Shopping around for last minute ski deals is usually a pretty stressful situation, especially when you’ve got a tight schedule to work with and you need to find the perfect accommodation for you and your party.
One thing you don’t want to do, however, is to overlook the extra services that some operators offer, even when opting for a last minute deal. These extras can sometimes make the difference between a fantastic and a pretty average holiday.
Here are six of the more important extras you should keep an eye out for when shopping around for last minute ski deals.
- Pre-Booking Arrangements
You really don’t want to head off on a ski holiday only to find out that you don’t have the permits, passes or reservations you need. This is why it is absolutely essential that you review the pre-booking arrangements that your chosen package has on offer. The vital ones include reservations for accommodations, ski passes covering the nearby pistes and passes for gondolas and ski lifts. Additional arrangements can be useful too, like permits to ski in nearby forested areas or cross-resort permits that let you ski on the slopes of other resorts.
- Skiing Coverage
You can’t expect the NHS to cover your medical expenses if you get into an accident while skiing, which is why you need to keep an eye out for additional ski accident insurance in those last minute skiing deals. If you plan to try your hand at other, riskier snow sports – like snowmobiling or skiing off-piste –you need even more coverage to properly insure yourself against any sporting-related accident.
- Fully Catered Meals
You’ll be pretty lucky if you can find late packages that offer fully catered options for you and your party. Having your meals completely catered formeans you can just sit back and relax in the comfort of your own accommodation – especially appealing when you have your own cottage or chalet that is quite a ways from the nearest café or restaurant.
- Skiing Lessons
Some last minute ski deals come with the option to take skiing lessons – a pretty nifty bonus when you or someone in your party is new to skiing. Some lessons cover the more advanced aspects of skiing, like glade skiing and exaggeration drills, which can be pretty useful if you’re looking to improve your skills.
- Equipment Rentals
If you haven’t invested in your own set of skis or want to try your hand at other snow sports like sledding or snowboarding, it will definitely be worth your time to check out last minute ski deals with equipment thrown into the deal. You could find yourself saving quite a bit when compared to renting the equipment on-site.
- Childcare Services
Parents will definitely rejoice if they find childcare services included in a package. These cover a range of options, from private nannies and babysitters to playgroups and nursing facilities. If you spot deals that come with childcare included in the package, sign up as fast as you can!They tend to get snapped up quite quickly – especially when school holidays are just around the corner.
Keep all these tips in mind, and it will be easier for you to find great extras on last minute ski deals that you may have otherwise overlooked.