UCPA FAMILY WEEK

In a few words, our family weeks are of very high quality where everything is included in the price, but that price has a much smaller impact on your pocket. Included is: accommodation, three meals day, lift passes, great equipment hire and instruction/guiding. The only extras you need to budget for is travel and social drinks from the very reasonably priced bar on site.

Each season we create a few specialist weeks across various UCPA centres in the French Alps whereby most or all of the centre is dedicated only to families. This makes a change to the usual 18-45s only environment! The idea being that your children are likely to be the customers of the future, and we want to introduce them to the fantastic organisation ​that is UCPA!

For 2019/20, Family Week resorts include: Les Contamines, Flaine, Chamonix, Serre Chevalier, La Plagne and Les Deux Alpes. These are spread across Christmas week, New Year, February Half Term and the two weeks at Easter.

UCPA was founded with the aim of getting young people in to sports and the outdoors, all at an affordable price. This is achieved thorough many efficiencies, one of which is the 'multi share' rooms. The rooms can be described as comfortable, warm, and quiet but basic with no frills. During family weeks your family will have a room to yourselves (or multiple rooms). We would write to you should circumstances change or any issues. It is also possible to book twin rooms for a supplement if there is availability, but these are reserved at first for single parent and child combinations.

Bathroom facilities vary from centre to centre, the most common being bedrooms having a sink and a shower ensuite with shared toilets in the corridor. Some centres have all rooms ensuite, others only have twin rooms ensuite, and some centres don't have any ensuite rooms.

UCPA save costs by the guests pitching in and helping out. For example when you arrive you will be provided with clean linen for your bed, but you will have to make it yourself. This little bit of mucking in is what makes UCPA trips such excellent value and a fun experience.

The instruction provided by UCPA is of extremely high quality and is suitable for all levels (even expert). It is not compulsory to attend lessons but they are a great way to meet others staying at the centre, be shown the best parts of the resort and fine tune your skills.  

UCPA Family Ski Instruction Includes 4 sessions of 2.5 hours Monday-Friday and is available for adults and children aged 7 and over. Lessons will be broken down into 4 or 5 morning or afternoon sessions throughout the week (usually 1 session per day, except for Wednesday).

UCPA Accommodation Only This package for children under 7 years of age and adults that don’t intend on skiing. The package includes accommodation and meals but excludes equipment hire, lift pass and ski instruction. The price is discounted to represent the smaller package. For children under 7 lessons must be arranged externally with ski schools such as ESF. 

Children aged 2 and under UCPA do not charge for children under the age of 2 (although there is a small booking charge). You will however be required to bring your own travel cot, high chair and baby stuff with you, this will not be provided by UCPA. Childcare is not provided, this can be found locally for approximately €100 for half a day and €200 for a full day.

The UCPA centres do amend evening meal times to better suit children. The French do tend to eat meals later than we do in the UK therefore the adjusted times may still be later than your normal family meal times. We therefore advise you to plan accordingly. Most resorts have food shops however these may be very small and the choice limited so you might prefer to bring some non-refrigerated snack options with you.

If a member of your family a has serious dietary requirement please let us know in advance. UCPA chefs will always try and offer an alternative option for those with allergies or dietary needs, however, they will be unable to provide specialist food alternatives such as gluten free bread or soy milk. We would advise you to bring such food stuff with you if you rely on these alternatives, as they may not even be available in resort.

Helping out also applies at meal times - you help yourself to food and are expected to clear your table and give it a wipe when you are finished.

How to ski with the family cheaply? UCPA Family Week is the answer, and it does not sacrifice any quality! 

All inclusive, hassle free. The trips include accommodation, three meals a day, lift passes, equipment hire, instruction/guiding, and entertainment. UCPA centres are purpose built for group activities, so equipment is issued at the centre, lessons start and finish there, dinner is cooked and provided buffet style in a large canteen/dining room, and there are social areas such as bars and lounges for spending some time in the evening.

UCPA centres are renowned for being very sociable, where like minded people are able to meet and share unique experiences. This sociable nature always extends in to family weeks, with the parents often becoming friends and likewise with the children.

This programme includes all that is offered in the standard Family Week package, but it also offers a bit more variety. Family Week Plus includes ski instruction for children aged 3+ so you don't need to organise lessons or kids club externally (our standard family weeks only have lessons for those aged 7+). Those aged 3-5 will have ESF lessons and will be accompanied to their lessons by UCPA staff. 

Family Week Plus trips are held at resorts which are typically more comfortable than others, such as Flaine and La Plagne, where all the rooms are en suite.

Please see the course descriptors for more information. 

We are able to provide our customers with transfers to and from airports across the Alps, as well as a coach option from London. The prices vary depending on resort and airport. Transfers can be applied at the checkout for some or all of your group, as well as added post-booking.

It is important to check that your flights fit within our possible transfer times for the resort and airport you are going to - you can do this on the resort page under the 'getting there' tab.