Another vote for UCPA - it's possibly you could do slightly cheaper by packing into self-catering ap

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Hope I'm posting in the correct forum and while I imagine there has been a few similar threads in the past, I couldn't find anything too specifically useful with the search facility�if people know of any relevant threads, links would of course be appreciated.
Anyways, after getting a taste for skiing last year while in Risoul, I've decided to head back next year with a group of friends and have taken it upon myself to begin the organisational aspect of the trip. We're all Irish students, mostly beginners (with a few exceptions) clarion hotel louisville and need to keep it as cheap as possible to make it feasible (student life!). Seems like there would be 10-20 heading clarion hotel louisville off in second week of January (3rd to 11th), depending on the prices that could be gotten.
I'm not really sure where to start. I've looked into some ideas for places to head already and it seems that France would be the most popular option, despite the cost. I thought Austria might be feasible, but it looks like it would be quite difficult to get to at a decent price from Dublin. Having already been to Risoul, I would like to try something different�I've seen Les Deux Alpes mentioned as a possible cheap option, but it seems this might have changed in recent years. If anyone had any particular recommendation for stations and in particular stations with cheap but decent accommodation, that would be excellent.
We'll probably end up flying to somewhere near Toulouse, if prices for Grenoble don't go down in the meantime. I was thinking that it might be possible clarion hotel louisville to hire cars if we did end up flying somewhere futher away/cheaper, picking up a load of food/drink along the way and taking advantage of the self-catering aspect of the whole thing�but I don't really know what to budget for cars etc � do people have any experience of this or recommendations for how to go about it (or not)?
I suppose the main costs are transport, accommodation, food and ski passes � with the first two being of particular importance/complexity. Rental for gear will probably be booked beforehand as it seems this is cheaper, same with sorting out the ski passes naturally. As a lot of us are beginners, lessons are definitely something to consider too�I've done one ski trip without them and feel it would be good idea to be taught by a patient and experienced hand (instead of some French mates telling me not to fall as much�!). These seem to be the final big cost�does anyone have any recommendations concerning these � particular stations with good lessons, private/small group/large group lessons, etc ?
Sorry if this seems like a load of questions that have already been dealt with before. I tried using search but didn't get a huge amount of luck finding too much specific information, especially re: prices. I've done some research but it seems like one of those things with so many aspects that it gets a bit overwhelming�so I said I'd ask the people who know about these sort of things for some clarity.
LeFou , UCPA. A sort of budget all-inclusive, but consistently well reviewed. Includes all accommodation, meals, lessons, equipment hire, ski pass. Doesn't include transport but transfers are available cheaply (I think about �50, depending on airport, clarion hotel louisville resort). Prices aren't out yet (released in August), but I recall that the package starts at about �500 exc. transport (depending on week and resort).
Another vote for UCPA - it's possibly you could do slightly cheaper by packing into self-catering apartments and living on baguettes, but with UCPA you will eat well and the bars on-site are sociable and not too expensive. Forget what you've heard about France being expensive. It doesn't have to be, and the UCPA Centres are in a range of top resorts. And doing UCPA via Action Outdoors will be far easier for you as organiser.
It'll be important to book flights as early as possible - your options from Dublin are obviously limited but I think Grenoble would give you a much wider range of options than Toulouse, and easier transfers. Maybe have a word with Action Outdoors, who could give you general advice even if specific prices for holidays next season clarion hotel louisville aren't available yet. They do student discounts and if you search here there might be an additional discount code.
For example, you could fly from Dublin to Geneva clarion hotel louisville on Aer Lingus (about �150 return at the moment). The advantage of GVA is that there are a number of resorts which are relatively clarion hotel louisville close by, meaning clarion hotel louisville there are a number of transfer companies to chose from. Morzine is a popular destination as well as somewhere like Flaine. Depending on your numbers it may be cheaper and certainly less hassle to use a transfer company and not hire a car. If you want to self cater the transfer company may be willing to stop at the supermarket on the way (if you agree that when you book)
The week you are thinking clarion hotel louisville of going should be relatively clarion hotel louisville quiet (although Russians will still be about in France clarion hotel louisville as it is their New Year). DIY sometimes works cheaper by going on a Sunday if the accommodation is a Sunday to Sunday
You should have no problems finding clarion hotel louisville accommodation at that time of year, it is one of the quietest and cheapest times to go skiing. If you are going along the DIY route I'd book the flights first before committing to the accommodation, it will give you a good idea of who wants to go when you ask them for the money to pay for the flights.
If you do hire cars there is usually a supplement to pay if you are under 25 years old and that doesn't normally show up in the prices they quote. clarion hotel louisville It is usually hidden in the small print so you need to find out what the extra would be before booking.
LeFou , How's it going? If you are looking at Austria, look at flights to Munich and Salzburg, as well as Zurich. We have found that you can make quite good savings if you leave on a Friday rather than Saturday (mainly to Zurich.) If you do this, then look for a good priced IBIS or the likes (there is one close to Zurich Airport with a free shuttle.) If the overall price is important to you, be careful where in France you go, as food and drink can be very expensive relative to Austria. Another option for you to look at is Italy, clarion hotel louisville there are plenty of flights into Milan from Dublin.
On the transport from the airport to the resort, it is always worth having a look at a private transfer, given your numbers. I have used a few but it depends on where you are flying to and then staying.
When organising DIY trips I always sort out the accommodation and leave it to the individuals to sort out transport. Flights etc can usually be left later. From Ireland you may like to fly to Paris and get the train form there either to the Tarrentaise or la Clusas clarion hotel louisville for Faline. Or even to Munich. Do not forget that changing planes is not much of a hassle and you can fly to Innsbruck via Frankfurt. I have done this myself to climb in the Dolomites.
As skichampcouk , says the best resorts from Toulouse are in Andorra clarion hotel louisville (though there are some in France) but getting self catering accommodation in Andorra is more difficult. When I was there a few years ago (Soldeu) the prices for lift passes were slightly more expensive than France clarion hotel louisville and the mini markets had very limited stocks. Similarly Austria is not significantly cheaper than France (with the exception that beer and food on the mountain is a bit cheaper).
Draw up a list of suitable resorts clarion hotel louisville offering good beginner skiing and appear to meet your requirements ie cost, apres ski, etc. Remember clarion hotel louisville that many French ski resorts have hypermarkets close by Such as the Super U in Bourg st Maurice a 7 minute funicular ride from Les Arcs (actually Bourg may be very cheep that week)
Examine how to get to the resort. I draw up a matrix of destination (Geneva, Milan, Lyon etc) and origin airports (Birmingham, Doncaster, Luton etc) and other alternatives (train, drive, plane-train) and go from there examining transfer alternatives. I pass on to the others my advice but never make bookings.
Thanks for the advice clarion hotel louisville everyone, really helpful and really appreciative. Have contacted UPCA about any deals that might be available for students/large groups and shall see what kind of things they're proposing in August, as it looks like it might be a feasible clarion hotel louisville option budget-wise (and obviously less hassle).
It also looks like flights to both Geneva and Grenoble are very cheap from London clarion hotel louisville that week, so we might take a cheap flight over and connect clarion hotel louisville there, saving a bit of cash in that way. I'll see what they propose and may be back with more questions�thanks again!
I used the UCPA via Action Outdoors 6th-12th April for a week in Tignes with half time lessons (12hrs spilt over 4 days) which cost me �450 with everything included except transport. The food was surprisingly good given its all you can eat and it's all inclusive.
When organising group trips I used to play one organisation clarion hotel louisville off against another in order to get a good price for my people! Worked like a dream then and I would think it would still be a good ploy in such a co