Latest posts for the topic "School Trips in 2010"

School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:55:38 GMT

My school are hoping to run a ski trip in 2010 for sixth form students at either half term or the first week of the Easter holidays for 40 ish students plus staff. It would be a mixed group, boys and girls, mixed ability, ski and boarding. We would need at least 4 hours "lessons" a day, full or half board all inclusive (flights, transfers, ski boots/skiis/boards etc and lift passes....you know the deal). Venue not important as long as there is snow and the price is right!

Anyone out their who can advise, wish to give us a price, point us to suitable operators etc etc.

Thanks in advance. (Admin....hope I have posted this in the right place!!)

Dave

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:04:24 GMT

My son has just brought home a form for the 2010 Feb half-term ski trip. We were hoping that the school would be going back to Europe next year (our oldest son is going in April to USA)to keep the cost down but instead of that they are doing an even more expensive trip to Canada - GBP1,250 for 7 days. So please think of cost when booking because it is a strain on us parents, we feel that we can't say no to our other son as it wouldn't seem fair.

Our school use a company called Pinnacle Travel who specialise in school ski trips and are excellent. I'm sure you will have no trouble finding them on the internet if you do a search. Don't worry though they don't only go to USA & Canada I think they do the European resorts as well.

Good Luck :lol:

School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:53:17 GMT

Really interesting points Diane.

I started ski-ing on school trips in the 1970s. We went to 'cheep and cheerful' resorts like Sauze D'Oulx and Nauders in Austria - which meant the prices were in reach of the majority of families. Pupils at my brothers' school went to Andalo in Italy for many, many years - again at a price which was within reach of most.

Now my old school offers its pupils expensive trips to Heavenly and Tremblant - way out of reach of many, many parents.

This is a great shame as many pupils just won't get the chance of trying (and getting hooked) on the mountains in winter.

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:53:37 GMT

Hi,
My daughter is off to Zell am See in Feb HT with ski astons.
Cost all in 754.00.
They are going by luxury coach and staying a 3 star hotel. As she has not been yet I can't tell you much more than that, but could post more towards the end of Feb.
They have been planning this for more than a year so definitely seems the time to start looking into it.
Best wishes.

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:10:28 GMT

Bald eagle, contact Ian Barton at a company called Edwin Doran, they are experts in school sports trips. Ian is senior at the company and will look after you. Tell him I recommended you to them.

www.edwindoran.co.uk

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:10:35 GMT

My nephew went to Schladming last year and they stayed in dorm type accomodation.

When I went with the school......many moons ago. We went to a small place called Villach. It did its purpose. I remember we stayed out of the resort and had to bus in every day but I remember some good times lol

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:13:50 GMT

The operator that springs to mind are Equity Ski, they do good value all inclusive holidays to some of the less expensive ski areas.

http://www.equityski.co.uk/

If the trips we organise didn't have to cater for expert skiers I'd certainly use them.

Give them a ring, they are really easy to deal with.

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:25:09 GMT

Passo Tonale is a popular place for school groups to go.

Last year when we were there a couple of teachers were scouting out the hotel and I believe they were looking to book through Crystal.

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:26:26 GMT

Theres a school trip booked into the clubhotel I anm going to in Serre Che in March..... :shock:

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:42:59 GMT

Hi there,

I've been on 2 school trips with 2 secondary schools. One in 2004 to winter park with pinnacle travel which cost GBP960. I also went last year with my school i was in year 12 and it was a whole school trip! We used PGL and went to Wagrain! We went during the first week of april. It was excellent in every aspect! Instruction was excellent, we got breakfast, packed lunch and dinner, food was ok nothing to write home about but ok. We flew from Gatwick to Salzburg and the resort is only an hour or so away. Although it isn't high 800/900m's there was runs available right to the valley and we also also recieved a big "dump" on the evening of our first day skiing!
http://www.pgl.co.uk/NR/exeres/D26BF602-FB9A-46F6-BA34-7B41F3EDA580.htm?ParentGuid={CB33A6B4-46BD-44B1-B5C5-ED467119EAEF}

Thats the link to our hotel we stayed in, its a youth hostel type thing a bit out of wagrain but there's a bus that stops outside and takes you to whichever area your going!

http://www.pgl.co.uk/PGLWeb/Schools/Secondary-schools/ski
Thats the general link for all their holidays!

All in all the trip to Wagrain was amazing and the best ski trip i've ever been on! I really would recommend it! It was so amazing i was looking at the photo's today on the school computers!

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:57:46 GMT

New to the forum so Hello to all.

I've been skiing with Equity Ski (not with a school group) 4 times and I would say be careful.
They may be cheap but if it's too cheap you may find they compromise on quality.

The 1st 3 times were fine, Claviere, Andalo and Schladming. Claviere and Andalo in particular were lovely places.
I would not use them again however, as the last time we went, to Prato Nevoso, the equipment was appalling and the food in the hotel so bad we ended up eating out.

My daughter, who was 7 at the time, had very old skis and they fell apart while she was skiing. The hire shop did not even seem bothered. This was in 2003, mind you, so they are sure to have upgraded their equipment by now.
To be fair it was cheap but I do think a certain level of equipment is a right. If it's no good you be put off skiing for life.

My sister works for PGL and says their school trips are excellent.

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:17:31 GMT

Our children went with Skibound (many years ago) as part of a group of 11 and 12 year olds plus teachers and assorted parents. Always seemed to work well and very reasonably priced. Might be worth contacting them. Interski (never used them) operate in the Aosta Valley resorts. Skitopia also do school trips - under the name of TJM I think?

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:46:52 GMT

Hello.....Edwin Doran.
Close the thread.

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:13:34 GMT

He asked for peoples opinions, perhaps he'd like more than one option.
Incidentally, looked on Edwin Doran website. No ref to skiing but I'm you know best.

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:07:35 GMT

I seem to remember a company called Schools Abroad used to arrange trips when I was younger, and when my kids were going. Not sure if they still exist?

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:19:14 GMT

Tony_H wrote:I seem to remember a company called Schools Abroad used to arrange trips when I was younger, and when my kids were going. Not sure if they still exist?

They might be called skiplan now. We went to Aprica in '79, it was with schools abroad or skiplan.
check out the gear - and this is their current website.

http://www.skiplan.co.uk/aprica.asp

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:05:33 GMT

Two of the biggest players in the market are PGL and Acorn who go most places.

Trying to arrange it yourself isn't something I'd recommend personally, although in Switzerland at least there's quite a lot of suitable accommodation you'd need to book a long, long way in advance and my guess is you'd have some issues getting the arrangements past any local authority although it'll vary as to how clued up they are.

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:56:30 GMT

I've been with my kids school a couple of times, they always use Skibound. They supply a dedicated rep to the group (the first one was crap though, but it made it quite funny!) and they organise ski lessons for the school party only, so that the kids are only in groups with people they know.

http://www.skibound.co.uk

I believe that schools booking again get discounted rates in subsequent years.

School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:23:16 GMT

Interski
Skiing Europe
SkiBound
Ski Astons
PGL
Ski Class
Ski Wise

Just to name a few specialist school ski trip tour ops. Loads more......try searching the net!

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:07:02 GMT

Thanks all

the idea of getting info from you lot who often have been, done and got the medal is to sift the wheat from the chaff. Web sites just tell us their story and not the one their clients often encounter.

So far all the info has been great ....please keep it going as I will look into every one

Ta.....
off to Poland at Half term (solo). please don't laugh too loud cause its actually very nice....good snow at the moment and Zakopane is a great place to visit with good bars and cheap food (unless you are totally committed to skiing all day and want the thrill of dying on a black run). that said for hard black try Kaprosky Weich!!

Re:School Trips in 2010

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:12:07 GMT

Im off to teach with a company called T&M Travel half term.
Some of my Friends have been teaching with them for years after trying a number of other school operators they much prefer this lot.

They use English instructors and the kids get six hours on the snow every day plus evening activities. They are supervised all day on the slope including meals and breaks Its a smaller company so they provide a much more personal service than the big boys like interski.

Didnt pass on any of the extra costs to the schools this year that have been caused by the exchange rate and fuel prices which impressed me when i heard as i know a lot of the other companies have.
I cant find the web site but the contact number for the offices is 01502589244

Re:School Trips in 2010

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:59:03 GMT

bald-eagleman wrote:Thanks all

the idea of getting info from you lot who often have been, done and got the medal is to sift the wheat from the chaff. Web sites just tell us their story and not the one their clients often encounter.

doesn't the local education authority have some advice and relationships with providers?