We put our lad down for the school ski trip back when the world was normal...we are now approaching the November deadline for the balance being paid.
Rather than disrupt the ski thread, I thought I’d sound out the ski fans on here what they though the chances are of this happening.
Appreciate that taking 30+ 15 years olds is a different prospect to a family or mates trip and I suspect it won’t happen. School promised an update very soon about three weeks ago but not heard either way.
Wagrain, Austria, early April...
Impossible to say, but I'd be very surprised if we're back to normal by then...
I'd be approaching the school about the need to pay the balance at this time and suggesting they might want to reconsider.
Winter season will be very different this year in Austria, There was a big scandal with Ischgl where they kept taking guests knowing corona was there. There is a big court case looming. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/24/europe/austria-ski-resort-ischgl-coronavirus-intl/index.html
There will be no Apres ski. Lift queues will be crazy as they will limit the number of people in each gondola.
https://www.dw.com/en/austria-bans-apres-ski-parties-due-to-coronavirus-fears/a-55046164
I would not pay a single penny until I got reassurance that you will get it all back should the trip not go ahead. I doubt any insurance you pay would cover corona cancellations knowing there is as yet no end to it.
Snow won’t be that good in April
...or were you talking about COVID?
If you are flush i would be asking how good their insurance is.
Otherwise I would be saying no chance and not pay another penny
As I understand it DfE guidelines are still preventing any school trips - my lads college have suggested that if they want to complete DofE Gold expeditions next year they may need to do it via a private provider and not through college.
I'd be pushing the school to delay payment, but I would doubt it will take place. Have you got insurance already in place that may cover it?
Daughter due to go to Northern Ireland in February and Iceland in July, both postponed from this year. Can't see either happening without a major medical breakthrough in place first.
my lads college have suggested that if they want to complete DofE Gold expeditions next year they may need to do it via a private provider and not through college.
My nephew did his Bronze DoE trip only a few weeks back through his school (I provided all the camping kit).
I think it's overnight trips that are banned. The school DofE group I help did their Gold Expedition (in canoes) at the end of August. They used canals, and at overnight stops they cooked their meal, pitched their tents, then took them down, their parents took them home for the night and brought them back the next morning.
Forgot to answer the question; chances of a school trip to Austria in April 2021, somewhere between nil and zero.
I wouldn't rule it out or in, although I would be pretty confident that you would (eventually) get a full refund. If you fail to pay in full you will lose your deposit.
I would check with the school as to how they are paying. When I run ski trips it is deposit then a single final balance. Up until this point anyone can withdraw and only lose their deposit.
If your child is in a local authority controlled school, the LA should have an insurance policy and no pupils/parents should be out of pocket in the event that a trip is cancelled at any stage.
If you DECIDE that your child isn't going whatever happens, that is a different kettle of strudel...
Manage his expectation and tell him it’s almost impossible the trip will go ahead.
As above, you should be insured through the school, so you’ll almost certainly get a refund once paid up.
Also as above, overnight trips are not going ahead for the foreseeable. My daughter’s trip to Wales in January is off already, so I’d say Austria before the snow disappears is pie in the sky.
Bearing in mind we have already cancelled all overseas Uni field classes, and are v close to cancelling all residential UK field classes for this academic year...I’d say that trip wasn’t going to happen based on my experience, for educational, not recreational, trips!
Mrs Dubs school have cancelled DofE this year, risk assessment was just too dodgy...
Our 2 are supposed to be going to Austria next June on a music trip. They were both supposed to be playing brass instruments on it. It’s not going to go ahead.
The BBC has just run an article about the insurance for forthcoming school trips being 'invalid'.
Sad, but I would put my eggs in to the basket labelled 'not happening, minimise the financial risk'
Not going to happen sorry. I was meant to be taking 40 kids to Poland last week and also do DoE at my school. You will get your money back,the staff member organising it will have booked through an insured and protected company and it is also underwritten through your councils insurance. The council will want the school to chase a refund through the company first. Some are good ( mine: schools into Europe) some are bad( better not name the mob organising the also cancelled french trip) You also need the company to cancel it or you will lose a significant amount of money, likewise you will need to pay or you are pulling out which will at least cost you the deposit. Unfortunately for the staff member organising that may mean playing along with the company until THEY pull the plug. I would ask for an update and maybe rephrase the above into your query.
Not saying you won't; but organising a trip abroad is a big undertaking and a labour of love and the hassle involved way outweighs any free skiing/sightseeing, so please be nice to the staff member. From personal experience of recently having one cancelled and issuing refunds some parents can be dicks, and annoyingly not the ones for whom there is an obvious financial penalty.
Back in March I made the decision to not pay a penny up-front that wasn’t completely refundable, and not waste time making any concrete plans for travel or events that required significant investment of time and effort.
I haven’t regretted that decision and haven’t changed my approach yet. As far as I’m concerned, everything is cancelled until further notice.
Don't pay anything, they won't be going. Even if you did and they did, how will you feel about him possibly bringing CV back?
I think it’s overnight trips that are banned. The school DofE group I help did their Gold Expedition (in canoes) at the end of August. They used canals, and at overnight stops they cooked their meal, pitched their tents, then took them down, their parents took them home for the night and brought them back the next morning.
Interesting, wasn't aware that was being accepted by DofE, though I'd have thought that the "sleeping" but was the least risky aspect - he's gutted that the delay in completing his gold DofE will stop him getting his Queen's Scout Award next April,
1). Very unlikely to happen IMHO
2) AS DUCKMAN so eloquently puts it, be nice to the organisers about it
3) Not all DofE are cancelled or running by sending the kids home with mummy and daddy for the night. Our mob chose the [ frankly bloody obvious- no idea why your canoe mob didn't do the same] option of giving each kid a separate tent for the night. Job done.
Our mob chose the [ frankly bloody obvious- no idea why your canoe mob didn’t do the same] option of giving each kid a separate tent for the night.
Yes. They had individual hammocks and tarps (original intention was Finland) and we taught them how to make tarp tents and use canoes with the tarps. But the school wouldn't have it. (We only do it for the young people, the school like to advertise their DofE but have always been a pain and don't appreciate how much they get from the volunteers)
I think it’s overnight trips that are banned.
Might have changed, but my nephew camped for two nights only a couple of weeks back. DoE Bronze trip.
I wouldn't be putting down a deposit for an April ski trip.
It would just be 6 months of uncertainty, stress and potentially false hope for a trip that's likely to be undersubscribed for the above reasons.
I feel for you as I loved my school ski trip but medium term planning for travel, especially involving cash, isn't wise at the moment.
I live internationally and have seen people trapped in foreign countries quarantining and even losing their jobs over it, just because they were determined to risk a holiday. Wouldn't want to put my kid in that situation.
Thanks for the replies, the monies paid so far are safe and the lad is savvy enough to accept it’s probably not going to happen.
Gutted for him but there is a much bigger picture.
Cancelled.
Either Easter 2022, but that’ll be in the lead up to GCSE exams so I’m not keen on that option, or Feb 2022 but the travel company has suggested it’ll be more money, presumably as there is better snow/peak season.
Yep- peak season as it’ll be half term
We’ve had confirmation that the trip is planned for 8th April 2022, still Wagrain.
The next question is how good the snow will be...it’s seems very late in the year.
Also in the run up to GCSE exams so either a welcome distraction or an unneeded detraction from swotting.
Edit, I suppose I can keep an eye on webcams and snow reports for this coming April and take a view then. Payment deadline is well back.
Work charity trip to Vietnam 1st March was canned yesterday, sadly but not unexpected.
Still, I'm fairly well on with raising the 4.5k for Save the Children, and that's the important bit. 🙂
We’ve had confirmation that the trip is planned for 8th April 2022, still Wagrain.
The next question is how good the snow will be…it’s seems very late in the year.
Given that from 1 Jan (regardless of trade deal or not) all non essential travel into the EU is banned whilst the UK remains on the covid naughty step, why are you thinking this will be ok/possible?
We’ve had confirmation that the trip is planned for 8th April 2022, still Wagrain.
How are they justifying that? Will the kids be the only people staying in the hotel?
Personally I won’t be flying until I’ve had the vaccine, and the majority of people I come in to contact have been. So that will be at least another 12 months
Are you prepared to isolate when they come back too?
Sounds to me that someone would prefer to have the money in their bank rather than yours.
FunkDunc did you see the last digit of that date?
We’ve had confirmation that the trip is planned for 8th April 2022, still Wagrain.
The next question is how good the snow will be…it’s seems very late in the year.
I’ve skied the Ski Amadé every Easter for the last 8 years, the snow will be fine and the weather is usually lovely. My favourite time.
Don't know Wagrain specifically, but there should be loads of snow in most Austrian resorts on 8th April.
DfE look like they will not revisit the current proscription on overnight school trips until March 2021. I’m not sure how DofE is exempt from this, but certainly some schools and some providers are offering it- is it independent schools only, who are less bound by DfE advice, or are LA schools also offering?
Given that from 1 Jan (regardless of trade deal or not) all non essential travel into the EU is banned whilst the UK remains on the covid naughty step, why are you thinking this will be ok/possible?
How do you know what restrictions will be in place for travellers from UK to EU next year?
Just for clarification, I’m talking 2022, not next year.
