Ed Leigh’s COVID Saving Snow Tips | Ep 47 | Easter
So, the news we’d all been hoping for, and that I was advocating for last week, has finally been announced. From 15th December, the UK government have confirmed that quarantine will be cut from two weeks to one, as long as you get a Covid test after five days (costing £65-£120). But unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that winter is back on just yet…
As it looks highly likely that French ski resorts will stay closed until mid-January, or at least their lifts will, as Planet Ski is reporting, but you would still be able to hike (does that mean tour or splitboard?) and get takeaway food. As this article states, Tignes for one are not happy: https://planetski.eu/…/french-ski-resorts-can-open-in…/ And I’m sure they’re not alone, there are 350 ski resorts in France employing 120,000 people during the high season. None of these decisions are easy but my thoughts are with those who work in French ski resorts and across Europe.
The Italian prime minister has also urged his citizens not to go skiing in Italy or abroad, Austrian resorts are still closed, and I expect there will have to be some Europe-wide coordination on it, so anyone who was hoping to sneak out for Christmas and New Year should stand down. Germany is asking the EU to step on that consensus, though Austria look to be dragging their feet a little https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55081476 And the Swiss wouldn’t have to follow any EU directive, though their hospital beds are filling up quickly so it’s unlikely they’ll go out on a limb at this early stage in the season.
But this quarantine news (combined with the continued vaccine progress) has made me feel increasingly optimistic about Easter, which is one of my favourite times to hit the mountain anyway, as regular viewers will know. Now with the improved quarantine regs, there looks to be a perfect week lining up. Take the kids out of school for Thursday 1st April, and get everyone to the Alps. As soon as you arrive, Friday 2nd and Monday 5th are bank holidays, so if you stay all the way through until the following Sunday, you’re looking at ten full days on the mountain with only five days as declared holiday. Get back to the UK late on Sunday 11th, and by Thursday 15th you’ll have completed your quarantine. In total that’s ten days on the hill, and only nine days off work!
Longer days, a good chance of sun and slushy fun, with the odd bonus powder day thrown in. Plus, Easter is of course generally warmer which will make congregating outside that much easier to minimise your risk of spreading/catching the virus. And of course, by then ski resorts will be more set up, locals glad to have you there (rather than wondering if you’re a rosbif virus host, as they might in Jan even if things do open up).
Starting to plan things now will help get you through the next few months of bleakdom. BUT, big but, the only things you should be booking now are things you know you can get a refund on. So, hire your skis or snowboard through Intersport, who are offering cancellations up to the last minute. They’ve also really gone the extra mile with Covid precautions in their stores, masks are compulsory and provided for free, they sanitise and service all your ski/snowboard equipment and they’re implementing a virtual queue system where you’ll be notified on your phone when your kit is ready for collection, so you don’t have to wait in a busy droplet-risking line. Here’s a link to book: https://www.intersport-rent.fr/en/
You might want to book a Flexiplus ticket with Eurotunnel as you know that can be refunded (see my guide to driving in last week’s episode: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1066194473850973) or visit this link: https://www.eurotunnel.com/…/tickets…/types/flexiplus/ you could also possibly book some flights on a credit card, but for flights I would still only be looking at this stage as until the FCO advice on travel to a place changes your travel insurance won’t be valid. Keep updated with that here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Same goes for accommodation, though as I’ve mentioned in previous weeks some resort accommodation centres are offering full up to the last-minute refunds. You could also open up a dialogue with owners on Airbnb and HomeAway, I’m just still urging caution at this stage. Crystal and other ops do have some amazing January deals, £285 per person for a week in La Plagne with £100 off for Black Friday and you will get refunds, it’s just whether you want the faff when things are looking so uncertain: https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ski…/january-2021-ski-deals/ NB Crystal is also selling 2022 holidays if you don’t want to risk this year but need some booked snow time on the horizon, check them out here: https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ski-events/ski-next-season/
The only thing that could rain on this Easter parade is our old friend Brexit, which already looks to be having implications for British workers due to work in ski resorts after January 1st, which tour operators obviously rely on heavily. Here’s a link to an Observer piece on it
https://www.theguardian.com/…/british-ski-workers-set… & I will keep you updated on it as winter goes on.
But let’s end with this lovely upbeat quote from Arnaud Coppel (head of Intersport France). “Of course, we all want to see British skiers out here this winter. We welcome the UK government’s change in the number of quarantine days, and we can assure our customers that our shops are ready for this unusual winter.” Intersport had even surveyed their customers in the run up to the announcement and found that although 80% still expected to be hitting the slopes this winter, only 31% of those questioned had actually made a reservation of any kind. My kind of sensible optimism. “To our friends in Great Britain we say this,” this is Arnaud again, “whenever you can get here – no matter how late in the season – we’re ready!” Cheers Arnaud, so will we be!
