I REALLY WANT TO GO SKIING AGAIN, BUT I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS...
Snowsport fans keen to return to the mountains have more questions than ever. We answer top queries from our readers regarding booking their ski holidays.
• How should I book my ski holiday?
The best way to do this is through a tour operator with official Atol bonding. This bonding protects your money in case of financial failure, as does – in most cases – paying for your holiday with a credit card. Package holiday providers, including members of Abta or Abtot, also have a legal responsibility for your safety, so they won’t take you to a destination that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against (currently including all ski destinations), and are legally obliged to refund you for a cancellation – though be prepared, many have been taking weeks or months to do so.
• Will I be able to get insurance?
Relatively few providers offer Covid-related cancellation cover, however two exceptions are AllClear and CoverForYou. Some of the very few companies that can arrange insurance if you travel against FCDO advice include Campbell Irvine and Battleface (which will also cover for winter sports). Ski specialists MPI Brokers is another company that will provide travel insurance to countries on the FCDO “essential travel only” list, but the policy will not settle any claims relating to Covid.
• Should I wait until the last minute to book?
If you can afford to be flexible with your dates, choice of destination and budget, leaving it until the last minute to book could pay off. This will enable you to watch how things unfold over the next few months as and when lockdowns are lifted and react quickly if travel corridors are reintroduced or revoked once more. On the flip side, if you’re keen to secure a trip for next season, as long as you do so with trusted operators with a money-back guarantee there’s no harm in planning ahead – there’s likely to be great demand for ski trips, particularly at peak dates, bucket-list-worthy or not, in 2021-22.