If possible, either arrange a trip or encourage participants to visit their nearest ski centre a couple of times before they hit the Austrian slopes, especially if they are completely new to skiing or in need of a refresher. These visits allow everyone to familiarise themselves with all the gear, from ski boots to helmets and will be a fun and invaluable taster for what lies ahead on the scheduled trip.

We prioritise building trust and delivering a personalised service. We truly value the opportunity to get to know our customers better. We’d love to meet in person as there is no better way to fully grasp your group’s specific needs and requirements. Please let us know when suits you and we’ll arrange a time that works best for you.

All North47 ski trip itineraries are completed taking into consideration the strict drivers’ hours regulations. The appropriate number of drivers will be incorporated into your tour cost during the initial costing process. All ski tours have 2 drivers for the duration of the tour with feeder drivers provided when necessary.

For groups above 48 passengers we do have access to a limited supply of larger vehicles with up to 89 seats. Please let us know if you have higher numbers and we will check availability and rates with the relevant coach operator and provide you with options.

Drivers must adhere to strict driving regulations and after a driving period of no more than 4.5hrs must take a break of at least 45 minutes. You can discuss breaks with your driver and arrange the most suitable places to stop. With regards to food on the coach – whether this is allowed is at the discretion of the driver but in most cases, as long as the coach is kept tidy then it is expected that drinks and snacks will be consumed on a long journey. Please remember that North47 also include a continental breakfast on the return ferry from Calais to Dover as standard. This additional meal is not always included by other tour operators.

Our solid foothold in Austria has allowed us to forge strong relationships and friendships with our hotel partners, meaning we regularly pop in to catch up with hoteliers and ensure that every detail has been thought of for both sides. We have handpicked the most suitable hotels for our groups, to ensure that they offer the best experience possible, allowing everyone to find comfort and delicious meals after a hard day on the slopes. Our hoteliers are all extremely experienced in looking after school groups and will go above and beyond to make your stay enjoyable. They will ensure you have an amazing time in a safe and welcoming environment.

Rooms are allocated is usually provided by the hotel around 2 weeks prior to departure and will be based on your male/female breakdown.

Teachers are usually accommodated in twin rooms and students in single gender, multi-bedded rooms.

It is common in many hotels for twin beds to be of the ‘Austrian Twin’ type. This consists of a large bed base with two mattresses, two sets of bedding and two duvets. They are used commonly throughout the Alps as ordinary twins. We do not expect members of your group to share double beds.

Single rooms are always subject to availability and if requested, will incur a supplement. Please see your tour quotation for details of the current staff rooming arrangements included in your tour package.

If you have any special room requests, be sure to let us know as soon as possible.

If there is anyone within your group with specific dietary requirements just let us know as soon as possible. Any food intolerances or allergies will be communicated to your hotel and your experienced Resort Rep, supported by our Resort Manager will be on hand during your tour, should there be any issues or additional needs.

Many tour operators include a packed lunch as part of the ski trip package. We don’t believe a packed lunch is appropriate on a ski trip and a hot lunch is far more suitable after a morning spent burning energy whilst skiing. There are so many restaurants waiting for you in Ski Amadé area and our unique package provides a substantial €16 per person per day lunch allowance for students and staff. This means your group can eat in any of the mountain restaurants and purchase a delicious hot meal from the menu. Our generous allowance ensures that everyone enjoys a satisfying lunch experience.

A unique aspect of the North47 package is our lunchtime supervision which is included as standard in all our tours. This means all ski instructors allocated to a group will remain with them at lunchtimes to ensure the students find suitable seating in the restaurant and to help with the ordering process.

With some tour operators, instructors leave their groups at lunchtime to take private lessons. This usually means that instruction groups reconvene at lunch time and eat in the same mountain restaurant each day under the supervision of their teachers. Whilst groups are free to meet up each day if they wish, the process inevitably restricts how far a group can ski each day, especially for the intermediate and advanced skiers looking to take advantage of the huge ski area.

The unique partnership between North47 and AWEsome ski rental ensures that our groups receive top notch ski equipment. Your ski fit will take place right in the comfort of your hotel on the evening of arrival, eliminating the need to visit a rental shop on the first morning, thus ensuring a smooth start to your first ski day. We also keep spare equipment at our office at the base of the main chairlift in Alpendorf and at the Kreistenalm Restaurant, so we can accommodate any changes with minimum disruption to your day.

North47 are proud to partner with Wolfgang Pfeifhofer Ski School, who have been working with school groups for many years. Your lead ski instructor is also your rep for the week meaning they are completely immersed in your trip, not only during ski lessons but with every aspect of your tour. Many of our instructors reside in the resort for the entire ski season, if not year-round, therefore are intimately familiar with the ski areas and the surrounding towns and villages.

Each ski instructor is dedicated to their group of students all day, including during the lunchtime period, which allows a group to be independent without restrictions, travelling further into the resort, thus assisting greatly with progression as well as freeing the party leader and school staff to attend to other tasks.

More than 400 access points provide complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort. Stay connected with your friends, family, and social media accounts all while avoiding costly data roaming charges.

We provide slopeside ski storage for our groups at the Kreistenalm restaurant, this means our groups don’t have the daily hassle of lugging skis and poles back to the coach park each day. Additionally, the beginner ski area, complete with a button lift, is conveniently located right next to the Kreistenalm restaurant, so groups have direct access to amenities. No fuss, no stress – just pure convenience.

Travel insurance is not included; however, British schools can often access great-value insurance through the Local Education Authority or via academies and private schools at specially negotiate rates. Taking advantage of these options not only offers peace of mind but also saves money. Many party leaders may not be aware that they already have appropriate cover in place, so this is worth investigating with your Business Manager and/or LEA.

Please be aware that a UK EHIC or UK GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance, although you should also ensure each passenger has one of these cards.

In the event of an emergency on the mountain, the following procedures are followed to ensure a swift and effective response:

• Immediate Notification: The instructor will immediately notify your representative, who will then contact both the Party Leader and the Resort Management Team.

• Mountain Rescue Activation: Mountain rescue services are contacted directly, providing precise location information and any relevant details about the situation.

• On-Scene Treatment: Experienced English-speaking paramedics from mountain rescue will arrive and provide treatment at the scene if possible. If further transportation is needed, mountain rescue and the Red Cross will organise it, such as a skidoo, ambulance, or helicopter.

• Hospital Transfer: Your representative will liaise with the Party Leader regarding the possibility of a teacher travelling with the injured child to the hospital or accident clinic if necessary. Most serious injuries are treated at Schwarzach Hospital, which is just a 7-minute drive from Alpendorf. Rest assured; all staff at the medical facilities speak English.

• Informing Insurance: We would recommend that you contact your insurance company either en-route to the medical facility (hospital, clinic etc) or whilst waiting to be examined at the respective facility. In most cases, the medical facility will ask for some form of insurance upon arrival – a GHIC card would usually be accepted at this stage, but details of alternative insurance (policy and case number, for example) will also be useful. It may also be required to pay for certain things before leaving the hospital, this can then be claimed back through your insurance so be sure to keep any Invoices and Receipts along with medical reports that the medical facility provides.

• Post-Medical Attention: After receiving the necessary medical attention, transportation will be arranged to ensure a comfortable return to your hotel or evening activity. This includes a stop at a pharmacy if required.

By following these steps, and by working closely with the Red Cross, we ensure that emergencies are handled promptly and efficiently, prioritising the safety and well-being of all our guests.

In the event of injuries such as concussion, the decision may be made to keep the student / member of staff in hospital overnight for monitoring. In this case, we would fully support further transportation and logistical solutions so that an overnight bag and member of staff (if required) can be arranged. Whether a member of staff can stay at the hospital overnight with a student is dependent on the age of the injured student. Generally, a member of staff will be allowed to stay with a student aged under 16. The hospital may charge a small fee for this, which can be claimed back through insurance. North47 will also provide support with transportation after being discharged, either to the resort or back to your hotel.

If a member of your party is required to stay in the hospital after the party is due to travel home, we would help in finding accommodation for the member of staff that stays behind (where necessary) and/or parents should they choose to travel out, whether this be in the original hotel or somewhere closer to the relevant medical facility. North47 would also assist in finding a viable alternative for travelling home. It is vital that you keep your insurance company updated with any information regarding a prolonged stay in the hospital, keeping any receipts for extra journeys and accommodations.

Should a member of your party become ill during the night, your rep and the resort management team will be reachable at any time for emergencies. In the event an incident requires immediate attention, however, the emergencies numbers in Austria are as follows:

• Ambulance: 144

• Police: 133

• European Emergency Number: 112

• Doctor (Out-of-Hours, such as the NHS 111): 141.