Getting to Grips With the All Important School Ski Trip

The school ski trip is an annual event much anticipated by participating students and teachers alike. A mixture of great fun, new experiences and plenty of memories, the school ski trip is something that almost needs no introduction. But the task of organising a successful excursion is mammoth, which is why specialised companies who deal with every aspect are becoming more and more in demand. By booking with a reputable organisation that specialises in trips for schools you are guaranteed success.

What should be included?

Transport

If you book your school ski trip with a good travel company you can expect that several components of the trip will be included in the price. Transport to and from resort should all be included and, whether by air or coach, will be booked well in advance by the tour operator to ensure availability. All of the necessary airport taxes and charges will be covered for in the initial price.

Accommodation

Accommodation is of prime importance when taking groups of young people away on a holiday. It has to be suitable for large groups of students and must offer comfortable shared rooms, good food and staff used to dealing with children. Booking with an experienced company ensures the accommodation included ticks all the boxes. Many hotels that cater for school groups offer evening entertainment too, so check out what is on offer when you are booking. You may want use of the coach during your stay in resort so make sure this is included too.

Ski pass

The ski pass is an expensive part of any winter holiday, so be sure this has been included in the final price. Some resorts have supplement options so you can explore other resorts close by but these are usually not included in the standard pass. Ensure you have the prices at hand for the extensions so that you can advise parents if you think your group will require these.

Ski lessons

Ski lessons can be organised in advance and added to the final price. Tuition is normally for four hours a day and accommodates students of all abilities. Once in resort, ability can be reassessed and groups altered as necessary. English ski tuition is available in resorts, although check with your travel company with regards which schools they work with. Some students may want to try snowboarding rather than skiing; they can swap their included equipment for snowboard gear and join a snowboard lesson instead. Teachers are all professional and very experienced in their sport.

Insurance

Insurance is the biggest part of health and safety when on school ski trips. Packages include insurance that covers equipment breakage or loss, snow guarantee and travel delay issues. The ski pass covers you for accidents on the pistes and getting from the mountain to hospital should it be required.

Off piste activities will all come at an extra cost but your travel company will be able to advise with regards cost, availability and booking. You may want to offer your group ice-skating, bowling, swimming or even a nighttime skidoo ride, so make sure you know the cost so that you can advise parents in advance.

Susan Joubert works for Ski Plan Travel, the market leaders in excursions for schools. Experts in arranging school ski trip itineraries, Ski Plan has over 14 years experience organising safe and successful tours. We arrange courses with an extensive range of resorts for the best student experience.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.