we’ve It’s this level of competitiveness between the tour operators that is making this one of the best times to ski for years and skiers should make the most of that”.
Pick of the late season ski deals:-
MERIBEL, FRANCE : Departing on 24th March Directski.com has a week’s ski holiday in the French resort of Brides le Bains, with access to Meribel and the 3 Valleys, for £178pp, saving £170pp, including return flights from Gatwick or Manchester and accommodation at the Residence Cybele apartments in the village centre, based on 4 sharing.
SOLL, AUSTRIA : Save £296pp off a week’s skiing in the top Austrian resort of Soll where Directski.com has a week’s ski holiday for £259pp, departing from Gatwick and Manchester on 24th March and including self-catering accommodation in the Schindlhaus Apartments in the centre of the resort, based on 4 sharing, return flights and transfers.
Reasons to ski late season
The slopes are much quieter in March and April, many Europeans holiday in January and February, resulting in less queuing for lifts, ski equipment and ski buses.
Many resorts have end of season ski parties, livening up the atmosphere and bringing top names in music and entertainment usually free of charge.
Ski holiday companies know how many holidays they have left to sell to meet their targets and are prepared to discount their remaining weeks. The price reductions now will be as high as any time throughout the season and don’t get better than they are now.
March and April are much warmer months, this year the snow is here to stay, but there’s nothing better than skiing in the spring sunshine and sitting on sheepskin lined deck-chairs in the sun.
Easter holiday skiing is much less busy than Christmas and February half term yet many British families don’t realise that the snow often lasts right into May, it’s nowhere near as icy and Easter is one of the nicest times to ski.
There’s an `end of term’ feeling in resorts with everyone as another season draws to a close, with lots of bargains in the ski hire shops and sales making it a good time to rent or buy equipment too.
The pick of the end of season ski parties
Avoriaz, France: Festival de Concert Sauvages - 24th March - 28th March 2012
From the 24th – 28th March 2012, the major French ski-sports resort of Portes du Soleil will hold the second ever Festival de Concert Sauvages (Great Outdoors Music Festival), for totally free! This unique ‘ski-music’ festival will bring in some of the top up-and-coming international and French headliners to front 20 'secret' gigs at undisclosed, ski-to mountain side locations, all accessible with the ski lift pass. Portes du Soleil ski passes double as the entrance tickets to the concerts. SMS text messages will then announce the location of these secret gigs shortly before the live events take place.
For more information visit en.rockthepistes.com/free-concerts-ski.html.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the 3* Residence Douchka departing on the 24th March 2012 for £341 per person (was £501pp), saving £160pp, including return flights from Gatwick and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
Chamonix, France: The Winter Sessions: 30th - 31st March 2012
Fondly known to keen skiers as ‘The Weekender’, Chamonix’s three-day Winter Sessions party combines art and snow-sports along with music from top international DJs, MCs and bands, all set beneath the astounding resort of Mont Blanc. The snow fueled music festival is split into concerts that are played across eight assorted venues around the mountain over the two day period. Expect wild parties until dawn and the top international DJs and artists to blow out the season in style.
For more information visit wintersessions.net.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the French resort of Chamonix, in the 3* La Riviere apartments departing on the 24th March 2012 for £217 per person (was £437pp), saving £220pp, including return flights from Gatwick and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
Mayrhofen, Austria: The Altitude Comedy Festival, 26th-31st March 2012
From 26th March – 31st March 2012, the Austrian ski resort of Mayrhofen will be holding this years annual ‘Altitude Comedy Festival’ as part of its season closure. One of the most unique winter festivals, Altitude will be held across a variety of different venues offering live stand up comedy (including Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Ed Byrne, Michael Winslow, Phil Jupitus, Tim Minchin and Al Murray), live music & DJs, slope style events, big air competitions, snowball fights, giant slalom races and even three legged races!
For more information visit altitudefestival.com.
Directski.com has a week’s B&B stay at Pension Honserhof in the Austrian resort of Mayrhofen, departing on the 24th March for £276 per person (was £472pp), saving £196pp, including return flights from Gatwick and Manchester and transfers, based on 2 sharing.
Avoriaz, France: Avoriaz Jazz Up Festival 2012, 31st March - 6th April 2012
If the thought of big end of season parties and colossal live music concerts isn’t your cup of tea then the Jazz Up Festival in France’s Avoriaz resort might just be for you. Taking place from the 31st March – 6th April and now in its 4th year, the Jazz Up Festival will hold over 40 dinner concerts during the week, 4 larger concerts taking place in the festival hall as well as numerous jazz themes events throughout the week with a whole host of jazz performers from around the world.
For more information visit avoriaz.com/ski-holidays/398_avoriaz-jazz-up-festival.php.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the French resort of Avoriaz, in the 3* Saskia-La-Falaise departing on the 31st March 2012 for £594 per person (was £744), saving £150pp, including return flights from Gatwick and transfers, based on 4 sharing.