Is anyone feeling nervous about their 21/22 ski trip?

[StolenAwayOn55thand3rd]

I realise that I'm probably being silly. I fully recognise that covid has made me a bit irrationally anxious about crowds, busy places, etc. So on that note... We have a large and normally busy resort in France booked (booked pre covid and shifted from last year to this). We're going to a catered chalet with DH's family which includes his child free siblings who will want to go out partying.
I'm a bit worried about ski resorts being covid hotbeds this winter (remembering Whistler last year) and what will happen if we end up with it - we won't be able to travel home presumably so where will we stay? Not to mention the possibility of actually getting ill, though DH and I are both vaccinated so I know that's unlikely.
Anyway, just wondering if anyone else is having similar thoughts or if I'm being really foolish.

Party venues won’t be open. It’s the same in France/ Austria/ Switzerland/ Italy.
Most restaurants will be table service sit down only, so just sitting with who you go there with.
In resort actual clubs will either be closed or you have to take additional covid tests that for valid only 24hrs to atttend.

Where I live gondolas and chair lifts can only be used with covid passport ie double vaccinated only. Anyone over 6 years who isn’t vaccinated will need to be tested regularly to use lifts.

Not being able to travel home - well there will be no pre-return testing requirement (assuming the travel rules stay as they are now), so you’ll only know you’ve got it if you get symptoms sufficient that you have to test. Still a risk, but less than when there was pre return testing.

Whether the travel rules are sensible or not is a different question!!

Thanks Caspianberg, that’s really useful and reassuring info.

Sorry yes I was assuming if one of us got symptoms necessitating testing! There will be 12 of us in the chalet so if it did go round, likelihood is that someone would be symptomatic…

@Caspianberg

Party venues won’t be open. It’s the same in France/ Austria/ Switzerland/ Italy. Most restaurants will be table service sit down only, so just sitting with who you go there with. In resort actual clubs will either be closed or you have to take additional covid tests that for valid only 24hrs to atttend.

Where I live gondolas and chair lifts can only be used with covid passport ie double vaccinated only. Anyone over 6 years who isn’t vaccinated will need to be tested regularly to use lifts.

Party venues are all open in Italy. What do you mean? DD is 18 and since June when everything opened up totally it's been one long waiting outside party venues at 2am! Green pass obligatory, but once you're in, everything is as normal.

We are going at Easter but the company cancelled new year.

Are you not more likely to injure yourself badly in a skiing accident than get very sick or die from covid?

I think you need to get some perspective. Thank your lucky stars that you're getting a nice holiday and forget about all the covid nonsense. If shit happens, then deal with it then. The holiday will most very likely be smooth and awesome and it will help put the covid concerns to bed.

@Geamhradh - I’m not in Italy. But here nightclub entry is only for double vaccinated plus test ie two things on green pass. It’s not hundreds of unvaccinated, untested people out clubbing.

www.austria.info/de/service-und-fakten/coronavirus-situation-in-oesterreich/ski-und-winterurlaub-in-zeiten-von-corona

This might be in German - Google translate if needed

Obviously some rules might decrease or increase between now and full ski season I guess.
They have pretty much been the same summer season here as it’s been fine tbh.

Enjoy your ski

[quote Caspianberg]@Geamhradh - I’m not in Italy. But here nightclub entry is only for double vaccinated plus test ie two things on green pass. It’s not hundreds of unvaccinated, untested people out clubbing.[/quote]
No, it's not in Italy either. Green pass dependent. I was confused because you said party venues were closed.

@Geamhradh - sorry I was wrong on that. Lots are closed or will be in local resorts to me, but it’s isn’t a country ban on opening.

No, I'm not worried. Whole family absolutely desperate to get back on the slopes. Half term booked and probably going to do New Year as well. Bring it on!
My local area is a hotbed so I'm much more likely to catch it here than in Andorra or Italy where they've got very few cases.

We’re booked up for France too and I read that you only need a PCR within 2 days of returning to Scotland (that’s where I am) so hopefully we won’t be stuck. I can’t wait as we really missed it last year. We’re off to la plagne after doing Morzine 3 years in a row. Looking forward to the ski in ski out.

Yes. My diamond shoes are pinching a bit as well.

The only things I'm nervous about is that (1) there may be a spike and it won't happen or (2) there will be an issue with my teenagers' vacc status still at large on our Easter trip to France and we'll be charging around getting antigens etc. Otherwise not nervous at all. Bring it on!

Oh people , enjoy it! I'm so envious, I'd love to go on a skiing trip. We're stuck in a non-UK country with borders closed.

Sorry if this is a stupid question but what is the position with non-double vacc'd children (but over 12) for France? Half term trip booked. England has no plans to offer a 2nd jab to 12+ so no prospect of them being double vacc'd by Feb???

@Africa2go - can’t confirm France or for Feb, but here children are being vaccinated. Currently it says over 6 years will need to be vaccinated or tested to use lifts etc.

so for you with over 12 you might just need to schedule a test for them every 3 days ( I think it’s valid 72hrs atm but that might change). If it is the case then there will be loads of test stations all over resort for you to easily do

At the moment Austria is looking like the outlier requiring pass sanitaire/green pass etc for ski lifts. France has said while cases remain low it will not be required on lifts (although you will most likely still need for hotel/restaurant/etc). I wouldn’t say a double jab is impossible yet for the age group but it isn’t looking promising so extra testing mid week might be required.

Italy also @abricotine . We're hoping to go at Christmas. Will just need to test the kids a couple of times up there.

We booked Andorra for Feb as it looks like they've got no green pass at all!

@Caspianberg Could you elaborate more on over 6s needing to rest regularly for lift use please?
DH and I are both double jabbed. DCs are 10 and 8 so haven't had any (we're in the UK).

Test not rest!

@RhubarbFairy

planetski.eu/2021/10/02/covid-19-ski-holiday-rules-in-austria/ - this might help. It’s over 12 in general, only over 6 in Vienna district. So as long as your not flying into Vienna or staying your would be ok with 8 and 10 year old.

Main extra here is the FfP2 masks. You have to wear those and not fabric ones like in uk. You can buy them in any supermarket/ pharmacy easily for £1 though so no need to panic bringing loads. You might need to have some though to wear straight away if your taking ski transfer to resort if not private car hire.

The green pass is also in use. I’m not sure exactly how you get that from the Uk or if just the nhs vaccination card is valid.

@Caspianberg are the masks required just indoors I assume?

French language discussion of prospects for French ski season here:

www.stationski.fr/ouverture-condition-station-ski-2021-2022-covid

@NCTDN - seems to be so far. I’m not sure what the rules are in crowded outdoor places ie festivals/ Christmas markets tbh. I think it’s needed in inclosed gondolas but not general chair lifts