 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm thinking of booking my 1st ski holiday, and I have some questions I'm hoping to get clarity on. 
1. I assumed Action Outdoors was just the UK organizer, but I see the dates and offerings are different as compared to UCPA- does that extend to the skiing experience?
2. I speak French but I'm not completely fluent, so I'm now concerned booking through UCPA might mean I'd have a French speaking instructor.
3. Airport Accessibility- The UCPA and AO websites have transport options mentioned, is that up to date and reliable?
4. Would all the resorts have the option to rent a helmet etc? Or is it based on the location?
Apologies if this has been asked before, any insights would be great!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Riaa2311, I can't answer 1&2 as I've only ever booked through action outdoors for the 4 UCPA Centres I've visited. Although I suspect most of the instructors will speak at least a bit of English.
3. Airport accessibility should be accurate and for most resorts I think they use Ben's Bus.
4. All the centres I've been have had helmets available for a small extra charge.
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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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| Riaa2311 wrote: |
I'm thinking of booking my 1st ski holiday, and I have some questions I'm hoping to get clarity on.
1. I assumed Action Outdoors was just the UK organizer, but I see the dates and offerings are different as compared to UCPA- does that extend to the skiing experience?
2. I speak French but I'm not completely fluent, so I'm now concerned booking through UCPA might mean I'd have a French speaking instructor.
3. Airport Accessibility- The UCPA and AO websites have transport options mentioned, is that up to date and reliable?
4. Would all the resorts have the option to rent a helmet etc? Or is it based on the location?
Apologies if this has been asked before, any insights would be great! |
1,2 - if you book through Action Outdoors you might be grouped with other English speakers, emphasis on the might. If you book through UCPA you are more likely to be randomly put to a room without preference. You could email them to ask to share with others English speakers, they will try to accommodate if possible. Either way all your instructors will be french and will be able to speak English to a varied ability. Class size typically is around 10 per class so you won't get much individual feedback, exceptions apply if you got a smaller class or a top instructor.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hi. I’ve been on a lot of UCPA trips booked through Action Outdoors only.
1) I have looked at the UCPA website but think there is a lot of overlap on the platforms. One key difference I recall is that a lot of the UCPA website trips are for 6 night (arriving Sunday) not 7 as with Action Outdoors. Many of the French travel by train or car whereas Brits tend to fly and need an airport transfer, which they offer to most but not all the centres. I have tended to be put in a room with Swedes but sometimes French people. Always made friends! I used to book a twin but actually now happy to be in a dorm of 3 to 6 people as it is a quick way of getting to know people. As a beginner you sometimes get an extra season on Sunday (I think but that might have changed). Email Action Outdoors or ring and they will tell you. Plus the pass is for 6.5 days so you can ski on Saturday morning if you have a late transfer.
2). When I started with UCPA, I hadn’t spoken much French for 19 years, but the basics were there and my instructor spoke English and French. I’d say all the younger instructors do. If you find your instructor not so good you can ask to move groups.
The more I have spoken, even faltering French, the more it has improved. I relisten to Paul Noble’s audible French course in the weeks before I go as a refresher! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-French-Paul-Noble-Complete/dp/B01D1XVUCE/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2FLJU6G6O3F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JUN_6OCoosoPbRxcDD49rAll9zT3c6gETZbfHGDDzTwKTddfBvJWsow-JRdCs1p2X36TG85IemHgbzS3VshAnwtIcvf-HF4S1ocukRoTWqYiTxaIaEYLuDzMZU0c3K47VudN73ttsEwJfmHsNtxAuiHp4sMsJOWQuxec-D8XcRp9LA3DNLIhPmFQTU-BewxZYByF4ZRmlOb7oDpODPDlYZXJGaK_kKepFMqsaiAWDzM.MmpFo9HKe7jfcU5nN6ZKUaCHj-7jctSTv9Osr7kLuxA&dib_tag=se&keywords=paul+noble+french&qid=1760992136&sprefix=Paul+nob%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-2&tag=amz07b-21
3) airport accessibility. I’d say their websites are up to date, but they rely on other companies like bens buses so when seats have all been taken you will have to find your own transfer, which though possible, is a faff so don’t leave booking until the last minute.
4) I know they offer helmets and worse case you could rent one from another rental. If you are feeling flush you could buy a helmet on sale from Sport Pursuit or Decathalon as you would never really know if someone has had a knock in a helmet and so it’s less effective. That being said, I bought my own helmet from eBay second hand for £12! You will definitely need your own goggles and waterproof gloves as they don’t rent those and ones in resort can be pricy. Borrow skiwear to begin with as a full set of decent gear can set you back unless you get it from EBay etc. Breathability is a must.
It is a great organisation and very social. I have rambled here but I hope you enjoy your trip.
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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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Mostly covered above but to be clear, UCPA is a french organisation aimed at encouraging younger people to participate in outdoor activites - Union national des Centres sportifs de Plein Air (National Union of Fresh Air Sports Centres). They offer activities year round as they do things in summer as well. In terms of sking they offer accomodation, full board, equipment, lift pass, and lessons in most cases - you can book "no instruction" holidays if you like, or even just not attend the lessons on offer. Most centres used dormitory style accomodation, and bathroom facilities vary with some having facilities in your dorm and others being in specific bathrooms. You;ll be expected to clean and tidy your room on departure. Some centres offer twin rooms, but you usually have to book with someone else to get those.
While their target market is primarily french, you do get a lot of other nationalities. When I went, the welcome meeting was split into two - one room in French, the other in English. In that one we had people from UK, USA, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Japan. All the centre staff I interacted with spoke English well enough to permit communication, though the skill levels varied - the potwashers were perhaps less fluent than the instructors, but then they have less interaction with clients.
Action Outdoors is the uk arm (partner? not sure tbh) of UCPA. Many of those who use UCPA will arrive on Sunday and depart the following Saturday, using the weekend to travel. Action Outdoors are aimed at the UK market who tend to fly on Saturday so their offering usually includes accomodation on Saturday, and they can organise airport transfers. Your lift pass normally starts on Sunday (arrival day for the french market) and often can be extended for little to no cost on departure day if you have a late departure. You;ll proabably need to vacate your room but you should have access to facilities to change if you do take advantage of this.
Group size will vary depending on your course but all the instructors I've seen teach have spoken perfect English.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We have been on off piste courses we have been on with UCPA booked through Action Outdoors several years ago. The first there were us three Brits, one French, and the rest Scandinavian on the course, so it was conducted in English, the second, us Brits, a couple of Scandinavian, the rest French, so fully bilingual, everything explained in both French and English.
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