Whilst the threat of COVID-19 has significantly diminished, seasonal outbreaks may have an impact on your holiday.

Ski Club Holiday Promise

Financial Protection:

• We will fully refund your money paid to us for any trip that is cancelled by the Ski Club because of Covid-19*.
• Flexible Booking: If a trip is cancelled and there’s an opportunity to transfer to a similar trip in a different resort, we will waive the amendment fee, subject to availability.

* Holidays with flights included are subject to early decisions regarding their running. We will therefore contact you 11 – 14 weeks before your trip is due to depart. You will then be offered the following options.

• Proceed with your booking, including flights, with the committed cost of flights becoming non-refundable, even in the event of us cancelling your holiday within the scope of our COVID-19 promise. Please note that if we were to cancel the trip closer to departure, this would mean a refund of any money paid minus the flight fee. (Flight fees would be disclosed to you before a decision is required regarding the booking)
• Proceed with your booking, without the flights. A no-flight discount will then be applied to the booking. This discount will differ depending on the flight cost on each specific trip (not our normal no-flight discount). You would still be able to take the set group transfer to/from the airport if desired.
• Cancel your booking. Any monies previously paid to us will be fully refunded in line with our COVID-19 promise.

In addition, we’re looking out for your safety: We actively monitor each of our destinations countries’ government guidelines and resort situations before and during the season. We will be able to inform members as soon as we have new information in the lead up to departures, to make sure that we can do everything to keep you safe in the mountains.

Please Note: The Ski Club holidays department will not however give a refund if the trip is cancelled by you (the member/guest) for any reason. Except for in unavoidable or extraordinary circumstances as in Terms & Conditions Clause 9 (vi), which include warfare and risk to human health. The Ski Club will not run holidays to destinations where:

• The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against “all” or “all but essential” travel.
• Local regulations mean accessing your destination from the UK is impossible.

It is a condition of booking a Ski Club Freshtracks holiday that you have valid and adequate travel insurance as per our terms and conditions, that provides cover for all activities you wish to pursue on your holiday.

Please note that claims relating to COVID-19 and winter sports vary between providers, please ensure you check your policy carefully before purchasing.

• Group flight arrangements including airport passenger duty and passenger service charge (where specified).
• Group transfer arrangements (where specified).
• Accommodation including local taxes, based on same sex people sharing a twin room or triple room (except Touring holidays, where male and female members may have to stay in the same room).
• Meals (where provided).
• Instructors and Mountain Guides (where specified).
• Ski Club Representative (where specified)

• Lift pass – we will advise you of the approximate amount required in local currency with your confirmation of booking. On a few holidays the lift
• Pass price is included in the brochure price and this is indicated in the holiday price details.
• Local transport (buses or taxis).
• Meals – unless otherwise indicated, holidays are offered on a room only/bed and breakfast/half board/chalet board basis. Please check the individual holiday price details or ask Ski Club Freshtracks for full details.
• Drinks – not included except on occasion where the holiday price includes wine with dinner.
• Equipment – if you need to hire equipment in the resort, take advantage of discounts available to Club members (see website).
• Snowsports travel insurance.
• Evening meal on resort staff’s one or two days off (chalets and chalet hotels only) each week.
• Return travel between home and UK departure point.
• Shuttle flights from regional airports to group departure point.
• Visas and travel pre-clearance (such as ESTA or eTa), where applicable.
• Insurance
• Optional excursions booked in resort.
• Costs associated with COVID-19; including but not limited to hotel quarantine and COVID-19 tests.

Accommodation, either in hotels or chalets, is based on people sharing a room and is selected to suit each individual group. In some cases single rooms are available on request, subject to a supplement. Rooms vary in size and comfort and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Occasionally a superior grade room will be available at a small additional cost. In Austria and Switzerland it is usual for hotels to offer “Austrian twins”, which are two separate mattresses within one double bed frame with individual duvets. Please see the individual hotel description for details or call Ski Club Freshtracks.

Due to the large variety of accommodation offered in the Ski Club Freshtracks programme, it has not been possible to visit all hotels/chalets prior to contracting and we should point out that all brochured accommodation and services are in accordance with the hotel/chalet’s own literature. We will do our best to help individuals find a room sharer if we are asked to do so, but if, when rooming lists are finalised, there is an imbalance in numbers so that a sole occupancy supplement is incurred, this cost will be passed onto you.

Please note that where individuals have been allocated or have specifically asked to share a room with another/other member(s), and one or more of the individuals in the allocated room cancels their holiday, we reserve the right to resell the cancelled place should we have the demand and you may therefore end up sharing a room with another individual.

On safari and touring holidays, male and female members of the group may be asked to share the same room, especially in mountain huts.

If you have any special requests, they should be clearly stated in writing at the time of booking. We will endeavour to pass all such reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier. However, we cannot guarantee that special requests will be met unless the supplier confirms in writing to us that they will be met. Only in these circumstances will this then become a term of our contract with you. Otherwise, failure to provide a special request will not be a breach of contract on our part. It is the individual’s responsibility to reconfirm these requests to the supplier on arrival.

In accordance with EU Regulation 2111/2005 and under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (the “PTR”) we are required to advise you of the actual Carrier operating your flight. Most of our flights are scheduled services (predominantly Swiss International or British Airways). However, on a number of our holidays, the flights are charter and this is indicated on the website.

Please note when booking flights we must have your title, first name and surname correctly spelt as indicated in your passport. Subsequent changes will incur a charge, and please note that airlines normally regard name changes as a cancellation and re-booking, and therefore any alteration may incur a 100% cancellation charge.

Flight details and times are not all finalised at the time of printing and are subject to confirmation. We reserve the right to change the airline or routing where absolutely necessary. Any changes after you have received your final information will be notified to you as soon as possible and in all cases at check-in or at the boarding gate. Such a change is deemed to be a minor change and we cannot be held responsible for any costs associated with a change in connecting or onward travel resulting in a change to air schedules.

Please note, that in accordance with Air Navigation Orders, a child must be under two years of age on the date of the return flight in order to qualify for infant status. Some of our holidays don’t include flights in the holiday price so that you can take advantage of the flexibility and/or pricing of other airlines and arrange your own flight to the destination airport.

In the event that you miss your outbound flight, you must notify the airline and the Ski Club office immediately (if necessary via the out of hours contact number provided) if you intend to travel and take the inbound flight.

Failure to do so may result in your inbound flight reservation being cancelled.

We cannot be held responsible for any additional costs as a result of missing a flight. You should consider making a claim under your insurance policy. If you choose to book flights in order to connect with any of the flights included in our package, please be aware that we cannot be held responsible for missed departure as a result of delay or missed departure to either the flight we have booked for you or any flights you have booked.

Where possible we always try to meet your requests for regional departures. Please ask us about regional flights at the time of booking. Usually there is a supplement payable depending upon departure date and flight, and all flights are subject to availability. We also run several holidays without flights included in the package to give you the flexibility to book your own preferred route.

On bookings with flights included, the baggage allowance is usually one bag of up to 20kgs (44lbs) including skis and boots. In most cases this can be your ski bag in place of your normal hold luggage.

Airlines are becoming very strict and if over this limit, a charge may be made for the excess weight. Ski carriage is payable on most flights for carriage above and beyond what is included (British Airways: booked at airport, Swiss: Free of charge, Chartered: booked in advance subject to availability). Charges are usually between £15 and £70 per bag each way. Please check at the time of booking. Availability of ski carriage is often limited and strictly on request with some airlines, so must be confirmed by us at the time of booking.

More information on specific airline’s ski carriage arrangements can be found here.

Transfers from airports to resorts will be by coach, taxi or rail and are arranged to minimise delays. Please note if your personal travel arrangements are outside those of the group, the resort transfer is not included in the holiday price, unless specified. If you are making your own way to the destination airport but still require the group transfer, we do need this request in writing at the time of booking.

On some holidays we arrange a coach transfer to the resort which will leave the destination airport at a fixed time. We will provide you with details of the time the coach transfer will leave the destination airport. The coach transfer forms part of your holiday price. If for any reason, including delays to your flight, you miss the group transfer we will not provide a further transfer for you and you will have to arrange your own transfer to the resort at your own cost.

We do not insist that you buy a group flight as part of your package with us. If you wish to make your own travel arrangements to the resort, we will give you an appropriate reduction of £50-£100 per person, however this is subject to availability. You must indicate that you do not wish to take our travel arrangements at the time of booking otherwise you will incur an administration charge.

Please note: travel costs are not included in the holidays in the Touring section, but can be arranged by us on request.

Please remember that you are taking part in a group holiday and whilst we make every effort to ensure that the group is of a similar standard of experience, you may ski in a group with different levels of competence, experience or priorities.

Our guides or instructors will, where possible take into account the needs and requests of the group, however it is not always possible to accommodate the specific wishes of each member. It is expected that members will understand and respect the wishes of the group.

Day touring is increasingly becoming popular and is generally accepted as part of the experience of skiing off piste. On some off piste holidays, it may be the case that the guide or instructor recommend that skinning is required to find the best possible conditions; touring may be considered as expected on Advanced or Expert off piste holidays, and highly likely on Advanced Intermediate off piste holidays, subject to conditions. If you decide not to stay with the group, then we will be unable to offer any refunds. Your guides and Rep will assist with finding appropriate equipment where necessary.

While the Ski Club does not operate a no-smoking policy for the holiday programme, it is expected that members will respect the wishes of the group as a whole. Smokers should conform with each individual establishment’s rules and must refrain from smoking in shared bedrooms and at meal times.

It is your responsibility to be in possession of a valid passport and any visa which may be necessary. In the absence of valid documentation, you will not be allowed to travel and we shall have no liability to make any refunds or pay any compensation. Please note that the name on the passport must match the name on the ticket, otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid. You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

Click here to check if your passport is valid for travel.

For more information on the passport applications and the length of time the application process takes, please click here.

If you are travelling to a non-EU destination, you should check with the Consulate to find out whether you need a visa or whether there are any other additional immigration requirements. If you do not hold a British passport, please check with your own Embassy or Consulate in the UK to confirm the passport and visa requirements of the country that you are planning to visit.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issues advice for those travelling outside the UK. You can access this advice and check the entry requirements for the country you are visiting on the FCDO website.

For those traveling to the United States or Canada an authorisation for travel is required. Check immigration requirements for the US and Canada which can be found at cbp.gov or canada.ca

Please note that we will not be running holidays to any countries that the FCDO advises against “all” or “all but essential” travel to.

Please contact your GP in good time before you travel to check whether there are any health precautions which you need to take. You can also obtain information from the Department of Health leaflet T7.

Some or all countries may require for you to provide proof of a vaccination or COVID-19 test prior to entry. Please ensure that you check all entry requirements on the FCDO’s website prior to travel and speak to your GP should you have any further questions.

The Club would like to point out that parents and guardians of these youngsters must ensure that it is safe and appropriate for them to holiday in these circumstances and that they will not pose a risk to their own safety, or that of others. We must urge parents to let the Club know anything relevant about their children that will help towards the successful and happy running of the holiday. Parents or guardians will be asked to sign a consent form prior to departure.

We cost our holidays on a variable ratio of instructors/guides to members. On occasions when our bookings are greater than anticipated, we will send additional instructors/guides. However, when we have less demand for a trip we may reduce the number of instructors/guides or the number of days instruction/guiding included. Instructors/guides may change depending on group sizes and availability.

While every effort is made to ensure that skiing abilities are compatible, the final decision will rest with the instructors/mountain guides. There may be occasions when you have to free ski or attend the local ski school to ensure the success of the holiday. We will not be responsible for any such additional costs.

Your Ski Club profile is held on record and, where possible, will be assessed by Ski Club Reps in consort with Guides and Instructors at the end of your holiday; please note, your Ski Club skiing profile may be lowered, raised, or maintained at the same standard.

Skiing is a demanding sport and so it is essential to take into consideration fitness levels when making decisions about your ski grading. Fitness is a key part of skiing ability and so it is important when choosing a holiday to ask yourself how far you can, and are prepared, to push yourself.

Whether you are comfortable cruising the reds all day with a long lunch stop or are looking for more of a physical challenge with turn after turn in deep powder, a good level of physical fitness is required in order to make sure you get the maximum out of your holiday and avoid unnecessary injuries.

It is recommended that you participate in at least 40 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week for a minimum of three months in the run up to a skiing holiday. Please be aware that in exceptional circumstances, instructors/guides can ask members to leave the ski group if they feel their fitness hinders performance and delays other members of the party or they are a danger to themselves or to the group. No compensation will be payable in such circumstances.

Our Touring holidays will indicate an estimated amount of skinning on a typical day for a member who has a good level of fitness. In a mountain environment, with a group of members, there are many factors that may affect the length of climb including weather, conditions and fitness of individuals in the group. The amount indicated may be shortened or exceeded and either be unplanned or planned in order for the guides/instructors to have the best chance of finding find the best conditions available. No compensation will be payable for any day where the climb is longer than anticipated.

Some ski resorts are situated at such a high elevation that the humidity and limited oxygen available can cause a variety of symptoms and illnesses. Please read the information below carefully. It will help to explain how to cope with the acclimatisation process and how to deal with altitude sickness should you suffer from it.
Symptoms:

Shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, dehydration, constipation, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, headache.

What to do:
Take it easy for the first couple of days, eat lightly and drink plenty of liquids (two or three times more water than usual), avoid alcohol and caffeine, get plenty of sleep, limit salt and increase carbohydrate consumption. Most importantly listen to your body – if you feel unwell DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT A DOCTOR. For most people the minor symptoms of altitude will disappear as your body adjusts. Please remember the use of hot tubs and saunas will accelerate the dehydration process.

Please be aware that the sun is MUCH stronger at higher altitudes. Be sure to apply a high factor sun screen to your face, neck and ears at least every four hours, even on a cloudy day.

Our brochure prices include all local staying duties and room taxes, but, whilst discretionary, it is typical to leave a tip when paying for drinks and food abroad. With mountain guides and instructors it is usual for the group to buy lunch and offer a tip at the end of the holiday. Most service staff in America and Canada anticipate between 15-20% gratuity, depending on the level of service; this includes bar staff and drivers. It is customary on departure to leave a gratuity in your room for house-keeping staff – a guideline is $5 per day.