Odd mix of resorts I know, but they’re places we’ve never been before and we like to make sure that we blog about the small resorts as well as the large ones!

Problem is finding self catering accommodation this early on, all the tourist agencies are saying wait until June, but we’d like to get it sorted asap. So….. does anyone know of any (cheapish) accommodation available for 6 (3 bedrooms). When I say cheapish I just mean not luxury, I appreciate New Year isn’t the cheapest time to go! Also flexible dates would be good as we’d like a Monday to Monday, which I notice a lot of tour operators are doing over the Christmas / New Year period so I’m hoping may be possible.

If you can help, can you please leave me a comment and I’ll get in touch.

Thanks
Liz

If you usually book a catered chalet, it pays to think again. Why, oh why, would you shell out what amounts to the best part of £1000 for a family of four – excluding flights – when you can stay in a self-catering apartment in the same resort for around £450?

Opt for a catered chalet and by the time you factor in kids’ ski lessons, childcare, lunches and snacks out, and the cost of family lift passes and ski hire the average bill for a week in the French Alps totals a hefty £3000.

While there’s no denying that skiing is an expensive passion and the Euro exchange rate shows little sign of turning in our favour right now, it’s still possible to get a fantastic and affordable family holiday in the French Alps.

Follow our top tips for bargain family ski breaks….

1. Book well advance to take advantage of early bird offers and deals.
2. Research the best deals on self-catering apartments in the resorts of your choice. You’ll need a comfortable apartment with a fully-equipped kitchen and situated near the shops and main facilities of the resort.
3. Make sure your ski residence it is ski in/ski out – this not only makes your holiday more relaxing and convenient but means you can easily head back to your apartment for lunch rather than spend big bucks at the cafes. Ski in ski out apartments are also great if you’re travelling with little ones who will need naps and play breaks.
4. Weigh up the cost of the cheapest flight you can find versus taking your own car. Driving also means you can take prepared meals and basic supplies and foodstuffs which will also shave pounds off the food bill.
5. Don’t get stung by expensive ski hire and ski passes in resort – book your passes and buy your ski kit online before you go. UK ski websites such as Ski Republic discounts and 2-for-1 deals.
6. Go with a gang. Taking a ski holiday with friends who also have kids that are of a similar age to yours not only means that the little ones have playmates but allows you to share the childcare. Book adjoining apartments, take it in turns to have an evening out and you’ll all avoid pricey childcare bills.
7. Feast for less. If you plan simple but hearty evening meal, such as pasta or risotto, and plump for vin ordinaire, there’s no reason why shopping in resort supermarkets should cost you more than your weekly food shop at home. The trick is to come up with a meal plan and shop well.
8. Stop for lunch. Remember there’s a reason why the ski cafes and restaurants charge sky-high prices. If you get hungry at 3000ft, you don’t have much choice do you?! You’ll save even more money if you eat lunch at your self-catering apartment as well preparing your own breakfasts and most of your evening meals.
9. Put your spending money on plastic. Not your credit but a pre-paid currency card. Load your card with Euros before you go and you’ll get the very best exchange rate and avoid hidden charges and commission fees. Caxton FX offers one of the best rates on the market.
10. Roam free. Don’t run up expensive mobile phone bills while on holiday. If your network charges you extra for roaming and punitive rates for calls abroad, buy a local SIM card for your mobile phone. Alternatively take some walkie talkies and you’ll be able to stay connected across the resort and ski area.

We recommend P&V Holidays for booking self catering accommodation, they have a wide a choice of self-catering apartments in all the leading resorts in the French Alps, including the family friendly resorts of Meribel, La Plagne, and Avoriaz. Most of the residences are ski in ski out and all feature fully-equipped kitchens and cooking facilities.

Courchevel (1850) Les Ecrins Apartment from 575euros per week for a 4 person apartment

To make your holiday cash go even further, P&V has just announced that it will be extending its hugely popular ‘Eurobuster’ offer to include the winter ski season – giving at least 15 percent off all properties on all dates over the winter period, including the school holidays, Christmas and New Year. This will be launched on the P&V website on the 1st October 2009. The Eurobuster deal can also be combined with any other P&V deal currently on offer, including the 20% early booking discount, leading to savings of up to 35% on your winter ski holiday.

Visit PV Holidays for further information and all the latest deals. To get the additional “Eurobuster” 15% off any property just use the code 8258, this is on top of any discount already applied to the property – bargainous we think!

PV Résidences MGM Les Fermes de Méribel

The offer is valid until the end of the ski season in April 2010. For more information and to take advantage of the offer, please visit ”PV Holidays website”and enter the exclusive ski discount code: 8258.

The new Euro ski discount code guarantees a minimum of 15 percent discount on all 120 of Pierre & Vacances ski accommodation in the French Alps and Pyrenees, from budget apartments to chic hotels. This deal can also be combined with any other offer currently available for Pierre & Vacances products, including the early booking discount for holidays booked before 31st October, leading to savings of up to 32 percent. Pierre & Vacances ski accommodation will therefore be available for as little as £55 per person, per week ­.

Pierre & Vacances Arc 1950 Village

The original euro saving deal was introduced to offset the poor Euro/Sterling exchange rate of early 2009, restoring prices to the average exchange rate in 2008. It was the success of this campaign that led Pierre & Vacances to extend the offer to its winter ski properties.

The offer is valid until the end of the ski season in April 2010. For more information and to take advantage of the offer, please visit ”PV Holidays website”and enter the exclusive ski discount code: 8258.

Choose from apartments in 40 ski resorts across France including Flaine, Avoriaz, Les Arcs, Carroz, Alpe d’Huez, Courchevel, La Tania, Val d’Isere, Meribel and many more. Week bookings, plus short breaks from 4 days are available.

Pierre & Vacances (P&V) and Intrawest announce an agreement for the acquisition of Intrawest’s lodging and commercial operations at Flaine and Arc 1950 in France.

Pierre & Vacances Group and Intrawest Hotels & Residences have signed an agreement for the acquisition of Intrawest’s lodging and commercial operations at Arc 1950 in Savoie and the Flaine Montsoleil resort located in the Haute Savoie region of France.

Arc 1950 is Intrawest’s first mountain resort in Europe. The acquisition agreement includes the resort’s lodging management business, which consists of 655 apartments managed under the Radisson and Intrawest Hotels & Residences brands. Also included in the transaction is the management of two restaurants, a bar and two commercial spaces located in the resort village. The operations at Flaine Montsoleil Resort include the resort’s lodging management business, which consists of 138 apartments. All of the staff associated with each of these businesses will also transition under the management of Pierre et Vacances. This includes both on site staff and support staff located in Bourget du Lac.

As part of the terms of the agreement, Pierre et Vacances will operate both resorts in accordance with 4-star tourist residence standards. The addition of these two branded resorts will significantly enhance the Pierre & Vacances Premium Alpine holiday offering, which includes residences currently operated under the Résidences MGM, and Pierre & Vacances residences (Courchevel, Méribel). The takeover is expected to take place on 1st October 2009.

France-based Pierre & Vacances Group (also known as P&V and PV-Holidays) is the number one provider of holiday residences, villages and hotels all over France. They have over 40 years experience of self catering ski holidays and have more than 120 residences & hotels in 40 major ski resorts.

Have a look at P&V ski accommodation here.