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Ski Trip - Advise needed

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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
Ok guys so i'm after a little bit of advice, during the 14/15 season i'm off for a months ski holiday, 2 weeks personal training time and two weeks for my BASI level 2 assessment (10 days assessment 2 days to recro ski)

So i'm spending the first 2 weeks in Tignes and then then last two weeks in Courchavel, not the cheapest places I could have chosen I know... I have all the costs covered ie exam fees, lift pass, accom, travel etc the only thing I'm yet to do is decide how much spendo to take with me. Now because im going to get my BASI 2 the party nights will be kept to a minimum so im only looking at occasional lunch on mountain and general steady nights out. I haven't been to espace killy in a few years so am unsure on how the pricing is these days. Every time I've been before its been extortionate so if anyone is going this year or went last year your tips would be great.

Thanks

Sam
Oct 7 2013 12:15PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
It only ever seems to be brits that make threads like these, somehow I can tell from the title most of the time.

I'd take a lot of spendo, you'll be better off asking on snow heads, or the French/uk regionals on here.
Oct 7 2013 1:00PM
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alill
Posts: 18 - Karma: 100
what kind of skiing? mainly off piste, piste cruising, touring? you are gonna need to be more specific
Oct 7 2013 2:03PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
Why?


Oct 7 2013 4:18PM
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littlelyonsman
Posts: 181 - Karma: 365
I'd bring a couple hundred cash and use a card for the rest. if you use your card you'll get the exact exchange rate. if you use cash the cashiers can kinda charge you whatever they want. I go up to Mont Tremblant in Canada once a year and always use my card for food during the day, cash at the bars at night.
Oct 7 2013 6:14PM
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littlelyonsman
Posts: 181 - Karma: 365
hope that helps
Oct 7 2013 6:14PM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
cheers, see i would have changed all my money before hand if you hadn't said that.

cheers
Oct 7 2013 9:42PM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
well seem as i only get the chance to ski abroad once a year can you blame me? what do you expect us 'brits' to do follow the exchange rates world wide daily to make sure we know them? if it was a week I wouldn't need to ask but Its very rare I spend that amount of time in the Alps in the situation I'm going to be in (BASI Training). So I think this is more than valid question.

Thank you for advising the other sites.
Oct 7 2013 9:45PM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
More specific? I said i'm BASI 2 training... 2 weeks personal development time and a 10 day exam, so i'll be doing everything that BASI 2 involves... However I will be off piste for some of it just because I enjoy a hike for the fresh tracks. Don't see how knowing what type of skiing i'll be doing can help with how much money I need for a month though.
Oct 7 2013 9:47PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
It's something you need to address yourself, you mentioned the odd night out, how often? how much do you drink etc, where will you be going out? figure it out and just add it all up yourself I think, bring a bit extra though just in case.
Oct 7 2013 10:10PM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
In all honesty I think the only proper night out will be once I pass my BASI 2 until then only a few drinks if the rest of the group go out, probably a few meals, i'll google all the local places and check the pricing. Then add up a maximum possible I could spend so as to ensure I don't actually run out of money.
Oct 7 2013 10:27PM
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pow_pow~
Posts: 1429 - Karma: 1,804
sorry to be a prick, but this is over a year away and you want to know how much money to take? add 1000 to whatever you think. you have a year to get it....
Oct 8 2013 5:11AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
This. Hadn't noticed the date. Jesus christ man, if you save 50 quid a month from now on you're looking at 700+ quid, that should provide for a sprawling time, drinking only the finest champagne!
Oct 8 2013 5:19AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
€5 a day on food is doable if you need to stretch your cash. Beers will be €6-7 in Tignes and Courchevel.
Oct 8 2013 6:23AM
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alill
Posts: 18 - Karma: 100
Oh I see, thought you were asking about a suitable resort to ski in to train for it. I am also working towards my BASI 2. I to Val D'Isere and Tignes last year and I am gong to Tignes this year for the season, I can tell you nights out are fairly expensive in Val, but it depends where you go. I managed to find a couple of bars selling shots for around 3 euros to ones costing 5. It completely depends on where you wanna go - what kind of night you wanna have. Lunch on the mountain can be done cheap if you go to one of the many buffet restaurants, which are still pretty good
Oct 8 2013 9:01AM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
Yes its a year in advance but i'm not only saving spending money, it total for 4 weeks, including everything;

Lift pass
Flights
Transfers
Half Board Accom
New skis
Course fees
Coaching fees
AND spending money

I'm looking at what hopefully will be no more than £4500 lol, I'm actually awaiting responses right now from some grants that I've applied for, if i'm successful i'll let you know.
Oct 8 2013 9:20AM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
Yes its a year in advance but i'm not only saving spending money, it total for 4 weeks, including everything;

Lift pass
Flights
Transfers
Half Board Accom
New skis
Course fees
Coaching fees
AND spending money

I'm looking at what hopefully will be no more than £4500 lol, I'm actually awaiting responses right now from some grants that I've applied for, if i'm successful i'll let you know.
Oct 8 2013 9:21AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
I could literally stay for 4 months incredibly well at that price...

Also what sort of grants?
Oct 8 2013 9:33AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
What kind of career prospects will this provide? 4500 pounds is an absolute shit ton of money!!!! As mentioned above you could do a fucking luxurious season for that amount!
Oct 8 2013 12:01PM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
If I just wanted to go ski for a season then so could I, but that's not the idea, I can't leave my job here in the UK as I have a house and bills to pay. The whole aim of this 4 week period is to pass BASI 2 and be ready for BASI 3 once I've passed my other required courses.

As for the grants they're grants for the 'sports sector', everything from grants to help with accommodation abroad, equipment, course fees, vocational training, general academic funding to further a persons career. Having just graduated from University we were told we'd be better of setting up our own businesses instead of trying to find a job.

If I may Magnus I'd be grateful if you could maybe PM me about making that 4 grand stretch, with course fees, flights, insurance, new equipment, 4 week lift pass (may as well buy a seasons) comes to ...
I think all that works out at about £2200. Do you think it would be better to drop the 2 weeks personal development / coaching and use the extra cash to go out earlier and work on that my self?

Cheers,

Sam
Oct 8 2013 12:17PM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
Ok so I've gone over everything a few more times and it worked out at this,

Move my BASI 2 from Courchavel to Val D



BASI 2 - £565
New Equipment - £400
13 Day Lift Pass - £394
Flights & transfers - £150

(£1509) - No accom, no food or drink...

Accommodation - still waiting for replies, I've gone for the cheapest possible accom I could find it Val D.

Thanks for making me re look over this, looks like i'll end up saving a shit ton.


Oct 8 2013 12:51PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Well I can most likely help you out with flights, possibly accommodation depending on how nice a place you want to stay, il throw you a message when I'm at a pc.
Oct 8 2013 2:15PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
What is your goal with this? A career in ski instructing? You mentioned you have a job in England, is that just a temporary thing?

I have to say, that if you're just doing this as a way to ski and of course learn and develop your skiing skills, it is a waste of money, in my humble opinion. Much better ways to ski and get better.
Oct 8 2013 4:46PM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
I've been skiing for almost 19 years started aged 3 now almost 22, I went to college and uni just because I knew it meant so much to my family, as i'm the first 'academic' and the 1st person in the whole family to get a degree. It took me a long time to make my mind up about what I actually wanted to do and mid way in to my last year I decided it was instructing / coaching.

Current Level 1 BASI qualified, hopefully 2 by April, the 5 year plan is to be Level 4 qualified and eventually move on to complete all my Alpine Coaching levels as well as to hopefully secure a spot as a Team GB ski & snowboard coach.

I've spent the last 5 years studying coaching so Uni wasn't a total waste.

As for my job in the UK, its just a job that pays the bills. Its not something I can leave instantly because I have responsibilities. However the hope is to progress into a job in the winter sports industry for the 14/15 season.
Oct 8 2013 5:13PM
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sambob
Posts: 73 - Karma: 187
Im, not going on holiday so as long as it has a shower, bed and a safe place to keep my gear i'm good. The best I've found so far is £650 for a 14 night stay in Tignes (2 people, so i'm hunting for another person who wants to do level 2)

I'm awaiting a reply from my BASI trainer as I need to know whether staying over in Tignes is ok with the course being in Val D, i'm presuming it will be with the two being only 2 lifts away from one another.

Flights return I can get with easyjet for £60 (add gear to this though and its and easy £100+)

Oct 8 2013 5:18PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
Well then I'm with you all the way, good luck!
Oct 8 2013 5:19PM
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