If you’re trying to organise a group skiing holiday in the French Alps, preparation is everything. Choosing a destination, managing everyone’s personal preferences, picking the right accommodation, and researching how to get to the resort are just some of the considerations you’ll need to bear in mind. Fortunately, we’ve compiled an essential checklist for every group leader. So read on to learn our top recommendations to help you plan a stress-free group skiing holiday.
1. Set a budget
It’s inevitable that certain members of your group will be able to spend more than others. As a group leader, the challenge is to get a consensus from everyone about a budget they’re all happy with. No easy task. To help, it’s good to establish a budget early on so you don’t waste time researching unrealistic options. Make sure you’ve accounted for all the main expenditures too, including flights, accommodation, lift passes, ski hire, ski tuition, and additional activities. Tasty Ski holidays are for fully catered accommodation meaning breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner are included in the price that you pay. The prices also includes our unlimited drinks service meaning that beer, wine and soft drinks are included throughout the day and not just limited to meal times. Our ski chalet holiday prices do not include flights, airport transfers, ski and snowboard equipment hire, and ski passes. With the exception of flights we can organise everything else for you at an additional cost. Please ask! We have lots of nice discounts available through various suppliers.
2. Pick the right skill level for your group
When you’re organising a group skiing holiday, it’s important to be sensitive to different skill levels. While experienced skiers may be looking to hurtle down the biggest black runs they can find, first-timers may appreciate a gentle introduction at a ski school. Luckily, there are a number of excellent ski schools in Morzine and Le Grand Massif that offer flexible lesson times. If you book in Morzine or Grand Massif, you’ll also find a huge variety of skiable terrain, ranging from beginner areas and nursery slopes to challenging black runs and terrain parks. Both are huge ski areas. Le Grand Massif has approximately 295km of pisted slopes and Morzine and the Portes du Soleil has a whopping 650km of pisted ski and snowboard slopes!
3. Choose your accommodation
One of the biggest decisions when it comes to accommodation is choosing between a hotel or a catered ski chalet. Both have their benefits, but we’re happy to wax lyrical about why a catered ski chalet is best. In addition to often being cheaper than a hotel for a similar quality experience, a chalet gives you far more privacy. It’s the more family-friendly option too. Not only will the kids have more room to run and play (without disturbing fellow guests), our in-chalet chefs can cook a separate kids’ menu at flexible times, ensuring that little ones don’t go hungry. We will also contact the group leader in advance to check if anyone in your group has any dietary requirements and adjust the chalet menu accordingly.
4. Decide when to go
The time of year you travel can have a significant impact on your budget and overall experience. If you’re looking for optimum skiing conditions in the Alps, visiting between January-February is generally best. Want to enjoy warmer weather and sunnier days? Arrive in March or April. The slopes will be generally quieter, and everything becomes cheaper. In particular in April there are some amazing late season ski pass deals to be taken advantage of. Because of modern snow making facilities the pisteurs pack a lot of snow onto the pistes when it is really cold in January and February. This means that the on-piste skiing lasts much longer than in the past. Please note though that if you are a hardcore off-piste powder hound then we advise not to travel in mid-April. The snow off-piste at this time can be both slushy and crusty and we generally advise to stay on-piste. Having said that we have had some amazing mid-April off-piste powder conditions!
5. Collecting money
Asking for money from your friends can be one of the trickiest parts of arranging a ski trip. But there are ways to make life easier. Let everyone know exactly how much the trip will cost them — nobody wants an unexpected request for added extras that you forgot to mention. Be sure to give everyone a deadline for the initial deposit and final payment. And if you’re concerned about certain mates not paying you on time, consider asking for the cash a week before it’s actually due. It might seem a little cheeky, but it could save you the stress of chasing people for money when it’s really needed.
6. Arranging other activities
You’ll also need to think about how to spend your time away from the slopes. Is your group looking to party hard after hitting the trails? Kick back in the chalet with a bottle of wine and a board game? Or are people keen to try other activities, such as husky sledding and paragliding? Depending on the responses you get, you might need to pre-book certain trips and experiences. If there are members of your group with kids, research family-friendly options. Little ones may need a break after a few days on the slopes, and parents will really appreciate you giving them a few non-skiing alternatives. Click here for our guide to winter activities in Morzine and click here for our guide to winter activities in Samoens and Morillon.
7. Create a group checklist
To go the extra mile as the group organiser, create a simple checklist to ensure everyone is adequately prepared. This will prove especially helpful for any first-time skiers. Main items to remember include:
- Ski insurance and valid travel documents
- Travel money
- Essential ski gear and clothing
- Driving licence/GPS device (if anyone is driving)
- Sun cream and lip balm with a high SPF
- Thermals and waterproofs
Check out this ski holiday packing list for a comprehensive guide for your trip.
8. Be organised
Above all, the key to a great group skiing holiday is solid organisation. For group leaders, we suggest creating a spreadsheet (using tools such as Excel or Google Docs) that includes relevant trip information, including costs, accommodation, deadlines for payment, and planned activities. Everyone can use the spreadsheet as a reference point and add their own suggestions, saving you the hassle of constant communication over email. Set a deadline for contributions to the document so you’re not left dealing with last-minute requests in the days before you travel.
Book your group skiing holiday in the Alps
Arranging and booking a group skiing holiday in the Alps can be exciting and daunting all at once. Use the guide above to make the process a whole lot easier, and feel free to get in touch with us for additional help and advice.
We can help you pick the perfect accommodation, recommend activities tailored to your group, arrange transportation, and provide practical tips on everything from the local dining scene to the best ski schools in town.