 Poster: A snowHead
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My 13 year old just got back from a week in Austria with school. She had a fab time. They were not based in resort, they had to get the bus in and out each day (37km each direction IIRC).
It was a nice 4* hotel but the food wasnt great.
They went by bus...just over £800. Five days skiing as the other 2 days were spent travelling.
Id be interested to know others recent experience. Seems a shame that they waste so much time on bus journeys.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Sounds very similar to the trips my son went on about 4 years ago. They went to Stubai glacier and had to bus in every morning, it was about £900, they travelled by coach, but they did get their 6 days of skiing. Everything was included in that price except for lunch up the mountain, and drinks with their evening meal if they weren't happy with water. I thought it was pretty good value. He had such a good time when he went in Year 10, that in Year 11 he chose to go with school again whilst the rest of us went to Morzine.
When my daughter was in year 6 (7 years ago) they flew to Italy, went to Claviere, and I think it was about £800. They got 6 days skiing, and everything was included, lunch as well (they went back to the hotel at lunchtime). It wasn't at half term or Easter though, as at that age the whole experience of going away on their own for the week was counted as a learning experience.
What I do think is crazy are the schools that take their kids to the States for £1500ish, and they often only get 5 days skiing and a day shopping or site seeing in New York or similar. I work at a dry slope, and we obviously talk to the youngsters we are teaching to find out where they are going.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
at that age the whole experience of going away on their own for the week was counted as a learning experience.
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I think it is - especially for kids who haven't really been away from their immediate family before. I suppose bus travel makes it easier to watch over the kids and keep them all together - and it's cheaper, and cheaper staying away from the slopes too. The school trip I did in 1962 or 3 was certainly educational. I encountered duvets, whale meat, a ferry and continental breakfasts for the first time, saw my first fiord and learnt to ski on huge long skis. I adored the skiing but couldn't afford to go again until I was 40. One of the teachers who came with us (neither of whom skied) was a geography specialist so she made sure we took on board interesting stuff about Norway.
For kids who do regular skiing with their family, these days, I think a different sort of trip might be more worthwhile - so they encounter something new to them. Maybe kayaking/camping, climbing, abseiling, cross country skiing and staying in huts, youth hostels etc etc rather than hotels.
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My son's school have recently revealed the details for 2016's trip. He has not been with them before so having skied with me last year on his first ski trip quite fancied it. However he was less keen as it was by coach and he's not a fan- and we were less keen given it was £950. Although it does include everything-including lessons- it seemed pretty pricey for a very long coach journey. There are no further details yet but it would be frustrating if there was a similar situation as above regarding daily 'commutes' to the slopes.
Ironically the resort is part of Adamello-Brenta area, which includes Andalo where I went on my first school ski holiday in 1978! Flights to Turin included for the princely sum of £110!!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@broadsman, they ended up in a different resort to the one initially detailed to us as the company couldn't secure a hotel in the initial resort. This was notified to us about 8 weeks before the trip and long after all monies had been paid. We were told they would now be in resort x at hotel y but when I googled the hotel I found it was no where near the resort 
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I've been on and led many school ski trips over the years. They're usually a wonderful experience for all involved, though draining for the staff. Instructor quality varies hugely but most children pick it up.
Teachers used to lead groups of children on the posted mountain though this has gradually been eroded by health and safety fears following a tragic incident where some children sledged over a cliff.
Teachers are generally far more careful with other people's children than their own and better skis, piste maintenance and less drag lifts have reduced injuries. Andalo also is still a favourite, along with Tonale, Aprica, Folgarida and Austrian favourites. The coach trip is a drag but does bond the group.
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@cameronphillips2000, I recall one ski trip at my son's school where both the teacher and his wife (also a teacher) came back on crutches.
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Flipping heck at those prices I'm glad I dont have kids 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I have worked as a "peak weeks rep" with school groups, travelling by coach and staying away from the immediate vicinity of the slopes. I heard from a teacher of a group that had stayed in Kitzbuhel about how one night some of the pupils decided to see if they could do a red run using the dinner trays from the hotel. There are definite advantages in staying a short distance from the slopes. Travelling from the hotel to the slopes and back each day also imposes a routine where you can gently chivvy along / help those who need it in the mornings. You can count the pupils out and back each day. This requires transport and so coach travel is useful. It also means pupils can probably take extra luggage compared with flights. You have the use of the coach in the evenings when the rep is expected to organise some sort of entertainment which can be a simple quiz in the hotel but can also be ice skating / bowling / swimming / karaoke / shopping / etc
Overall I thought the trips were well put together and thought out. When you include all food, travel, lift pass, accommodation, insurance, instruction, ski hire I didn't think the price was so bad, although the headline price can seem high.
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| @cameronphillips2000, I recall one ski trip at my son's school where both the teacher and his wife (also a teacher) came back on crutches. |
Yes, there's usually a teacher injury. The biggest problems for teachers usually occur in the evenings when the little blighters get hold of alcohol....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@JohnHSmith, it's not that I think the price is high (we all know we're also covering the costs of the free places)...it's just that I wonder whether it'd be worth spending a bit more and flying.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| broadsman wrote: |
Ironically the resort is part of Adamello-Brenta area, which includes Andalo where I went on my first school ski holiday in 1978! Flights to Turin included for the princely sum of £110!! |
Spooky
I went on the same trip on the same year  to Fai Della Pagnella which links into Andalo.
I even remember the name of the hotel. The Stella Alpina.
Doesn't seem to be on the radar anymore for Brit skiers??
I seem to remember another school trip as well in the same area I think??
Caspoggio. ??
Happy Days. Ski lessons in the morning followed by instruction with the teachers in the afternoon. H&S alert!!
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| Quote: |
I went on my first school ski holiday in 1978! Flights to Turin included for the princely sum of £110!!
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that's about £600 now http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1633409/Historic-inflation-calculator-value-money-changed-1900.html
Costs have probably risen because of rising expectations - of constant entertainment, for example, and staying in a hotel rather than a youth hostel, en suite bathrooms etc. And expectations from parents, too, that teachers will cope with all their offspring's bad behaviour and still keep them safe and neither filthy drunk, dead from toboganning on trays or pregnant. That means 24/7 supervision and a higher staff:studet ratio. I think only 2 came with our group but we didn't get entertainment, or drunk. I can't remember what we did in the evenings. Chatted and played board games, cards,etc probably.
We travelled by north sea ferry and then train from Bergen to Geilo. We stayed quite near the slopes and I think we walked within the resort. Food in the hostel was fine, but very different from what we were used to. Had not eaten whale meat before!
I do think school trips ought to focus on experiences not likely to be found in other ways. Skiing is fantastic for kids who have never had a chance. Other stuff for kids who have been skiing since they were 4 or 5 (and who might chafe at the permanent on-slope supervision).
My son in law has done quite a few school trips (as a teacher) but won't do any more now, as it means giving up the half term holiday time with the family (his were always at half term).
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You know it makes sense.
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My second trip as as a school kid the was to Andalo. Amazing views over the Valley to the Brenta Massif.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Staying a short distance from the slopes is quite useful for a school group. A short bus ride is an excellent way of getting the whole group together for announcements, checking lift passes, sun cream, spare goggles etc. Getting 80 or so kids to the slopes can be quite difficult, especially littler ones who might be on their first trip, there's alot of stuff they need to remember each day.
Yes a bus trip is long, but you have more control over the kids when they're all in one place.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I think 37km from the slopes is a bit extreme, especially at that price
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Shimmy Alcott wrote: |
| @JohnHSmith, it's not that I think the price is high (we all know we're also covering the costs of the free places)...it's just that I wonder whether it'd be worth spending a bit more and flying. |
My personal view is that it isn't worth spending more and flying. It's the fact that the hotel is just that little bit out of resort that makes it less likely someone will try a moonlight descent on a tea tray, plus the degree of control in being able to do a head count at the start and end of each day, plus the facility of having the coach in resort for the trip to go swimming / ice skating / bowling etc
Yes, you could hire a local bus. But the costs really do start to rack up.
And although the bus journey isn't great, it is bearable. get a film on the DVD player, play computer games, read, listen to music. It all helps.
In the end, it's down to personal choices, but even though I have had to do those coach journeys, on balance - for me - I think it's the better option
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I got lucky with my own school ski hol. Booked Bulgaria and ended up in Les Arcs 2000 on the insurance as there was no snow in Bulgaria. Breakfast was stale baguette left in a carrier bag on the bedroom door handle though
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@JohnHSmith, interesting points thanks
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Boys wanted to go on ski trip this year, but I selfishly talked them out of it I've agreed they can go, but this year wasn't great time and price wise for us.
Boys want to go for the being away from home experience, based on what I've heard they really don't get a lot of skiing. Couple of hours in lessons and that's it.
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Coach journeys do keep the cost down, making it more appealing to more kids. I would agree with all the points made by johnHSmith too
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Our college book everything direct...coach, tunnel crossing, hotel, ski hire, ski school, lift passes, insurance. The cost even covers all the staff costs.
This year 34 students cost was £525 each. (5 staff costs covered).
This all came about as a result of getting ripped off by a tour company one year.
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@Boris, there was five hours of lessons each day
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| NickYoung wrote: |
Our college book everything direct...coach, tunnel crossing, hotel, ski hire, ski school, lift passes, insurance. The cost even covers all the staff costs.
This year 34 students cost was £525 each. (5 staff costs covered).
This all came about as a result of getting ripped off by a tour company one year. |
So the college has become a tour operator - are they bonded?
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@bertie bassett, because booking with Chris Reynard gave schools loads of protection? 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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In what way are we a tour operator? We book independent travel and activity. No profit or gain is made and as an educational provider, we are exempt from AALA.
Just as we do to Nottingham, Wales, Italy, Sweden, New York...it goes on.
You don't need to play into the hands of greedy tour operators.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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And I dare say our insurance is considerably better than anything you can buy on the high street...
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| Quote: |
Boys want to go for the being away from home experience
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there are some great outdoor activity holidays which do that and would give them new experiences, unlike skiing.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Shimmy Alcott, that sounds ok, but certainly feedback from people who went suggested was way less than that
@pam w, true, but not through school with all their mates
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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My children aren't old enough for the school ski trips yet, eldest in year four (9) and they go in skiing year eight (13), but I do know that it costs £800 which includes everything. They take them to Pila (fly) and have 6 days of lessons.
I learned to ski via going twice with the school in the early 90s, and with my parents being from traditional working class backgrounds (shipyards etc.) I don't think I would have ever learned if it wasn't for the school. I went Les Orres (same place both times) and we had five hours of lessons a day (2 1/2 in morning and afternoon) and paid £500 almost 25 years ago, flying to Lyon. The hotel we stayed in was ski to door which was great.
I agree with the comments above about offering something different for ski school trip. As my children will have been skiing about 10 times by the time the go with the school it would be good for them to experience things they don't with my husband and I. I know they will still get the social side, looking after yourself etc. but it would be good if they experienced something new like I did. Especially as a lot of the children in their school ski regularly.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I would agree, 37 km is quite a journey before and after the slopes, however I have far greater concerns with how competent the drivers are at continental driving especially on alpine roads in snowy conditions.
It would seem to me that most have little experience and are usually ill prepared. For example not being able to put snow chains on efficiently, or knowing when to put them on. Every few years though pupils and teachers are injured in crashes that are probably more linked to driver fatigue.
I have also experience of teachers becoming incapable of looking after the students. I imagine teachers are not allowed to drink while at school with the kids, so why should this be any different while away on a ski trip?
Some schools are excellent and really know what they are doing, but I was shocked to learn a year or two ago, when a student was found throwing up in the evening at the hotel, and it was the tour Rep who asked the questions that led to the discovery that the poor girl had a head injury and was perhaps suffering with concussion. The teachers did not have a clue. To make it worse they then went on to refuse to phone for an ambulance but asked the bar man to drop her at the hospital in his way home. She stayed in hospital for two days and then had to return a few days later as she was still not right. This leads me to come to conclusion that teachers probably do not look after the kids better than their own in many instances.
Last year a teacher demanded that they collect their hired skis and boots etc en route from UK to their hotel. He became quite obnoxious and continued to make this demand, even though the drivers stated they were running out of driving time and also there was no where to put the skis and boots etc as the hold of the coach was already full with luggage. The teacher went on to hire two additional local coaches to the tune of 800 euros to carry this task out on arrival day after a 30 hour journey, despite the fact that the following day it would be provided free before ski school. He said it didn't matter as he would get the kids to pay for the extra coaches anyway.
Parents beware!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@mayr,
Isolated situation I'm sure, school trips would not run year after year if this was norm.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Mini-Roll and crew flew to Saalbach for £1000 this year, pre Christmas, Lack of snow was their only problem - only three runs really accessible. Didn't stop them having a great time tho.
My first school trip (?1974?) was £65 all in, getting the train / ferry / overnight train to Landek in Austria, then up to Pfunds, skiing in Nauders which was a post-bus ride away. Happy days of pyjama bottoms and Aaron jumpers, leather boots and tethers rather than brakes. By the time I'd been three times, it had gone up to £100, and that was the end of my stash of money donated over my previous 14 years from grandparents.
edit for long term memory fail
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Tue 24-02-15 18:38; edited 1 time in total
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I'm another one who first experienced skiing in Andalo on a school ski trip, December 1979. Drove past the resort last month and was very tempted to take a small detour to see if I recognised any of it.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I went on quite a few school ski trips, admittedly in the 70s and 80s but we always travelled by bus or train, never flew. Each trip involved a day travelling either end and 4 or 5 days of skiing. We stayed in 'boarding house/hostel' type places rather than actual hotels and they were always a bus ride from the slopes.
My eldest nephew went on a school ski trip last season and it was pretty much the same deal. They stayed in Bourg d'Oisans and were bussed up to Alpe d'Huez every day, price very similar.
@rob@rar, one of my school ski trips was to Andalo too, plus my first ever trip was to Niederau, I'd love to see both of those again.
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Bargain; my daughter just returned from the same, bus in, half a day skiing, but good food....£ 1200
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That was 6 days, plus flying, but required a bus trip from Bournemouth to Birmingham to get there; ski equipment was very poor but she still had a good time....better than following her parents around for a week !!
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@Shimmy Alcott, my daughter has also just returned from a school ski trip to Austria (st Johan). 24 hours coach journey to hotel then coach every day to ski area. Ski until 3:00 with an hour for lunch then back to resort. 6 days skiing - £900 plus the £120 for lunch and spending money. Another £200 and she could go all inclusive ski in/out with flights. I think she enjoyed it?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
I went on my first school ski holiday in 1978! Flights to Turin included for the princely sum of £110!!
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that's about £600 now http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1633409/Historic-inflation-calculator-value-money-changed-1900.html
Costs have probably risen because of rising expectations - of constant entertainment, for example, and staying in a hotel rather than a youth hostel, en suite bathrooms etc. And expectations from parents, too, that teachers will cope with all their offspring's bad behaviour and still keep them safe and neither filthy drunk, dead from toboganning on trays or pregnant. |
Went skiing in Austria c.1991 for £350 flight from Glasgow. All costs included including packed lunch. "Hotel" in the village. Evening "entertainment" provided. My first ever experience of 9 pin bowling (hadn't done 10 pin either). Pretty sure none of the girls came back pregnant. A few may have had sore heads as there was some alcohol consumed but I suspect far more was consumed on an average Saturday night back home on a street corner. First ever experience of Pidgeon (eaten by all - not knowing what it was) and sheeps brain (again not knowing what it was).
For some reason thisismoney can't convert from 1991... however I prefer to use Mars Bar exchange rates anyway. I gather a Mars Bar cost 27p in 1990, so £350 would roughly have bought me 1300 mars bars. In 1978 it cost about 8p, so also *about* 1300 mars bars. Apparently a mars bar today costs 60p (price matched at supermarkets). That puts the price at £780, but I'm not sure what price people use on the mars index I certainly have paid 75p a bar recently, so £900...
A number of our teachers instructed. Some were definitely proper instructors (the guys from the PE dept mostly). We also had Austrian Instructors.
We went term time.
I say "Hotel" as it was 2* and certainly more like a hostel than a luxury
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£650 in today's money according to the "This Money" calculator. Sounds good value compared to some of the prices quoted above.
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