Ski holidays for large groups
Article updated every 6 months. Last updated 14th May 2008
Author: Sean Newsom (Travel expert) Ask me a question.
More about Sean Newsom
Sean Newsom loves skiing so much that he has made it his job, writing for The Sunday Times as their ski editor. He is also founder of welove2ski.com, the UK's leading specialist ski website.
"Skiing fast in the sunshine with your friends is one of the purest and brightest pleasures I know," he says. "Absolutely everyone should give it a go. If it were up to me they'd be giving ski and snowboard holidays away on the National Health. It would improve Britain's winter well-being in an instant!"
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Ski holidays with large groups of friends or family is a blast. You've got a ready made social life, a vast pool of skiing buddies, and guaranteed night life. It's no wonder so many people take their ski and snowboarding holidays this way.
The downside, of course, is that it's an organisational nightmare - so here are a few pointers to ease your path.
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Kayte Williams
(Holidays Expert)
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Crystal Ski - Crystal Ski have years of experience in organising ski group holidays and as a group leader you will have your own dedicated reservations consultant on hand to assist you in choosing a property, searching for availability and to take you through the whole booking process.
Thomson Ski - Thomson Ski have years of experience in organising ski group holidays and as a group leader you will have your own dedicated reservations consultant on hand to assist you in choosing a property, searching for availability and to take you through the whole booking process.
See more of our recommended companies
What type of accomodation?
It depends how many of you there are. If there are less than 20 of you, you'll probably find a chalet to house everyone - provided you start your search early enough (up to a year in advance in the case of New Year's Eve or February half term if you want an A-list resort).
If there are more of you than this, then a chalet-hotel is the answer. These are hotels run along chalet lines, and have the capacity to house and feed really big groups (don't expect the highest quality of décor and service, though).
Discounts
Party leaders have serious purchasing power. At every stage you should be looking for discounts - from the tour operators, from the ski hire shops, from ski school. The only place you probably won't get a sympathetic hearing is from the lift-pass office.
Skiing together
The cardinal rule of group skiing is - don't ski in a group! At least, not in a mixed-ability group. It may seem like the sociable thing to do, but you'd be much better off splitting up into smaller parties who ski more or less at the same level. You'll actually do group cohesion more harm than good if the experts start dragging the intermediates down slopes that are too steep - and besides, they'll get bored waiting at the bottom for everyone else to follow them.
Ski Insurance
Make sure everyone in your group has insurance! Depending on which country you're skiing or boarding in, mountain rescue and medical treatment can be expensive. So too lost or stolen equipment, delayed flights, etc.
Who do we recommend?
With so many companies to choose from, we have researched the market to find those with a wide range of choice as well as some that are more specialist. Browse our list below to find the right company for you then click through to their web site for more information and how to book. It couldn't be easier!
Further guides on skiing and snowboarding
