Health & Safety

Our top priority is always the Health & Safety of our guests and staff. This is ensured by careful selection of local suppliers along with procedures and auditing that represent the industry's best practice.

Accommodation

The cornerstone of our schools programme is a carefully chosen collection of TJM-run Club Hotels. With a track record stretching back 12 years in some hotels, we underpin Health & Safety by using highly-qualified and experienced staff, adhering to well documented, tried-and-tested procedures, and backing it all up with both internal and external auditing. These and other non-TJM properties conform to all local and European legislation and meet TJM's published Health & Safety requirements. The majority of accommodation we use is featured on this site; however we do use other accommodation in our resorts that is not included but which is of the same or similar standard. Whilst Party leaders may express a preference for any of these properties at the time of booking, allocation will only be confirmed when the final numbers of all groups travelling to that resort on that date have been received by TJM. This allocation will be solely at TJM's discretion.

Ski Courses

We carefully choose resorts that offer suitable conditions for a school ski course and use instructors from local ski schools such as the Ecole de Ski Français and International Ski Schools. We operate our own ski-hire points in many resorts as well as using hire shops. Sport 2000/Twinner is currently supplying many of our French resort groups. Whether these or other suppliers are used, they have to meet our high requirements of Health & Safety as well as conforming to all national and NGB obligations.

Helmets

Although the wearing of helmets is not obligatory for our school groups in all countries, it is now the case in Italy for all children up to the age of 14. Whilst it is each school's responsibility to comply with this legislation, we are happy to help and, to that end we make available hire helmets in all our resorts at a price of £10 per person per week. Schools must indicate this requirement at time of booking so that availability can be guaranteed. Schools are completely free to make their own arrangements regarding helmets but please allow for extra coach space or plane luggage allowance if you source them from the UK. If you are regular visitors to Italy, or you feel that your school would like to purchase its own protective headgear, we are happy to sell you sets of TJM helmets at subsidised prices - please ask for details.

Coach Travel

TJM has adopted the industry's leading benchmark for coach safety, the Coach Safe Scheme. This involves special training for TJM employees involved in the management of coach travel as well as auditing of coach companies by suitably qualified TJM staff and independent experts. Coaches will conform to all current European and local legislation, including those laws concerning seatbelts on coaches and drivers hours. Prices for coach travel are based on a minimum of 40 full paying passengers. TJM welcomes parties of all sizes and will attempt to match parties of less than 40 (solely at TJM's discretion). If this is not be possible or the number of full payers in the two matched groups be less than 40 the following supplements apply.

Very small groups (under 24 full paying members) may need to meet coaches at a central pick-up. Details appear on the website. Departure days by coach are normally Fridays or Saturdays which are dictated by the accommodation you choose and are allocated. The departure date on the invoice indicates the chosen weekend of departure and may be adjusted when the final itinerary is sent.

Air Travel

We use both charter and scheduled services for our flight arrangements and our prices are based on departures from London airports. We do fly from regional airports and currently feature Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester in our regular flight runs. Other departure points may be added on an ad hoc basis. Those wishing to choose regional departures should make this known at time of booking and must be aware that these flights can only be guaranteed after the appropriate supplement has been paid and the flights have been reconfirmed by TJM. UK transfers are included in your package in certain circumstances. Depending on resort chosen, you are likely to arrive at one of the following destination airports: Turin, Milan[3 airports], Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble, Chambery, Marseilles or Nice. Specific destination airports are not guaranteed at time of booking.

Staff

Care is taken in appointing and training our resort staff and all full-season employees are subject to enhanced CRB checks. We believe that the professionalism and care demonstrated by our overseas staff sets us apart from many other ski operators. Our full-season staff undergo a thorough training programme before being sent to resort and are regularly assessed throughout their time with TJM. Whilst they are trained in many essential skills such as Health & Safety and Food Hygiene, we also teach them that ski holidays should be fun; we trust their enthusiasm will enhance your holiday experience.

Bonding & Financial Security

Almost as important as Health & Safety is the fact that you must have confidence that the large amount of parents' money you pay to your Tour Operator is 100% protected. To ensure that this is the case, TJM invests vast sums each year to maintain large bonds with both ABTA and the Civil Aviation Authority, who in turn guarantee the safety of your money by administering our bonds and running massive back-up funds should a failed operator's bond be insufficient. To be sure that your money is entirely protected we recommend that you only consider booking with an ABTA member and Civil Aviation Authority ATOL [Air of service and accountability with enshrined methods of redress for clients who suffer loss. Our ABTA number is V4922 and our ATOL number is 2838.

Ski Package

All European prices featured in this brochure are for six-day ski packages [unless specifically detailed as otherwise]. Therefore lift passes, ski hire and lessons are all for six days. Two hours of lessons a day are included in your price which can be extended to 4, 5 or even 6 hours per day which will delivered in 1, 2 or sometimes 3 sessions per day, depending on the ski school and the number of hours booked. The number and time of sessions is solely the choice of the contracted ski school and their decision in all matters to do with the delivery of lessons is final.

Snow Boarding

Teaching ratios are lower and equipment hire is dearer for snow boarding, therefore a supplement is payable for snow board groups. Snow boarders can only be accepted in exact groups of eight [further charges apply if any teaching group is less than 8] and they must be notified at time of booking for us to guarantee the snow board option. Leaders of mixed groups of skiers and boarders are reminded to consider the impact on the number of ability levels for the remaining skiers in their group when deciding whether to offer a snow board option. Ski groups need to approach average class sizes of 12 pupils for their lessons.

All Inclusive Option

For those schools who wish to account for as many costs as possible in advance of their trip to resort we are pleased to be able to offer the TJM All Inclusive Deal. This will include: an extra six 2-hour lessons; afternoon tea; two evening entertainments that would normally attract a charge (eg swimming, skating or bowling); soft drinks with evening meals for pupils (cordial, cola, lemonade etc) and wine or beer for adults; hot or buffet lunch at hotel [where operationally feasible]. These packages are only available in our own TJM run Club Hotels and must be reserved at time of booking.

Guaranteed Prices

All prices in this site are guaranteed against surcharge, on the basis that you are paying normal price (as printed in price section of this site), for the basic package and all chosen additional items, for all members of your group, and that you meet all the payment deadlines in full, as laid out in your provisional booking. Prices are subject to TJM's Terms and Conditions. Prospective clients are asked to read the booking conditions carefully, as by confirming their booking they will commit all party members to the terms of those conditions.

Snow Guarantee

As a part of our package we include a comprehensive snow guarantee, details of which appear in our insurance section.

No Excess Medical Insurance

With Fogg Travel Insurance's Medicard Scheme, our groups will not be required to pay excesses on medical claims. This will relieve a tier of responsibility and administrative process from party leaders' already heavy burden.

Inspection Visit

It may be the case that you need to familiarise yourself with the way we operate as a company, or with a particular resort. So, with this in mind, if you book a group of 40+ full paying members we are happy to arrange a preview inspection visit. These trips are typically by coach and usually run outside of high season dates, though more bespoke visits can be arranged. We cannot guarantee dates of inspection trips at time of booking the group as space for inspection visits Those who wish to fly may do but will need to book onto one of our flights. We offer subsidised inspection trips for leaders of smaller groups.

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