Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Zell Am See: A Superb School Ski Trip Destination



Planning a school ski trip can be immensely exciting, with the finest skiing destinations to choose from and the prospect of taking your students on one of the most memorable events of their time at school. When choosing where to go, trip leaders need to assess the suitability of the resorts on offer for their group. Every group is different, and their ages and ability levels may have a bearing on the decision. But regardless of whether students have been skiing before or not, one of the most important factors is finding a fun and friendly destination that caters to young people as well as adults, while also being an interesting enough a place in its own right that time spent off the slopes will be just as rewarding as the skiing itself. For all of these factors, Zell am See in Austria is an excellent choice, with plenty of variety in its slopes and a picturesque town perfect for student-friendly après-ski activities. Read on to learn more about its highlights.

Skiing in Zell am See

The area around Zell am See is filled with exciting options for those who visit it while on a school ski trip. Surrounded by a horseshoe of mountains, the town provides access to several great skiing areas, including the nursery slopes in nearby Schüttdorf, the varied runs on Mt. Schmittenhöhe (the town's 'home' mountain), and the adjacent glacier resort of Kaprun. One of the real advantages of skiing in this area is its flexibility. No matter what their experience or skill level, all students will be able to find something that suits them - from the gentle nursery slopes to the easy blue runs to trickier red runs, and more challenging black runs for the advanced skiers in the group.

Activities in Town

As well as the fantastic skiing, Zell am See has a great variety of fun activities on offer for young people. Its state of the art sports centre has an ice rink, pool, and bowling alley, any of which make the perfect way for students to spend an evening on their school ski trip before getting a good night's rest. The town centre itself is also a good place for unwinding in, with shopping and plenty of cosy cafes.

History and Culture

Situated on the edge of the beautiful Lake Zell, Zell am See is an attractive town with plenty of history and more character than many ski resorts. It is especially good for educators hoping for a school ski trip to help to expand their students' appreciation of global culture. The town's history dates back centuries, from its days as a small market village to a thriving railway town and mountain resort. Its legacy as a skiing destination is more than a century old, as it hosted its first winter sports club in 1906. Attractions include St. Hippolyte's Church, parts of which are the oldest known human constructions in the region, and the lakeside.

Susan Joubert works for Ski Plan Travel, the market leaders for school travel. Experts in arranging a school ski trip, we have over 14 years experience organising safe and successful travel to an extensive range of resorts.

Ski Resort Jobs in France - Ditch Your Day Job and Slope Off to the Alps This Winter



The French Alps are a wonder place to visit regardless of whether you venture there in the summer or winter. During the summer months you will be able to enjoy amazing hiking trails, great weather and other fun outdoor activities such as camping, rafting, fishing and mountain biking. In the winter months the Alps are covered in snow and are the preferred destination for winter sports enthusiasts from around the world. Skiers and boards, beginners to advanced descend on popular French ski resorts such as Chamonix, Val Thorens, Tignes, Les Deux Alps and many other highly regarded destinations.

Reports suggest that in the winter months close to a quarter of a million travelers venture to the Alps to take part in various winter sports and enjoy the beautiful scenery in the part of the world. This major influx of visitors creates all kinds of different seasonal ski resort jobs in France, just like in many other winter sports destination around the world. In this article we will highlight some important information related to spending the season working in one of the many ski jobs France has to offer.

Getting To the French Alps

If you are interested in applying for a winter season job in France then you will be please to know that the region is very accessible and some companies will even include round trip transportation to and from the Alps for employees, these are usually from British based companies with staff members traveling from the UK to the region. If you are flying into France the closest airport is Grenoble but there are several other options depending on which part of the Alps you will be working in and where you are coming from, other options include Lyon and even Geneva in Switzerland. If you are already in France then you will be please to know that the rail network in France is excellent and you can get to almost any part of the Alps by rail.

The Hours & Pay

So are you looking for a high paying winter job that doesn't require you working many hours? If so good luck and please let us know if you find one! Most ski season jobs in France and every other destination require you to work extremely long hours and don't exactly pay you a fortune. Most seasonal workers venturing to a winter resort for a few month do so solely to live in a winter ski resort for an extended period and to enjoy the many perks that go with that. Often companies will provide staff members with a free ski season pass, equipment, uniform, insurance and of course you will get all kinds of discounts in the resort once you get in with the local businesses and they know you are a season worker.

The lifestyle of A Season Worker

Well as we already stated, you aren't exactly going to earn a fortune but you will certainly have a memorable experience and many season workers claim that working a ski season was the best time of their lives! The work is generally hard, regardless of the position you land, and most positions require that you are up working early and don't finish until late. Generally ski season staff will get one day per week off to enjoy the mountain and then in the slower parts of the season you may have more time to enjoy the resort you are working in. Christmas and New Year are the two busiest parts of the season and many season workers don't make it past this point as things can get that hectic! If you do make it through the Christmas period then in the New Year you head into a quieter period and better whether, this is the highlight of the season for lots of resort workers.

Companies Offering Ski Jobs in France

Many people will venture to the destination of their choice and then try to find opportunities when they get there, working in hotels, help out in bars and restaurants and many other opportunities exist if you go this route. Another option is to try and land a job before you go to the resort. Many tour operators who put together package holidays for guests who are looking to travel to the Alps require staff members to be hands on in the resort ensuring guests have an enjoyable time will on the winter trip. Most of the tour operators offering jobs in the Alps are British or German based countries that are responsible for bring thousands of guests to the many resorts each winter and summer. For more information on these companies check out the details at the following page - ski resort jobs France