Christmas 2020 Skiing Likely To Be Cancelled?

[NinnyNewName]

We booked back in January (we have been xmas skiing for the lsat 8 years).

Going with Esprit, to France.

Not likely to happen is it?

You might be ok if you are prepared to quarantine on return and if your travel insurance is still valid (Eg because you booked so early or otherwise). And if you are happy with Covid safe arrangements eg masks etc in gondolas.

If we have a spike in the meantime, France may require a negative test (or worse a quarantine which won’t work for a ski hol of course).

I think it’s a fine balance this year and it’s hard to tell at this point. Unfortunately things don’t seem to be moving in the right direction really.

Really hoping not, we're booked to go to Austria. I agree though, its too early to tell We are so desperate to go but don't want to spend all that money and not enjoy it.

We have no travel insurance at the moment. In lapsed in August and given our holiday to Greece was cancelled I didn't renew it.

I guess it's a case of wait and see. We had a pretty disastrous ski trip last xmas so was very keen to go back to our old favourite resort this year. But it's a lot of money if it turns out to be crap.

Although it's usually pretty quiet at xmas and it's a smaller resort, plus we're in a chalet so it might be okay.

It's hard to predict how the next few months will go. You're probably right though

I think you may be ok. I've just seen Tignes have issued guidance about masks on lifts & in ski hire shops etc.

I wouldn't risk it due to quarantine rules and local restrictions in France, if there is an increase in cases.
But then everyone for themselves. After all, as we are not in this together, and we can't reduce the spread of corona by being sensible (... sorry about the sarcasm.)

Err thanks for that.

We don't go until April so feeling very positive that things could be better by then.

We are booked for Xmas 2020 too. Booked before Covid was even on the radar.

We are happy to go but not if it’s 14 days isolation on the way back. I could handle 7 days but not 14 with young children and they’d miss school.

What are the chances of the isolation to France being lifted by Xmas? Probably slim because their cases are rocketing and they don’t seem to be doing much to bring them down.

We've booked for Italy for half term and I am hoping against hope that it stays off the quarantine list. Got a Covid insurance policy through the chalet so if it goes onto quarantine list we get our money back.

Balance is due on Sunday. £3.8k. Not sure what to do!

Will esprit not refund if you can’t go - we have to pay inghams (same group )for ours on the 24th October for Xmas - it seems like all bases are covered if there is still a quarantine in place ie they won’t travel - I have received a message saying they will contact me a little closer to the time the balance is due to discuss my options

My concern is the self isolation issue if we come into contact with someone prior to going . Inghams doesn’t appear to cover this (unlike crystal ski) and our insurance said they will “consider” a claim - whatever that means

I think the difficulty is that you're covered if your holiday is cancelled, but you may not be covered if the country is open according to FCO (i.e. FCO is not warning against all but essential travel) and you "choose" not to go simply because you don't want to quarantine when you come home.

Quarantine is usually only applied when FCDO advice is not to travel. These are two sides of the same coin.

I can see with cases rising the self isolation risk before you go is a very real one and getting this covered by insurance is going to be harder. We had this worry in the summer and decided to travel - all was well but it is a gamble.

Speak to your tour operator. They should be able to state clearly the rules on postponing and cancellation. You are far more protected with a package which I assume this is but you do need insurance. Most travel operators have been allowing changes.

I’d say it’s unlikely you’ll be able to go. Usually we’d have booked by now but can’t see it happening this year.

If it's money you can't afford to lose then I'd say no. Always another year.

I wouldn’t risk it. Your numbers in the U.K. are way out of control.

They mightn’t even let you fly in!

The chances are that you’ll be able to go but I‘m anticipating that there‘s a high possibility that you will need to quarantine on the way there and on the way back. Do you have sole occupancy of the chalet? What measures have the resort announced re: covid safety?

We were just about to book when lockdown happened. I’m very glad that we didn’t as DH has since lost his job and other members of the group have become unwell and wouldn’t be advised to travel. I couldn’t work from home and don’t want the dc to miss any more school if it’s avoidable.

Can you ring them and talk through all of your options?

I am paying the balance on our Christmas holiday this weekend.

I’m certain we won’t be able to go but have confirmed with my travel insurance that if we pay the balance and FCO still advise against travel then they will refund us.

If we don’t pay the balance there lose the deposit and they won’t cover that as we will have breached contract.

So pay the balance and then you’re covered with insurance as long as FCO still say not to go. If FCO don’t say not to go then UK will list the quarantine anyway and happy days...

Jb

I have half term booked with inghams but reading their Q&A it mentions they only cancel if you have to quarantine on arrival - not on return! That worries me

@Ginogineli

Jb

I have half term booked with inghams but reading their Q&A it mentions they only cancel if you have to quarantine on arrival - not on return! That worries me

Yes I re read that - as I think they changed it the other day . You are currently unable to book our chalet and they did mention they were reviewing their winter 20/21 holidays so. I am hoping this Will be classed as a significant change and I get my money back..If that happens think I will look to book last minute with maybe crystal who appear to cover all the options

Good luck .
We lost out in March as lockdown was announced the day before we were due to fly . Am hoping for March 2021 but expect the virus is still going to be around .

I wouldn’t want to go whether it’s cancelled or not. There won’t be a vaccine by then. You can’t socially distance in the chalet and be sharing it with numerous other families, having dinner every night. Kids will be mixing with other kids in cocoa club, crèche, ski school, etc.

I’ve had a number of esprit holidays where d&v has spread like wildfire through the chalet due to the closeness of people and kids not washing their hands well enough. Not somewhere I’d want to be during the current pandemic.

@NinnyNewName

Balance is due on Sunday. £3.8k. Not sure what to do!

NNN can I ask what you decided in the end ?