Pila – Aosta Valley

 Italy  2022

 Saturday 5^th February – Sunday 13^th February

Parent / Carer Information

Trip Details

Departure Date Saturday 5^th February 2022.

All students meet in school at 12.00 lunch time  

Depart school at 1.00 pm.

 

Resort –

Pila

Hotel  –

Beau Sejour in the village of Etroubles

Hotel Beau Sejour

Strada Nazionale Gran San Bernado 3

11014 Etroubles

Aosta

Italy

 

Method of Travel –

Luxury Coach

Accommodation – 6 nights at the Hotel Beau Sejour on a half board basis

Hot snack lunches – daily supervised lunches on the mountain

Lift Pass – 6 day lift pass for the full ski area in Pila

Return Travel – executive coach and cross channel ferry, including breakfast

Tuition – 6 day snow sport course including 4 hours tuition per day by fully qualified English speaking instructors and supervision during lunch each day

Skis, Ski boot and ski helmet hire – from Interski’s purpose built equipment hire centre

If you would like to find out more information about this visit to the ski resort of Pila in the Italian Alps, please visit the Interski website https://www.interski.co.uk/Schools/. Click on videos for an excellent 10 minute full presentation of the ski experience in the Italian Alps. Please especially note the presentation on the resort of Pila. Also click on Webcams for LIVE pictures of the ski resort. For any queries email g.potts@wellfieldschool.net or telephone the school on 01429 838783 and ask for Mr. Potts.

Pre-Holiday Preparation

Money

A small amount of British currency is required for the journey – e.g. visit to motorway service stations and shops / amusements on the ferry crossing to Calais (including return journey home). Students must keep this money safe for the journey and be sensible.       £25 should be more than enough.

Money in Euros

We are staying full board, so students will only need money for extra drinks and food for the journey to and from Italy and sweets and snacks during the trip. £75 – £100 CONVERTED INTO EUROS should be fine. Students will have the opportunity to buy snacks on the mountain at lunch-time. Students will also visit a superstore e.g. similar to Asda on at least one occasion and will also have time in the town of Aosta to buy small gifts or souvenirs. Students may also visit a Ten-Pin Bowling alley on an evening and may want to play pool or play on amusements. You may prefer staff to keep your child’s money to be issued on a daily basis. We will be happy to do this and this will ensure children spend money wisely and have money throughout the week. Please place your child’s money in an envelope with your child’s name highlighted and we will have a daily “bank” to allow students to withdraw money as required.

 

ALL MONEY TO BE HANDED IN AT OUR FINAL MEETING in January 2022

What to take – Suggested Kit List

This list is not exclusive but contains most of the items you should consider taking for your week in the Italian Alps.

For Skiing

• Helmet (Supplied in resort and essential for safety).
• Padded ski jacket and trousers or ski suit – provided in resort to all students who purchase the Snowco, Interski Accessory Pack (OUTER LAYER).
• Fleeces or warm jumpers for an under layer to your jacket (LAYER 3).
• Long sleeved shirts / rugby shirt or sweatshirt (LAYER 2).
• T – Shirt OR under armour (LAYER 1).

The following items are essential, however, are all in the ACCESSORY PACK (IF PURCHASED, SEE INTERSKI Brochure online for information)

• Ski socks – 3 to 4 pairs.
• Ski gloves.
• Hat to wear under helmet.
• Goggles and ski approved sunglasses (snow blindness is a serious issue and students MUST WEAR googles when skiing to provide all round protection for the eyes. Sunglasses may be worn at lunch-times.
• HIGH PROTECTION sun cream.
• Lip salve with protection factor.
• Small rucksack for essential items on the coach and during travel.
• Pillow / blanket / warm clothing for overnight journey.

For Après Ski

• Shoes / trainers.
• Underwear and socks.
• Nightwear.
• Casual clothes for evenings, jeans, etc. with one slightly smarter outfit for the “Disco evening” – dress to impress.
• Washing kit, toothbrush ad toothpaste and towel.
• Small first aid kit, e.g. plasters, tissues, throat sweets, travel sickness pills (if required) and OTHER MEDICATION AS LISTED ON THE MEDICAL FORM – ALL TO BE CLEARLY LABELLED AND HANDED TO A MEMBER OF STAFF.
• Adapter plug if taking electrical equipment e.g. hairdryer / mobile phone.
• Books, small games, cards, inexpensive camera (all students will receive a full set of photographs from INTERSKI).
• Wallet / purse and MONEY!!! Euros

It is NOT RECOMMENDED that students bring any VALUABLE ITEMS, as they can become damaged or lost. Music for the coach journey can be essential (however, EAR PHONES ARE MORE ESSENTIAL).

Travel Documents

If students have an EHIC CARD this must be handed to staff.

Medical Issues / Medical Conditions

All medical information must be completed on the Wellfield School official form and be handed into Mr Rodham. STAFF MUST BE AWARE of all medical issues and if students are taking ANY MEDICATION THIS MUST BE DISCUSSED WITH MR RODHAM at the parent / carer information evening. Mr Rodham will be responsible for administering any medication during the trip. PLEASE ENSURE ALL MEDICATION IS CLEARLY LABELLED WITH THE PUPIL’S NAME AND DOSAGE. ALL TO BE HANDED IN at the FINAL MEETING IN JANUARY.

First Aid

While staff will carry a first aid kit, it is worthwhile considering taking some basic items you feel your child may need e.g. travel sickness tablets, throat tablets and possibly headache tablets (IF SO PLEASE HAND INTO STAFF IN A SIGNED ENVELOPE AND ENSURE THE PARENT / CARER CONSENT FORM AT THE BACK OF THIS BOOKLET IS COMPLETED AND HANDED INTO MR RODHAM).

Emergencies

The address of the hotel is given below. Parents are asked NOT TO contact the hotel unless it is a CASE OF EMERGENCY.

In EMERGENCY ONLY you can also contact Mr Potts, Deputy Headteacher and Party Leader

Beau Sejour in the village of Etroubles

Strada Nazionale Gran San Bernado 3

11014 Etroubles, Aosta, Italy

Telephone      +39 0165 78216

The Journey

Coach

All students MUST MEET AT WELLFIELD SCHOOL AT 12.00 (lunch-time) on Saturday 5^th February. We will depart school at 1.00 pm.

 On departure we will travel south for the journey to Dover.

All students MUST be met AT WELLFIELD SCHOOL AT 3.00pm (afternoon) on Sunday 13^th February. We will ask students to call home during the morning stop in England with an exact time of arrival. It is essential that all parents / carers are at school to meet students as we arrive.

We will travel by executive coach, booked through Interski. The coach offers reclining seats and is fitted with a toilet and a DVD. The toilet should only be used in emergency and students should ensure toilet breaks are taken at the scheduled stops during the journey. All students must remain seated and wear seatbelts during the journey at ALL TIMES. It is essential that we keep the coach clean and tidy. All rubbish must go in the bags provided.

Sea Crossing (Ferry Dover to Calais)      

We will sail on the Saturday evening from Dover to Calais, and vice versa on the return. All students will be allowed time to visit the shops during the journey and will have time to relax. Students may visit the restaurant on board (travel money will be required). No students will be allowed on deck during the night crossing to Calais. During the day crossing on the return journey students will be strictly supervised if they request to go on the deck area.

Luggage

Luggage space is limited on the coach. Each person is allowed one case / holdall.

Please ensure everything that is packed in this bag is NOT REQUIRED UNTIL WE ARRIVE AT THE HOTEL. PLEASE ENSURE YOUR BAG / CASE IS CLEARLY LABELLED SHOWING YOUR NAME. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO PACK THE CASE THEMSELVES AS THEY WILL HAVE TO DO THIS ON THE RETURN.

One piece of separate hand luggage IS ESSENTAIL FOR THE COACH JOURNEY. This will be used for drinks, snacks, small towel / tooth brush. Other items are music (mobile phone), earphones, card games, magazines AND ONE PAIR OF SKI SOCKS READY FOR SKI BOOT FITTING ON ARRIVAL.

SOFT CASES ARE PREFERABLE:

 

Meals on route

The coach will stop periodically at motorway stations / restaurant areas in the UK and abroad. There will also be a self-service facility on the ferry. If a packed lunch / tea are taken, please ensure it will travel well and is packed securely. No mess is allowed on the coach.

Also PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD has plenty of drinks, especially bottled water (screw on caps are essential). NO ENERGY DRINKS PLEASE!

Accommodation

We are staying in a very pleasant hotel. Please note

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR GROUPS STAYING IN THE HOTEL BEAU SEJOUR, WINTER 2021-2022:

“We have been informed by the management of the Hotel Beau Sejour that a damage/breakage deposit of €10.00 per person will be payable by cash or card on arrival.

This will be fully refundable at the end of your stay providing no damage has occurred.

Whilst all Interski  hotels normally meet the highest of standards, to avoid any unnecessary confusion we strongly recommend that, on the afternoon of arrival, you and your accompanying staff check rooms allocated to your group and note any existing damage. Your Course Co-ordinator will provide you with a specially designed form for this purpose.

Many thanks for your co-operation and we wish you a very pleasant stay in the Aosta Valley this coming winter.”

Accommodation

We are staying on a full board basis. We will be served breakfast and evening meal in the hotel. We will be served lunch each day at a mountain restaurant in the ski resort of Pila. All students will be supervised during lunch by a member of staff from Wellfield and by the group ski instructor.

Rooms in the hotel

Pupils will be allocated to either a twin or a triple room where they will stay for the duration of the trip. Rooms have facilities and students are expected to keep the room clean and tidy at all times. This is essential to avoid losing items of clothing and ski kit. There will be a room inspection each day to support this and to ensure no breakages or damage occurs.

ROOM LISTS WILL BE COMPLETED AT THE FINAL MEETING IN JANUARY 2022.

Holiday Itinery

Saturday 5^th February 2022

Students and parents should arrive at school at 12.00 lunch time. Final checks will be made before departing Wellfield at 1.00pm. Please park in the car park area at the front of school. Ensure your holdall baggage is labelled. Ensure you have a small carry-on bag for the coach journey with essentials for the long journey e.g. small towel, toothbrush, a pair of ski socks ready for ski boot fitting on arrival, drinks, snacks and magazines etc. DO NOT FORGET A PILLOW AND A SMALL BLANKET / FLEECE for overnight comfort.

We will arrive at Dover in the late evening for the ferry crossing to Calais. Students may wish to buy a snack at a motorway service station or on the ferry (students must have English travel money). First meal in France will be breakfast. This is free of charge. We will arrive in Italy at lunch time on Sunday and will go to a restaurant for lunch. We will then travel to the Interski Ski and Boot fitting centre to collect all equipment. We will also collect Ski Lift passes and the Insurance Medi-Card for each student. After ski equipment is collected we will travel to our hotel and be allocated rooms. After unpacking we will enjoy dinner before having some rest and free time before lights out at 10.30 pm.

Monday 7^th – Saturday 12^th February

 All students will wake at 7.00 am. We will enjoy breakfast before preparing to leave the hotel for skiing. Staff will check rooms and check ALL STUDENTS HAVE CORRECT EQUIPMENT for the day e.g. full ski suit, gloves, helmet and goggles. Students will require sun cream as snow burn can be an issue and sunglasses for lunch time.

We will depart the hotel at 8.15 am for the short journey to the Interski Ski Centre where we will collect boots, skis and ski poles. We will walk 100m to the Pila gondola (ski lift) and travel up the mountain from the town of Aosta to the resort of Pila (20 minutes). On arrival at the ski resort at 9.30 am all students will be organised in their ski group and meet their Interski Ski Instructor. All students receive at least 4 hours ski tuition each day. They will never be skiing unsupervised. They will be supported by a member of Wellfield staff at all times in addition to the Interski BASI Qualified Instructor during lessons and at lunch time. Safety is our highest priority.

We will depart the ski slopes at 4.00 pm each day and return to our hotel. During the evenings students will have the opportunity to shower, change and relax before dressing for dinner. On each evening we will organise a range of activities, e.g. quizzes, a disco with students from all Interski trips in Aosta, ten-pin bowling, a visit to town of Aosta to eat in a Pizza restaurant, the opportunity to go snow-tubing in the Pila Snow Park and an Interski  Certification Presentation evening.

 

Saturday 12^th February

We will depart Pila and the Aosta Valley after skiing and eating dinner in the hotel. We will depart on Saturday at 6pm and travel through the night to Calais.  

Sunday 13^th February

We will depart Calais and sail to Dover for the final journey to Wellfield School. We will stop at lunch time for a snack (English money is essential) and all students will have the opportunity to call home with an exact time of arrival at school. We expect to arrive at Wellfield at 3.00 pm on Sunday afternoon. All students and staff will be extremely tired. Can you please ensure all parents / carers are at school to meet and greet the children.

PLEASE NOTE it is our expectation that all students are at school on Monday morning 14^th February. An early night is essential to recharge the batteries.

Ski Pila Letter 2022