General Information

Multi-centre holidays

Any accommodation in this brochure can be used for a multi-centre holiday, with time spent in one location, and more elsewhere.

Special needs

We are happy to advise and assist elderly, special needs or disabled customers choose a suitable holiday. Clients with mobility problems are strongly advised to enquire about self-catering accommodation and hotels before booking, as many have steps, steep stairs, narrow doors and awkward corners.

Special requests

Please advise us at time of booking of any special request, which will be communicated to our French partners. All special requests will be noted, but cannot be guaranteed. Cots, TV, telephone lines, bath towels hire, cleaning kit, end of stay cleaning, meal plans are some of the options which can be arranged at some accommodation (when not included in the basic package), sometimes pre-travel, sometimes only on arrival. Please enquire for the availability of these for your chosen accommodation.

The Euro

All prices to pay locally (deposit, local tax, linen or TV hire...) are now quoted in Euros.

Travel Documents

All passengers must have a valid standard 10-year passport. British passport application forms are available from Post Offices and you should allow up to 12 weeks for issue or renewal.

Useful source of information

Atout France, Lincoln House, 300 High Holborn, WC1V 7JH London, Tel: 09068 244123 (premium number) www.uk.franceguide.com

French Public Holidays

On public holidays (1/5, 8/5, 17/5, 14/7, 15/8) you will find shops, museums and banks are often closed, so make sure you have enough local currency to tide you over.

French School holidays

Please note that half-term school holidays in France run from 11/02/12 to 10/03/12. Resorts can be particularly busy during this period with more crowded slopes and some queuing at the lifts. If you can avoid these periods, not only will you avoid the crowds but you will also pay less for your holiday.

‘Ski-in Ski-out’ properties

Where a property is described as being ski/in-ski/out, this is subject to normal snow conditions in that resort at the time and to the individual skier’s ability.

FlexiPlus on Eurotunnel

All our inclusive holidays include a return Eurotunnel crossing with a car with a FREE FlexiPlus upgrade giving you not only the complete flexibility to travel on the next available departure (whenever you turn-up) but also dedicated Check-In lane, priority boarding and use of the dedicated lounge facilities with complimentary facilities (cars below 1.85m high only). Some supplements for peak dates apply.

Over last season 95% of our clients who used the FlexiPlus service rated it either Excellent (76%) or Good in their post holiday satisfaction questionnaire.

“Flexiplus upgrade was fantastic, no need to queue”

Mr F. Balcons de la Vanoise, Termignon (2nd January 2010)

A few things to look out for

Tourist tax - The local tourist tax will be collected upon arrival. It is a holiday tax levied at the discretion of the local authority. This varies from place to place and can be up to €1.50/pers per day. It is sometimes included in the price of the accommodation.

Alcove/Cabin – A separate sleeping area that is normally off of the living room or in the entrance hall, but has generally no door or window. Usually with bunk beds.

Duplex – A duplex apartment is split level (arranged over two floors).

Bed linen and towels – normally available but may be at a supplement. This is specified within each apartment description. When bed linen is supplied, beds are not normally made on arrival, unless otherwise specified (at certain residences this is available at an additional supplement). When not included in the price and payable locally, bed linen and towels must be requested at time of booking or no later than 3 weeks prior to departure.

Sleeping arrangements – In all apartments, and even those in our 4-star luxury selection, the living areas are generally designed to be used as additional sleeping areas. As a result there is likely to be a maximum of one or two sofas in even the largest apartments and these will be convertible sofa beds rather than the types of sofas you would usually have at home. Often apartments on the higher floors have rooms in the eaves with low-ceiling height in part of the room and therefore restricted headroom. Please note that a French regulation states that children under 6 years of age should not sleep on the top bunk beds.

Your own car - For many of our accommodation locations, a car will allow you to drive to the slopes or the shops without being dependent on public transport. If you don't fancy driving all the way there why not consider fly/drive or rail/drive?

Mezzanine - An open plan (sometimes closed off) bedroom above the lounge, usually accessed by means of a loft ladder or steep staircase. These bedrooms are not recommended for young children or the elderly.

Sloping ceilings  - In most residences the apartments located on the higher floors will have rooms under the eaves and have sloping ceilings therefore restricted headroom.

Bed linen and towels  - normally available but may be at a supplement. This is specified within each apartment description. When bed linen is supplied, beds are not normally made on arrival, unless otherwise specified (at certain residences this is available at an additional supplement). When not included in the price and payable locally, bed linen and towels must be requested at time of booking or no later than 3 weeks prior to departure.

Beds  - Sofa beds and pull-out beds in lounges are common.

TV – When provided has French channels only; ‘Satellite’ TV means in most cases one or two English language news channels.

Kitchen areas – These are not independent kitchens but still allow you to prepare meals for the whole party during your stay. They include at least two hot plates, sufficient utensils, crockery and cutlery up to the apartment capacity, a fridge, sink and storage space. Please note that mugs, teapots, toasters and electric kettles are not common in French apartments unless otherwise specified. Our individually privately owned apartments and chalets generally have more extensive facilities and equipment.

Electricity and water  - Electricity, gas and heating is included in all our accommodation.

Parking - Arrangements vary for each individual property: chalets sometimes have an indoor garage and always outdoor parking. Hotels and residences generally offer either underground parking or outdoor spaces.

Reception  - All residences and hotels have a reception where keys are normally collected and where most queries regarding your accommodation can be answered during your stay. The staff there will also be happy to help with any information or advice on making the most of the resort. Key collection for chalet residents is normally arranged through the owner.

Welcome meetings/Kids’ Clubs – When available (hotels or residences), please be aware that these will be in French. Further information about the resort and its activities will be available from the Tourist Office.

Swimming-pools – The French Government’s Agence Regionale de Santé stipulates that for health & safety reasons pool temperatures should be between 25-27c for indoor pools and 24c for outdoor pools. This could mean that the water seems a little colder than what you may be used to in the UK. Please note that in France it is public swimming pool’s health & safety policy that swimming trunks are compulsory in the swimming pool, swimming shorts or similar are prohibited. Many residences and hotels with pools have a similar policy but that said sometimes the rules are not enforced as strictly in this type of pools so you could take both! Residence & hotel pools are not always open all day or every day, please check opening hours on arrival. Please note, that as it is not a legal requirement in France some of the swimming pools do not have depth markers and equally there will be no life guards on duty at accommodation pools.

Deposit - A refundable deposit is payable on arrival. It covers breakages or extra cleaning and will be returned at the end of your stay providing that there are no damages and the accommodation is left clean and tidy.  For the apartments where cleaning is not included in the price, we recommend that you take cleaning materials with you.

Call us on 0844 576 0170 to book or for further information. You can also email your request or enquiry to a member of our team at reservations@peakretreats.co.uk

Opening times Mon-Fri 9am – 6pm (7pm Sept-Mar), Sat 10am – 4pm. Closed bank holidays and Sundays.