COVID 19 POLICY FOR WINTER 2022/23 BOOKINGS
Deposit Payments & Cancellation
For bookings for the 2022-23 winter season - we request a deposit of 25% of the holiday value to secure the chalet for your chosen date. The balance payment of 75% is due 8 weeks prior to the start date of your holiday.
In the event that your holiday with Alpine Ethos is unable to go ahead due to one of the Covid 19 reasons listed below, your 25% deposit will be converted to a credit note of the same value which will be valid for 24 months against any future booking with Alpine Ethos.
Should you choose to cancel your chalet for any reason other than those listed below the 25% deposit is non-refundable and our normal cancellation charges apply (See our Terms & Conditions).
Balance Payments & Cancellation
The 75% balance payment for your holiday is due 8 weeks prior to your arrival date.
It is important that you obtain adequate travel insurance to cover you against the risk of cancellation or curtailment (cutting your holiday short) for any reason (please see our Terms & Conditions).
If at any point between the date of your balance payment and the date of your holiday your booking cannot proceed due to any of the Covid 19 reasons listed below, you will be entitled to a refund of the 75% balance payment and a 25% credit note valid for 24 months on any future Alpine Ethos holiday:
Valid Covid 19 Cancellation Reasons
• the French authorities impose regional or national restrictions which result in the closure of the French border, closure of the ski resort or necessitate the closure of the chalet
• all ski lifts in the resort are closed due to coronavirus restrictions imposed by the French authorities
• if the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office or the government of your home country advise against travel, including non-essential travel, to your destination or the authorities of your home country impose travel restrictions which prohibit you from travelling to France to the chalet booked
• you would be required by the French authorities to quarantine / self-isolate in France on arrival for more than 24 hours
The above reasons must be in place and effective at the time your holiday is due to take place.
You can read our full booking Terms and Conditions here.
Insurance Cover
We require all our guests to have adequate travel insurance for their holiday. You need to ensure that your travel insurance includes protection for if you fall ill with COVID, as well as other illnesses either before or during your holiday.
We suggest that when searching for a policy you look for the following things:
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Coronavirus medical and repatriation cover: To cover you if you’re infected when you’re away, including the cost of accommodation if you are unable to fly home.
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Coronavirus cancellation cover: You’ll need this if you want to be able to claim on your insurance for refunds if COVID-19 stops you or your family travelling for reasons including testing positive before departure, falling ill before departure, or needing to self-isolate before departure.
Many of you will have questions about Covid and its impact on your holiday with Alpine Ethos. We are based full time in Meribel Les Allues so have daily information of how Covid is affecting life in the 3 Valleys. However, we are only an accommodation provider and it is the responsibility of our guests to make themselves fully aware of the travel rules and the local regulations in France. We have added links to the relevant information below and please ask you to make yourself aware of the current rules and regulations (these sites are current and updated whenever the rules change):
Travel between the UK and France
France travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Travel to France via Switzerland
Switzerland travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
French Government Covid Regulations
Common FAQs
What if FCDO advises against travel to France or the French government closes the resort?
If we are prevented from providing your holiday due to UK or French government regulations closing the borders or the resort, we will offer you an identical holiday deferred to next season, or a 25% credit note and a 75% refund – as we did when the 20–21 season was cancelled.
Do I have to be fully vaccinated before my holiday?
Yes – for the safety of all guests and the Alpine Ethos team we ask that all guests are fully vaccinated.
A member of our group tests positive just before our holiday, can they get a refund?
No – we appreciate that if you, or another member of your group, tests positive for Covid shortly before the start of your holiday you may not be able to travel, however, we would regard this as late cancellation by you and no refund would be offered. Many travel insurance policies now cover such cancellation/curtailment due to Covid, as they would any other illness before travel. It is a condition of booking an Alpine Ethos holiday that all group members have adequate travel insurance to cover such eventualities.
What happens if I test positive during my holiday?
You must have valid travel insurance to cover you if you catch Covid 19 whilst on your holiday. We cannot accommodate you in our chalets past the last night of your booked holiday. We can of course help you to find alternative accommodation and medical treatment. We expect all guests to have travel insurance to include cover against contracting Covid 19 whilst on holiday.