There are mixed feelings about the already infamous Black Friday (this Friday November 25th) for the ski holiday industry – but that’s not stopping many tour ops from announcing special deals.
Most tour operators don’t really like to get their skis dirty with such an obvious American gimmick, especially with it being supposedly tied in to the US Thanksgiving holiday so really completely irrelevant to the UK and the wider world.
A statement from The Chalet Company kind of sums up the collective mood,
“It’s a deal, it’s a steal… it’s the sale of the century! Well, maybe not quite and, to be honest, we abhor marketing gimmicks like Black Friday as much as the next skier but, as King Canute found out to his detriment, you cannot hold back the tide.”
And from a holiday buyer’s perspective… it does fall just before the ski season kicks off when tour ops are getting twitchy about shifting unsold holidays so it’s actually not a bad time to make some (hopefully genuine) spectacular savings.
For the tour operators that take part, the results seem to speak for themselves. In 2015, Club Med say it saw its bookings surge by 274% in the four-day period from Black Friday to Cyber Monday compared to the same period the year before, with Cyber Monday having seen the highest number of bookings in Club Med’s history. This year, Club Med is expecting to exceed bookings from last year, with holidays to ski resorts predicted to be particularly popular due to the recent heavy snowfall across the Alps.
Estelle Giraudeau, Club Med UK Managing Director, United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavia comments;
“Black Friday has become one of the most popular days in the British shopping calendar and following record-breaking bookings in 2015, we’re excited to once again be offering incredible deals to some of our most popular holiday destinations across the world. We’ve worked hard to make our deals competitive and appealing to our new and existing customer base and are expecting hundreds of new clients across the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period.”
Some tour operators have tried to put a special ski industry spin on the whole affair, re-Christening it ‘White Friday/Week’, we even have a White Wednesday, but whatever you want to call it, the result is hopefully cheaper-than-usual skiing!
And for really cheap look no further than Livigno in Italy where the main gondola to the slopes is currently running completely free to access newly opened slopes in their ‘Black Friday week special offer.’
There’s limited availability and ‘terms and conditions apply’ on all the offers below.
Besides thopse detailed we also hear Ski Beat and Neilson are ‘doing’ Black/White Friday.
We’ll add to this list as more deals come in.
£50 Off all European Ski holidays in January with Crystal
Crystal, the UK’s largest operator, will offer £50 off per person on all ski holidays to all European destinations during January 2017 on charter flights booked between Thursday 24 November after 10am up to Monday 28h November at 23:59pm.
For example: Milky Way ski area in Italy, Sauze d’Oulx – from £335* per person (two sharing) for seven nights’ half board at the three-star Hotel Martin with flights from Gatwick to Turin with Thomson Airways and airport transfers, departing on 15 January 2017. Direct flights from UK regional airports available at a supplement.
Patagonia Ski Kit London Black Friday Thrift Shop
It’s not just ski holidays. This year on Black Friday outdoor clothing company Patagonia will give 100% of global sales from its retail stores and Patagonia.com to support grassroots environmental organizations.
“We wanted to do something on Black Friday to make a big statement, to fund grass-roots activism and engagement,” Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario said in an interview. “We shouldn’t let anyone of any political stripe destroy our planet.”
In addition, there will be a Patagonia Thrift Shop open Thursday 24th and Friday 25th at Village Underground in Shoreditch, offering fully repaired, second-hand Patagonia goods from £5 – £80 each.
Black Friday in France with Madame Vacances
Enjoy an extra 12% off stays at ski accommodation managed by Madame Vacances (01273 358 071). Stay at two of the operator’s most well-located properties: the recently renovated ski-in, ski-out Hotel Le Mottaret in Méribel–Mottaret and the stylish Hotel Ibiza in Les Deux Alpes, complete with family suites and an indoor pool. A week’s stay costs from £149 pp (two sharing, with discount) including breakfast every day. Return flights, transfers, lift pass, ski hire and other meals extra. (Offer valid on stays until 23/04/2016. Can not be added to existing bookings or be used in conjunction with any other offer.)
Mountain Heaven’s White Friday
Mountain Heaven promise a number of exceptional, limited availability offers will be posted on the company’s website from 08.30 on the 25th and these will cover both catered and self-catered properties.
To secure the deal, holidays must be paid for in full before 10pm on the 25th and are only bookable over the phone (0151 625 1921 ). Lift passes must also be bought through Mountain Heaven and are payable 2 weeks before the holiday at the in-resort per person price (no other offers apply).
Exact details of the offers are strictly under wraps, but last year’s White Friday included discounts of up to 50% off certain catered chalets.
Managing Director, Nick Williams, commented, “The first White Friday, last year, was one of our busiest days ever. Skiers really loved the concept and we’ll be aiming to repeat this, although the exact offers will depend on availability and so won’t be set until the night before. Each offer will be a one-off and there will be some amazing bargains, especially where we have an odd bedroom left. We’re not compromising on quality though. These are the same high standard Mountain Heaven holidays we always offer.”
…or Ski Famille’s White Wednesday?!
Ski Famille (01252 365495) are offering a 20% discount on top of their existing offers when you book your family ski holiday to Les Gets, La Plagne or Les Menuires between 9am and 8pm on Wednesday 23rd November.
Ski Famille have also released exclusive deals for dates across the season including February half term and the Easter holidays – but once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Up to £1000 Off Chalets And Apartments
The Chalet Company is offering savings of up to £300 per person per week or £1000 per chalet/apartment on selected dates.
All deals expire on Black/Whie Friday 25th at 5pm.
Skiworld’s White Week – Up To £450 Off Per Person in January.
“Black Friday has snowballed – The White Week Sale has landed,” say Skiworld, adding, “This year, we are extending our Black Friday sale to last from Friday 18th November, through Black Friday itself until Monday 28th November. There are massive savings to be had, with up to £450 OFF per person on ski chalet holidays in January.”
The sale is on departure dates of 7/01/17, 14/01/17, 21/01/17 and 28/01/17 and sale prices start at £399 per person.
For deals of £200 and £300 off per person there will be savings to be had in 93 different property and date combinations available, or for up to £450 off per person there are deals in 26 different property and date combinations.
The full list of available holidays will be on skiworld.co.uk on Thursday 17th November, ready for sales to begin at 9am Friday 18th.
“Book early to avoid disappointment, once each deal is gone, it’s gone!” the company says.
Catered Christmas From £355, Deals at New Year Too
Treeline Chalets are offering what they describe as “massive discounts” on website prices on their remaining unsold December weeks in their catered chalets in the French resorts of Morzine and Avoriaz, including Christmas and New Year weeks. Prices for Christmas start from £355pp
Gourmet Catered Christmas in Zermatt from £995pp
Ski Zermatt over Christmas with piste skiing up to 3880m staying with Matterhorn Chalets. Chalet Ulysse – fully catered to gourmet standard + transfer to/from Zermatt station – departs 20 December, 7 nights, 8 guests sole occupancy -reduced to £995 per person (option for sleeping 12).
Save 30% In Morzine
Erna Low is offering a 30% discount on accommodation at L’Aiglon de Morzine, in the traditional Savoyard village of Morzine, for arrivals between 10th December and 7th January inclusive. Arrive any day in December, minimum stay 7 nights. Price from £1,266 (was £1,714), self-drive including Eurotunnel with Flexiplus upgrade. Based on 1 bedroom 2/4 person apartment for 7 nights from 17th December.
Club Med’s Black Friday Deals
Club Med says it will launch Black Friday deals with up to 30% off all-inclusive holidays including £1,000 off ski holidays to Valmorel
Deals include 30% off an all-inclusive ski holiday to Pragelato, Italy 4T departing on 18th December from London Gatwick airport for £1,265 per adult, representing a saving of £500 during Black Friday. For holidaymakers looking to escape for some snow later on in the season, Club Med offers 30% off an all-inclusive 7 night-holiday to Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France 4T from Manchester airport departing on 19th March 17 for £979 per adult, representing a saving of £423. There are similar deals available to other resorts including Les 2 Alpes.
The company’s Black Friday deals which go live from 12.01am on Friday 25th November will run right through to 11.59pm on Monday 28th November and will be available to book online, through the call centre and local travel agents.
Save £100pp Wih Alpine Elements Black Friday Discount Code
You can save £100pp (live now) until 6pm on Monday 28 November across all Alpine Elements French and Austrian resorts across a number of our hotels and chalets.
The offers includes 7 nights half board accommodation, breakfast, afternoon tea and a three course meal with wine, return flights and transfers.
Look out for the special logo and use the code BLACKFRIDAY100 when booking. You can use it online or call the company on 0844 770 40 70.
The advertised price will be re-calculated with the special Black Friday discount code.
£100 off Christmas in Les Gets
Departing 22 December from London Southend Airport you can enjoy 3 days skiing whilst staying at the 3-star Chalet La Congee in Les Gets, down from £691 to £591pp. Includes flights and transfers and chalet board with www.skiweekends.com (02380 206971)
25% off Friday – Friday Christmas Skiing in France
Sister companies Peak Retreats and Ski Collection have some Black Friday deals on Christmas holidays.
Arrive in Tignes on Friday and stay over Christmas for 7 nights for £512pp (was £666pp) based in 4* luxury accommodation Le Taos which has stylish decor, inspired by Native American style. Guests have free, unlimited access to the private indoor heated pool, sauna and leisure centre. Le Taos has a spa, French Steak House restaurant, lounge-bar, as well as secure ski lockers with heated boot and glove dryers. Price based on 4 people sharing a 2 bedroom self-catered apartment (sleeps 4) for 7 nights, arriving Friday 23rd December; includes Eurotunnel crossing with free FlexiPlus upgrade.
Or enjoy 15% off Christmas Skiing in Chamrousse with Peak Retreats based on 7 nights over Christmas for £230pp (was £271pp) at Ecrin des Neiges. The 3* apartments are set in a sunny and south facing position on the slopes, which offers doorstep skiing, stunning views and close proximity to the Roche Beranger ski lifts. Price based on 5 people sharing a 2 bedroom self-catered apartment (sleeps 6) on week commencing 24/12/16; includes Eurotunnel crossing with free FlexiPlus upgrade.
(image top credit Val Louron)
