UK’s Largest Tour Operators Set-Back Holiday Sales To Mid-Feb or Later

What's the earliest departure date you'd risk booking a ski holiday right now?

The UK's two largest ski holiday companies, Crystal and Inghams have both announced they're suspending ski holiday sales until mid-February.

With much of the world currently inaccessible for non-essential travel due to the travel ban and the UK in particular banned by many countries due to the rapid spread of the new variant of COVID 19 in Britain, this is of course not a huge surprise.

"As a result of the latest national lockdown measures we're cancelling all holidays departing on or before 12th February. We are contacting customers in departure date order to discuss their options which include amending to another holiday that's on sale or obtaining a full refund," said a spokesperson for Crystal.

The Hotelplan Group have suspended all Inghams, Ski Total and Flexiski holidays until after 27 February 2021.
"We are extremely disappointed for all of our customers impacted by this news. We hope they will choose to join us on an alternative holiday at a later date, but of course we will provide them with a refund if they want one," Hotelplan UK CEO, Joe Ponte said, adding,

It is still not clear when we will be able to travel from the UK to European ski destinations, and understandably many people are eager to get back on the slopes. Our customers can remain assured that we are continuing to closely monitor the situation and when it is safe to do so, we will be ready to deliver the ski holidays people want."

Le Ski, which runs 32 chalets in the French Alps, has announced it is now skipping this season after the latest French announcement of the season start being further delayed to an unspecified future date.

"We have taken the decision not to run any holidays this winter. There are simply too many obstacles to operating our usual high quality catered chalet holidays this winter so we are skipping a season."

"With the UK in lockdown until at least February, and French ski resorts currently closed with no firm opening date, we have no option but to be decisive and opt not to run our holidays this winter. Nick Morgan, MD, said "For the first time in 38 years Le Ski will not take any guests to the Alps this winter. While this is sad, we felt we had no choice but to display some certainty and clarity for our guests, staff and suppliers. The vast majority of our amazingly loyal guests are happily deferring to next winter, which is already looking busier than ever. We are immensely grateful to our guests and chalet owners for their understanding, which enables Le Ski to remain a strong company."

Story that elite sport rugby teams not allowed out of France..to be confirmed...but if true, then people aren't likely to be allowed in for ski trips.
This 'news' is on BT sport rugby programs today.