Ten tips for organising a group ski holiday

Nominate a group leader

Get an organised group leader as they’re worth their weight in snow, especially at the start of the holiday. The first day can be a bit hectic when sorting out everyone’s equipment hire, lift passes, tuition times plus any teething troubles that may occur. A good group leader will calmly sort things out to make sure everyone is happy.

Get your budget sorted

Every group has differing budgets. Some have no limit whilst others need to be careful with money, so it’s important to set a budget that everyone is happy with and then stick to it. Sort out what people want to have included in the budget too i.e. flights, transfers and accommodation, or the whole package including kit, passes and tuition.

Choose your dates

The week you choose to go will have an effect on how much you pay. If you don’t have kids in the group and you can avoid the school holidays, your price will be lower. January and March tend to have the lowest prices, but pre-Christmas is great value too.

If you do go in the school holidays, the Easter holidays work out cheaper than other holidays. You’ll also have warmer weather which favours the smallest members of your group.

Work out ability levels

Before you choose where to go, you need to understand the needs of the group. Ask people how many weeks skiing or boarding they’ve done. You don’t want to go to a ski area that only suits hardcore skiers if you have beginners in your party. You’ll just end up with a grumpy group and that’s never good!

If you have a variety of ability levels, choose a larger ski area as that’s more likely to cater for everyone. This also favours any non-skiers in the group as there will be more choice of activities on offer.

Where to stay

Once you’ve worked out what people want, you can look for a suitable resort. The list of best ski resorts for groups is pretty large, so this is a good time to call up and get some advice. On the whole though, if you go for a large ski area, it’s likely that everyone in the group will be happy.

Once you’ve picked a resort, the most ideal place to stay for a group, no matter the size, is a catered ski chalet. They make a great little home from home where your group can relax together in front of the fire, make the place your own and create your own atmosphere. You also have the added bonus of having your very own host who will cook your meals and serve up the complimentary wine with your dinner.
 

Don’t do everything by committee

When choosing where to go, have a small circle of the group to bounce ideas off but don’t give out heaps of options to the wider group or you’ll never make a decision. Pick two or three places you think will suit the group and pitch those. After that, majority rules and (hopefully) everyone will be happy.

Pay up

One of the biggest frustrations is that people say they’re up for the holiday and they’re definitely in (probably from a conversation in the pub) but when it comes to paying up, it’s a different story. Neilson offer low deposits for group holidays to make your life that little bit easier.

A good tip is to tell people that the deposit is due two weeks before the holiday company needs it. This gives you a chance to chase people and issue mild threats of dropping them from the group and that it just won’t be the same without them! 

Size matters

For many reasons, the size of your group is important. If it’s a small group, you have more options of where to go, but the larger your group gets, you should pick a larger ski area with enough slopes to keep everyone happy. Also, the larger the group, the better your discounts will be.

Get some help

Regardless of how many groups you may have organised, it’s always an advantage to get professional help. Our sales team have been organising group holidays for years and there’s no question that they haven’t been asked (and yes, that is a challenge!)

Enjoy it!

The most important thing is to enjoy the holiday. There may be times when things get a little fraught, (particularly when you’re chasing people for money), but just remember to have some fun yourself too!

Find out more about our Neilson Group Ski Holidays