Do Clubmed check kids birth dates?

A snowHead

Hi - I am considering to book Clubmed for next season but the resort I am interested in will only provide ski lessons and kids club to kids from 4 years old. One of my sons will be three day shy of 4 the week that we plan to go... if I "accidentally" make him 3 days older in the booking - will they check? Any thoughts?

A snowHead

@Bella2015, from past experience with Club Med, although it was a long time ago, we had to provide proof to them that the children had been vaccinated before they could access ski school, daycare and evening club. This proof would probably have included the child's date of birth, but it is a long time ago, and you may not even need to provide it now.

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@Hells Bells, thank Hells Bells - what was this proof? A letter from the doctors?

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@Bella2015, yes I think I had to get a letter from GP, as the vaccination record book wasn't enough. But my kids are in their 20s now so a long time ago.

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@Hells Bells, you have a good memory! Thanks... not sure what to do as want him to have childcare/ lessons

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Presume it you will need to provide API information? That would also mean they have he birth date.

Does he turn 4 while out their or 3 days after you return?

Esprit do lessons and kids clubs from 3yrs old....

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@Bella2015, probably not wise really if you think through the potential insurance implications. The Esprit suggestion is a good one and also worth checking other resorts who may start them younger.

After all it is free

@NickyJ, he will turn 4 two days after we return. What is API?

Advanced Passenger Information - you need to give passport details and from memory date of birth, which is passed onto the air lines.

Ah ok reason for clarifying as I know for most things (normally pricing!) it is the age on return date which is relevant.

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Ah shades of taking my nieces to Legoland where we were going on something that had a 3+ age limit. As they, quite rightly ask the kids how old they are I remember saying to my niece "as it's your birthday next week remember to tell the lady how old you are going to be"

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@Dave of the Marmottes, did that work, didn't for my youngest when she wanted to do the driving school Happy

she decided she couldn't say that and decided not to even do it.

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Yep it worked and it was the driving school - as it was her birthday treat and she was 2 days off 3 I didn't feel too guilty (plus she explicitly said "It's my birthday and I'll be 3". She incidently behaved more maturely than half the kids in there because she listened and paid attention closely.

Took mine to Andorra for a week where lessons started at age 6, she was 5 1/2.

Phoned the agent through whom I was booking the lessons, asked if it was legal requirement (insurance) or just guidance for height, strength, maturity, as mine was advanced for her age (true compared to her school classmates). He said he couldn't guarantee but felt it was the latter.

Put her into school on the first day, told her to tell everyone that she was 6, otherwise she'd be taken out of school.

On the morning of Day 2 she told the instructor in a stage whisper "Don't tell anyone, but actually I'm 5 1/2". Shocked

There were no other problems throughout the week Smile

You know it makes sense.

Oh no..really confused now as don't know what to do. We are going with a few families who all want to go on these dates and this club, so a tricky situation. Could book private lessons for him but he would not be with his friends..
I wonder if I have to give them the API or we could just check in for the flight ourselves ( the age difference does not matter for the flight price at all)? The

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Why not ask Club Med how stringent they are? We had similar debate with Esprit last year as going with friends whose child wasn't yet 5 (would have been around 6wks after our return) and they said it would be fine for the lessons etc.

I know the French love their bureaucracy but someone might see common sense if you ask the question.

A snowHead

@schnitzel_skier, thanks I called Clubmed reservations and they said no , but when I called the hotel directly they said - maybe - so will let me know by tonight, but I am not very hopeful

A snowHead

Re insurance - when you think about it, what would their insurance cover that yours wouldn't, given that you will have some hours in the snow outside of school and has the same risks of damage to themselves or others?

I'd say chance it.

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@Bella2015, if you are going with a few families this must be a sizeable booking worth quite a substantial sum is it not?

You may want to emphasis this point with ClubMed when talking to them!

If it is legal/insurance issue then of course they will have no choice but if not a waiver seems a no brainer.

I suspect as Orange200 alludes this is more to do with physical development than legalities.

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What @Layne says!

3 days is really not here or there from a kiddy's development view.
PS La Plagne does have the very junior kids club so the little one could be looked after and get ski experience

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Just spoke to resort hotel and they said that should be ok to book him on arrival. But will double confirm with the mini club manager tomorrow.. finger crossed! It means though that I can't pre-book him, so I hope there will not be surprises with booking him once there. Like they may change their mind and or come up with some crazy price

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@Bella2015, fingers crossed, sounds promising. Re Insurance, I really meant your insurance, as if something horrible happened, your insurance might at some point question why he was skiing when under their rules he shouldn't have been. All really irrelevant if they use a bit of common sense and let him enjoy his holiday with his friends.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

Lie and be damned. But don't complain here when you are facing a massive medical bill if something goes wrong.

Would you expect a British provide of services to waive things on a whim. You do not check in your parental responsibilities at Gatwick. Just sayin'

@chocksaway, not sure how you relevant/ helpful your comment is but thanks for your opinion

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@Bella2015, @chocksaway, Spends his time out in the Alps during the season, so his opinion is probably quite well informed.

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@Layne, not sure why they would not book them now but say they would on arrival..slightly nervous to be too pushy as they may just revert to just following their rules..should I try and insist that they book him in advance or at least provide me a written confirmation that they would accept him in the resort....

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@geepee, as I said, I respect any advice especially that of such and experienced snowhead.. but just felt that @chocksaway's comment about me somehow "checking in parental rights in the airport" ever so slightly offensive...

@Bella2015, shame your friends are putting you into this spot, as if you go later you won't have an issue, if you go with somebody else, you wouldn't have the issue. I personally wouldn't attempt to lie and if they wouldn't agree to book he child in when you book the holiday you have got to have somewhere else lined up for you lessons or go with somebody else if I wasn't happy. Which of your two destinations have they decided on? Maybe worth asking about what is available outside of club med and how convenient it is for the accommodation?

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

@Layne, thanks.. yes as per @NickyJ's suggestions I looked at the alternative and it would not be a problem to organise another ski school and/or nanny for him - last year we used Evo2 and T4 and were happy - the only issue would be that he would then be separated from all other kids in the group which is not ideal for him..as I said I have called the hotel and now awaiting patiently for the confirmation from them which should come today

A snowHead

I doubt that the API would find its way to the resort, given that it is only used for the flights/border control

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@SkiG, thanks - I have emailed the Chief or the Village but he is yet to respond

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Hi

We had planned to go away 18th-25th March with my 4 daughters, the youngest would be 6 days off her 3rd birthday (legal age that ski schools allow kids in our chosen resort). I rang ESF in france and explained the situation the lady was great, she said a week out is totally fine, I could book our ski school over the phone and this would be noted onto the booking. Like you I had wondered about bending the truth but a lot of companies were asking me to enter d.o.b and I was worried they would check passports etc.
If I was in your position I would be to change the date to start ski lessons on your sons birthday then theres no worry at all, I'm sure if you explained the situation your up against they would understand, last thing you want is to arrive and hes on his own.
x

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@rm1982, thanks - I thinks ski schools are more flexible than Clubmed. my friends have already booked for the week before my sons 4th birthday, so now I need to decide whether to chance it and hope that he would be accepted ( or arrange a separate childcare for home if not) or not go with them at all...

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Or by chancing it - i don't mean to put a wrong date in the booking- I was already in touch with the hotel so they know the true situation - so just hoping they will be able to accept him

After all it is free

One of my grand-daughters is still eligible for free "under 5" lift passes but to get one we have to produce her passport. And when I booked a "family pass" for british friends they wanted the documentation (which French families have, but we don't) to prove their status. My friends weren't married and their 2 children weren't "theirs". I knew the woman selling the passes and I speak enough French to explain that they we don't have those documents in the UK, but that they were friends of mine and I knew the four of them had been living together for many years (which was true!). She gave me the pass, but it was a bit of a personal favour - if I'd been a stranger, or stroppy (or perhaps someone unable to speak any French) she could have dug her heels in. I wouldn't chance it unless you have a "fall back" plan - in case they need to see his passport and won't take him.

Don't rely on getting private lessons at the last minute. I tried at Christmas to book lessons for my grand-daughters at half term and there was absolutely nothing left - no groups, no privates.

But @pam w, that's a bit different, as they were claiming a young age in order to avoid paying (to put it crudely), whereas in this case someone would be claiming an older age in order to pay! I can understand in the former case any business would be stricter Smile

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An update - I have received a call from the resort chief this morning and basically they said that they cannot legally accept my son;( As my friends have already booked , I have decide to proceed with booking anyaway. Effectively it means that he goes for free only pays for the flight which leaves me enough budget to arrange a childcare and ski school outside Clubmed..not ideal but should be ok

Help!!

Do Clubmed check kids birth dates?

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