Dear Alicia , I am writing as a regular skier for over 20 years, having been to various resorts in Italy, Austria and Andorra, always staying in Hotels. It is definitely not a good idea to include, ski equipment, lift passes and lessons in the included price, as there is such arrange of options depending on ones ability and age. It is better to include the Hotel, flight and transfer in the Basic price and include all the other items as optional extras. This is what all 3 of the specialist ski holiday operators do, and I have traveled with all of them.
With complete beginners (I was aged 45 when I started to learn to ski), most operators offer an inclusive package, with equipment, lessons and ski pass. For beginners they quite often only need a local ski pass.
As people progress, they often start to buy some of their own equipment. After 2 years I bought my own boots, and have subsequently bought another pair. Helmets are compulsory if you are having lessons, in all countries. I also have bought my own. I have been more than 20 times now and still hire skies. They are usually 3 grades available to hire from beginners to advance ( which I now hire). These are all at different prices wherever you go.
With lift passes there is quite often a local area pass and and total area pass available, again both at different prices, as is also the time when you go, ie low, middle or high season. Finally they are different prices depending on ones age. Most offer reductions in price for age 60, or 65 or as in Soldeu, Andorra where I went this year, they were free if you were 70 or over. All resorts vary and are not even the same for all resorts in a country. (By the way I am aged 69 and hope to be going again next year. Looking at Madonna di Campiglio in Italy which is really lovely resort. Very good for intermediate skiing.
What usually happens is one purchases the optional extras and the tour operator's representative gives out various vouchers on the transfer bus. These are then exchanged in the resort for what you require. This year I needed skis, for which one has to take your boots to the hire shop so the skis can be correctly adjusted. After which I had to go to the Lift Pass Pass office, and show my passport tot get the age reduction. All this was done in about half an hour, after having checked in in the hotel. By the way all hotels have locker rooms to leave your ski equipment in, it is never taken back to the hotel rooms.
One final thought is if people are taking their own equipment they usually need an extra luggage allowance, boots alone weigh about 5kgs, and skis and snowboards are taking on separately. These are subject to extra charges too.Quite a lot of people now like to learn to snowboard. My 65 year old brother snowboards and has done for years.
Do hope this helps
Lesley RK new to the forum, but I felt somebody needed to let you know how skiing holidays really work. Very different to other holidays! So far have been to Istanbul with Just You as a try out, and last year went to Cuba, with Just You,which was fantastic, somewhere I had been wanting to go since I was quite young. Looking at St Lucia for this year
