If you’re feeling unsure of what to expect, whether it’s a good time to book or even if it’s safe enough, have a read through our COVID-19 FAQs featured below. The last couple of months have been a rollercoaster for everyone, and we can’t wait to enjoy some turns with you, back on snow, on your next ski holiday.
Last updated 13/01/2021
COVID-19 FAQs – Ski Holiday 20/21
What are the new rules for people entering France, Austria & Switzerland?
As the situation is so fluid, please stay up to date on the UK government website, select the country you are travelling to and find all information you need about the new entry requirements.
France
Travellers arriving in France from the UK, European Area, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay are no longer required to self-isolate.
Arrivals by sea and air routes will need to complete a ‘sworn statement’ (déclaration sur l’honneur) form self-certifying they are not suffering from symptoms associated with Covid19 and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight. This is available in English on the side of the French Embassy London.
15th December – Quarantine will be reduced to 5 days (from 14 days) if you can provide a negative COVID-19 test on arrival back in the UK. More information on the Test & Release strategy.
16th December – Nationwide lockdown is lifted, but curfew remains in place (9 pm – 6 am). We’re still waiting for an update on ski resorts opening. Rumours of January 7th, but nothing confirmed.
23rd December – France restricted travel from the UK from 24:00 (CET) on 20 December. This travel restriction applies to air, car, ferry and train passengers. From 24:00 (CET) on 22 December, until at least 6 January (subject to a possible review). All travellers from the UK, including children aged 11 and above, will need to present a negative COVID-19 test result, carried out less than 72 hours before departure. More info here.
13th January – From 15 January, if you intend to travel to England or Scotland, including UK nationals returning home from travel abroad, you must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to 3 days before departure. If you do not comply (and you do not have a valid exemption) your airline or carrier may refuse you boarding and/or you may be fined on arrival. All other current entry requirements and restrictions continue to apply.
Please refer to our Facebook page as we regularly post discussions and updates.
Austria
All travellers arriving in Austria from the UK must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. You have the option of taking a self-funded PCR or antigen test after 5 days. If your result is negative, you will no longer need to stay in quarantine. If you have been in a country other than the UK in the 10 days before you arrive in Austria, depending on the country you may need to self-isolate on arrival or provide a medical certificate showing a negative test result for COVID-19.
Testing on arrival is available at Vienna and Salzburg airports and costs approximately €120 per test. If you cannot present a negative test result upon arrival, you must isolate for 10 days and take a test at your own cost within 48 hours. You can end self-isolation early with a negative test result.
If you are returning to the UK from Austria, you will need to self-isolate on your return (unless you are exempt).
2nd December – Until 10th January all arrivals in Austria from a country with more than 100 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the previous two weeks will have to go into 10 days’ quarantine, which can be shortened if they test negative after five days in isolation, the government said in a statement. For more information on where to buy a COVID-19 test.
3rd December – St Anton & Lech ski resorts will open the lifts on December 24th.
22nd December – The Austrian Government has announced that from 00:00 on 22 December 2020 until 1 January 2021 a landing ban will be in place for all flights from the UK. Find out more. The landing ban has been extended until 10th January.
Switzerland
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, travellers from the UK are not permitted to enter Switzerland. However, there are some limited exemptions (exempt list). These restrictions do not apply to UK nationals who are legally resident in Switzerland. Travellers arriving from the UK are currently unable to transit Geneva Airport to enter France unless you hold a residence or cross-border permit for Switzerland. Travellers from the UK who have an exemption to enter Switzerland must quarantine for 10 days from arrival in Switzerland.
Read more here, about how to stay safe on the slopes
15th December – Quarantine will be reduced to 5 days (from 14 days) if you can provide a negative COVID-19 test on arrival back in the UK. One example of a Coronavirus swab test you can buy which is in line with the Government guidelines.
5th December – Verbier ski resort fully opens.
14th December – Anyone arriving from the United Kingdom, regardless of nationality, is required to self-isolate for 10 days, including those who have arrived since 14 December. If you have arrived in Switzerland from 14 December onward, you must be in quarantine in your place of residence / accommodation by midnight on 22 December at the latest, and you must notify your local Cantonal Medical Service by 12 noon on 24 December.
6th January – Due to COVID-19 restrictions, travellers arriving from the UK are only permitted entry to Switzerland if they hold a Swiss or Liechtenstein residence permit; or a ‘laissez-passer’ issued by the Swiss Embassy in London for certain circumstances. Flights from the UK to Switzerland are limited.
Will there be a “normal” ski season next year?
We strongly believe that the ski season next year will go ahead as planned, but there will be some differences in the way people interact and move about the resort.
On a positive note, many of the resorts across Europe have opened for their summer season of skiing on the glaciers. We’ve been closely watching to see what their new procedures are for keeping skiers and snowboarders safe on the mountain. Some of our team have been out training on the glaciers in Tignes & Val d’Isere and have reported back that:
- Masks are required on the train, cable cars and t-bars. NOTE: They will not be able to let you on the mountain without a mask.
- You can still share T-bars.
- No mask needed when skiing.
- Increased cleaning and sanitation of lift stations, restaurants and public areas.
- The queues are organized in such a way as to promote safety distances: narrow and delimited by markings.
- Time slots are set up to promote staggered access to all skiers on the glacier.
News from the Southern Hemisphere
We’ve also been keeping a close eye on what is happening right now for the southern hemisphere winter. In Cardrona New Zealand for example, they have contact tracing in place so they know who is on the mountain and when. They can then use that information to contact people if there were reports of new cases of COVID-19. With physical distancing required and hospitality limited to 100 people maximum inside, they are being smart and cautious in the reopening of their resorts.
We’ve been reading a lot of their COVID-19 FAQs to get a better idea of how the resort is adapting in these uncertain times. The tightening of local restrictions meant that Falls Creek & Hotham had to close for the rest of August. All the lift passes, lessons and rental reservations at Mount Hotham and Falls Creek resorts will be refunded.
We hope our European resorts won’t have to open and close throughout the season, but essentially they will do what is necessary to make skiing safe for everyone in Winter 20/21.
What are the ski schools doing to prepare for next winter?
Thanks to all your COVID-19 FAQs, we have been busy putting together our new COVID terms to enable you to book with confidence. We’ve also been updating our products on offer to ensure we have more private lessons available. This means we can be more flexible in terms of products and prices, than ever.
We’re confident we will have a great upcoming winter season, and to do so we’ve set in place COVID safety measures. All of our new safety protocols have been created to ensure the safety of our clients and our team this winter.
We ask that you follow them during your time with us so that we can all enjoy the slopes together this winter. Please be sure to read the protocols that apply to the country you will be skiing in.
What are the ski resorts doing to prepare for next winter?
Resorts across Europe are preparing to start the season, as usual. As for the ski resorts, there have been many meetings taking place to ensure the winter goes to plan, in the safest way possible. The resort staff will have hydroalcoholic gel on their lift station to use throughout the day and all staff will be equipped with masks to ensure everyone’s safety.
Finally, they are working hard to ensure the flow of people around the resort remains fluid to ensure people are spread out and to limit queues. The end goal is for everyone to share and enjoy the mountain, whilst keeping safe. For the latest winter updates please click here.
What if we have to cancel our ski lessons?
- We can offer you a Financial Guarantee – 100% Refund Until 45 Days Before Your Lessons
- Any bookings made for 2020.21 may be cancelled and lessons will be fully refunded up until 45 days before your first lesson starts (extended from the original date of November 20, 2020). No questions asked.
- Or if you prefer Flexibility – Defer Your Booking for 24 months – At No Cost
You now have the option to defer your lessons for up to 2 years, at no additional cost. You must let us know no later than 28 days before the start of your first lesson.
New Generation COVID Cover
We’re well aware that the COVID-19 situation may change over the coming months, in which case we’re offering extra reassurance for you. If one of the following happens exclusively due to COVID-19, we are offering an 80% refund up until 7 days and a 70% refund up until 48hrs before the start time of your first lesson:
- You are prevented from travelling as a result of national or international government imposed travel restrictions.
- You are sick with COVID-19 (you must provide a medical certificate/positive COVID-19 test as evidence).
- Total resort closure due to national or local government action.
Zero Risk – 100% Refund Guarantee Option
We are now providing an option for you to add a ‘100% Refund Guarantee’ onto your booking. For a small fee of 7% of your booking, selected and paid for at the time of purchase, we’ll guarantee a full refund up until 48hrs before the start time of your first lesson. Please note the fee is non-refundable.
*Where applicable, these terms supersede our standard Terms & Conditions.
What will happen to our bookings if the resort has to shut?
We’re well aware that the COVID-19 situation may change over the coming months, in which case we’re offering extra reassurance for you. If there is total resort closure due to national or local government action exclusively due to COVID-19, we are offering a 70% refund up until 48hrs before the start time of your first lesson.
What if I can’t come skiing?
If you are sick with COVID-19 (you must provide a medical certificate/positive COVID-19 test as evidence), we are offering a 70% refund up until 48hrs before the start time of your first lesson.
Can I be sure my ski holiday will go ahead?
We cannot say with absolute certainty that your ski holiday will go ahead. That’s why we’ve created our 100% refund guarantee option to give you peace of mind. For a small fee of 7% of your booking, selected and paid for at the time of purchase. We’ll guarantee a full refund up until 48hrs before the start time of your first lesson. Please note the fee is non-refundable.
*Where applicable, these terms supersede our standard Terms & Conditions.
Where can I get up-to-date travel and health information for my destination?
- UK health authorities are providing detailed advice on travel.
- The official ski resort pages are providing travel advice and updating their sites regularly.
- Check our COVID updates page for information relevant to the resorts we operate in.
- Alternatively, follow us on Twitter as we share useful and up to date articles daily.
- To find insurance options for travel in the EU click here.
- On arrival in the UK, you must fill out a passenger locator form.
Can I book my ski lesson for winter 20/21?
Yes! To find your ideal lessons head over to our live lesson availability for next winter. Remember, you can also get a quote and save it for later. Please note that quotes are reserved for an hour, just in case you don’t want to book straight away.
Do you have special COVID-19 cover or terms in your T&Cs?
Yes, for the updated changes please take a look at our COVID Updates page. Where applicable, these terms supersede our standard Terms & Conditions.
Is now a good time to book a ski holiday?
We hope you found these COVID-19 FAQs useful. If you’re in a position to do so, now is the time to snag some good deals on ski holidays. And with our 100% refund guarantee until Oct 31, 2020 – you have nothing to lose. To take a look at our live lesson availability click here.
If you still have some unanswered COVID-19 FAQs, feel free to drop us a message or chat on the phone.
