Ski packs
Lift passes, ski/board hire & tuition
As a special service to our customers, we are pleased to offer the opportunity to pre-book ski pack requirements for your holiday. This covers the hire of skis, sticks, boots, tuition and lift passes, with details confirmed on your invoice. Costs detailed in our brochure may be higher or lower than resort prices. A saving cannot be guaranteed when a ski pass covers both high and low season. Crystal must reserve the right to increase these costs at any time or to withdraw this service. In this event, customers who have not already purchased ski packs will be able to make arrangements in resort, where payments made by credit card will be subject to a handling fee.
Standard and superior skis: Most skis are now carving skis, superior skis are this season's models and no more than one year old (not Bulgaria and Slovenia). Usually this is high performance equipment, responsive for all types of terrain. VIP skis are performance skis for an advanced skier.
Please note
Ski pack advance purchases cannot be made within 24 hours of departure, but our local rep will be able to assist you with arrangements locally at the prevailing local rate, which may have varied from that indicated within our brochure.
Some offers in this brochure may not be available locally and have to be pre-booked.
Bulgaria
As resort prices are considerably higher, we would strongly recommend that you pre-book your lift pass and equipment at time of booking.
Children's skis and boots
Children's skis and boots usually apply to children up to 1.5m in height and shoe size 36. The maximum child ski provided will be 1.6m. Where we have specified a maximum age for children's equipment, this rule applies as long as the child's height and sizes of shoe do not exceed those stated.
Helmets
Ski helmets are either recommended or compulsory for children under 15yrs in most countries eg. Italy, Slovenia & certain French and Austrian resorts.
Lift passes
The overall ski areas covered by lift passes advertised and sold through this brochure 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.
You may need a lift pass photo, so please take one with you if you do not want to buy one locally.
Off-piste courses are very much dependant 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 packs are now pre-bookable for most resorts, with prices and child classifications available on request or on Viewdata for travel agents. For resorts where pre-booking is not available, we suggest that children up to the age of 16 years book locally on the understanding that either child or adult rates may apply, although we cannot guarantee that children's rates will always be cheaper locally.
For customers over 55 years, some resorts offer reductions for lift passes purchased locally and therefore pre-booking is not recommended.
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 or ski school on peak dates.
In some resorts English speaking instructors may not always be available, particularly at peak times.
Please note
No alterations, cancellations or refunds can be accepted once the order has been received by us either prior to, during or after your holiday.
Ski school
The number of hours of tuition varies from resort to resort. On each resort page we have given details of how many hours of tuition per week are included in the ski school in that resort. However, some ski schools close for one or two days over the Christmas/New Year period and on Sundays; some French ski schools may limit their hours during children's school holidays.
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 yrs 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 'flocon' (first level of children's ski school), or equivalent, ski schools will readily accept them in their classes.
First Time ski/board packages
Where available, these are strictly for complete beginners only. A beginner is defined as somebody that has never skied or snowboarded before. If you are not a beginner you will be required to pay to upgrade in resort. The package may include beginner tuition and basic skis and boots. If a lift pass is included this may be a restricted beginner pass. See relevant resort pages for details of what the packages include.