Covid Confident

COVID CONFIDENT MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

Covid-19 Refund Policy

Whilst we are confident that we will not experience any issues with our 2021/22 winter programs we are offering a complete peace-of-mind service to reduce safety concerns and remove the financial burden for our customers.

We will be continually evaluating our safety measures and also implementing any reasonable policies which could help reduce the risk of Covid-19 related issues. Whilst assessing these new measures, in addition to keeping our customers safe, one of the priorities we will be considering will be ensuring that the integrity and experience of our courses are not affected, and that your program will not be fundamentally different from our normal services.

So, we’re excited to confirm that Basecamp will operate this season and deliver a busy program of ski and snowboard instructor courses around the world.

With 20 years worth of delivering ski and snowboard courses we are fully aware that our guest’s needs always come first. In these testing and uncertain times, that priority is as essential as ever. As such, we’ve amended our cancellation conditions and our resort operations to provide the necessary reassurances.

The Key Facts:

  • If your course is cancelled prior to departure, then we’ll provide a full refund
  • Flexibility to change your trip or cancel
  • Safety is paramount on our courses; planning and precautions are key


FAQs:


WHERE CAN I SKI THIS WINTER?

At the time of writing it looks like vaccinated Basecampers will not be required to quarantine for our courses in Morzine, France, Kaprun, Austria or in Banff, Canada. Unvaccinated Basecampers may be subject to additional measures including, but not limited to regular testing and quarantine for between 5-14 days depending on individual country laws. Please check government advice for the latest information. Basecamp are not responsible for the legal requirements in any location, it is the responsibility of our customers to ensure they have the latest travel advice from their home country and the country of which they are travelling to.

We intend to run our 11 week courses even if the FCO requirement for a quarantine period upon return to the UK is in place. Firstly, we believe our course participants will consider this is a sacrifice worth making for 11-13 weeks of skiing, and secondly, there is a high chance that when the course ends in late March, that there will be less stringent rules in place negating the requirement to quarantine.

DO I NEED TO BE VACCINATED?

At the time of writing it is not compulsory to be vaccinated to join the course or exams in Canada or France. In Austria you must be vaccinated or have covid antibodies (within 6mths) to join the Austrian examinations. We are advising all of our customers to be fully vaccinated, hold a covid pass for medical exemption or hold a covid recovery pass.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY COURSE IS CANCELLED?

Whilst we are confident this season will go ahead as planned, there are a couple of potential scenarios which might lead to your course being cancelled due to Covid disruption. Here’s how we’d handle them:

Resort Closure Before Your Course

If the ski resort lifts close before your course starts, we will formally cancel the course and offer you the following options:

  • Move your full funds to any other Basecamp course in the 2021/22 or 2022/23 season, with no change fee. This can include a location change if you wish.
  • Funds on account to be used towards a course within the next two years.
  • Full refund if the above options are not suitable for you.

Resort Closure During Your Course

If a course has started and we are subsequently forced to end it prematurely, due to Covid-19, we will refund you on a pro-rata basis. As an example, this means that if you miss out on the final three weeks of a 10 week course, you will receive a refund of 30% of your course fee.

The only amendment to this is in the event your package includes any non recoverable costs including, but not limited to, a season lift pass, and you had already skied the equivalent number of days that makes a season pass cheaper than day tickets, the lift company may not provide a pro-rata refund and would be removed from your refund. Other potential examples include exam fees and accommodation cancellation fees under certain situations.

For season long courses or internships where training periods are concentrated at the start of the course followed by working periods which include accommodation, only recoverable accommodation costs will be refunded after the training period. No refunds can be offered for missed employment periods due to covid restrictions.

International Border Closures

If the border of the country your course is scheduled in (e.g. Canada, France, Austria, Argentina, New Zealand) closes to international visitors, then we will provide you with the following options:

  • Move your full funds to any other Basecamp course in the 2021/22 or 2022/23 season, with no change fee. This can include a location change if you wish.
  • Funds on account to be used towards a course within the next two years.
  • Full refund if the above options are not suitable for you.

Canadian Provincial Border Closure

If the Canadian authorities prevent Canadians from travelling between provinces and this results in you not being able to reach your course, we will provide you with the following options:

  • Move your full funds to any other Basecamp course in the 2021/22 or 2022/23 season, with no change fee. This can include a location change if you wish.
  • Funds on account to be used towards a course within the next two years.
  • Full refund if the above options are not suitable for you.

Local Lockdown or Your Country’s Border Closure

If you live in an area which has been ordered into a local lockdown, then you may be required to stay at home if the Government advises against all but essential travel to, from and within the area.

In this instance you should contact your insurance company right away.

If your travel insurance doesn’t provide cancellation cover for this instance, we’ll provide the following option:

  • Move your full funds to any other Basecamp course in the 2021/22 or 2022/23 season, with no change fee. This can include a location change if you wish.
  • Funds on account to be used towards a course within the next two years.
  • Refund you all recoverable costs.

You Get Covid and/or are asked to self-isolate and can’t travel

If you have symptoms, are diagnosed with Covid or are advised to self-isolate within 14 days of your course starting you may be able to join us a few weeks after the course has started once you have recovered. Please contact us as quickly as possible and we will do our very best to help you.

You must contact your travel insurance provider.

If your travel insurance doesn’t provide cancellation cover for this instance, we’ll provide the following options:

  • Move your course funds to any other Basecamp course in the 2021/22 or 2022/23 season. This can include a location change if you wish. We may withhold any non-recoverable costs from your course fee credit.
  • Funds on account to be used towards a course within the next two years. We may withhold any non-recoverable costs from your course fee credit

You’ll need to provide us with a medical certificate, or confirmation that you have been advised to self-isolate, so that we can amend your course booking with our suppliers.

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Will I be covered if I decide to go against FCO advice and travel?

There are many countries that we are advised not to travel to because of the Covid risk. These countries change on a daily basis so it can be hard to plan ahead. There are several insurance companies who will cover you if you decide to travel to a country against FCO advice. We know that MPI Brokers, Trailfinders, World Nomads and Big Cat Insurance are offering policies like this and many are also including cover for covid-19 too. As always, it is vitally important that you have ample insurance for you trip and we strongly recommend committing some time to researching the policies available. Basecamp can not offer advice or recommendations for insurance products.

 

FLIGHTS

When should I book flights in this uncertain time?

We advise delaying booking flights until nearer the date of departure, unless you find a great deal which makes it worth taking the risk or has flexible booking conditions. Some operators are offering a free flexi-change which you may decide makes purchasing your flight more risk-free. Feel free to contact us if you want to discuss.

 

TESTING COVID POSITIVE+ WHILST IN RESORT

What happens if I have symptoms or I’m diagnosed with coronavirus whilst in resort?

Should you start to feel unwell, you should stay in your room, seek medical assistance if required and immediately report any illness and symptoms to the hotel management and your Basecamp Course Manager.

If you start to display Covid symptoms whilst on your course, we will assist in isolating you and those who you have come into contact with if required. Any additional costs associated with isolation will be solely the responsibility of the student, incl. but not limited to, the cost of an isolation room.

If you do contract COVID-19, you’ll be expected to follow the specific procedures in place in your accommodation and destination country. Your Course Manager and Basecamp team (available 24/7) will be there to support you, as will the staff at your accommodation.

 

PRECAUTIONS AND CHANGES

Our biggest focus is keeping our guests and staff safe, and we are closely following the guidelines and requirements of the destination Governments and local health authorities to minimise the risk of Coronavirus. We will work closely with all our suppliers to ensure that the prudent and mandated precautions are replicated across every aspect of your course. We will strive to ensure that the course atmosphere is as inclusive, welcoming and rewarding as our Basecamp Alumni have enjoyed over the past 20 years.

Transportation

Bus transportation is required for airport transfers and in certain destinations a daily shuttle to the resort is required. Safety procedures in place may include:

  • Wider spacing (social distancing) between passengers
  • Driver and passengers may wear masks
  • Hand sanitiser station installed by the doors
  • Touch services may be sanitized before and after each trip

Activities

One of the central elements of Basecamp are the experiences and activities we arrange outside of the ski/snowboard coaching sessions. This winter we will be offering many amazing outdoor experiences (think night skiing, torch-light decent, fire-pit parties, snow shoeing, xc skiing, fat-biking, snowmobiling, and ski touring) and indoor events where rules allow (like cheering on the local ice-hockey team, pub crawls, playing road-hockey, karaoke, road-trips etc). Lots of fun will be had!

 

GOT A QUESTION?

With so much changing so frequently (except our desire to ski!) there are likely to be additional scenarios that come to mind or other questions you need to ask. Do not hesitate to reach out to our team and talk to us. Contact us