| It has been a funny old year. Recession hit the UK, | | | | season approaches. |
| the pound crashed against the Euro, holidays in the | | | | Because the news of these chalet cuts have yet to |
| Eurozone became a lot more expensive for Brits, and | | | | filter through to all the smaller chalet operators and |
| the Alps received some of the best snowfall for 25 | | | | owner run chalet operations, prices at the moment |
| years, with the season opening in style in November | | | | tend to be comparable with last year, or in some |
| and continuing with fantastic conditions until the end | | | | cases even cheaper. However, as the season |
| of April. So a bit of a mixed bag for British skiers - | | | | approaches and it becomes clear that it is a seller's |
| great snow conditions vs expensive European | | | | market, prices for remaining weeks and beds are |
| holidays. | | | | predicted to rise sharply. At the moment, there are |
| It wasn't all bad news however. The sheer number | | | | still some good deals to be found for next winter, |
| of catered chalets available coupled with a significant | | | | even for the New Year and half term weeks. The |
| drop in clients booking early meant that there were a | | | | shrewd skiers are booking now. Says Liz of |
| lot of amazing deals available as increasingly | | | | independent ski holiday portal, All Mountain Holidays; |
| desperate chalet operators dropped their prices in an | | | | "Many people think that the thing to do this year is |
| attempt to fill their beds. | | | | to book late. However, traffic on our site is currently |
| With an uncertain climate still prevailing throughout | | | | high, and most of the quality chalets are already |
| the British Isles, and based on what happened last | | | | booked for Christmas, New Year and half term. For |
| year, skiers would be forgiven for thinking that the | | | | many chalet owners, Easter is also selling fast. I think |
| best thing to do for 2009/2010 would be to wait until | | | | it is going to come as quite a shock to people who |
| the last minute, and try and get a reduced deal. | | | | leave it until the autumn to book a ski holiday during |
| However, if you are serious about your skiing, that | | | | the school holidays - there will be very little |
| could prove to be a mistake. | | | | availability, and what will be left will be phenomenally |
| Based on the poor performance of many chalets | | | | expensive. Even the non school holiday weeks are |
| during the winter 08/09 season, many chalet | | | | going to suffer price rises as the season approaches |
| operators have dramatically reduced the number of | | | | and availability becomes more limited." |
| chalets they will be operating. In simple terms, this | | | | In order to avoid disappointment next winter, if you |
| means that there won't be enough chalets to go | | | | can afford to, get a deposit down on your 2009 |
| around, especially during the peak weeks. Demand is | | | | 2010 ski holiday as soon as possible. If you leave it |
| predicted to massively outstrip supply which could | | | | too late, you may find that there isn't much choice! |
| result in price rises of between 10-30 % as the | | | | |