So, you’ve organised all your kit and you’re set for heading to the airport, but before you do, take 5 minutes to read some useful tips on how to make the most of your skiing or snowboarding trip, courtesy of Help-Me-Park.com, Gatwick Airport’s finest Meet and Greet airport parking supplier. Join in the slalom and beat the competition!
Baggage – probably one of the most important things to consider when booking flights or a holiday is to check out how much baggage weight allowance is included by your airline as this can add extra charges to your holiday. Help-Me-Park.com tip: Remember that you might think that scheduled airlines like British Airways are more expensive on the ticket price, but by the time you’ve added in the expensive excess baggage for your ski wear with many other airlines (particularly the low cost airlines), they can often work out far more expensive.
Ski and Lift passes – considering how often you’re going to go out on the pistes and buy accordingly. Help-Me-Park.com tip: If you’re on the slopes everyday, then a week’s pass is value for money, but if you plan to have a day off, or go later in the day, it might work out cheaper to grab a daily pass when in the resort. Daily passes can also prove a good idea if you have a habit of losing things. Those saved Euros or Dollars can pay for an extra après-ski drink!
Weather – check your resort weather reports before you travel especially the most recent snowfall. Help-Me-Park.com tip: The Ski Club of Great Britain website has extensive snow reports from resorts worldwide. Just don’t forget to regularly apply sun block to your face to avoid the “panda-eye” effect – it may be cold, but UV rays are still very strong.
Pre-order equipment – taking your own kit can be troublesome. Help-Me-Park.com tip: Hire equipment for collection in resort, leaving you more time to get settled and out on the piste. Wear many of thin layers rather than a few thick layers, to easily allow you to take some layers off if you get hot.
Plan your route – get a map of the pistes in your resort to plan some of your ski routes. Help-Me-Park.com tip: A great way to make the most of your time is to plan a route that allows you to ski straight back to your chalet, which avoids all the hassle and crowds of public transport. Pick a run that matches your ability. Most resorts use colours to classify the difficulty of a run and colour coded maps are available from your resort. So don’t be tempted to try that black run until you’re very confident!
Safety – mother nature can often throw a spanner in your plans, so try and be as safe as possible. Help-Me-Park.com tip: if you intend to ski alone, tell a friend where you’re going and when they should expect you back. Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged and add the numbers of the emergency services in your phone (police & mountain rescue) for the country you’re in, in case of emergencies. A list of useful numbers can be found on the Help-Me-Park website. Carry a map of the pistes with you at all times, take a bottle of water and high energy snack bars with you in case you need to stay out longer than planned.
Insurance is a must – make sure you buy a comprehensive policy to cover all eventualities, better to pay more money for the right insurance than to be worrying about a medical bill on your return to the UK! Help-Me-Park.com tip: Leave a copy of your passport, flight tickets and other documentation, including your insurance policy with a friend or relative at home as this will help speed up renewals of documentation, should documentation be lost or stolen. Check the inclusions and exclusions of your insurance policy before you go so you know if you’re covered for lost lift passes, ski pass loss and key medical cover like air ambulances. Also ensure that your medical cover exceeds £1 million in Europe and £2 million in the USA, Canada and other worldwide destinations.
Medical kit – for convenience, take a small medical kit with you. Help-Me-Park.com tip: Pack the kit in your main baggage when travelling to avoid any security problems at the airport. Include natural remedies like arnica cream for bruising and aloe gel for friction burns and sunburn, as well as traditional painkillers, plasters, antiseptic wipes, bandages and scissors.
And finally, why not get your holiday off to a flying start by treating yourself to the the Help-Me-Park Meet and Greet parking service at Gatwick airport. Avoid the hassle of driving yourself to Gatwick Airport long term parking, and lugging all those awkward bags, boards and skis onto the bus, when you don’t need to. Book Meet and Greet parking with Help-Me-Park team and let them do the chauffeuring for you! You’ll be exhausted after a few days on the pistes and will be glad you organised Meet and Greet parking when the car is returned directly back to you at the terminal and drive home in a nice warm car!
Help-Me-Park.com offer secure, convenient Meet and Greet parking at both Gatwick North and South Terminals, 24/7, 365 days. Meet and Greet parking at Gatwick airport is the most convenient type of parking available to Skiers and Snowboarders, as you are met directly outside the Gatwick Airport terminal, which prevents the need to lug around heavy sports equipment. For more information on Meet and Greet parking or to book, visit the Help-Me-Park website or call 0870 300 600 9.
