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Guide to booking your group skiing holiday
Booking a group ski holiday
Is it your turn to organise the group skiing holiday this year? Look no further, as we have compiled all our knowledge on what you will need to know if you’re in charge of next year’s ski trip.
As the group leader, you have either chosen or been chosen to organise a skiing holiday because you are an experienced skier, or the most organised! But we recognise that it is quite a responsibility to be in charge of a ski trip so we have put together some tips on the essentials of organising a ski holiday for your group of friends, colleagues or family.
>> Top tip: the earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have if your group is large or you want to travel in popular dates!
1) Shortlisting the destinations: which is the best ski resort for your group?
If you have a group of mixed ages or ski/snowboarding abilities then you will need to ensure that you pick a resort that has a good range of greens and blues for beginners and intermediates, with some reds to keep the more experienced skiers happy, and some challenging blacks for those who like to think they’re experts… Sometimes people like to try somewhere new, or other times they’re happy to go with a tried and tested recommendation from an experienced skier.
Disclaimer: of course, we are biased! But… we know that the Three Valleys ticks all these boxes for a group ski trip (that’s why we live here!) so if you are travelling with less confident skiers or children then La Tania is a top choice ski resort, with a new beginners’ area, quiet lifts, as well as a friendly atmosphere in the bars and restaurants. If your group is made up of older children and more experienced skiers, then consider Courchevel Le Praz, which has quick and easy access to either Courchevel, La Tania or Meribel, as well as a good mix of bars for grown-ups and older kids who can explore in safety in the evenings.
2) Choosing a date: when is the best time to go skiing?
The European ski season runs between December and April, with the higher resorts open from the start of December until the end of April or even into May for some. If you need to travel during school holidays due to the children, then Christmas and New Year are great options, with Christmas week usually lower priced than New Year. Skiing at half term in mid-February means that there is plenty of snow and certainly in La Tania and the Three Valleys, the lifts are so efficient that queuing is usually minimal, which can be a concern in some resorts. Easter is also a great option that sometimes people overlook, but if it’s sunshine and snow that you’re after, then Easter skiing is a joy.
If you are not restricted to school holidays then January offers the best snow and the best value. The slopes and lifts are quietest and powder is light as a feather, with the pistes offering gorgeous, grippy snow with corduroy lasting well into late morning on the lesser known runs. The colder temperatures are also a great excuse for regular warming up sessions, with a coffee stop mid-morning or a vin chaud on the way back to the chalet. Early or late February are classic times to avoid the English school holidays with reliable snow conditions, and March is popular for anyone who enjoys lingering in mountain restaurants with a glass of rosé or an ice cold beer, as the temperature starts to raise and offer glorious long days on forgiving spring snow.
3) Let’s talk money: Deciding on a ski holiday budget
When planning your group ski holiday, it is important to make sure everyone is happy to agree on a budget early on. As with all types of holiday, there are things that you will need to factor in and not forget about!
Here’s our list of things you will also need to consider when budgeting for a group ski holiday:
- Travel: plane, train or driving to the Alps?
- Transfers: If choosing a plane or train then we can offer reasonably priced transfers
- Lift pass: See pricing for the Three Valleys and Courchevel lift passes
- Ski rental: We offer in-house ski rental to help fit your budget
- Ski school: There are several options available in La Tania and Le Praz, with English-speaking instructors
- Eating and drinking: When choosing a catered chalet holiday, your main food costs are included within the price, meaning you need to budget for lunches and one evening meal.
- Insurance: Check that your policy covers winter sports, and you can also add ‘carré neige’ to your lift pass price for peace of mind.
- Childcare: If your group is looking to minimise childcare costs then sharing childcare between the parents/grandparents in the group is a great way to keep to a lower budget. However, there are also good options for nanny services which work out well for groups with slightly older children on a half day basis to fit around ski school.
4) Choosing the accommodation: hotel, apartment or ski chalet?
Skiing in Europe is a very different experience to skiing on the other side of the Atlantic or even in the Southern Hemisphere. The Alps and Pyrenees have little mountain villages or larger ‘resorts’ in which ski accommodation is only a short walk, drive, or bus away from the lifts. Essentially, you can be as close to the slopes as you can afford!
To choose the best ski accommodation for your group, ask yourself these questions:
- Would you prefer your own place, or to stay in a shared hotel?
- Would you like to share the shopping and cooking between you, or choose catered accommodation?
- How many rooms do you need?
- Do you prefer a ski chalet or an apartment?
- Would you prefer a private hot tub/pool, or shared spa facilities?
Ski Magic offers catered ski chalets, which have between 4-6 bedrooms, sleeping 8-12 guests.
5) Don’t forget: things to organise before you travel!
As the group leader, you will be responsible for ensuring your group has paid deposits to secure the holiday reservation, and then the balance payment which is usually due at a certain point before the holiday starts. If you are concerned about the administration of the ski holiday payments then one option is to set up transfers from just one account, as long as you trust the other group members to transfer the money into the account at the correct time.
At Ski Magic we have found that guests like our booking system which allows the adults within the ski group to make their deposit and balance payments individually. You, as party leader, can view the others’ payment status and ensure everyone is up to date, although we will also help by sending reminders when payment is due.
The booking system also allows you and your party members to enter dietary requirements, ski hire booking or transfers, so that communication between the group is made easy.
Checklist of things to organise before your ski holiday:
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- Ski Hire
- Transfers
- Ski Lessons
- Lift Passes
- Childcare
6) Get packing: the ultimate ski holiday packing list
If you have newbie skiers or parents travelling with children then they’ll start to get agitated about packing at least a month before the ski holiday! We have prepared a list of essentials to make sure that no-one forgets anything important, and so all you need to do is forward the links below on the group chat:
7) In resort: eating, drinking and entertainment
Whilst you might feel that you want to hand over responsibility for the ski trip now that all the pre-holiday organisation has been so efficiently completed, often this is the best bit about being a party leader – the clue’s in the title! Organising routes, booking mountain restaurants and deciding on places to enjoy a drink after a day on the slopes can be challenging but with our expertise in Courchevel, we’ve compiled some useful information for group leaders so that you can at least have an idea of things to tick off the bucket list and some nice bars to recommend to your group.
Any questions?
Part of the advantage of booking directly with an experienced tour operator means that we have the expertise to help the organisation process easy for party leaders.
Give us a call on 0844 9933 686 to ask us a question about booking your group ski holiday or contact us via email.
