Crystal Ski Holidays Cancels All December Holidays to France

25th November 2020

Last modified on May 13th, 2021

It follows the likelihood that French resorts will not open until late January. There is also the matter of isolation required when arriving back in the UK.

“We’re sorry to confirm that due to the impact of COVID-19 and the restrictions now in place, we can’t operate our holidays to France for departures up to and including 31 December 2020,” said a statement from Crystal.

“We’re aware of the French President’s recent announcement regarding restrictions in France.

“We’ll be proactively contacting any customers whose holidays are impacted as soon as possible to discuss their options, prioritising those due to travel in the coming weeks.

“We are continuing to monitor the situation.”

Crystal Ski Holidays is the largest UK winter snowsport tour operator.

It had hoped to offer holidays in December and issued this statement on November 10th.

“As the current Government regulations in England are in place until 2nd December, and our season kicks off with first flights departing on 12th December, all our ski holidays are still scheduled to operate as planned.

“With still a month to go until the start of the ski season, we’re working hard to remain flexible, so we can react to the ever-changing situation and take as many people to the mountains as we can.”

But it has had to bow to the inevitable given the continued spread of Covid-19 and international travel restrictions.

Not to mention that it looks highly unlikely any resorts in France will even be open.

Ski resorts in France set to remain closed in December

French ski resorts react with dismay as unlikey to be allowed to open until January

Crystal admitted back in October that it would not fly guests to resorts if quarantine measures were required.

“Crystal won’t operate holidays to resorts where it’s known customers will need to self-isolate or quarantine when they get there or when they get back home,” it said as it launched a Covid-19 insurance product.

In September it cancelled the whole of its chalet programme for this winter.

Crystal Ski Holidays axes entire chalet programme for next winter

Crystal Ski Holidays

Other ski companies have had to make similar difficult decisions to cancel parts or all of their winter programme as we have reported on PlanetSKI:

On November 19th Balkan Holidays said it was cancelling all its planned holidays over Xmas and into the New Year.

“It is with regret that we write to inform you that we have taken the difficult decision to cancel all of our Bulgaria charter flights, flight only and package holidays departing 19th December 2020 up to an including 16th January 2021,” it said in a letter to customers.

It offers ski holidays to Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo in Bulgaria. Plus ski trips to Slovenia & Romania.

“For all holidays, we’ll be following Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice, monitoring the situation closely and will do everything we can to get you to your destination,” added Crystal Ski Holidays.

“If travel restrictions or quarantine requirements remain in place, we’ll be in touch around two weeks before your departure date to offer a range of flexible options.”

Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the restrictions now in place Crystak is not operating holidays to Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Switzerland or the USA for departures up to and including 13 December 2020.