Whether you’ve got a group of 6 or 60, taking a group ski holiday is a great way to share the myriad experiences the mountains can offer.
The spice is in the variety of the group itself. You’ll either have different ski abilities, a range of ages, a mix of couples and singles and almost always a differing opinion on the best holiday bedtime! So to help you out, here’s some expert advice to get you off to the best start when booking your next group ski holiday.
Top Tips for Booking a Group Ski Holiday
1. Book Early
Not only will you get the widest choice of chalets, but the ones with desirable extra features such as hot tubs and ski-in/ski-out will be more available the earlier you book. In addition, Early Booking Offers (often called EBOs in the industry) are becoming bigger and better so you can make huge savings.
2. Know the Individuals
Does anyone have specific requirements for their diet or more importantly a disability which might influence your choice of accommodation? If you have small children you may want to consider a resort with a short transfer time, and older members may not enjoy the effects of super-high altitude or a central resort location for example.
3. Prioritise the Group’s Needs
What would exhilarate everyone? Here’s the main criteria for those of you new to group ski holidays (but you will no doubt have your own).
a. Date – Everyone who you want to be there will need to be able to take time off work/school/uni/etc
b. Budget – Be as inclusive as possible (and consider spending money)
c. Resort – Slopes to suit all abilities
d. Luxuries – Will being in a ski-in/ski-out location or having a hot tub make or break your experience?
e. Extras – Will you want a day off from the slopes to do something else – a day in the spa maybe?
4. Ask For Deals
You may find that you can get specific group ski deals if you book over the phone or directly with Skiworld for example, rather than with a travel agent. Discounts on full chalet bookings known as a Group Discount and all-inclusive offers which package your holiday with lift passes and ski hire, are great examples.
5. Set the Group Size
By setting a manageable limit on places you’ll make two key jobs easy. Firstly, it’ll allow you to make a shortlist of chalets and secondly you’ll be able to generate a buzz for everyone to commit if there’s only a set amount of places on your trip!
6. Show Me the Money!
Before you’ve even decided exactly where and when to go, get as many people as you can to pay you a deposit. This way you’ll know how many people are actually keen to go and you’ll be ready with the cash to strike when a great deal presents itself.
7. Take Charge
A group leader is one person and the buck stops with them. Its so much easier to have one person in charge of emails/messages and collecting the cash so make sure that person is well organised, great with money and an excellent communicator. If that isn’t you, share this post with that friend who’s ‘the glue’ in the group.
8. Go All-In
Get quotes with everything included. Lift passes and ski hire (or ski carriage on a flight) are the main essential extras. Find out how much the ‘tax de sejour’ is in the resort too. Avoiding any unexpected extra costs once you arrive on your group ski holiday will keep everyone happy.
You may also like
Large Ski Apartments in Snow-Sure Ski Resorts
Why Book Out A Whole Chalet For Group Ski Holidays?