Accommodation

Room supplements
The prices charged reflect only the real cost to us. Apartments may be costed on multi - occupancy so supplements will be chargeable for under-occupancy. Single rooms are more expensive because one occupant pays the entire heating and service costs. Hotels have very few single rooms and they are often located in the least attractive parts of the hotel. Regrettably, we have no control over this. Twin or double supplements may still be payable even if the room doesn't contain 2 beds or more.
Sometimes, particularly in Austria, 2 single beds are pushed together and share the same headboard but have separate mattresses and duvets. The prices we show for single rooms are estimates only. There may only be one or two single rooms in an entire hotel so when twin rooms are used for one occupant the price will be higher than that shown.

Brochure and Prices Accuracy

Coaches

It is unfortunately not yet possible to guarantee that video recorders, DVD's, microphones and radios will cope with the vibration so please bear with the driver if there are problems. Coach WCs are designed for emergency use only and need to be emptied regularly. We strongly recommend using the facilities at refreshment stops. Seat belts are not yet EU law, so your transfer/continental coach may not have these fitted.

Departure times

Insurance

Meals

For details of the meal plan included in the cost of your holiday, please see "What's Included" in our Prices section. Our prices are based on continental breakfast (rolls, preserves, tea or coffee) but some hotels provide buffet breakfast with cold meats, cheese and cereals. Eggs or English breakfast may be available at a supplement. Vegetarianism is not so well understood abroad and strict vegetarians may have problems. We are sorry about this and we are doing what we can. Equity-run hotels always offer a vegetarian option and on request we can prepare special meals.
Hotels with buffet catering often offer vegetable dishes. If you need special meals for medical or religious reasons, we can usually cope but do please let us know in advance so that we can inform the hotel and airline. We cannot cater for strict Kosher, Muslim or Vegan diets. Please advise us in writing at the time of booking of any dietary or medical conditions. Please see also see the Special Requests section in our Booking Conditions.

Passports, Visas and European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Payments

Resorts

Standards Abroad

Many things will be different to those you may be used to in the UK. Local service suppliers and hotels comply with their own customs and regulations, which are often different to the UK, and we request consideration of these differences.

Tickets

Final travel details and tickets will be sent to you about two weeks before departure. Please check carefully as information and timings can sometimes change. Please note: the name on the flight ticket and the passport must be the same. If, for example, the passport is in the maiden name and the ticket is in the married name, check-in will be refused and a scheduled airline will apply full cancellation charges, which are not recoverable. You will be responsible for all costs and expenses we, and/or you, incur as a result of any disparity. Please also see our Booking Conditions.

Timings and Delay

This clause only applies to charter flights. For ski courses involving scheduled flights or low cost flights any arrangements provided in the event of flight delay are only provided at the sole discretion of the airline concerned. We publish many months before final schedules are available so timings may change but we will do our best to adhere to any preferences you may have. It is unfortunately impossible to guarantee that services will run to time because of bad weather or other problems beyond our control. In the event of a lengthy delay we will endeavour to provide the following catering: over 4 hour delay - light refreshments; over 6 hours - main meal. To avoid further delays we do not provide catering when departure is imminent. Alternatively, we can, at our discretion, make interim arrangements for accommodation and food, whilst you continue to wait for the delayed departure of the service. If you are insured on our policy, and your outward departure is delayed for more than 12 hours due to strike, industrial action, adverse weather conditions or mechanical breakdown, you are entitled to cancel and receive a full refund less the insurance premium and policy excess.

Air Carrier Liability

Air carrier liability for passengers and their baggage. This information notice summarises the liability rules applied by Community air carriers as required by Community legislation and the Montreal Convention. Compensation in the case of death or injury. There are no financial limits to the liability for passenger injury or death. For damages up to 100000 SDRs (approximately £80,000) the air carrier cannot contest claims for compensation. Above that amount, the air carrier can defend itself against a claim by proving that it was not negligent or otherwise at fault.

Advance payments
If a passenger is killed or injured, the air carrier must make an advance payment, to cover immediate economic needs, within 15 days from the identification of the person entitled to compensation. In the event of death, this advance payment shall not be less than 16000 SDRs (approximately £13,000).

Passenger Delays

In case of passenger delay, the air carrier is liable for damage unless it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage or it was impossible to take such measures. The liability for passenger delay is limited to 4150 SDRs (approximately £3,300).

Baggage Delays

In case of baggage delay, the air carrier is liable for damage unless it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage or it was impossible to take such measures. The liability for baggage delay is limited to 1000 SDRs (approximately £800).

Destruction, Loss or Damage to Baggage

The air carrier is liable for destruction, loss or damage to baggage up to 1000 SDRs (approximately £800) In the case of checked baggage, it is liable even if not at fault, unless the baggage was defective. In the case of unchecked baggage, the carrier is liable only if at fault.

Higher limits for baggage

A passenger can benefit from a higher liability limit by making a special declaration at the latest at check-in and by paying a supplementary fee.

Complaints on Baggage

If the baggage is damaged, delayed, lost or destroyed, the passenger must write and complain to the air carrier as soon as possible. In the case of damage to checked baggage, the passenger must write and complain within seven days, and in the case of delay within 21 days, in both cases from the date on which the baggage was placed at the passenger's disposal.

Basis for the Information

The basis for the rules described above is the Montreal Convention of 28 May 1999, which is implemented in the Community by Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 (as amended by Regulation (EC) No 889/2002) and national legislation of the Member States.

VAT

All prices include the VAT element due under the Tour Operator's Margin Scheme. This is paid over by the company to HM Customs and Excise but is non-reclaimable by the client. The invoice supplied to you therefore, will not be a VAT invoice.

Arrival in Resort

If your travel arrangements mean you arrive in resort early morning your rooms may not be fully prepared for you. We suggest you take lunch or explore your resort in the meantime. We arrange ski fit shortly after arrival.

Written Requests

Please refer to the "Special Request" section of our booking conditions.

Behaviour

ClubHotel and Chalet Board

ClubHotel board includes dinner (served 6 days of the week), bed and breakfast. Chalet board also includes afternoon tea. On one day of the week staff have a day off, when guests usually sample one of the local restaurants at their own expense.

Creche and Kindergarten

These services must be booked direct with the supplier of the crèche and kindergarten and paid for in resort. These services do not form part of your contract with us. Where possible, we will provide information on these services to assist you. This information is provided by the supplier of the crèche or kindergarten in question and we cannot accept responsible for its accuracy. The information often changes pre-season so please enquire for the up to date position. Some resorts and hotels operate mini-clubs, which are designed to entertain infants while adults ski. Some resorts operate ski kindergartens where infants and children are taught to ski in a controlled environment with special teachers. This is not conventional ski school and is at extra cost.

Hotel Room Capacity

Rooming is usually in twins (2 single beds or Austrian twins) but extra beds can be added with price reductions available for multi-bed occupancy.

Ski Passes

We go to press many months before some lift companies are prepared to confirm their prices for the following season. We will not increase the price if we estimate too low but if the lift company build new lifts, thereby improving significantly the ski system described in the brochure, this is an extra service which is not included in our prices and a supplement may be added. Hands-free magnetic ski passes are becoming increasingly prevalent and allow skiers to be processed quicker through an automated system. There is usually a €5 deposit payable which is returned at the end of the week.

Meals

The first half-board meal included is dinner on arrival and the last meal is breakfast on departure. Appropriate in-flight catering is also provided.

Piste Maps

Piste maps can only be taken as a guide. Sometimes resorts do not specify lifts or grades of runs and may not show blue and green runs separately. We are happy to supply official resort piste maps on request.

Price Reductions

Please see the prices in this insert. Excellent reductions are available if you do not require our inclusive ski tuition and hire equipment. In some hotels we offer excellent reductions if parents and children can share a room and some resorts have very low cost lift passes for children. Please enquire so that we can find you the best combination.

Rooming Lists

We will try to provide an accurate rooming list for your group before departure but please note that this is subject to change by the hotelier. We have no control over this and they may be only received by us at the last minute.

Schools in Hotels

Some hotels occasionally accept bookings from school groups. If we are aware, we will try to inform you but cannot guarantee this. Many families are happy to share with a school group because children mix so well but if you would prefer to avoid this please inform us and we will make a special enquiry.

Ski Facilities

We do not own or operate ski lifts or winter sports facilities and from time, ski lifts, toboggan runs, ice rinks and other facilities may close down or become temporarily unavailable, often without our knowledge. We are therefore unable to accept responsibility if these are withdrawn.

Ski Pass Photos

We are not always able to tell you which resorts require ski pass photos, and the information changes periodically, so we recommend you obtain these in advance from a UK photo booth because photographs in resort are expensive. You can keep any spares for future ski holidays.

Ski Schools

Ski school is based on an average of 12 people per class. Although we normally arrange 6 x 2 hour lessons per class, we may, at our discretion, substitute 3 x 4 hour lessons, or, very occasionally, 6 x 1 hour lessons in small classes of about 6, which we regard as equivalent to 6 x 2 hours in classes of 12. Ski schools are reluctant to allow young children to join adult ski classes because different teaching techniques are required. The age limit for children in adult classes varies but is usually from age 7 in Italy, and 12 in Austria and France.

Snow Guarantee

We select our resorts with great care, paying particular attention to the snow record. Many resorts have snow cannons and access to glaciers. It is the responsibility of the local ski school to decide if conditions become unsuitable for skiing. Should this occur, we will do our best to get you to snow, within, and sometimes in excess of, the conditions of our insurance policy.

Resort Representatives

There may be occasions when your rep is not resident in resort. Don't worry, we are always contactable immediately by phone, and our reps will see you during the week to provide our usual excellent service. Equity resort representatives are not employed to sell you extras. Ski passes, equipment hire and ski school are included in your price so your rep is free to help you have a good time. They will suggest après ski events and so on but there is absolutely no pressure to participate. We have, on your behalf, negotiated prices based on our high volumes, so Equity clients always benefit from the best prices available.