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The total cost of a large party on a ski holiday is comparable to an industrial or business contract and so the holiday should be considered from all angles in the same way as you would negotiate a legal agreement.
SKI HIRE
If your party hires equipment in the Alps make sure the depot/shop is close to your hotel or main ski area. If it is some distance away the tour operator will have got a lower price but you will suffer poorer service when boots and skis need to be changed.
BUS HIRE
Do not choose double-decker coaches as they maximise profits for tour operators but mean less support staff as the drivers and reps have to deal with 80+ clients rather than 40+. They are also less stable on snowy roads and have less seat and luggage space per passenger.Bus drivers often lock onboard toilets and/or claim they are frozen up. This is often to avoid them having to pay to have them emptied away from their depot. If you have hired a coach that has onboard facilities ensure that they are available when needed just as they are when you travel by air or train.
OVERCROWDING IN HOTELS
Hoteliers sometimes try to overcrowd rooms especially with school parties.Specify the room allocations as part of the contract and in extreme call the local fire brigade to check if the hotel capacity is within local regulations.
QUALITY OF SKI INSTRUCTORS
Ensure you know that the instructor is experienced with the client group, knows the resort well and speaks good English.This is particularly important at Half-Term and Easter when lesser instructors are pressed into service due to demand.
SNOW GUARANTEES
Examine the tour operator's promises carefully and be aware that in poor conditions the areas with snow will be very crowded.
APRES SKI EVENTS
Have a firm contract about exactly what events are included in your package and what alternatives are on offer due to inclement weather or overbooking.
CHANNEL CROSSINGS
These are often delayed by poor weather and overbooking by ferry operators so enquire about alternatives (such as free transfers to the Tunnel) within your booking conditions.
HOTEL DAMAGE
Hoteliers will charge you for damage to their property and may add on loss of room hire if the room cannot be repaired for the next booking.This is reasonable except when the charges are excessive. Remind them that they should be insured for such eventualities such as loss of booking fees. However it is best to avoid such conflict by treating hotels with more care than your home.
TAXIS
In ski resorts these are usually very expensive.Try to establish the maximum price before you undertake the trip.
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