Families and Groups Information

Group bookings

• Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more
• Discounts vary depending on the party size, departure date, airline or flight route taken & accommodation chosen
• Our groups teams can confirm the discount available at the time of booking

To qualify for your FREE group places the following conditions must apply:

• FREE places are available on 7 night charter flights to Europe, Eurostar services and British Airways scheduled services to Calgary, Denver and Vancouver
• The party size is determined by the number of full fare paying passengers
• Supplements, insurance and ski packs are not included
• Group must book for the same date, duration and resort
• Only 1 FREE child place is allowed per group
• The FREE places & lift passes given will apply to the lowest priced holiday/lift pass
• FREE upgrade of equipment will be to the next available level of skis/snowboard in the resort booked. No discount or cash alternative will be offered for customers who opt to retain standard level of equipment. Offer applies to new bookings only & subject to change.
• Additional passengers booked at a later date cannot alter the original group discount
• Reductions in group size will have FREE places reduced accordingly. Group places may be lost if all the conditions are not complied with
• All passengers must pay the full deposit, regardless of FREE places. Deposits on FREE places will be credited once final payment has been made
• If the group size increases after the booking, we cannot alter the original group discount
• Two children who receive a percentage discounted price holiday will be counted as one full paying passenger in a group
• Group FREE places cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer advertised
• Names should be supplied at least 10 weeks before departure or as agreed with the Crystal Ski reservations team, except for scheduled flights which require all names at the time of booking. A name change after this will incur an amendment fee - see "Your Agreement with us" on page 411
• An administration charge will be levied for pre-booking additional overseas facilities
• Group reductions do not apply to European scheduled flights
• All other special offers including No Single Room Supplements are limited
• The group leader must ensure that all members of the group have adequate holiday insurance

FREE lift pass for group leaders

We offer the unique bonus of a FREE lift pass for group leaders in selected properties. This is only available for groups of 15 or more and all adults in the party must pre-book their lift passes. Available on all weeks except departures on 26, 31 December 2011 and 11, 12 February 2012.

Childcare and families

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 (except Private Nanny Service which runs on 5 days). 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 24hrs. You may be required to provide a Doctors 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.

Please note: childcare bookings made for Crystal childcare or private nanny service are non-refundable and we ask that parents/guardians are contactable at all times whilst on the slopes & that all children be signed in & out of every session at only the club location.

Messy play & 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 club room are done so at the parents'/guardians' responsibility.

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 & pick up basis. Certain hotels offer exclusive childcare to customers staying in a particular property.

Babysitting

Where possible, babysitting is available locally at approx £7 per hour (subject to availability) with the childcare team and is a private arrangement between yourselves.

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). Please note: child seats can not be used on our coach transfers.

Childcare prices

All prices can be found on the main childcare pages, but please note there is a £10/£20 supplement which applies on certain dates:

• Pepi Penguin Club: 14 January, 11 February, 31 March, 7 April 2012
• Whizz Kids Club: 11 February, 31 March, 7 April 2012

Childcare staff & ratios

Our Pepi Penguin Clubs will run with at least one qualified nanny (NNEB, BTEC, NVQ3 or equivalent) and we operate to a minimum ratio of one nanny per 3 children under 2 yrs, and one nanny per 4 children if all children are aged 2-4 yrs (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 Whizz Kids Clubs are run by fun and caring staff who have a combination of qualifications and experience.

Cots and linen

Travel cots with sheets and blankets are available for customers staying in a Crystal chalet or Crystal run hotel. These must be pre-booked at time of booking at £10 per week.

Evening childcare

If you are staying in a chalet where the childcare is located (Chalet Rose-La Plagne 1800 or Chalet Violetta-Val di Fassa), and full day childcare has been pre-booked then you will receive 1 night's free babysitting from 7.30pm-10pm which takes place on your chalet host evening off.

For children pre-booked into either full days of Pepi Penguin or Whizz Kids Club (and staying in certain hotels* where childcare is operated) they will also receive 6 evenings of Snuggle/Pyjama Club from 7.30pm-10pm.

Both clubs can be booked & paid for locally with the childcare staff, for children not pre-booked into childcare, subject to availability.

Please note: once in resort you will be asked to confirm whether your child will be using their evening club place. All children participating in both the Snuggle & Pyjama Club are advised to have early dinner to ensure they can enjoy all that the evening clubs have to offer. If numbers are low, clubs may be combined.

* Hotel Hermitage-Alpe d'Huez, Hotel Grand-Claviere, Hotel Terra Nova-La Plagne, Hotel Totem-Flaine

Family stations

You may need to store or heat up bottles/jar food so we have made a fridge, microwave, steriliser & kettle accessible to you 24hrs a day in Hotel Hermitage-Alpe d'Huez & Hotel Grand-Claviere.

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 5 fruit or vegetable portions a day. In Hotel Hermitage-Alpe d'Huez & Hotel Grand-Claviere each morning you will be asked to select your child's choice of evening meal from the day's menu. Early meals are served at approx 5.45pm in these hotels and we ask that parents are present at these meal times. 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. Children's early evening meals in Hotel Diva-Tignes, Hotel Terra Nova-La Plagne & Hotel Totem-Flaine are available from 6.30pm. We ask that parents are present at all meal times to supervise whilst eating.

Pre-bookable items

A hiring facility is available in certain hotels. Bottles can be warmed at your convenience, monitors give you peace of mind whilst your child is sleeping and DVD players allow you to pack and enjoy your child's favourite DVD. All are subject to availability, so pre-booking is advised.

Prices per week: Baby monitor £30, DVD player £30, Bottle Warmer £15 A refundable deposit is payable locally at the hotel reception, upon collection.

Private Nanny Service

Available in Courchevel, Meribel, Tignes, Val d'Isere, Les Arcs, La Plagne, La Rosiere, Flaine, Les 2 Alpes & Alpe d'Huez in France and Kaprun, St Anton, Ischgl (Family Resort Seiblishof hotel only) in Austria for children aged 6mnths-8yrs. Snacks, drinks and lunch are included as is a free night's babysitting from 7.30pm-10pm on your chalet host's evening off. Service runs on 5 days from 8.30am-5pm, as your nanny will take a day off mid-week.

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 créches and other children's facilities are not operated by Crystal and therefore we have no control over their operation and cannot guarantee the level of care provided will suit your requirements.

Special requirements

We are happy to welcome children with special needs, illnesses, disability, allergy or medical conditions into both our Pepi Penguin and Whizz Kids 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 & 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.

Whizz Kids Club & ski school

Children must also be toilet trained to attend ski school and/or club and children may need to accompany Whizz Kids Leaders to ski school when other children are being dropped off or collected. Children attending Whizz Kids Club must be 4yrs of age; however skiing children who book Whizzclusive in Flaine, La Plagne & Tignes can be 3yrs, but in Kranjska Gora the age is 5yrs.

In Niederau & Scheffau - ski lessons run for 2hrs in the morning & afternoon so the Whizzclusive package includes ski school drop off/pick up and lunchtime supervision until 5pm. In Scheffau, lunch is taken at a mountain restaurant close to ski school & children will be supervised by Crystal Whizz Kid staff during this time. Please note: Lunch in Niederau is not included so this needs to be paid for locally on a daily basis

The majority of ski schools in our childcare resorts are now making it compulsory for children to wear a ski helmets.

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 & out of every session at only the club location. So you are contactable at all times whilst on the slopes, please also bring a mobile phone (with international roaming).

FREE Kids

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.

North America child prices

For any holiday to USA and Canada, children aged 2-11 inclusive receive a 10% discount on the adult fare. If your property has any under-occupancy supplements then children count towards the occupancy.

One Parent savers

Single parents wishing to get away to the pistes this winter can take advantage of our unique One Parent Savers. When one adult shares a room with one child then the child is entitled to the discounts shown below. The child must be aged 2-11 incl. and the One Parent Discount does not apply to any room supplements, ski packs etc.

Available on 7 night holidays at European family chalets and selected hotels (by charter flights or snow train/Eurostar). FREE places apply on selected flights and once used up the Kids' Specials prices apply.

Season Departures on or between	Free places	Kids' Specials*	Finest Kids' Specials
01 Dec-16 Dec	Free	£179	£249
17 Dec-23 Dec	Free	£299	£399
24 Dec-06 Jan	Free	£399	£449
07 Jan-10 Feb	Free	£179	£249
11 Feb-24 Feb	Free	£399	£449
25 Feb-30 Mar	Free	£199	£279
31 Mar-14 Apr	Free	£299	£399

Hundreds of FREE places are available across most dates. FREE or reduced price places are on selected flights and accommodation only and are subject to availabity on a first come first served basis. Free child places are limited to one per booking. All free and reduced prices are on the basic price only. Any flight, room or board supplements, ski packs, nanny service charges etc. are payable in full.

Self Drive holidays are included in Free Kids Offers. Children count towards the occupancy in chalets and Crystal run hotels but do not in self-catering apartments.

Other European departures

Departures on or between	Child discount
01 Dec-16 Dec	25%
17 Dec-23 Dec	15%
24 Dec-06 Jan	10%
07 Jan-10 Feb	25%
11 Feb-24 Feb	10%
25 Feb-30 Mar	20%
31 Mar-14 Apr	15%

One parent savers

Departures on or between	1st child discount
01 Dec-16 Dec	25%
17 Dec-23 Dec	15%
24 Dec-06 Jan	10%
07 Jan-10 Feb	25%
11 Feb-24 Feb	10%
25 Feb-30 Mar	20%
31 Mar-14 Apr	15%

• Unless otherwise stated, reductions are based on a child/children sharing a room with a minimum of two full fare paying passengers. Reduced places are limited to two per booking.
• All free child places and reductions apply to 7 night European charter flights, train to France and Self-Drive holidays only. For all European scheduled flights, the child reductions apply as per 'other European properties'.
• Children receiving a free or reduced price place do not count towards a Group run reduction. Children do not qualify as full fare paying passengers (except in European chalets and Crystal run hotels) and as such do not count when calculating under occupancy supplements or sharing supplements.
• Infants (children under 2 years of age on the day of return travel to the UK) pay an administration charge of £39 (£179 USA/Canada), provided that no flight, coach or train seat is used, with direct payment to the hotel or accommodation owner for any food/hire of cot etc.
• Free and reduced price children do not count towards the occupancy in the car on Self-Drive holidays.
• One Parent Saver reductions are for genuine one parent families travelling alone. Any persons that take advantage of this offer who do not meet this criteria will be charged the balance of the holiday price in resort. Reductions only apply for properties where indicated.
• Children's ages are 2-11 for hotels, apart-hotels, Crystal run hotels and chalets, and 2-15 years for self-catering apartments and 2-11 in USA and Canada.
• In the unlikely event that the child price plus under occupancy supplements exceeds the adult price, just deduct £50 from the adult price. This cannot be combined with any other offer.