School Ski Trips without the price tag!

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1 ACTION OUTDOORS SCHOOL SKI TRIPS WINTER 2018/19 School Ski Trips without the price tag! Prices start from 316, with centres in top resorts such as Val Thorens, La Plagne, Flaine and more! You will find our prices not only very competitive, possibly the lowest on the market, but they also allow you flexibility when planning the week. The UCPA all inclusive ski package works perfectly for school groups as everything is on site: full board accommodation, ski school, ski hire, lift pass and evening entertainment. The school ski trip is the perfect vehicle for developing the all-important interpersonal skills in young people, such as confidence building, independence, negotiation, communication and grit and resilience. In addition it can provide evidence for those who are doing a Duke of Edinburgh s Award much more than just a holiday! Action Outdoors/UCPA make school activity holidays really simple to plan and organise. We understand that your workload is not going to be reduced just because you have agreed to plan the annual ski trip and that you cannot afford to forget any minute detail. We are here to help with that detail from the risk assessment to a trip hoody, or even documentation to support Duke of Edinburgh assessments. Who is Action Outdoors? Action Outdoors is the UK partner of a huge non profit French organisation called UCPA. UCPA is the French National Outdoor organisation (Union des Centre Sportif de Plein Air). They offer a wide range of sports holidays including school trips for 7-18 year olds in every activity under the sun. The UCPA centres are large - the majority sleep around 350 people in multi share rooms (normally 4 people to a room but this does vary between resorts), with shared bathrooms, dining facilities and social areas. The centres are ideal for school groups. To keep the cost as low as possible, dishes are to be cleared away after eating and rooms are to be cleaned at the end of the week -thus it isn't a luxury way to go skiing just a very cost effective one as everything is included in the price. Perfect for school trips. UCPA has been in existence for over 50 years and take people away on courses every year. Page 1 ACTION OUTDOORS PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT SERVICE, THE CHILDREN & TEACHERS ALL WENT HOME FULL OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THEIR NEXT TRIP!

2 Our prices Dated: 29th March 2018 Prices in GBP 18 Nov 25 Nov 2 Dec 9 Dec 16 Dec 6 Jan 13 Jan 20 Jan 27 Jan 3 Feb 10 Feb 10 Mar 17 Mar 24 Mar 31 Mar 7 Apr 14 Apr Deux Alpes Flaine Altair Les Arcs Les Contamines Plagne Val Thorens The price per person includes: 5 nights accommodation Full board from Sun dinner to Fri lunch plus a Friday evening snack Lift pass Mon-Fri Equipment hire (skis, boots, poles and helmets for under 18s) for 5 days (Mon-Fri) Full time 20hrs of ski instruction in ability groups Optional Extras: Snowboarding: 150 per group (subject to availability and groups of 10 of the same level) Hot meal (instead of snack) Fri evening: 8 Hot meal Fri evening and picnic snack for return journey: 13 Extended duration: Sat 18:00-Sat 14:00 (ski pass 6.5 days), 23 hours of instruction: 88pp Extended duration: Sat 18:00-Fri 18:00, (ski pass 6 days), 23 hours of instruction: 68 pp Page 2

3 Why choose Action Outdoors? Action Outdoors (in conjunction with UCPA) offer possibly the lowest cost, and certainly the best value, ski holidays in the sector. Arranging your school trip Your group will need a minimum of 10 participants in order to access the school group rates which include: Accommodation All Meals Lift Pass Equipment hire (skis, boots, poles and helmet) Ski Instruction (20 hours) For larger groups, of 40 and above, free places will apply. For smaller groups, we can adjust the per person price in order to allow free places for staff. Duration The ski trips are available as either: 5 nights/5 days (Sun evening -Fri early evening) 6 nights/6 days (Sat evening -Fri early evening) 7 nights/6.5 days (Sat evening -Sat early afternoon) The price grid is based on the 5 night/5 day package, with options for additional nights. Travel You have the following options: Chartered coach travel direct from your school, which is most cost efficient if your numbers exceed 40 pax Book your own flights, which is cheaper and more flexible for you. We can arrange low cost group transfers from the airport to the UCPA centres. Arrange your own travel, but please speak to us to help advise with the most appropriate options for your group size. Extras Let us know if we can help you with: Risk assessments for UCPA centres Marketing material (Posters and flyers) Ski Trip hoody / T shirt (to be agreed at contract stage) Evidence for assessment of Duke of Edinburgh awards AFTER YEARS OF PAYING THROUGH THE ROOF FOR OUR SCHOOL SKI TRIPS, WE WERE EXCITED TO FIND A PRICE WHERE WE DIDN T NEED TO BLUSH WHEN PRESENTING THE WEEK TO PARENTS! Page 3

4 Accommodation The accommodation is in purpose built activity centres that are designed to be both practical and functional but provide a social environment where your group, both students and teachers, can relax after a day s skiing. The centres tend to be centrally located both to the lifts and to the town centre and some centres are ski in, ski out. Bedrooms Groups will be accommodated together in dormitory style rooms. Rooms in the majority of the centres sleep 4 people. Each bed has a corresponding locker for individual belongings. Bathrooms are shared and/or partially en-suite depending on the resort. Male and female students can be kept separate if required. Individuals are required to strip their beds and clean the rooms at the end of their stay. If staff require single-sex dormitories or twin rooms, instead of dormitory rooms, this needs to be organised at contract stage. Dining The buffet style restaurants offer a huge selection of food suitable for every taste. Breakfast tends to be cereal, bread and jams with plenty of hot chocolate and coffee. Lunch can either be packed or served hot back at the centre (pasta and rice dishes with unlimited ice cream and cheese). The evening meal includes starters of soup and salad, the main course will be a wide range of pasta and rice dishes, sausages, fish, steaks etc depending on the theme of the night with cheese and cakes for dessert. The tables do need to be cleared and wiped down after use. This is all part of the UCPA ethos and great for student responsibility and independence. Page 4

5 ACTION OUTDOORS SCHOOL SKI TRIPS WINTER 2018/19 THE FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION WAS PERFECT FOR OUR GROUP, EVERY ONE HAD A COMFORTABLE BED AND PLENTY TO EAT. EVERYONE WAS HAPPY! Page 5

6 Facilities All centres have a games room, TV lounge, classroom (or area), WiFi and ski shop onsite. Some even have a pool or spa (please note, no lifeguards are on duty). If you would like access to a room to bring the group together for a briefing or social event, then these need to be reserved through reception on your arrival. Evening entertainment After dinner there are often activities such as karaoke, games and discos laid on for those that want to join in. The bar serves soft drinks for under 18 year olds and of course beer and wine for the adults. Group leaders can get advice from reception on other activities, such as, ice skating, swimming, luges and cinema. Lift pass The area covered by the lift pass depends on the centre. We can advise on this. It is valid depending on your chosen package but the standard lift pass is Monday to Friday. Equipment The equipment is provided according to the individual s standard rather than the group budget, with the ski shop hosting a huge range of equipment and boots to suit everyone. If anyone in the group suffers from sore feet then it is just a matter of popping in and exchanging their boots for a new pair. Helmets are included as part of the package for students, but not for teachers (they can be hired). Instruction The instruction really is for all ability levels, whether your students have never skied before or are some of the lucky few who have grown up skiing. Everyone has access to the basic package of 20 hours (this can be increased if arrival is on Saturday) and groups will be formed on arrival by the centre ski school. Snowboarding may be available on request (depending on numbers). Page 6

7 Group Decisions Dates Normally group leaders are fixed with when their school group can travel. If you can be flexible, then early January is the cheapest time to go skiing, with prices picking up on a weekly basis until the peak period over the school half term. Prices then stay high until after Easter when they decrease rapidly back down to the January rates. Obviously the more expensive periods relate to the more popular weeks and school holidays. The UCPA school packages are not available for all dates. Dates and centres are normally released in May, 7 months prior to the winter season starting. Numbers Unless you are able to predict the numbers attending, it is better that you base your numbers on a realistic figure and if the trip proves popular, then you may be able to increase your numbers. Once the contract is signed, it is important to monitor the places in the period before arrival to avoid cancellation charges. Marketing material Action Outdoors is able to provide posters to advertise the event if this would be of any help. We can also design a banner advert for your ski trip facebook page. We will help and advise as much as we possibly can to make sure that students are aware of the trip and find it as easy as possible to sign up. Unique to UCPA Apart from the price, there are other great things about UCPA/Action Outdoors : Everything is on site (ski shop, restaurant, lecture rooms, disco) making it very simple in terms of administration and logistics. Plus the centres are walking distance from the main lift and town. Schools from around Europe attend, making it the perfect place for the students to practice their French (Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish etc.) The range of food is huge and the amount unlimited, so everyone will be able to eat as much as they like without the parents worrying that their little ones will fade away after a days skiing. Evidence can be provided toward assessment of Duke of Edinburgh Awards, please contact the office for more information. We can help with risk assessments, please contact the office Ski trip t-shirt / hoody If you would like to arrange an item of clothing for the trip we can add this as an option at the point of contract. All we need is a design or logo. Page 7

8 ACTION OUTDOORS SCHOOL SKI TRIPS WINTER 2018/19 The Centres Resort External evening Entertainment Piste Lifts Runs Fact Flaine Ice rink Bowling Sledge Swimming Indoor climbing 265km 78 17G 64B 45R 15Bl Brilliant beginners area but UCPA Flaine plenty for all and accommodated in a fantastic centre La Plagne 1800 Cinema Ice rink 225km 81 10G 69B 33R 18Bl Access wide blues and fun reds UCPA La Plagne 1800 from the recently renovated centre. La Plagne Ski Area Les Arcs None within easy walking distance 200km 57 11G 53B 32R 19BL A huge centre in 3 buildings, UCPA Les Arcs which is great for big groups to keep them together Les Ice rink Contamines 120km 26 8G 12B 19R 9Bl A quieter ski area with less queues, but plenty to explore UCPA Les Contamines Les Deux Alpes Swimming pool Bowling Ice rink 230km 51 14G 26B 14R 8Bl UCPA Les Deux Alpes Val Thorens Bowling Cinema Swimming Pool 140km 30 9G 28B 23R 7Bl Brand new centre in a snowsure area that offers a huge range of pistes Ski in/ski out Page 8 Lively ski resort with a good spread of varied terrain for all ability levels Webpage UCPA Val Thorens

9 Travel Options We don t tie you in to travel, but we are also very willing to help you plan low cost logistics for your ski trip! Self Drive Some groups may wish to travel across France in their own vehicles. Once in resort, there is usually no requirement to use a vehicle at any of the UCPA centres. The majority are ski in / out with the remainder walking distance to the slopes (Les Contamines is an exception but local buses service the lift stations). Flights If you decide to fly, you can arrange your own flights to suit your group. This means you can take advantage of the lowest fares. We can advise on which airport is the most suitable for your chosen resort. Transfers We can arrange low cost transfers from the airport to resort. These may be arranged for the whole group or for smaller groups and can work around your flight times. Coach Action Outdoors are partners to a scheduled coach service, Snow Express. We can offer individual seats with departure either from London or Folkestone for prices from around 99pp. Alternatively, we can organise a private vehicle for your group that will pick you up from a suitable location. The price for a private coach averages around 7500 depending on distance and date. This includes the channel crossing, tolls and drivers accommodation whilst in location. ACTION OUTDOORS ENSURED OUR TRIP FROM DOOR TO DOOR WAS AS EASY AND AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE, MAKING MORE TIME TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS. Page 9

10 Your Next Step Interested in finding out more about organising a school ski trip with Action Outdoors? Just contact a member of the Action Outdoors team and we can discuss the options available. Once location and dates have been agreed we will send a contract and deposit invoice. The deposit is only 10%. We can normally reserve the places through UCPA for 10 days. Once we have received the signed contract and deposit, we will confirm the places and send confirmation of contract within 48hrs. Administrational Deadlines: Balance payment is due 90 days before arrival, however, a payment plan can be agreed. Complete name list is required one month before travel. Please notify us immediately of any name changes to avoid cancellation charges. Name changes will be done at no extra charge. Two weeks before travel we will ask for suggested room layout as well as arrival and departure times. We look forward to working with you on your next ski trip. Please call or to discuss your requirements. Tina & Fiona groups@action-outdoors.co.uk Tel: For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information please visit Page 10