As these tour operators were not members of, nor financially bonded to any trade body organisations, such as ABTA, their collapse has left customers out of pocket and without their ski holiday.
How can I ensure my booking is protected?
This highlights the importance of making sure that you only book with reputable tour operators that are a member of a body such as ABTA, ensuring that you are protected should the worst happen. We previously explained the importance of checking this in our ‘Choosing a Ski Trip Company’ guide.
We’ve seen first-hand the disappointment that’s caused when school groups are let down by a tour operator – a few years ago we were featured on Channel 5’s ‘Cowboy Traders’ when we stepped in to rescue a group whose tour operator had gone bust, leaving them without their school ski trip. So, whoever you choose to book with, we implore you to check that you are financially protected.
As the ski division of the larger Halsbury Travel, Halsbury Ski is a member of ABTA and so, when you book with us, you can be certain that your group’s money is protected. And if you’ve chosen to travel by air, you’ll be pleased to know that our flight packages are ATOL-protected too.
Brexit certainly is a challenge for the ski industry, as many companies take payments from customers in sterling, before paying suppliers in Euros. This can cause an issue for those who have not forward bought currency, as fluctuating exchange rates can leave them with a serious deficit.
How do Halsbury Ski protect themselves and their customers from currency fluctuations?
After 30 years in the school travel industry, here at Halsbury Ski we anticipated the effects that Brexit may have on exchange rates and so took precautions to protect both our customers and ourselves by making sure that we forward bought sufficient currency.
This means that, as we've previously advised, when you book within the timeframe stated on your quote, the price is locked in. So, even if exchange rates then change dramatically, we won’t ask you to pay any more.
How can I lower the impact of exchange rates on the price of my school ski trip?
Don’t worry, you don’t have to abandon your favourite European resorts to avoid the effects of Brexit. We’d just advise that you book your trip well in advance to lock in the price.
We’re due to leave the EU in March 2019 – so why not book your 2018/19 and 2019/2020 trips now to make sure your groups are protected against any further exchange rate fluctuations that could happen then?
We’ve got plenty of great value resorts across Europe that are available to book now, including popular destinations like Italy!
If you are still concerned about the effects of Brexit, you could consider other destinations outside of the Eurozone. Of course, we offer school ski trips to Canada and the USA, but if you’re on a tight budget, why not consider Bulgaria?
Outside of the Eurozone, the effects of Brexit on the exchange rate are not as much of an issue here. Plus, we visited Bansko, Bulgaria’s premier resort, over the winter and were blown away by the quality of the skiing, accommodation and facilities.
It really is Alpine quality on a budget, and it's our top tip if you are really concerned about the effects of Brexit.
We’re pleased to report that actually, Brexit doesn’t seem to be putting you off arranging ski trips, with record numbers of you choosing to book your trip with us.
But if you do have any concerns, please remember that our team of Ski Specialists are always very happy to talk you through the best options for your group, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.