UK Chalet Operator Slashes Half Term Prices as Demand Slumps
5th December 2024
Last modified on December 9th, 2024
Chalets1066 that has 50 properties in Les Gets in France is cutting prices by up to 20% as British skiers appear to shun some low level resorts.
It is the first time the operator has cut its prices in the peak season week.
Chalets1066 is the largest independent chalet operator in Les Gets and is reducing its prices by an average of 20% over the winter half-term school holiday week that runs from Saturday February 15th to 22nd.
In the past the half-term week has completely sold out every year by November.
“We have never seen anything like it,” said the managing director of Chalets1066, Mark Nathan.
“There’s a lot of pressure on families financially right now and we understand a skiing holiday isn’t cheap, it’s a luxury.
“We want to sell our chalets over this period and the decision to reduce our pricing by a significant amount was not taken lightly.”
Les Gets, France. Image © PlanetSKI
According to data from the Ski Club of Great Britain the new No1 reason for people choosing their resort is altitude.
It used to be the size of the ski area.
Climate change, and concerns about it, is undoubtedly impacting ski resorts with worries about adequate snow cover.
Les Gets, 1,176m, and its surrounding areas have had some bad periods in recent years, and some have clashed with one of the main holiday periods.
PlanetSKI was in Les Gets/Morzine at the beginning of March last season.
It was not a pretty sight at the base of the ski area in Morzine.
Morzine, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Morzine, France. Image © PlanetSKI
But at higher altitude in the linked area of Avoriaz conditions were good with full snow cover and excellent skiing.
Avoriaz, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Avoriaz, France. Image © PlanetSKI
We took an in-depth look at how resorts react to limited snow and what the experience is actually like:
The previous year in 2023 there was another lean spell over New Year in Les Gets/Morzine with rain washing away much of the snow.
PlanetSKI arrived shortly after in January and it bucketed down with snow.
Morzine. Image © PlanetSKI
Morzine. Image © PlanetSKI
In short it is very hard to generalise about snow conditions, as has always been the case.
Other accommodation providers in Les Gets report a different picture from Chalets1066.
“Speaking on behalf of other accommodation providers in Les Gets/Morzine, I can say that demand is up, pre-bookings are great and the snow forecast for the beginning of the season is looking awesome,” said Chris Chapman on the PlanetSKI Facebook page.
Other companies from the area have added their voice.
“I think perhaps a more global investigation would have been better, with Alpichalets – Chalets Management & Conceirge in Les Gets we have been fully booked for Feb half term for a while,” said Constey Ben.
“The claim they are fully booked for the French is not correct looking at their site. Perhaps their lack of bookings is due to other factors….or perhaps this is just a rather lame advert for their business. Not a good look for their owners however….”
There has been reaction from further afield in France.
“Speaking from Meribel, there is no slump here. Bookings up on previous seasons. Across the entire season, not just peak school holiday weeks,” said Mathe Wiggett.
But there is no argument that some British skiers, rightly or wrongly, are looking at altitude as a major factor in their choice of resort.
It seems the French take a different view.
“We have sold out over the week of February 22 with the Paris holidays, the French have booked up,” added Mark Nathan from Chalets1066.
Hence the reductions:
- Chalet Celine, with 4 bedrooms and sleeping 8 people, is available for €3,930, reduced from €4,870 – a 20% discount.
- Chalet Valérie (luxury), featuring 4 bedrooms and sleeping 8 guests, is now offered at €8,130, down from €9,570 – a 15% saving.
- Chalet Mahana, with 4 bedrooms and accommodating 8 people, is priced at €4,820, reduced from €5,670 – a 15% reduction.
Chalet Celine, Les Gets. Image c/o Chalets1066.
For more information and to book with Chalets1066, visit: chalets1066.com
The winter has got off to a good start at altitude in the Alps, but there remains little snow lower down.
This is to be expected at the beginning of December and completely normal, though some are beginning to be concerned.
Overall it seems to be a mixed picture with sales by the UK operators.
One leading operator has said to PlanetSKI that “sales are pretty average”.
Crystal Ski Holidays claims in a press release that it has been “a great start to the year”.
The high-altitude resorts are seeing the most interest from British skiers, but Chalet1066 claims this is not necessary.
“We always have good snow cover in February,” added Mark Nathan.
“We know there’s a feeling that Les Gets isn’t a high altitude resort but when you look at its snow record, and number of skiing days, it is very successful and the middle of February always has good snow cover with runs down to the village open.
“We think people are choosing to go high, but in the middle of February we don’t understand why you need to.
“We always have snow in February and then when you look at pricing in higher altitude resorts, there’s a huge premium on it, but it’s not necessary.”
Les Gets, France. Image c/o PlanetSKI
A recent long-term study concluded there has been 34% less snow in the Alps over the past 100 years.
The results come from a study coordinated by Eurac Research and were published in the International Journal of Climatology.
The threat and impact to skiing from climate change makes the mainstream media with news of a little-known and small resort in France, Alpe du Grand Serre, closing was widely reported last October.
We covered it on PlanetSKI:
In fact the resort has been thrown a life-line and is now open for next winter, but that has not been widely reported as it does quite fit the news narrative.
Here at PlanetSKI we will be keeping an eye on conditions in Les Gets, and other resorts, across the winter and reporting as accurately as we can.
Here is the current situation as the season gets underway:
Lets hope the current conditions at altitude head lower shortly.
Tignes, France. Image c/o PlanetSKI
Gurgl. Image c/o PlanetSKI
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