After the big cut in capacity of short-haul ski packages to leading European winter sports areas in 2009/10, there are further cuts on the cards for some leading operators in 2010/11, so it makes sense to chase early season offers this year.

That’s the view of Andy Perrin, of Ski Esprit and Ski Total, which specialise in catered chalet stays for families and have joined the Ingham group to take on major ski operators which include Thomson TUI, First Choice and Crystal.

Andy says: “Last winter, many skiers got a nasty shock when they rang up for a last-minute cheapie deal and they found there was nothing left at £299 and not much space for the following week anyway.

“Operators suddenly decided to stop selling packages which actually lost them money, and they stuck to that line pretty well.

“The trend is likely to continue this winter because Thomson-TUI has indicated a further round of cuts to capacity to keep prices reasonably firm through the season.”

Overall, Andy thinks total capacity of ski packages has gone down from 620,000 to around 540,000. That total might hold firm for 2010/11, but almost certainly won’t increase.

Ski Total, which has just launched a Crunch-Buster brochure to lure early bookers, is adding 30 new chalets and one new chalet hotel for this season, making a total of 102 chalets and seven chalet hotels.

Its prices start at £359 for seven nights in Meribel from December 12, and that price includes a £180-per-couple cashback for early booking, return flights from Stansted, transfers from Geneva and seven nights’ chalet accommodation, including four-course dinners with wine, coffee and chocolates six days per week.

Andy says: “We find that ski chalet customers know what they want and readily pay for good quality. They are not easily swayed into self-catering accommodation, just to save a bit of money.”

He thinks couples will get seven-night chalet breaks this winter from around £376 each, or £750 per couple.

“That’s a great-value proposition”, he says. “Operators have had to tighten their belts and take costs out to make it happen.”

Andy thinks the squeeze is on operators at the top end of the market – Descent International has paid the price for being “way too expensive” – and at the bottom, where demand could drop sharply if the economy takes a dive and many more jobs are lost.

Andy says: “Get the balance between price and quality, and the market is there. Go high on price or low on quality, and you might be in trouble.”

  • INFORMATION: Ski Total (01252 618333 and skitotal.com); Ski Safari (01273 224060 and skisafari.com); Erna Low (0845 8630525 and ernalow.co.uk).