Choosing the right type of group accommodation for your school's skiing trip is easier than you may think. But it is always good to know what you are looking for, so we have put together a short guide with information about the various types of group accommodation available in a typical ski resort.
While staying in a hostel might not be right for younger students taking their very first ski trip with their school, it does have some great advantages for older students.
A hostel stay on your school's ski trip will be the most cost effective means to stay out near the slopes and you can try to either rent out the whole hostel depending on how many of you are travelling, or you could hire out dorms which can normally accommodate up to 20. If you do decide to go to a hostel you should keep in mind that the likelihood is you will be sharing with other guests. Some hostels will offer accommodation exclusively for school trips during the season, so you know you will be sharing with other students.
Some hostels will provide food, many will offer some form of breakfast but again you should check this with your ski tour operator when booking your ski school trip.
Hotels will offer all of your food and accommodation under one roof, they may even provide lunch when you are on the slopes if you request it. Staying in a hotel is probably the most common option as there are plenty to choose from, but you will have to take into consideration you will probably be limited by numbers to each room, and some hotels might not have any sort of meeting point within the hotel for the students to meet up and take part in activities.
Hotels will normally be centrally located within resort so while some might not be exactly ski in ski out you may be able to stroll to them once you have finished your day's skiing.
Guest Houses are often look very traditional, built from timber, and would not look out of place on a postcard to your family. Most reviews of guest houses in Alpine resorts compliment the look and feel of the place, but absolutely rave about the warm welcome and incredible local food on offer each night. School groups usually become like an extended family, welcomed home each evening after a long tiring day on the slopes.
A chalet is a great place to stay on your ski school trip, most chalets with accommodate up to 10 people easily and most will have their own games room or chill out area where students can relax after a hard day on the slopes. Staying in a chalet is one of the most luxurious ways to enjoy your ski school trip, your host will arrange breakfast, perhaps afternoon tea, and certainly an amazing evening meal too. Generally you will be not too far from the slopes and able to ski in ski out meaning more time on the slopes.
Clubhotels are often tour operator owned and run so it means that every aspect of your trip is under the control of the same company. If you are taking this option on your ski school trip it means you will always have someone on hand representing the tour operator, and generally they will have great entertainment for school groups. Clubhotels usually provide three hot meals, including lunch, so your students will not have the expense of an extra meal each day. And finally their location is often central and may provide doorstep skiing, which while not essential to a great trip, is nonetheless a real bonus.
France attracts the bulk of the school ski market due to being well established, having a huge range of resorts, being the foreign language of choice for most UK schools.
Alpe d'Huez
Les Arcs
Val Thorens
...All French resorts
Reliable snowfall, impressive mountain scenery, wonderful food and reasonable prices all combine to make Italy a popular choice for school ski trips.
Milky Way
Passo Tonale
Aprica
...All Italian resorts
Andorra has a long standing reputation of offering great value for money. In the past decade, this small Pyrenean country has invested heavily in its ski industry.
Grandvalira
Vallnord
...All Andorran resorts
Austria offers the most choice when it comes to resorts for school ski trips. With well over 50 to choose from, you will find a warm welcome in a charming Alpine setting.
Salzburger Sportwelt
St Johannalpendorf
Ziller Valley
...All Austrian resorts