While British skiers have been celebrating the lifting of restrictions on travel to France, allowing us to flock to much-loved ski resorts once again, there are easier options for those looking for a half-term ski holiday with minimal faff for the family.
While I’m not suggesting France is a bad option – the mega resorts, convenience and familiarity will always pull the crowds – the testing is onerous and the expense significant compared to some other skiing nations. Daily testing to use ski lifts and access to restaurants, as well as pre-travel, could at an extra £400-£500 onto the price of a half-term trip to the French Alps for a family of five – let alone wasting time.
Compare that with Switzerland, which has now dropped all pre-travel testing, or Austria and the US, which offer free Covid tests in resorts, and the temptation to try another destination right now has never been stronger.
And now that Boris Johnson has confirmed today that holidaymakers who are fully jabbed will no longer have to take any Covid tests upon return to the UK from February 11, another hurdle has been removed.
With all that in mind, here’s the lowdown on the easiest options for a family skiing holiday this half term.
Switzerland
Switzerland should be top of our lists right now because it is currently the easiest country in the world to access for families wanting to ski – not to mention the pull of short and easy resort transfers by rail, a good choice of airports and authentic ski villages. It’s a winning combination.
Last Saturday (January 22) Switzerland dropped all pre-travel testing requirements for vaccinated travellers and those with a Covid recovery certificate [infection must be within the past year, but on January 31 reduces to within nine months]. Unvaccinated travellers aged 16 and over are still permitted to travel to Switzerland, but must show a negative PCR [no older than 72 hours] or antigen [no older than 24 hours] on entry. Children under 16 are exempt from all regulations both when travelling to and entering bars, restaurants and hotels in Switzerland. All travellers must complete an entry form before arrival (https://swissplf.admin.ch/formular)
Book it: Sno (020 7770 6888; sno.co.uk) offers seven nights’ half-board at the three-star Hotel Belvedere in family-friendly Wengen, just five minutes’ walk to the lift, with children’s playroom, for £1,687pp, departing 19 February and including flights and transfers.
