Surveying me, surveying you

Just send us your details

After yesterday’s post, which dealt with the perceived drop in numbers of British ski holiday makers, I carried on like normal, you know took the dog for a walk and did stuff around the house, but something bothered me.

Like a splinter in my mind I knew something was wrong about seeing fewer people on the pistes, but I worried this nugget like a terrier on a baby until it dawned on me:

I reckon there might be a reduction in people taking the traditional organised package holiday, but Crystal Ski’s report made no mention of the numbers of independent winter holidayers who would not appear on any spread sheet.

Most people I have met in Serre Chevalier have been of this sort, yes I can see clients in hotels and chalets that I know are run by ski operators, but now I think about it there just aren’t that many places that could be used as destinations.

I think there are maybe 10 places, from group hotels to 12 person chalets in Monetier, Chantermerle and Villeneuve offer more as does Briancon, but as this ski station has grown in a mostly organic way from an existing community, rather than being plonked down overnight a la Tignes, that kind of operation isn’t very developed here (hurrah).

The internet has allowed private owners to advertise and market their property, from a studio to 10 bed chalet directly, and people seem to be now able to navigate airports and car hire on their own.

Perhaps the industry report was bad news for ski operators, the direct rental idea cuts the middle man out and overheads must be lower.

It was this that was bothering me all day yesterday, but what about you? Here’s a wee survey - how do you go skiing?

Just click that little button, you don’t even have to give your bank details and sort code, knowing would just help me sleep better.