In light of the past two years, many operators now offer flexible booking policies. For example Inghams allows guests to change their holiday to a later date or different destination up to 28 days before departure — with no fee for doing so.

Crystal Ski is similarly offering a “Book with Confidence” guarantee, allowing all guests, travelling to any destination, to amend for free, to a different date or destination, up to 14 days before departure for December or January travel or up to 28 days for travel in February to April as part of their. holiday promise

If travelling independently, you won’t have the same amount of protection and will be relying on the accommodation provider, airline, transfer provider or operator’s solvency and cancellation terms and conditions, so check these carefully.

Will I get a refund?

If your trip has been cancelled by your operator due to the new restrictions you can opt for a refund, rather than rearranging or a credit note, but give operators time to process the changes. For example, Crystal Ski Holidays’ customers will get full refunds within 14 days

Is it safe to book a future ski holiday right now?

Yes, but to be sure you are fully protected book with a tour operator bonded with ABTA, ATOL and ABTOT. That way you can be confident of a full refund if they go bust or are forced to cancel it cannot run the holiday due to Covid travel restrictions, Foreign Office advice or resort closures — and you’ll get help to return to the UK if this happens while you are away.

Whoever you book with, you should look carefully at their cancellation terms and when you have to pay the full amount of the holiday. Many companies will allow you to amend your holiday before you pay up in full. If you have to cancel for Covid health reasons after this date, you’ll normally have to rely on your travel insurance policy (see below).

If you book your ski holiday independently, make sure you check the cancellation terms and any financial protection with the accommodation provider and airline/ferry/car hire/transfer company. Paying by credit card will offer additional protection if the operator goes bust (for between £100 and £30,000).

It is important to check the small print before booking and ask questions if you’re unsure. When beginning your research look back at how an operator has responded to the pandemic so far and what customer feedback has been like since, regarding refunds and cancellations. 

Will I be able to claim on my travel insurance?

In short, no, not for plans impacted by the French ban. As Michael Pettifer, managing director of MPI Brokers, explains: “The basic principle of travel insurance is to cover for sickness or injury.” Many providers do now offer Covid health cover for claims for things such as emergency medical treatment while you are abroad, cancellation as a result of a positive test or being instructed to self-isolate, but not the decisions of foreign governments.

Katie Crowe, from insurer battleface, puts it frankly: “We do not provide cover for quarantine or self-isolation, any type of trip cancellations, trip interruption, curtailment of a holiday or lockdowns in relation to Covid-19 or any governmental restriction.”

Holidaymakers are therefore at the mercy of their operators’ policies and terms and conditions.

What’s the state of play outside of France?

French ski holidays might be off the cards for the time being, but elsewhere resorts are open and Britons are welcome – albeit with hoops to jump through.

Austria has emerged from lockdown and resorts are open in time for Christmas. In order to avoid having to quarantine on arrival, British travellers are required to show proof of a second vaccine dose, or booster, no more than 360 days ago and no less than 21 days before travel. Arrivals must also complete a pre-travel clearance form before entering. In resorts the ‘2G’ system rules the slopes –  adults will need to show 2G status (full vaccination no more than 9 months ago, recovery within 6 months) to get on a ski lift, enter restaurants or bars, while unvaccinated 12–14 year olds require two antigen tests and a PCR test to classify as 2G.