A Short Guide To Booking Your Ski Holiday
We have created this guide to explain all the things to consider when booking a ski holiday. As our website offers complete flexibility for all aspects of a ski holiday then we recommend reading this guide so that you can be fully aware of each stage of the booking process and each stage of your holiday.
Resort Choice
This is often the tricky part. Some people have a clear idea of where they want to go, whereas others do not. We would always recommend the big French resorts as they are the highest and offer the best snow security and the largest skiing areas. We often get some great deals in Val d’isere, Tignes, Les Arcs, Val Thorens and Les 2 Alpes, which is where we take a lot of our passengers.
Probably a bit more family friendly are resorts such as Flaine, Avoriaz, La Plagne and Alpe d’Huez.
The smaller French resorts and the Andorran resorts offer great value for money, so if you are looking for a great deal then these are the resorts where you can really keep the costs down. Pas de la Casa is one of the best resorts in Andorra with a lively town centre.
Choosing A Flight
We offer most airlines that fly to the main ski destinations. When selecting a flight please bear in mind the following:
Check in and check out. You can usually check in to your accommodation in the late afternoon, so, if you are on a very early flight then you may get to resort several hours before you can check in. This isn’t a bad thing as long as you are prepared. If you can store your baggage somewhere (usually at your accommodation) then we suggest doing the following:
- Collect your ski hire – try and time this just before you can check in so you don’t have to carry it around with you
- Collect your ski passes – One of the first things you can do
- Collect lesson vouchers – One of the first things you can do as you will be able to then go and see where the meeting places are
- Explore the resort so you know where the key locations are for your holiday e.g. Quickest way to the slopes, ski school meeting point, nearest shops, bars and restaurants, free bus route, bus station, transfer pick up place
- If you are self-catering you could go shopping and get some supplies in for the week.
- Get some lunch! You will probably be hungry so an ideal time to sample the local restaurants
Check out is usually by 10am, so if you have chosen a late flight home then just be aware that you will have to wait in resort for several hours before you transfer arrives to pick you up. Once again, as long as you are prepared for this then you can store your bags and maybe go skiing for the morning
Lift Passes
We always recommend booking your ski passes with your accommodation. It means that we can pre book everything for you and all you need to do is hand over the voucher at the ski pass office and you will get your ski passes which saves a lot of hassle. Our ski pass deals are set to 6 days online, if you require more of a bespoke arrangement then please give us a call.
We only ever include a local area lift pass as some people may not require the larger area ski pass. However, you can choose to add on an upgrade on a per person basis on the extra’s page
Extras
Transfers
We are the experts at transfers and can offer you multiple options. Again this is one area when you can get great value for money depending on your group size. Smaller groups of 2-4 will either have the option of booking a transfer coach (or shuttle bus) that run regularly from the main airports to the main ski resorts, or booking a private taxi that can take you straight from the airport to the door of your accommodation.
Equipment Hire
You can choose equipment hire packages for each individual using the drop down menus on the extras page. The cheap ski hire option is the economy package, which is great value for money for a 6 day hire option. We then offer 3 other packages ranging from Intermediate, to top of the range.
We recommend pre booking your equipment hire through us as the system that we have in place with Skiset is so easy to use. Simply show your voucher at your hire shop and the staff will begin fitting your equipment.
No need to fill out any forms asking you about height/weight etc. The staff will take care of the entire fitting in the shop
Checking In
Most accommodation will not be available to check in to until 5pm on the day you arrive in resort. Quite often you can get the keys earlier than this but please bear in mind that you may have to wait. It is best to find somewhere to store your bags at your accommodation if you do find yourself having to wait and then going to get an equipment hire and ski passes that you may have already booked.
Tourist Taxis
In France tourist tax is charged when you check in. This will be approx €6-8 per person. Each passenger is responsible for paying their own tourist tax. In some accommodation this may have already been paid on your behalf by Get me to the Alps, but in most cases you will have to pay it when checking in.
