Plan ahead and pay less

Planning your next winter vacation ?  Consider Early Booking.  Advance planning allows to you to take advantage of lower prices, and the « snow guarantee » ensures a successful holiday in the French mountains.  Here, Karim Soleilhavoup, director of commercial development for vacation residences Pierre et Vacances and Maeva tells us more. 

France Montagne : What is the definition of  « Early Booking » ?
Karim Soleilhavoup : The idea is simple : « Book early and pay less ! »  For the coming winter, remember these two dates : October 31st and December 15th.  If a reservation is made by October 31st, it is possible to take advantage of a reduced rate for bookings up until March 3rd, or up until the end of the season when bookings are made by December 15th.

FM : What are the origins of this concept?

KS : We noticed two important trends.  First of all, certain customers, without children or time constraints, book at the last minute to take advantage of reduced rates.  Last-minute deals are often available, but one has limited options regarding dates or type of accommodation.  The second trend we noticed was that families are required to plan their holidays well in advance and to have the security that comes with this advance planning – a larger apartment, several rooms, a choice of dates coinciding with children’s school holidays.  Therefore, a certain type of apartment is in high demand.  Up until this point, this type of family client was at a disadvantage, because in booking early, they did not have access to reduced rates.  It is for these families that we created our « presto » rates.  At Maeva, it means a reduction of 20 percent for the entire duration of the season, including school holidays.  At Pierre et Vacances, the reductions range from 10 to 20 percent depending on the period. 

FM : Is it possible to personalise your reservation ?

KS : The first thing to do is to choose your resort depending on your desired type of vacation.  Then, select the accommodation that best suits your needs, whether planning a vacation with friends or family.  Once you have established these foundations, it is possible to add on supplementary options depending on your needs, such as equipment rental, lift passes, or insurance.  All of our holiday offers include our « snow guarantee ».

FM : What is the « snow guarantee »?

KS : Clearly, people worry about the uncertainty of the weather when planning their holidays and may be concerned about a lack of snow.  This guarantee is included in the price of accommodation and is a way to reassure our clients.  Up until five days before the beginning of your holiday, it is possible to cancel or modify your plans with no fee if a certain percentage of the skiable domain is closed.  This can be due to a lack of, or an excess of snow.  If certain clients are unsure about the idea of booking early, we tell them, « don´t worry, book now, choose your resort and your accommodation, and you can also take advantage of our « presto » rate !

FM : Plainly speaking, how much can one save?

KS : The average cost of a holiday at a Maeva location, in any of the massifs, is 750 euros.  The reduction is 150 euros.  At Pierre et Vacances, the average price is 1000 euros, and booking early will save you up to 200 euros.  It would be a shame to let this deal pass by, don't you think ?