Travel & Holiday

The specialist operator has produced what it calls an ‘Easy Guide’ to help its guests steer a path through the rules while taking a ski holiday in France. NEW

The end of the national lockdown is welcome news for skiers, snowboarders and the ski industry.  However cases remain high & some restrictions will be in place, with the nine provinces deciding some of their own rules in what will be a complex situation. UPDATED

France has ruled out another lockdown or curfew for the time being despite the number of cases of Covid-19 in the country soaring. Some measures have been tightened. NEW

Switzerland sees more testing & mask wearing with Italy introducing its so-called ‘super green pass’. Cases of the omicron variant continue to grow across the ski nations of Europe as more ski resorts open and it’s hoped the measures will help skiing to continue as normally as possible.

Travellers heading to the UK will now have to take a Covid test before departure.  It’s thrown things into further chaos with the ban being described as a ‘hammer blow’ for travel. Some skiers will be prepared to accept the risks & point out it that testing was required for travel last summer. UPDATED

In an about turn the Swiss authorities have altered some of the measures announced last week that threw the start of winter into chaos and brought travel misery for many. It has been welcomed by the Swiss ski industry, with stricter testing ordered. UPDATED

A Covid Health Pass is needed and masks are mandatory in many settings. The measures have been introduced ‘in order to save the season’. It comes just as the slopes open for the winter with significant snow falling. UPDATED

UK operators have cancelled holidays in December after a mandatory 10-day quarantine was introduced alongside a testing requirement. Ski events have been cancelled.
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The UK government has altered its advice after conversations with Swiss authorities which means skiers can use Geneva airport and others to access ski resorts in France and Italy. Preventing people from the UK using Geneva would have had a huge impact on the French ski industry. UPDATED

Switzerland has ordered all arrivals from the UK into 10-days quarantine due to the omicron variant. Swiss resorts are affected, but many people also fly into Geneva airport to access ski resorts in France. UPDATED

It has added the UK to its list of countries where it decided there is a variant of concern. It will have an have an impact on the start of the ski season that is getting underway. There are question marks over people flying into Geneva to access ski resorts in France. UPDATED

It comes as cases continue to soar in both countries and the Omicron variant is introduced into the equation. Concerns are rising for the approaching ski season in Switzerland and elsewhere. UPDATED

UK 12-15 years old cannot get double vaccinated, but many ski nations need them to be in order for them to get a health pass. The pass gives them access to access the ski lifts and other resort facilities. Otherwise it is multiple testing in some countries or perhaps not being able to use lifts at all in others.

From December 6th unvaccinated people will be banned from ski lifts and from taking part in a range of leisure activities. A negative test will not be enough for entry to restaurants, cinemas and other venues. NEW

The resort’s 5-month season started last weekend and PlanetSKI was there to enjoy it. We look back at the weekend and forward to the season ahead in the highest resort in the Alps.

The UK’s largest ski operator has created a special  information hub to help people navigate through all the details about getting to the slopes with all the various Covid-19 rules and regulations.

Some countries, including Austria and Switzerland, require people to have had their second jab within a set time frame. The ommission of the booster will therefore affect some winter travel unless changes are made. NEW

With the US borders now open to travellers from Europe latest figure show travellers from the UK are most keen to visit. It is hoped by ski resorts that this transfers to winter tourism.

One scenario sees UK Covid cases remaining stubbornly high and perhaps further nations restricting travel.  Another sees our cases tumbling as we enter a post-pandemic world. Whatever the outcome the next month will have a crucial impact on the season ahead. UPDATED

People returning to England now need to take lateral flow test instead of the more expensive PCR test. However with surging Covid-19 cases in the UK there are worries that some European nations may not welcome people from the UK with a huge impact on the ski season. UPDATED

It is the growing worry as cases in the UK continue to rise. Morocco has banned flights to and from the UK and others with alpine countries watching our rising cases closely. Lateral flow tests are now needed for returning travellers, with the UK’s travel testing regime is set to stay in place into the New Year. UPDATED

The government says it hopes PCR tests will not be needed by the end of the October half term break. The UK traffic light system has already gone. It means restrictions will largely be eased for vaccinated people wanting to take a mountain break. UPDATED