Latest posts for the topic "Where to do a season in Europe??"

Where to do a season in Europe??

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:57:12 GMT

Hey, a friend and i are looking into working a season next year..
We are 2 aussie girls who only speak english.. we want to know where the best chance of getting work is, if we know where we are going obiviously we'd do a crash course in that home language but where do we have to best chance of having a fun time and being able to get somework over ther? we are not really bothered by which nation just so long as we get good snow and jobs and friendly people..
any advise would be great x

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:50:28 GMT

I know you specified Europe, but had you thought of the USA instead? When I was skiing in Tahoe (Heavenly, Squaw Valley etc) there were a lot of US and foreign young people working for the lift company and as guides/instructors. I chatted to a few and they seemed to be on a reasonable deal i.e. they were rotated around the shop, lifts, ski patrol, etc so they didn't get bored, and had reasonable acomodation. In the US they also seem to have opportunities for ski guides and unqualified instructors whereas in Europe - especially France - this is a cartel / closed shop involving only highly-qualified instructors. Go to the Heavenly website and I think there's a link there for seasonal workers.

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:53:43 GMT

If you can cook, apply to the numerous chalet companies - there are hundred of chalets in the Tarantaise resorts, plus other resorts such as Verbier, Zermatt and St Anton - you'll soon get to know loads of people and probably end up in some of the best ski resorts in the world. Go for the specialist operators and avoid the mass market ones (large guest to staff ratios).

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:04:16 GMT

The resort of Fernie in Canada was virtually run by Australians on my two visits. Indeed, if you shut your eyes and just listened, you could have been in Randwick or Illawara!

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:00:23 GMT

If you have the right visa you could work for a UK company, this would give you your accommodation, food, lift pass for the season etc, but its worth it if you want to make life simple (ie, get to the UK and they'll ship you out there so you can start work).

I worked in Mayrhofen (Austria) for a couple of years and that was full of Aussies, not much need to speak German there either, although obviously if you have a few phrases that helps, but most of the people there are english speaking anyway.

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:24:27 GMT

wow thanks great advise..
im doing a summer europe of travelling so i thought i might as well stay over there and do a season.. but if its too hard and looks like i wouldnt get work id try get to canada.. i wish i could cook but sadly i suck.. ive been told to get a nannying job as that pay alright and there is a demand in europe but i figure i'd have to nanny to english speaking children.. nelly do u know which visa id need to get if i was to work with the uk company?? ive looked into austria but im not sure if the visas are easy to get there for aussie but if u say they worked their ill take another look.. ill be travelling thru austria in august so maybe i could apply then.. have any of u been to livingo italy??? ive heard thats ok and the duty free makes it a little cheaper to live in.. is Austria expensive?? cheers for all the responses

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:19:53 GMT

If you want to ski, do not get a job as a nanny - you'll be lucky to get one day on the slopes a week!

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:18:41 GMT

If you are over as early as May, visit Scotland!

In fact, just visit Scotland anyway :lol:

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:06:13 GMT

Nanny is definitely a bad idea thanks for bringing that to my attention.. dont plan to visit scotland at this stage but who knows i still have alot of planning to do.. do alot of people on the mountains speak english does anyone know?? or whats like one of the most popular snow fields you would go to??

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:05:11 GMT

You'll find English is common in all the main chalet resorts - Meribel, Courchevel, La Plagne, Val D'Isere, Tignes (these are the main Tarantaise resorts)and also in Verbier, Zermatt and St Anton which also have quite a few chalets. Chalet operators typically employ cooks/chefs, cleaners, drivers, odd job people, reps (language essential). Some with chalet hotels may also employ bar staff.
Visit www.aito.co.uk - it is the Association of Independent Tour Operators for some ideas. There are also independent resort websites that will give you an idea of some of the really small specialist chalet companies (eg www.merinet.com for Meribel).

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:20:20 GMT

Working in a ski resort is one thing, but you need to have abit of cash in your pocket to let your hair down properly. France is fantastic skiing but bars and eating out are rediculously expensive. I am slightly biased but you could do alot worse than trying Austria, numerous resorts to mention, but if there is one you like there are plenty on here that can give you information.

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:39:40 GMT

Resort staff don't always pay the same price as the punters SF!!

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:27:06 GMT

Take a look at www.natives.co.uk ,a very useful site for ski season jobs. Meribel in France would be an obvious choice, this is a popular resort with the British market.
I would not be too concerned about the money issue. Despite low wages in many of the resort jobs, there are a number of positions that include accommodation, meals and lift passes.

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:39:47 GMT

Speaking anecdotally (sp???)

In Austria as a ski/snowboard instructor you wage will be about 1000 Euro a month, maybe pay 75-100 towards accomodation, lunch is paid by clients as are a few apres ski cheekies. The rest is up to you. No tax unless you are anal.

Sounds great to me.

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:07:34 GMT

Working for a TO is never going to pay enormous wages, but you do get lift passes, accommodation and food so any money you earn is beer money.

I did my first season in Chamonix in 1989 and got paid a measly GBP30 a week, however I still managed to go out every single night and stay out til dawn. Although I was a bit of a mine sweeper and obviously things were a lot cheaper 20 years ago.

I did my last season in 1999 and was getting paid GBP100 a week. There are ways and means when you're working in a ski resort to getting things on the cheap or for free, the seasoners all stick together like glue and will help each other out.

Obviously the more you earn the better, and if you don't get a job before you go you will need to take enough cash with you to see you through a few months, just in case.

Whatever you do, you'll have a great time. I don't regret any of my time in the mountains.

Re:Where to do a season in Europe??

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 12:05:11 GMT

for any aussies looking at possibly doing a season in austria and wondering about visa's a really good website set up by a sydney guy is http://han.chung.name/ basically saying that u need a sponsor to get a work permit for ausrtria but then employers want a work permit before they hire u.. catch 22.. the way to go sounds like applying thru the uk companies to get work there. thanks everyone who responded its really put me on track... cheers