Half Term Ski Holidays Going Cheap

Arc 1950 in Les Arcs, France. Discounted over February half term. Photo: © OT Les Arcs

Heads up, bargain-hunters. Self-catering specialist Pierre & Vacances has just launched a five-day flash sale of its ski apartments, for holidays from December to March.

Discounts of up to 30% are up for grabs – and peak dates are on offer, as well as the usual low-season January weeks: and that includes half term ski holidays in February.

Today, a quick search of the site turned up 10% off two-room apartments (which sleep four) in the well-designed village of Arc 1950, in Les Arcs, starting February 16.

The price for the apartment is  €1,872 for the week, not including travel (about £1,520). Yes, you’ll have to do your own cooking, and yes, you’ve got to get yourself down to the resort. If you drive, a return half-term crossing with Eurotunnel starts from £115 for a car and its passengers, and viamichelin.com estimates €456 (£370) return for fuel and tolls from Calais. That gives a basic holiday price of £2,005, including travel through France.

Compare that price with a week in a chalet hotel over February half-term: currently £4-6,000 half board for a family of four, including flights and transfers.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring La Plagne a studio apartment in the Residence Les Constellations (which sleeps up to four) is on offer at a discount of 17%, for €960 over Christmas week, arriving December 22.

Deal hunters should check out our latest best ski deals blog for more discounts. Pre-Christmas weeks in catered chalet accommodation are currently on offer for around £400 including flights and transfers!

Don’t forget to keep abreast of the latest snow conditions too. Currently the western Alps are being walloped by heavy snow - and the outlook is promising to say the least. There may yet be a thaw in the run-up to Christmas, but even so every resort, whether high or low, should have decent cover, on-piste at least, in time for the holiday rush.