The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
How to have a stress-free ski-for-all
If you haven’t skied for two winters, there are new rules to grasp. Lucy Aspden reveals everything you need to know
The forthcoming ski season is set to be like no other. For holidaymakers it will mark a longawaited return to the slopes; for operators it will be back to business; and for resorts it will herald a new era of post-pandemic holidays.
But despite their eagerness, British skiers and snowboarders will be, quite rightly, out of practice when it comes to the logistics of going on holiday to the mountains. Things have changed significantly since February 2020, when the last British departures were able to hit the slopes – thanks in part to both the pandemic and Brexit.
From Covid passes and new rules on who might serve you in a chalet, to requirements for passports and changes to medical cover, we have picked apart the rules and regulations likely to catch skiers and snowboarders out this winter, to give you a fighting chance of enjoying a hassle-free ski holiday. You’ve earned it, after all.
DOWNLOAD YOUR COVID PASS
As nations have reopened, the use of Covid passports, which provide proof of inoculation, a negative test or recovery from coronavirus, have become commonplace and they’re set to stick around over winter.
Skiers should expect to have to carry such a pass with them on their ski holiday – for access to bars and restaurants in particular – and, in Austria and Italy, to buy lift passes and hit the slopes if using enclosed cable car lifts.
The NHS Covid Pass, available on the NHS app, can be used for this and is now accepted by all EU countries, as well as most nations further afield, such as Canada.
However, rules vary for children of different ages. Currently in Austria, unvaccinated over-12s must have proof of recovery or a negative test (no older than 24 hours for antigen, no more than 72 hours for PCR) to access enclosed lifts, accommodation, restaurants and bars. By comparison, in some resorts in North America, anybody of any age must be vaccinated to eat indoors on the mountain.
If going on holiday for a week, parply ents will need to be up to speed with where to get tests locally and consider their choice of destination carefully – picking a smaller resort with more chairlifts and fewer gondolas (which would require Covid passes in Austria and Italy) could avoid a lot of stress.
BOOK WITH A BONDED OPERATOR
It’s hard to forget the series of events that occurred last winter. Skiers’ hopes of heading out to the slopes were left in last-minute tatters as countries across the globe began to close their borders and suspend flights with Britain. A lot has changed since then, notably the worldwide vaccine rollout; however, the risk remains.
As Michael Pettifer, from insurance provider MPI Brokers, explains: “Border closures are a concern. Many insurances don’t provide cover for this, so it is a good idea to see what travel companies can help with – many are offering some form of refund if this happens.”
Holidaymakers should check their terms and conditions carefully and book through a fully bonded tour operator if possible. If the pandemic continues to impact foreign travel as winter approaches, you’ll get a full refund (or an offer of an alternative trip if you’d prefer) if the bonded operator is forced to cancel because it cannot run the holiday due to Covid travel restrictions, Foreign Office advice or resort closures.
SECURE YOUR CHALET EARLY
Catered chalet holidays have long been a favourite with Britons, but this season, the number on offer has significantly shrunk. Crystal Ski Holidays has pulled out of the chalet market entirely and Inghams has cut its programme – including sister company Ski Total – from more than 120 to just 17 properties.
“The chalet ski market faces – and will continue to face – challenges post Brexit and Covid. With these challenges in mind, and the marginal rise in demand for ski hotels among our customers, creating a reduced, more focused chalet programme for this coming winter made sense,” explains Joe Ponte, the CEO of Hotelplan, which owns Inghams.
Skiers should expect there to be fewer last-minute chalet deals available, less availability in the most popular resorts (in part due to locals deciding to holiday on home soil this winter) and, in some cases, increased prices.
“With reduced chalet availability, it is likely that customers looking for a chalet holiday during peak dates may miss out on their first choice,” says Ponte.
PREPARE FOR NEW FACES
A survey by Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBIT) suggests that the number of UK staff working in French ski resorts has dropped from a pre-Brexit figure of approximately 8,000 staff to just 2,000 this coming winter.
The dramatic changes are due to new rules in the EU; UK citizens now have to apply to work in the bloc and obtain a visa if their stay is more than three months long. The detailed paperwork associated with this two-step application process (both can be refused) makes it much harder for operators to employ British staff.
“As a consequence of this detailed process, some UK operators have simceased trading, others changed their business models, employed more EU citizens or have reduced the size of the holiday programmes,” explains Charles Owen, the managing director of SBIT.
So British holidaymakers should be prepared for some changes to the people who serve, pick them up from the airport (fewer taxi transfers are reportedly available for some resorts) and entertain them on holiday in Europe. “Some of our chalets are still staffed by British team members, alongside highly qualified staff from Europe – but we’re confident our people will continue to quite literally ‘make the holidays’ of our chalet guests,” confirms Ponte.
CHECK YOU ARE COVERED
Since leaving the EU in January, there have been changes to the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme – which has long meant Britons can receive free (or reduced-cost) health care on the Continent. This will be the first winter that skiers and snowboarders travel under the new regime.
In summary, the old EHIC card has been replaced by a new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which also covers those with long-term conditions. Those without either an EHIC or a
GHIC continue to be covered too and cards issued before the end of 2020 will remain valid until they expire.
The pandemic also continues to impact travel insurance validity. Pettifer explains: “Policies are changing all the time due to the ups and downs of travel restrictions, so always doublecheck the cover prior to purchase – if the FCDO advise against travel to your destination you may find the policy you have purchased becomes invalid if you travel against that advice.” He also warns that skiers should prepare to pay more for adequate cover.
There are also extra things to think about when taking out a policy, such as Covid cover. Some providers will cover you if you contract the virus abroad, others will cover you if you have to cancel due to testing positive before departure – but this is not a given in standard policies. As always, ensure you have adequate cover for winter sports, including any extra activities you might intend to take part in off the slopes such as dog sledding or tobogganing. See telegraph.co.uk/ tt-covidinsurance for more advice.
SMARTEN UP YOUR APRES-SKI
When it comes to partying, in the spotlight is the Austrian resort of Ischgl – which was pinpointed as an epicentre of the virus outbreak in early 2020. It has toned down its early-season opening celebrations to herald a new, safer, more regulated approach to parties in the mountains. Instead of its usual rock ’n’ roll approach to its Top of the Mountain opening concert in late November, this year the headline act will be the operatic-pop trio Il Volo.
“Regarding après-ski we welcome the fact the legislature has provided clarity and clear regulations to guarantee the best health-and-safety protection,” says Alexander von der Thannen, the chairman of the Paznaun-Ischgl Tourism Association, who describes the plans for the concert as an “elegant winter opening” focusing on a “highquality” experience.
Covid passes will play a large role in this regulation in all nations. “Strict measures are applied for après-ski which conform to the general rules for night gastronomy in Austria. Amongst others, access is for example only granted with a valid negative PCR test result, proof of vaccination, or evidence of recovery,” explains Von der Thannen.
BUY YOUR KIT NOW
As Christmas approaches, many skiers and snowboarders will be looking to freshen up their look ahead of their return to the slopes – but it might not be as easy as next-day delivery and fully stocked retail stores.
“With Brexit and Covid, importing products into the UK has become a slower and more time-consuming process. Ski hardware and clothing, especially those made in Asia or North America, will be the ones hit the hardest with shipping and therefore may have a limited or delayed stock in the UK retail,” explains Tord Nilson, the brand manager for snow sports equipment specialists Iconic Agency.
“The best bet is to support your local ski and snowboard retailer and grab yourself the kit that you really want before it’s gone – also there will be great deals on last year’s stock as the retail industry struggled to stay open with the restrictions in place.”
GET UP TO DATE ON
YOUR PAPERWORK
As well as the usual lessons, equipment hire and lift passes, skiers and snowboarders need to be prepared for another level of paperwork to complete before departure this season.
While the travel rules have been eased for double-jabbed Britons returning to the UK, testing requirements and passenger locator forms remain. This is in addition to any documentation you might need to fill in prior to arrival in your destination, or tests you need to take. For example, to visit France arrivals must present a completed “sworn statement” selfcertifying they are not suffering from symptoms and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight. To visit Canada a negative PCR test is required, regardless of vaccination status.
Skiers who haven’t travelled abroad since Brexit should also check their passport validity – Britons now need to have at least six months of validity on their travel documents. Some UK passports have up to 10 years and nine months of validity, but the EU will now ignore the additional nine months.
‘Policies are changing all the time, so always doublecheck the cover prior to purchase’
Overseas travel is currently subject to restrictions. See Page 5