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Help & Support

Speak to the team

If you have already booked a holiday, or would like to discuss making a new booking, please contact our customer service team on:

0204 578 0977

Email us your queries

If you have a question that is not covered in the FAQ provided below, feel free to email our team:

notreadytobook@holidayhypermarket.co.uk

FAQ Categories

Frequently Asked Questions

Ski Holidays Terms & Conditions

The Crystal Snow Promise

Book your lift passes with us and if there’s no snow in your resort and the mountain is fully closed, we’ll do our best to arrange three ski-away days for free. Our local team will sort out the transport and lift passes, so all you have to do is hop on the bus. Didn’t book your lift passes with us? Don’t worry, you can still take the bus for free, but you’ll need to sort out your own lift passes. T&Cs apply.

The Crystal Snow Promise T&Cs

  • The Crystal Snow Promise covers all destinations and all holidays between December 2022 and April 2023.
  • If the mountain in your resort fully closes due to no snow, we’ll organise a coach to an open resort within a 2-hour radius free of charge. This will be for a maximum of 3 days over a 7-day period.
  • If there are no open resorts within a 2-hour radius, the coach transport won’t take place.
  • If the mountains are fully closed when you arrive in resort, we’ll try to arrange coach transport on your first full day (I.e. on Sunday if you arrived on Saturday).
  • If you’ve booked your lift pass with Crystal, we’ll sort and pay for your lift pass in the new resort, even it’s more expensive. If your lift pass in the new resort is cheaper than a day pass in your original resort, we’ll refund you the difference.
  • If you didn’t book your lift pass with Crystal, you can still get on the coach for free, but you’ll need to buy your own lift pass in the new resort.
  • If the lift pass office has agreed to give lift pass refunds, we’ll refund you for any days you weren’t able to ski. And if ski school have agreed to refund any missed lessons, we’ll refund you for those too. If the above suppliers don’t agree to refunds, we won’t be able to refund you.
  • If you go on the organised ski-away day, you won’t get a refund for your original lift pass for that day, because we’ll buy you one for the new resort.
  • Any refunds due will be processed in the UK and not in resort.
  • If the mountain in your resort is closed because there’s no snow for more than 3 days, we’ll do our best to sort out additional coaches to another resort so that you can ski every day of your holiday. We’ll cover the cost of the coach (and your lift pass if you pre-booked a lift pass with us) for 3 days, but you’ll need to pay for the coach and your lift pass on the other days.

CRYSTAL RATINGS

With all the various national tourist boards applying widely varying criteria to hotel ratings, the whole question of international hotel grades has become confused. We have therefore applied our own ‘Crystal rating’, representing the general standards of that country in order that fairer comparisons can be made (an example of a 4.5 Crystal rating is shown above).

Please note: Crystal rating may differ from the official star rating of the local tourist board. Our classifications take into account not only the basic facilities, but also the location, leisure facilities, general character and atmosphere of the hotel, as well as customer feedback.

Descriptions

  1. Properties have been carefully chosen and are considered to offer suitable accommodation for the cost shown. In the case of EU countries, the star rating shown is that of the relevant national tourist authority but, as other countries apply widely varying criteria, we have featured our own ‘official ratings’ to help you choose from the various properties on offer and to compare from one country to another. To avoid confusion, many properties featured are described as hotels as, in our view, terms such as Pension, Haus, Gasthof and the like do not always reflect the quality of the properties and are usually an official grading for tax purposes.
  2. Annexe accommodation may be part of the main hotel or in a separate building, which is guaranteed to be within walking distance. It should be borne in mind that chalet/annexe accommodation, though it may give access to facilities at the property through which it is sold, may not offer rooms to the same star level as the associated property where your main meal may be provided. This is reflected in the cost reduction.
  3. Prices are based on accommodation in standard twin/double-bedded rooms unless otherwise stated.
  4. Check-in/Check-out at hotels is normally after 3pm (after 5pm for apartments) and you should anticipate having to vacate your room by 10am irrespective of the time of your departure. For some European areas, your flight will leave the UK early in the morning and you may arrive in resort before midday, so your room may not be ready when you arrive. On the day of your departure, there will be somewhere to store your luggage free of charge, where you can leave your bags until departure time, though this may not always be locked. Please note: Courtesy rooms may not always be available.
  5. Credit cards/Travellers cheques: many hotels/properties as a matter of policy require an imprint of your credit card to be taken at registration for security reasons. This is particularly common in USA/Canada, where credit cards are favoured by most suppliers and the majority of commercial outlets in preference to cash, so we recommend carrying one or more of the recognised cards. Visitors to Eastern Europe will generally find that credit cards are not widely accepted and visitors to Austria may find that credit cards are not accepted by 2* and 3* hotels/guesthouses. Travellers cheques are no longer widely accepted as a method of payment but most resorts will have a bank where these can be changed, at a charge.
  6. Baths may not always be full size and showers may not always have a shower tray or curtain.
  7. Soap is not normally provided in rooms.
  8. Wifi access: please see individual property entries for details of WiFi availability. If WiFi is advertised, there may be some service limitations and 24/7 access may not be available. Access may not be available throughout the accommodation, and may be restricted to selected public areas.
  9. English television: In Europe some accommodations have English speaking channels available, although the selection may be limited.
  10. Balconies: The payment of a supplement for a balcony facility does not guarantee a specific view or that it will be private, unless stated.
  11. Cots should be requested at the time of booking. Any additional payment for food/cot hire must be paid directly to hotels, for which we have no control over the cost, and cot linen is usually provided (not duvets). Please note we cannot guarantee that cots will meet British Safety standards. The inclusion of a cot may restrict room space. Some rooms, particularly those described as small or with restricted headroom, may not be large enough to accommodate a cot. Please telephone our Contact Centre for further information.
  12. Free drinks will be given at the discretion of the hotel owner and the offer is normally limited to one drink per person during evening meals. “Unlimited” free drinks refers to drinks between starter and dessert. This is usually a choice of house wine, beer or soft drinks and will not include spirits, etc.
  13. Bars in some hotels may not stay open until 11.00pm, particularly when the hotel is family run or when the bar is part of the hotel restaurant.
  14. Meal service: Hoteliers may decide to change from buffet service to waiter service – or vice versa. We will inform you of this if we are advised in advance.
  15. Restaurant/dining rooms in certain hotels are open to non-residents – see property descriptions for details.
  16. Smoking restrictions: In some countries, e.g. France, Austria, Italy and several North American states, smoking is increasingly prohibited in public places – e.g. hotels, restaurants, bars etc. It is your responsibility to obtain information from the relevant tourist offices before you book if such restrictions would affect your holiday enjoyment.
  17. Hotel facilities: Leisure facilities, saunas, hot tubs and other facilities advertised as available at a hotel, unless specifically stated as being “free” will carry a charge payable to the hotelier. Children may not always be allowed in hotel bars, particularly in North America, even when accompanied by their parents. In some cases swimming trunks, not shorts, and swimming hats may be compulsory.
  18. Fitness rooms/health suites: Facilities will vary and we cannot guarantee the range or type of equipment provided will be as extensive as in a purpose built gym.
  19. Saunas: In Austria it is quite usual for people not to wear bathing costumes in saunas.
  20. Late night entry: please ensure you always check the arrangements for late night entry in the event your hotel closes the main door at a specified time.
  21. Car parking is not always available at hotels and therefore if you require this facility please check at the time of booking or call the hotel direct.
  22. Local functions: Nowadays, even small hotels can be used as venues for weddings, local celebrations and conventions. Hotels will always try to ensure that guests are not inconvenienced but some disturbances may occur.
  23. Christmas and New Year in hotels: Special Christmas dinners and festivities are usually offered in all half-board hotels and are included in the holiday price. Please note that formal dress is often expected in the larger, more exclusive hotels for Christmas and New Year, (usually 4 and 5 Crystal rated hotels).
  24. Distances to ski lifts, resort centre, amenities etc are shown in minutes and is calculated whereby 100 metres is equal to 1 minute walking in ski boots.

Please be advised that Fire safety standards in Switzerland differ to those in the UK and on occasions you may be in a hotel where the fire escape is in the form of an external ladder and/or you may be required to evacuate via another bedroom. Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the exits and procedures in your hotel on arrival and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact a member of reception or our resort staff.

Please be advised that safety standards with regards to balconies differ between countries and on occasions you may be allocated a room whereby the balcony is lower than we would expect in the UK.
For your own safety, please ensure that you take care when on the balcony and do not lean on or over the railings. If you have children below the age of 12 in your party, please ensure they are supervised and not left unattended at any time.

Full and half-board: a set menu is usually offered to all customers who book meal arrangements, with limited or no choice of menu, unless specifically stated. Meals usually start with dinner on the first day of your arrival in resort and finish with breakfast on your day of departure.

If you arrive after the hotel’s restaurant closes, it is likely that a cold platter will be provided and if you have an early morning departure hotels may not be able to provide a full breakfast. Sometimes hotels may allocate tables on a shared basis and in some countries, particularly Italy, it is common for individual napkins to be re-used if clean and re-presented in a personalised envelope.

Vegetarian/special diets: Vegetarianism is still relatively uncommon in some areas of Europe, particularly in France and Eastern Europe, so customers requesting such meals may find choice limited in some hotels. Similarly gluten free diets are sometimes less catered for in Italy. It may be difficult for some hotels to cater for the needs of customers with strict special diets.

If you have any special dietary requirements it is important that you request these at the time of booking.

Eastern Europe offers exceptional value. However, it should be noted that standards cannot be compared with those found in Western European destinations. Whilst some hotels boast a good range of facilities, they may not always be of a comparable standard to Western European hotels, particularly in terms of service and the variety of food offered. The provision of some basic foods, for example, can be restricted at times, which results in a limited choice of food being offered and, bearing this in mind, we would not recommend Eastern Europe as an appropriate destination for vegetarians or people with specific dietary needs.

Please note: Packed lunches may sometimes be made up by guests from the breakfast buffet. In some hotels, due to limited space, it is normal for customers to share a table at dinner.

Rooms described as superior, suites, junior suites, apartments etc offer a variety of facilities and room configurations. As these descriptions vary considerably from country to country it is not possible for us to provide a standard description which will adequately cover all the variations. Therefore, please make specific enquiries when booking to ensure the accommodation meets your requirements, particularly for suites and apartments. Rooms that are small, located under the eaves, cabin rooms, in annexe accommodation and suites will be highlighted in the price panels.

Single rooms may not always offer the same facilities or location as twin rooms and the payment of a supplement does not necessarily mean that a twin room will be provided for sole use. Often single rooms are purpose built and intended for sole use only. “Single Savers” do not apply to all single rooms in a property or on all dates.

Cabin rooms are sometimes featured in chalets/apartments and are small internal rooms which may not necessarily have natural light, sometimes with restricted head room. These rooms may have pull-out or bunk beds.

Eaves rooms are so described because they have sloping roofs and beams, often with skylight windows and reduced headroom. These rooms may have pull-out or bunk beds.

Twin-bedded rooms in Austria, Switzerland and some Italian and Slovenian resorts are normally one large base with two mattresses/duvets. These are also known as ‘Austrian Twins’ and are regarded as two beds. Separate twin beds are rare and cannot be guaranteed as available. Some twin beds may be in ahead to head position.

Triple rooms are usually based on a standard twin room or standard double for two persons with an additional sofa/put-up bed added for the third person that may restrict space. Purpose-built triple rooms are rarely available.

Quad rooms that can sleep four people are sometimes available. In Europe, these rooms normally comprise of a standard twin/double room with additional sofa/put-up beds being added for third and fourth occupants. In North America, these rooms might have two queen beds or a king bed with additional sofa/put-up beds. The extra beds in these rooms may restrict space. Please refer to the room description for the type of beds provided – invoice will always show room and then bed type.

Under occupancy supplements: Unless under occupancy supplements are paid rooms will be allocated in accordance with the number occupying the room. Any room facility supplement will still apply. For example two people paying a supplement for a quad room with private bath and shower will receive a room with two (not four) beds. The supplement is payable for the private bath and shower.

Other guests: We do not have details of other guests in hotels or apartments and are unable to provide any information in this respect. Neither are we advised of any conference/convention bookings, schools or wedding groups. We have no control over the behaviour of other guests and our reps will assist wherever possible if any other guest’s behaviour is considered discourteous or anti-social.

GUESTHOUSES
  1. When booking allocation on arrival guesthouses in Austria, bookings of more than one room cannot be guaranteed to be in the same accommodation, though we will of course endeavour to do so. Rooms booked without private facilities within them may require you to pay a nominal fee for showers provided at that property.
  2. Guesthouse accommodation offers bed and breakfast accommodation, although half-board is usually available, taking the evening meal in one of our hotels or in a village restaurant.
SELF-CATERING STUDIOS AND APARTMENTS

All bed linen costs (although not towels unless specifically stated) and local taxes are included in all Crystal prices. All accommodation is basically equipped with cutlery, crockery etc. Kitchenettes usually offer only two or three hot plates and not ovens, unless advertised to the contrary. Items such as toasters and kettles are not considered to be essential kitchen appliances in Europe and are, consequently, rarely provided. Customers are normally expected to make their own beds on arrival. Please also note that ‘starter’ packs are rarely provided and you should, therefore, anticipate purchasing items such as milk, toilet roll, etc. on arrival (or the following day if you arrive late). When more than one apartment is booked of the same or different type, we cannot guarantee they will be in the same block, although a request will be accepted wherever possible. (see Special requests).

Please note: Other residents within the apartment blocks may sometimes have their dogs with them.

Cleaning of studios and apartments: The initial cleaning before your arrival is normally included and, unless specified in the accommodation description, is not provided during your stay. If cleaning is provided it may not be available during public holidays. You will be expected to take out your rubbish and wash up regardless whether cleaning is included or not. Apartment agencies expect the accommodation to be left in the state they were found and will usually deduct a ‘cleaning charge’ from your deposit if this not done. Upon check-in, the residence will provide their rules and further details on the “end of stay” cleaning required, please check with reception before your departure.

Inventory deposit

An inventory deposit against damages or breakages may be collected on arrival or an imprint of your credit card may be required (please check the accommodation’s page). This will usually be between £150 and £250 (but up to £500 for some larger apartments), per studio/apartment, and is refundable on your departure, or later, directly by the local agent if, for example, you are obliged to depart early. It is in your best interests to leave the accommodation as it was found, as deductions for breakages, damage or leaving the accommodation unclean can be made by the local agents. As deposits are normally held by the accommodation owner/management and not Crystal, we cannot become directly involved in situations or disputes that may occur. You will need to pay the deposit on a credit card or in local currency UK personal cheques are unacceptable.

Apartments in France

These provide excellent value for money and are often in good locations. Check-in is not until 5pm although a luggage room is usually provided. Late arrivals (after the reception is closed) may only be able to get a full set of keys in the morning. Check-out is usually 10am. Some apartments are made up of several residences with one central check-in location. You may be allocated a separate residence building on check-in and will be required to walk to it.

All prices include VAT on all holidays to EU countries and are based on the rates of exchange at the time that this was published.

In addition to the details confirmed on the invoice, the price of your holiday includes all currency surcharges, local taxes, VAT and UK and overseas service charges. Rates of UK Air Passenger Duty vary by destination and are split into two bands. Band A is where the distance from London to the destination country’s capital city is between 0 and 2,000 miles, and will be taxed at £13 to travel in economy and £26 to travel in an upgraded cabin. Any other destination (e.g. USA and Canada) will fall into Band B, and will be taxed at £82 for economy and £180 for an upgraded cabin.

Package holidays with flights

  • Return air flights and transfers (coach, train or taxi) to and from your resort.
  • Flight baggage allowance usually 20kg, or 25kg if you’re flying with TUI Airways and staying in a Crystal Finest accommodation. Allowances can vary on other airlines. See Travel and transport information for more.
  • Accommodation and meals as per your booking.
  • Help and advice from your rep or agent.
  • All local taxes unless otherwise advised, VAT and overseas service charges and bed linen.
  • All current airport taxes are included in our prices including the Air Travel Duty.

We are able to offer accommodation-only holidays which include accommodation and food basis as booked. If you are overseas on business, using up your Air Miles, or visiting friends and just need to book accommodation, this is available on a request basis.

It is not possible to add transfers to and from the airport for accommodation-only bookings.

  • Meals and accommodation en route (except where specified).
  • In-flight catering on some short haul flights.
  • Airport holiday supplement, where applicable.
  • Ski travel insurance (which you must have).
  • Carriage of skis and snowboards on charter flights (included on some scheduled flights).
  • Porterage of luggage at any stage.
  • CDW or local taxes on car hire.
  • Any services provided locally that are advertised as being available at the booked resort or accommodation, but not described as free of charge e.g. child care/ski school, hotel facilities.
  • Any local gratuities, taxes charged by hotels/condos in USA/Canada.
  • Italian tourist tax.

If you want to make changes to the booked arrangements in resort, for example upgrading your accommodation, changing resort or extending or reducing your holiday duration, changes will be subject to availability. Any extra costs or cancellation charges must be paid by you locally. All changes must be arranged with us in writing, either through our local representative/agent, area office or, if this is not possible, our TUI Guest Experience Centre in Palma.

Information is to the best of our knowledge and belief correct at the time of publication. However, we reserve the right to make changes to information on our website and will advise you of these changes at point of booking or when they are known to us. This advice will be limited to that which is fundamental to the contract or which we believe may affect the enjoyment of your holiday.

If any facility detailed is essential to the enjoyment of your holiday, please advise us at the time of booking and we will try to advise you of the latest information. However, we are sure you will understand that at times certain advertised facilities may not be in operation and we may have no information or prior warning of such matters.

Many pictures are included for their attractiveness and general relevance; those with specific notation refer to hotels or relevant features. Photographs of rooms represent the type of accommodation available, but not all rooms will be the same and ro

In some cases we have had to use an artist’s impression or a computer generated image of a hotel, apartment residence or chalet. This image will be an accurate representation of the property based upon the information available to us at the time of publication.

During local or national holidays abroad, you may find facilities like ski schools and shops are closed or have limited opening hours. If visiting a specific place is important to you, call your destination’s local tourist office direct. You may find certain facilities, such as restaurants or nightclubs, closed during your stay, perhaps for redecoration. These closures may affect facilities in your accommodation as well as in the resort, especially early and late in the season. At the beginning and end of the season some ski lifts may not be open and ski and public bus services may not be fully functional. If you are free to travel at any time and not tied to school holidays, we would recommend that you avoid peak dates such as half-term as many resorts are extremely busy.

This indicates that you can ski to or from 50 metres of the hotel, chalet or apartment (snow conditions permitting).

Hotel, chalet or apartment is located with 100 metres of the nearest slope or ski lift.

This indicates resorts that will always be open but does not take into account any closure of lifts due to wind, poor light visibility or a resort’s decision to close due to low numbers.

If the slopes are closed or the skiing is limited because of adverse weather conditions in your resort, we’ll do our best to get you on the slopes in an alternative ski area, as close to your chosen one as possible. However, we can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to make the necessary arrangements. Where we do, we’ll only pass on additional costs incurred by us, and we’ll do our best to make it as cost-effective as possible for customers. Poor weather conditions may also affect other snow activities and excursions. If you booked any of these through Crystal before your holiday, please check with us to see if they’ll be running. If you booked in resort, you’ll need to check with the activity provider.

All ‘recommended’ restaurants and other venues featured which are not owned by Crystal are not under our direct control and have not been inspected by us. Therefore, any recommendation is merely an indication that these facilities have proved popular and are worthy of mention and are not a personal recommendation by Crystal.

The noise and inconvenience of building work inevitably seems worse on holiday. Our resort staff keep us informed about building works especially in growing resorts. While we have no control over building works, we will do our best to tell you about any specific work going on near your accommodation if there is time before you go on holiday.

Events such as concerts, festivals, conferences, sporting events etc. may sometimes cause restricted access to resort amenities i.e. roads, shops, bars and restaurants.

For any special requests consult our reservations department when you confirm your holiday booking. We shall always do our best to meet your requirements, but no guarantee is given as this does not form part of our holiday contract with you, irrespective of the fact that details of the request may be found on your confirmation invoice. If, however, your request is essential to your holiday arrangements, please make this known at the time of booking so that we can ascertain whether this is possible with our supplier.

Customers are reminded that they should check with their own doctor for advice on medical requirements of the host countries. We recommend you apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which covers or heavily discounts treatment that is medically necessary during a temporary stay in EU countries. Find out more about applying for a GHIC at www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/. You will need to present the GHIC card for reciprocal treatment.

Information about free and reduced-cost emergency care and medical treatment in most EU countries can be found in the leaflet T7 “Health Advice for Travellers”, which is available free from post offices, local Department of Health offices, GPs and libraries, or by calling the Health Literature Line on 0800 555 777.

However, as this only provides limited cover, we require all our customers to have adequate holiday insurance cover. Therefore, please ensure that you have arranged sufficient alternative insurance. For treatment in any country you will need to produce your passport.

We promote good hygiene practices within hotels, but care should be taken to minimise the risk of holiday sickness, especially among pregnant women, infants and the elderly. Different temperatures and high altitude abroad, combined with alcohol and new foods, can cause minor stomach upsets. By taking simple precautions such as washing your hands after using the bathroom and avoiding food and buffets that have been left for a long time can help to avoid such problems. Your General Practitioner can also provide up-to-date health advice should you require any further information.

It’s important to remember that safety and hygiene standards in many foreign countries may differ from those taken for granted at home. While our hotels and facilities are always obliged to meet local safety regulations, these may not match UK standards to which you may be used to. We nevertheless seek to raise standards in all our overseas destinations by taking the advice of the UK’s leading health and safety organisations on issues that concern you.

At Crystal, we believe that information contributes to safety and, in addition to the details on this page, we ask all our customers to read the Health and Safety information we provide. Customers flying with TUI should also look out for the in-flight safety video.

In many destinations it is not common practise to have a lifeguard on duty. Therefore it is important to remember, especially when travelling with children, to take a few minutes to familiarise yourself and your party with the pool area on arrival and ensure you observe the depth markings. Children must be accompanied by an adult whilst in or around the pool at all times.

The sun in alpine resorts can be very strong. Please ensure you drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids and apply the correct level of sun tan lotion appropriate for your skin. Local chemists may not stock your usual brands therefore you should take an adequate supply of any suntan lotion or medicines needed.

For customers going to high altitude resorts, it is suggested that, if relevant, you contact your GP as some customers encounter difficulties due to the high altitude of the resort. Please bear in mind that when skiing at altitude you should allow time to acclimatise physically, drink plenty of water, reduce alcohol intake and ensure that appropriate warm clothing is taken. Your doctor and suitable publications will provide further information in this regard.

We are happy to advise and assist elderly, special needs or disabled customers to choose a holiday. However, some of the properties featured in this brochure may lack even the simplest facilities such as ramps for wheelchairs and lifts etc. Therefore, we must be provided with full written details of any disability or special requirements before booking to ascertain whether the holiday of your choice is suitable. A comprehensive form is available specifically for this purpose, which you should request when making your booking.

Similarly, if you have a medical condition which necessitates special seating requirements on the aircraft or wheelchair assistance at the airport we must have written confirmation from your doctor prior to booking.

Failure to advise us of any such requirements prior to booking may result in the chosen holiday being unsuitable and may cause inconvenience and distress to all customers on that holiday. In that case we reserve the right to terminate your holiday arrangements with us, for which we would not be liable to make alternative arrangements or to make refunds or pay compensation.

If you leave something behind on the plane during your flight out, you’ll need to contact the overseas airport and ask them to check their lost property. If it’s on your flight home please contact the airline directly.

If you leave what we class as a ‘valuable item’ at your hotel, like a camera, a laptop or a wallet, we’ll do our best to find it for you. If your item is found, you’ll need to contact the hotel to arrange for it to be returned, and there may be a charge for this. If we can’t find your item, we’ll send you a statement to support your travel insurance claim.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and National Travel Health Network and Centre have up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad. For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information check www.gov.uk/travelaware and follow @FCDOtravelGovUK and facebook.com/FCDOTravel.

More information is available by checking www.tui.co.uk/destinations/info/travel-aware.

Keep informed of current travel health news by visiting www.travelhealthpro.org.uk.

The advice can change so check regularly for updates.

For greater convenience, pre-book your ski essentials; hire of skis and poles, board, boots, tuition and lift passes, with details confirmed on your Invoice. Costs detailed here may be different to resort prices. A saving cannot be guaranteed when a ski pass covers both high and low season. Crystal reserve the right to increase the costs at any time or to withdraw products or services including the Special Offers mentioned on the various resort pages. In this event, customers who have not already purchased ski pack requirements will be able to make arrangements in resort.

Ski hire levels are standard, intermediate and advanced. Most modern skis are now carving skis. Intermediate and advanced skis will be newer models with higher performance and suitable for more types of terrain. Economy skis for beginners are also available in some resorts in France and Austria.

Please note:

  • Ski pack advance purchases cannot be made within 48 hours of departure.
  • Some offers may not be available locally and have to be pre-booked.
  • In Bulgaria, as resort prices are considerably higher, we would strongly recommend that you pre-book your lift pass and equipment at time of booking.

Lift Passes

The overall ski areas covered by lift passes advertised and sold by Crystal occasionally may be subject to change by local lift companies/resort authorities and is outside our control. Should this situation arise, this may reduce the number of pistes and ski area available.

In many resorts there are reductions in prices for senior and younger passengers. Details of eligible age ranges are on the relevant resort pages. The local lift companies may amend the age ranges and available reductions at their discretion, which is outside of our control and where this occurs, any refund or supplementary amount due will be payable either in advance or locally.

You may need a lift pass photo, although most resorts no longer require them.

Equipment Hire

If you require boot size 11 or over it is recommended you purchase your own boots prior to departure. Please note that, unless pre-booked, we cannot guarantee availability of hire equipment.

Children

Children’s equipment rental usually applies up to a child height of 1.5m, shoe size 36 and ski/board length up to 1.5m, although this varies by resort and supplier. Where we have specified a maximum age for children’s equipment, this rule applies as long as the child’s height and shoe size do not exceed those stated on the resort pages. Any equipment rental outside the limits set by the supplier will need to be upgraded to adult rental.

Helmets

Ski helmets are either recommended or compulsory for children under 15 years in most countries.

Tuition

The number of hours of tuition varies between resorts and lesson type. On each resort page we provide the most up to date information that we have about timings and lengths of lessons but these are subject to change by suppliers, which is out of our control. The prices quoted are normally by lesson type and therefore where the hours/timings are varied, refunds are not usually due. Where there is a material change to the pre-booked lesson e.g. the supplier reduces the number of days in a package, then we will refund the difference between the two product packages.

Please note:

  • In peak periods in the resort, ski schools often change, reduce or alter the timing of their lessons.
  • There may be other nationalities participating in group lessons.
  • The availability of lessons is dependent on minimum numbers and time of year and on occasion, it may be necessary for the ski school to reduce the number of hours of tuition when minimum group size for a class is not reached. In most Italian and some French resorts, when minimum numbers are not reached, private tuition for less hours will be offered. No guarantee of availability can be given in low season.
  • In some resorts English-speaking instructors may not always be available, particularly at peak times.
  • Off-piste courses are very much dependent on weather conditions and subject to minimum numbers. If joining one of these courses you must be able to ski to the stated level and have adequate insurance cover otherwise you will not be allowed to participate.

Children’s Ski School

In selected resorts child ski school will only run if sufficient children are booked in. If numbers are low, children may join adult ski school. For young children learning to ski the minimum age depends on the child’s ability, and ski school facilities. For children under 6 years skiing for the first time, it may be recommended that the child goes to kindergarten in order to familiarise them with skis in a controlled environment rather than on the slopes. However for a younger child who already has its first level of children’s ski school, or equivalent, ski schools will readily accept them in their classes.

First – Time Ski Or Board Packages

Where available these are strictly for complete beginners only and have to be pre-booked in the UK. A complete beginner is defined as somebody who has never skied or snowboarded before. If you are not a beginner you will be required to upgrade in resort. The package may include beginner tuition and rental of a suitable standard of equipment. Tuition timings may vary between resorts. A lift pass is normally included in the package, although in some resorts this may be a special beginner lift pass which offers limited access to the ski area, or the duration of the lift pass may be less than 6 days. Please refer to relevant resort page for details.

Improver Ski Or Boards Packages

These packages also need to be pre-booked in the UK. Where available these are for people who have skied/boarded previously and include lift pass, tuition and rental of a suitable standard of equipment. Please see relevant resort page for the detail as they vary between resorts.

For both packages the savings mentioned are against a price usually consisting of 6 day lift pass, 6 day suitable equipment and relevant tuition.

Changes And Cancellations

Alterations or cancellations to ski pack bookings can be made before you travel please contact our customer service team. An admin fee may apply.

We can’t cancel or refund unwanted lift passes, equipment or lessons during or after your holiday. For this you’ll need to contact your insurance company for any refund due to sickness.

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION –  including visa and passport information, flight information, air carrier liability and car hire conditions for your ski holiday booking.

Holidays and flight supplements

The holiday price shown throughout the website includes any costs to book the displayed package. If you make any changes to the flights, room type or board basis, the price may change as well. The price may also change as you add or remove extras throughout the booking process.

Airport/resort transfers

Approximate timings: In order to keep prices low and still offer you as many UK departure airports as possible, we often need to combine transfers to and from the resorts for passengers from several arriving and departing flights. This means you may incur additional waiting time on arrival at the airport and on your return, though we will do our best to keep waiting times to a minimum. Transfer times listed on resort pages, which apply to the actual journey time after leaving the airport/station, are approximate and can vary due to poor weather, traffic conditions or transfer routes. Please note that there won’t be a rep on the transfer to your resort. Your journey may also include transferring onto a smaller vehicle to take you into the resort and your accommodation.

Please note that transfers which involve crossing national borders may be subject to delays as a result of immigration control and customs. Therefore, approximate timings as advertised may sometimes be longer than anticipated. We recommend the customers contact the Embassy of the destination country for any visa requirements prior to travel.

Due to customer demand we are offering express direct transfers on certain routes and trains in Switzerland.

Due to traffic and parking restrictions in some resorts, a short walk may be required to reach your accommodation. Where possible we will endeavour to assist you with this to minimise any inconvenience however this may not always be possible.

Border Control

Airlines are now required to provide passenger details to government authorities in advance of travel for the purpose of border control. This includes information contained within your passport. If you are travelling on a scheduled carrier please contact your airline directly to supply this information. Failure to provide this information may result in you being unable to travel.

Flight delays

We’ll keep you informed and in the unlikely event of a flight delay, we will endeavour to provide refreshments and or meals as per EU regulations (copies will be available at the airline counter) where it is reasonable to do so, unless it is likely to cause a further delay to your flight. In the event of extended delays, we will try to make arrangements for overnight accommodation for you, though this is not guaranteed, and again depends on local circumstances. You should be able to reclaim the costs against your insurance policy. Please note we may not always be aware of delays on some scheduled or internal flights – in which case, if applicable, welfare arrangements will be made by the airlines. If you are travelling in the USA or Canada utilising connecting flights and experience a delay, please phone free from any USA or Canadian payphone 1888 877 6445 (or alternatively call +1 970 547 0788 from any phone) to inform us of your amended travel details.

Times and Routes

All land and air travel arrangements, airlines and aircraft types, timings, routings and arrival airports are provisional until confirmed with your tickets and may change after this due to circumstances beyond our control. We reserve the right to substitute airlines/aircraft and make any necessary alteration to your travel arrangements, including method of carriage, in a force majeure situation to enable us to fulfil our obligation to transport you to/from the resort or your UK departure airport.

Pregnancy

Flying when pregnant? Check out the policy for TUI flights. For all other airlines, please check with the airline directly.

Operation decisions

These may be taken by carriers and/or airports, port authorities and other competent authorities, resulting in delays, diversions or re-scheduling. When such situations occur, this is not within our control and we do not accept liability for them.

Personal Property

From the point of arrival to transfer vehicle and from transfer vehicle to accommodation, and return, remains your responsibility to ensure that your luggage and personal property is loaded/off-loaded from the transfer vehicle. Please note that porterage is not included, unless indicated otherwise.

Name change on tickets

For TUI flights, name corrections such as changing to a married name or a spelling mistake will be free of charge. Name changes due to a different person travelling or changing the passenger type is chargeable at a cost of £25 per ticket.

On flights with other airlines, name corrections and changes will be at cost as advised by the airline. Please note that some airlines treat these as full cancellation of the flight.

Visa’s and Passports

Please have a look at our ‘Visa, Health, Passport, Travel Documentation’ section on our Holiday Agreements page for more information.

Flight Information

Infants

An infant is defined as a child who is under the age of 2 years on the day of return travel. Children 2 years and above must have their own seat booked and paid for on the aircraft. Infants under 2 years as defined above can either sit on an adult’s lap with the appropriate seat belt or alternatively you can book a seat at the child price or the airfare price, if this is lower than the administration charges below.

  • Europe – £45
  • USA & Canada – £179

If you do book a seat you must use a purpose-designed car safety seat as long as it has a proper restraining harness and can be fixed facing forward on the seat in the plane (you are required to bring your own car seat, in good condition and provide the instruction leaflet for the cabin crew). We recommend you call the airline direct to check for any restrictions and further advice.

Baggage Allowance

Remains specified by charter airlines and must be strictly complied to avoid excess baggage charges or luggage being off-loaded from the aircraft, as we will not accept claims in the respect.

Flying with TUI: The current EU limit for the maximum weight for one item of luggage is 25kg. Those who have pre-paid for an allowance exceeding 25kg must check-in another bag. Baggage allowance can be pooled over the party e.g. 60kg between 3 passengers. Infants under 2 years will have their own allowance of 10kg.

Carriage of Skis/snowboards and boots by air

With a growing number of skiers and snowboarders taking their own equipment on holiday, charter airlines are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the extra weight and handling of these items. This has increased the risk of luggage being off-loaded from aircraft. In common with all other major winter sports operators, we have therefore introduced a system to improve the reliability of ski/snowboard carriage as a paid for service. Ski carriage can be purchased per set of skis or snowboard and not per bag, with a maximum weight limit of 20kg. If you’re planning to take two sets of skis or two snowboards in one bag, you must purchase two ski carriage extras, however the total weight must not exceed 23kg.

If you wish to have skis or snowboards added to your booking, these must be added at the time of booking. For any reason, should your carriage fail to arrive on your flight, the charge will be refunded and skis forwarded to you in resort free of charge. We will also arrange hire for you until your skis arrive. For each pair of skis/board that you have paid carriage for and that does not arrive, you will receive hire for 1 set of skis and/or snowboard. If you do not pre-book your skis/board carriage, there is no guarantee that they will be carried, but if accepted, a minimum £50 charge will be levied at the check-in desk by an appointed rep. This charge does not apply to scheduled airlines, unless operating as a charter, where ski equipment may be included in the total baggage allowance and additional charges may be levied if this is exceeded. Please note ski/snowboard boots contribute to the overall luggage allowance and must be checked in as hold luggage.

Seats with extra space

You may be able to reserve seats with extra space for your journey. Some of these seats are located close to Emergency Exit doors, and some are situated behind a ‘bulkhead’ or dividing wall, where there’s extra space from not having a seat in front of you. For safety reasons, Emergency Exit seats are only available to passengers who are able bodied and of suitable size. You must have no medical conditions and, in the opinion of the cabin crew or check-in staff, have the strength and full mobility to open the Emergency Exit door. It is a Civil Aviation Authority requirement that only customers aged 14 years and over occupy these seats. Extension seatbelts cannot be provided on Emergency Exit rows. Only a limited number of seats with additional space are available.

Pre-book your seats with TUI flights

Seats together: For an extra charge, you can pre-book your seats to guarantee that your party sits together on both the outbound and homeward TUI flights. You can select your seats online from 90 days before departure. Exact seat numbers will be given at check-in.

Seat only

For those who have their own accommodation, return flight seats are available at extremely competitive prices starting from just £99. Some transfers can also be pre-booked.

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 £105,000) 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 £17,000).

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 £4,400).

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 £1,050)

Destruction, loss or damage to baggage

The air carrier is liable for destruction, loss or damage to baggage up to 1000 SDRs (approximately £1,050) 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

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.

Liability of contracting and actual carriers

If the air carrier actually performing the flight is not the same as the contracting air carrier, the passenger has the right to address a complaint or to make a claim for damages against either. If the name or code of an air carrier is indicated on the ticket, that air carrier is the contracting air carrier.

Time limit for action

Any action in court to claim damages must be brought within two years from the date of arrival of the aircraft, or from the date on which the aircraft ought to have arrived.

Basis for 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. *SDR (Special Drawing Rights) is a unit of account created by the International Monetary Fund in 1969, based on a basket of the world’s leading currencies, principally US Dollars, Euros, Japanese Yen and Sterling.

Air Carriers

  • AC – Air Canada
  • AY – Finair
  • BA – British Airways
  • D8 & DY – Norwegian
  • EZY – Easyjet
  • LX – Swiss International
  • TOM – TUI
  • UA – United

 

Groups Information

  • Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more full-paying passengers.
  • Discounts vary depending on the party size, departure date, airline or flight/train route taken and accommodation chosen.
  • Our groups teams can confirm the discount available at the time of booking and this will remain valid for 5 days.

To qualify for group discount the following conditions must apply:

  • Available only on 7 night TUI flights to Europe.
  • The party size is determined by the number of full fare-paying passengers. Children receiving a free or reduced child price do not count towards party size.
  • Supplements, insurance and ski pack items are not included.
  • Group must book for the same date, duration and resort.
  • Only 1 free child place is allowed per group.
  • The discount will be applied to the lowest priced holiday, so any other holiday discounts will be applied after the group discount.
  • Additional passengers who are added on at a later date will not alter the original group discount.
  • Reductions in group size may result in a reduced discount which will be reflected in the price each person pays. Group discounts may be lost if all the conditions are not complied with.
  • All passengers must pay the full deposit.
  • Group discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer advertised including, but not limited to, money off offers, sale offers and ski extras offers (other than those outlined below).
  • Names should be supplied at least 4 weeks before departure or as agreed with the Crystal Holidays reservations team, except for flights not operated by TUI, which require all names at the time of booking. A name change after this will incur an amendment fee.
  • Free name changes are permitted on TUI flights up to 4 weeks prior to travel. A name change after this will incur an amendment fee.
  • An administration charge will be levied for pre-booking additional overseas facilities.
  • The group leader must ensure that all members of the group have adequate holiday insurance.
  • Options can be held for groups but this will be for a limited period only and the timeframe will vary depending on your date of travel and accommodation choice.

Families Information

Free Kids places

It doesn’t get more family friendly than giving your child a free holiday. There are Free Kids’ places on hundreds of holidays as well as reductions on their lift passes, tuition and equipment.

Offer applies to new bookings only, on selected holidays, subject to availability. Only one free kid’s place is available with two full-paying adults.

Other Child discounts

We also offer child discounts in other accommodations that do not feature free kids’ places.

Child reduction criteria

Child reductions are available on most of our holidays, as long as there are already two full-paying passengers in that room. Actual child prices will be confirmed when you go to book your holiday, either online or over the phone.

Crystal Childcare information

Availability

All our childcare is extremely popular. It is therefore essential to secure your child’s place at time of booking (subject to availability) as numbers are limited and the correct adult:child ratio will always be maintained.

Our childcare operates from the day after arrival over a 6 day period. If any of our childcare staff are taken ill or unavailable, we may have to withdraw these facilities until we are able to provide suitably qualified staff.

We reserve the right to refuse to accept any child or to withdraw any child from our care, if due to illness or other reasons if it is not possible for us to provide suitable care, or if they pose a potential risk to other children or our staff. Children who are ill cannot be cared for in our clubs due to the spread of infection to other children and our staff and need to be clear of symptoms for 48hrs — you may be required to provide a Doctor’s note.

Children not booked into our childcare services, when operating, or left in their rooms during the evening, without supervision, are left so entirely at the responsibility of their parents/guardians.

Our resort childcare is available to all our customers in resort and normally involves walking, taking a bus or ski lift and are based on a drop off and pick up basis. Certain hotels offer exclusive childcare to customers staying in a particular property.

Please note:
Childcare bookings made for Crystal Childcare are non-refundable.

  • We ask that parents/guardians are contactable at all times whilst on the slopes and that all children are signed in and out of every session at only the Crystal club location.
  • Messy play and various outdoor activities could incur unavoidable soiling/staining to children’s clothes. All our products are sourced from reputable brands and we use washable advertised products in our clubs; however we can’t guarantee that all marks can always be removed and therefore do not accept liability.
  • Any items left in the Crystal Childcare club rooms are done so at the parents’/guardians’ responsibility.

Childcare staff & ratios

All of our nursery and club staff are qualified to an NVQ3 in childcare or equivalent. Our nurseries will operate to a minimum ratio of one nanny per 3 children. (Please be aware there may not always be two staff present at all times, but we will always ensure correct adult:child ratios are adhered to). Our Beanie Bear Club ratio is one qualified childcare staff to 5 children.

Childcare prices

All prices can be found on the main childcare pages, but please note there is a supplement which applies on certain dates.

Meals

All our children’s meals are freshly prepared and our chefs follow nutrition guidelines for salt, sugar and fat. We also look to provide every child with their five fruit or vegetable portions a day. Food for infants can be pureed (please ask a member of staff), however for infants too young for normal family meals, we do ask that you bring the necessary baby food (i.e. formula milk or specific brand jar food) with you.

Additional services

Babysitting

Where possible, babysitting is available locally at approximately €10 per hour (subject to availability) with the childcare team and is a private arrangement between you. Book in resort.

Car seats

Free car seats will be included when booking a private transfer, however infants must be included in counting the number of seats required. Alternatively, if you prefer you can take your own child car seat (please advise at time of booking). Child seats for infants cannot be used on our coach transfers.

Please note: We recommend you contact our Reservations team if you wish to bring your own car seat to be used on a coach transfer. This may be possible in some destinations though the two point seat belt type is most common and there would be an additional charge. You may also like to enquire about private transfer options.

Special requirements

We are happy to welcome children with special needs, disabilities, allergies or medical conditions into both our Pepi Penguin Nurseries and Beanie Bear Clubs. Please contact us prior to booking your holiday so we can discuss your child’s individual needs in case we feel 1:1 care is needed. All our chalet hosts and chefs are trained to cater for different diets and will ensure your child receives an interesting and varied diet should they have any severe allergies or dietary requirements.

Beanie Bear club and ski school

Children must be toilet trained to attend ski school and/or Beanie Bear Club. The majority of ski schools in our childcare resorts have made it compulsory for children to wear a ski helmet.

Beanie Bear Club starts from 3 years of age in La Plagne and Flaine, and 4 years of age in Passo Tonale and La Thuile.

Resort kindergarten and ski school facilities

You are able to pre-book a selection of resort kindergartens which are locally run and have been inspected to ensure that they meet the standards you require. Independently operated resort kindergarten and ski school services will comply with local regulations. Therefore, we have not inspected these facilities or premises and are unable to guarantee that the level of care provided will suit your requirements. Should you have any queries or wish to make a booking please contact the local tourist office – all contact details are available on request.

Hotel-run kid’s club and activities

We have highlighted a host of hotel crèches/kids clubs and other childcare facilities run by our trusted suppliers throughout our winter ski programme. As they are not operated by Crystal we therefore have no control over their operation and child ratios and cannot guarantee the level of care provided will suit your requirements. Some facilities are available to pre-book and some based on a first come first serve basis. All kids clubs, hotel crèches and childcare facilities are subject to availability and change.

Please note that, in France, some hotel-run kids’ clubs are only open during the French school holidays. For Winter 2021/22, Xmas: 18th Dec – 1st Jan, Winter Holiday: 5th Feb – 5th March, Spring Holiday: 2nd – 30th April. If you wish to book your child a place in one of these clubs, please make sure you book in advance.

Child safety

For your child’s collection security it is essential that you pack an ‘extra’ passport photograph of you/designated person(s) which will be attached to your child’s registration form so our staff can identify you when you collect your child — we ask that all children be signed in and out of every session at only the Crystal Childcare club location. So you are contactable at all times whilst on the slopes, please also bring a mobile phone (with international roaming).

Rep service

We’re all about giving you support, expertise and knowledge before, during and after your holiday – it’s what we do. There are two main levels of rep service in resorts:

In most resorts our friendly airport team will meet you on your arrival and get you on your way to resort. Crystal reps will be available when you get there to ensure that you have everything you need to hit the mountain on the first day. If you need anything during your trip, just check our free Crystal Ski Explorer app to find out where they’ll be, and come and have a chat. If you need assistance, you can call the Crystal team 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  • There won’t be a rep based in some resorts, but we’ll meet you at the airport to give you your vouchers if you’ve pre-booked lift passes, equipment hire or tuition, and make sure you’re ready for the mountain. There won’t be any Crystal-run après events, but you can check our free Crystal Ski Explorer app for details on local events and activities. If you need any assistance, you can call the Crystal team 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Please note that customers travelling to the USA and Sweden will not be met at the airport. Arrival instructions and vouchers for pre-booked lift passes, equipment hire or tuition will be emailed to you prior to travel. If you need any assistance, you can call the Crystal team 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Please check the Resort Info section of our specific resort pages to find out which level of rep service there is.

Local Info and Ski area

Everything you might want to know about your chosen resort is available in our free Crystal Ski Explorer app, which is available to download from the App Store and Google Play. The resort guide section of the app includes details for your arrival and useful information on the resort, ski area and activities to keep you busy on and off the mountain. We strongly encourage all of our customers to have a look at this information before your holiday. Please note that the information provided may change from time to time and accuracy cannot be guaranteed, but your rep will update you with any changes on arrival if necessary. The majority of the app’s content, once initially downloaded, can be viewed offline, but please note that standard internet access and mobile web browsing charges may apply – check your mobile tariff for details.

Activities and Après Ski Events

The advertised events are dependent upon operational availability, minimum number of participants and pre-season auditing, and therefore, some events may not always be available due to insufficient demand or, in some cases, adverse weather conditions. All mentioned restaurants and other venues, which are not owned by Crystal, are not under our direct control and have not been inspected by us. Therefore, any recommendation is merely an indication that these facilities have proved popular and are worthy of mention and not a personal recommendation by Crystal.

  • Heli-skiing opportunities are arranged with the best local operator. As with all adventure sports, you partake at your own risk and you will be required to sign a disclaimer prior to the activity. Please also note that if, due to adverse weather conditions, or other circumstances beyond our control, the heli-ski package is unavailable during your stay, our liability is limited to a full refund of the cost paid.
  • Any other excursions or hazardous activity in which you partake locally, such as tobogganing, paragliding, inner-tubing or snowmobiling etc. are at your own risk and liability and may not be covered under the terms of your holiday insurance. Please check the details of your individual policy before participation.
  • Any specialist ski clinics will always be dependent on the following:
    • Weather, powder or piste conditions
    • Minimum numbers (on some courses)
    • That your skiing/boarding is of a suitable level to join the course
    • That you have appropriate insurance cover

Currency

A small amount of foreign money can be very useful when you arrive abroad.

Scottish and Northern Irish bank notes can cause confusion outside the UK. Should you wish to take any sterling abroad, it’s probably best to take English Sterling notes.

Credit/Cash Cards – most major credit cards are widely accepted in most countries abroad and can often be used in cash points with your usual PIN number. Most European countries also accept cash cards with Cirrus & Maestro using your existing PIN number.

Ski and Snowboard Safety

Like any activity in the mountains, the risk to yourself and others is easily minimised by following a few simple guidelines.

Choose your resort carefully: mixed ability groups, in particular, must remember that skiing should be safe and fun for everyone. Do not encourage fellow skiers to venture onto slopes that are beyond their capabilities. It is also worth noting that because of their steep terrain some of the resorts favoured by experienced skiers may carry an increased risk of avalanche.

Let the experts guide you: A guide with essential information to help you get the most out of your skiing is included in our free Crystal Ski Explorer app, with links to the FIS Safe Skiing Code. Please take the time to read this simple common-sense advice, which is provided with your safety in mind. Combining this with up-to-date information on arrival will help you to stay safe both on the slopes and in the resort.

Avalanche danger: In extreme weather conditions, any resort may be at risk, so never ignore warnings. Signs and flags around part or all of the pistes indicate that avalanche danger is present but do not rely on these alone. Local experts are there to help so ask for advice from the local ski school or ski lift company on a daily basis. When necessary resort authorities may close some or all of the pistes. Remember this is done to ensure your safety. Never attempt to ski on runs which are closed, or go under a boundary rope into an area not part of the prepared ski area.

Off-piste: If you are able to ski off-piste you must have appropriate insurance and employ the services of a qualified guide. Never ski off-piste during risk of avalanche.

Snow conditions: Snow Reports information is provided by On The Snow and not Crystal. Therefore, the information provided is not under our direct control and we cannot accept liability for any disappointment which may arise as a result of the information provided.

 

Sales Enquiries

If you are thinking of booking a holiday or just need some general advice, call:

Call centre opening times

After Sales

If you have already booked a holiday and need to contact us, call:

Call centre opening times