Group Size

What is the minimum number of students I can take?

There is no minimum number and we do not charge any supplements for small groups. Groups under 10 passengers may have to travel to meet a coach, but a local pick up is available to groups of 10+. Smaller groups will usually share a coach and/or hotel with another group. However, due to resort logistics, and in the interest of ensuring your trip runs as smoothly as possible, please be aware that we reserve the right to allocate suitable alternative accommodation of equivalent value or greater, for the same resort where possible, should your final total group size be fewer than 35.

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS & OPTIONAL EXTRAS

What is the supplement for snowboarders and 'freestyle' classes?

The supplement is £40 per person and classes are subject to terms and conditions.

Why is there a supplement for snowboarders?

Class sizes are smaller than for skiing and so the lower instructor to student ratio increases the cost.

Are helmets included?

The wearing of helmets is compulsory under Italian law for anyone under the age of 18 and Interski can provide helmets via our in-house brand, Interski Rentals.

Whilst not a legal requirement, in Andorra and Spain all ski schools insist that helmets are worn.

What will my après-ski package consist of?

Your après-ski is INCLUDED in the cost of your Interski package. Events will be arranged for Monday – Thursday inclusive. All groups will enjoy a traditional pizza evening and snowsport school presentation with badges and certificates. A range of other activities are available (listed in the booking portal) and you will be asked to let us know of any activities in which you can’t, or don’t want to, participate.

Do we have to have insurance?

Insurance is included as part of our package and it is a condition of the booking that you have insurance in place. You can choose not to take our inclusive insurance, but we advise against this.

Are we able to have sole occupancy of a hotel?

Depending on availability at the time of your booking and your expected group size, we have a number of hotels in which you will be able to enjoy sole occupancy and not have to share with another group. However, please note that if your group size subsequently drops, the sole occupancy status may be affected but we will always discuss your requirements in full before recommending the best accommodation option.

We are unable to guarantee that there will not be private guests in other parts of the hotel.

Do you offer 6 day packages?

Our standard packages are for 5 ski days adn we find this works really well. Under exceptional circumstances, and subject to availability, it may be possible to offer a 6-day package in some resorts - please ask for more information.

How much does it cost to bring additional adults?

Unlike many tour operators, we don’t charge a supplement for additional adults joining your party - they simply pay the same price as the students. It's important that they are made aware that they're travelling on a school/college ski trip, what the inclusions are and that no special arrangements (rooming, food, instruction etc) can be made on their behalf.

Managing Your Booking

What is the payment schedule?

An initial non-refundable deposit of £100pp for ski trips by coach, and an intial non-refundable deposit of £250pp for ski trips by air, is required to confirm your booking. A non-refundable interim deposit of £150pp is then required 8 weeks later, regardless of mode of transport. The balance then falls due 10 weeks prior to travel.

We also encourage party leaders to collect payments from students in instalments as this helps to discourage students from withdrawing from the trip.

When is the latest I can add someone to my booking?

Subject to availability, you can add a passenger up to a week before departure. However, we will always try to accommodate all of your needs, so it's always worth giving us a call to see what we can do.

What do I need to do if someone cancels?

You should notify us as soon as possible, but if you think there is a chance of finding a replacement, then that’s not a problem and there is no charge to do so if you are travelling by coach. If you are travelling by air, then the applicable airline fee would apply.

Cancellation charges

For all cancellation charges, please refer to our booking terms and conditions. All deposits (inital and interim) are non-refundable. Thereafter, cancellation charges are scaled in relation to your date of travel.

If the cancellation is for an insurable reason, then the forfeited amount may be claimable on your insurance, less any applicable excess and insurance premium costs.

Special Requirements

Can you cater for special diets?

Yes, but we will require advance notification. For anyone requiring a gluten-free diet, we suggest that they take with them supplies of suitable pasta, pizza base, bread rolls etc as they are not as readily available pn the continent.

We have also produced some helpful cards which students can show at restaurants and cafés to ensure the provider understands their needs. There are French, Italian and Spanish versions available - Allergy and Dietary cards.

Can Interski cater for students with disabilities?

Yes, we can. We would appreciate as much information as possible as it may involve recruiting specialist adaptive instructors and sourcing specific equipment. 1:1 tuition can be provided where necessary. Additional costs may be incurred but we will discuss this with you at the time of enquiry.

Tuition

Instruction – how many hours do you offer?

As standard, we offer a 24hr package, delivered over 5 days. In our resorts in Italy, we include lunchtime supervision, and lunchtimes normally last for 1hr. In Andorra and Spain, we are not able to offer lunchtime supervision and so school staff will be required to be available.

To what level are your instructors qualified?

All instructors are qualified to a minimum BASI Level 2, or national equivalent. They are all English-speaking.

Are there any age restrictions when it comes to instruction?

We regret we are unable to accept children under the age of 7 into our ski school unless you have a viable, self-contained group. We can provide private 1:1 tuition (costs apply).

Must teachers stay in instruction groups with the children?

This is entirely down to the party leader. Teachers are welcome to join in lessons, or they may free ski. We simply ask that they are there to meet the groups at the end of lessons.

What is the average class size?

Classes vary between 8-12 students. Maximum class sizes are in line with regional and national law and the relevant instructor NGB guidelines.

We have students that would like to be filmed for GCSE/A Level assessments – can you do this?

Yes, this can normally be arranged, though you will have to provide your own video equipment. Please call us for full details and let us know in advance of your trip if you would like us to make provision for this.

Coach Packages

What size coaches do you use?

Our standard coach size is 49 seats. Occasionally, we are able to obtain coaches of 52/53 or 59 seats.

How long is the coach journey?

The Aosta Valley is one of the closest overland ski areas to the UK with journeys taking around 10/11 hours from Calais. Andorra and Spain are a little further, typically taking 14/15 hours from Calais. Oubound and inbound journeys are overnight and breakfast is included en route in each direction.

What's a typical itinerary?

Coaches depart the UK on a Saturday, catching an evening ferry from Dover to Calais. A breakfast stop (included in the cost of your package) is provided early on the Sunday morning. Groups normally arrive in resort around lunchtime on the Sunday. A snack lunch is provided and ski fit carried out. Skiing takes place from Monday to Friday inclusive. Rooms for showering will be made available on the final day. After an evening meal, groups will depart resort for an early morning ferry on the Saturday (breakfast again provided) before travelling onwards to school/college.

Air Packages

Can my school group travel by air?

Of course. Packages by air include overseas transfers as well as transport in resort, if required. We will arrange flights from your region of the UK to either Turin, Milan Malpensa or Geneva.

Please note that we don't normally provide school packages by air during peak weeks – New year, February half term and Easter - due to the generally very high cost of flights . We are, of course, still able to arrange your trip by coach at these times.

Equipment

Do you offer a ski clothing rental service?

Our in-house brand, Interski Rentals, offers the rental of ski suits. We're happy to support your parents' presentation and bring along sample suits.

If you're travelling to Italy with us, the suits are pre-ordered in the UK and then delivered to the hotel prior to the group's arrival. They are then collected at the end of the stay. As the clothing is stored in Italy, it's not a problem if someone has a growth spurt in the meantime!

If you're travelling to Andorra or Spain, we will deliver your ski clothing to school approximately two weeks before you travel, allowing a suitable grace period for any size exchanges. All clothing will be collected from school a couple of days after you return.

Party Leader Benefits

What is 'Interski plus!' ?

Interski Plus! is our specialist loyalty scheme, aimed to reward party leaders who travel with us consecutively. For more information, please visit our Interski Plus! web page.

Are there any benefits for recommending Interski to friends and colleagues at other schools & colleges?

We are always flattered when party leaders recommend us to others. As a small thank you, if you recommend us to another school/college, once they pay a minimum of 20 deposits to us, you will qualify for a £250 Interski voucher.

Does Interski offer any family concessions for party leaders?

Party leaders of groups of 20+ full paying passengers are entitled to take two of their own children aged 7-15 years at 50% of the price paid by the students. They may also take their spouse at 75% of the price. In addition, they are entitled to a '2 for 1' holiday from our adults and families brochure during the qualifying year.

Everything Else

Can non-UK schools travel with Interski?

Yes, we are delighted to welcome an increasing number of overseas schools to the Aosta Valley. For a standard 6 night stay, please make arrangements for your own flights. We’ll include transfers from any of the Milan airports, Turin or Geneva. You will also need to arrange your own insurance.

How snow-sure are Interski resorts?

All of our resorts are high and have exceptional snow records, both early and late season.

Does Interski accept youth groups from non-educational establishments?

Yes, we are delighted to accept any youth group such as scouts, girl guides etc.

Do you offer vocational courses for college groups?

Yes, we are able to offer a range of vocational talks/seminars for students of FE/HE colleges. These can range from careers within the snowsport industry, ski fitting, avalanche risks etc. Just ask if there is something you’d specifically like us to include for you.

Does Interski offer ski upgrades for party leaders to use?

Yes, we have an excellent range of upgraded skis. These can be pre-booked for a small additional charge (free of charge for staff of Interski plus! groups). They are not available to students and are not recommended for staff who are beginners.

What accreditation does Interski have?

Interski is an ABTA member (V6114) and an ATOL holder (1409) as well as being a fully assured member of the School Travel Forum and a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge Holder.