Select School Travel

The trip was highly successful, and overall arrangements worked well. Students and staff had a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience, supported by a strong in-resort team. Resort staff were professional, approachable, and responsive, and once concerns were raised they were dealt with efficiently and effectively. There were, however, a small number of planning and communication issues that caused avoidable frustration and are worth addressing to further improve future trips. Planning & Communication While issues were ultimately resolved, some arrangements did not fully reflect preferences that had been clearly recorded on feedback and preference forms. When requests could not be accommodated, no explanation was provided, which led to unnecessary frustration. Clearer communication earlier in the planning process, including brief explanations where preferences cannot be met, would significantly improve confidence and reduce workload for staff leading the trip. Après-Ski Programme & Activity Timing A key area for improvement is the timing of evening activities. Where possible, activities should take place between the end of skiing and the evening meal rather than after dinner, particularly at this hotel. Students become very tired in the evenings, and post-dinner activities often lead to disengagement and impact their energy and willingness to ski the following day. This preference is long-standing and should be considered as the default approach, with exceptions only where unavoidable (e.g. final night skiing and disco). Specific Activities First-night quiz: Very well delivered and enjoyed by students. This worked particularly well and would be ideal to run before dinner on the first evening following a long travel day. Hot chocolate and ice cream: Well received and an improvement on previous years. The venue, however, was less suitable, as students were required to stand outside. Indoor venues used on earlier trips were more effective and should be reconsidered for future visits. Hockey Huskies visit: Excellent activity that pupils thoroughly enjoyed. Minor coach delays were handled well by the venue and did not impact the experience. Night skiing: This had been specifically requested to be arranged in advance but could not be organised prior to arrival, meaning it had to be arranged in resort. This added unnecessary pressure during the trip and should be managed ahead of departure in future. Karaoke: Scheduling after dinner was less successful due to student fatigue. While efforts were made in resort to adjust timings, venue constraints created safeguarding concerns, and the decision to cancel was appropriate. This highlights the importance of reviewing activity timings and venues carefully before itineraries are finalised. Financial / Administrative Matters Lift pass deposits were paid by students and were not returned. A clear process and timescale for reimbursement is required so that funds can be returned to families. This would benefit from being managed more automatically on future trips to reduce post-trip administration. Staff & Support Thanks are extended to Janet, Molly, Millie, and Neil for their professionalism, responsiveness, and hard work throughout the planning and delivery of the trip. Their support ensured that, overall, the trip ran smoothly and provided an excellent experience for students.

All services provided were excellent.