Frequently Asked Questions

Booking your holiday - Summer

• Can I book with you even if I am not from the UK?

  Of course! ​UCPA UK is the British partner of the UCPA which is a French organisation. We sell the exact same holidays at the same prices, the only difference is we speak English, all our communications and booking confirmation emails are in English and our prices are defaulted to GBP currency. It is possible to view the prices and pay in euros if you prefer, simply change the currency via the drop down option at the top of the web page. We do also add the Saturday arrival as standard on our Winter holidays as the majority of our clients are travelling from outside of France and don't want to miss a day on the slopes because of travel. In the Summer, early arrival can be added on as an optional extra. Therefore if you want to travel to a UCPA centre and prefer to make the booking in English oppose to French, then you are welcome to book your holiday with ​UCPA UK.

• Why are your holidays so cheap?

  The UCPA is actually a not for profit organisation, hence the low prices. They keep prices as low as they can - the instruction is provided by “in-house” instructors, the equipment is bought in bulk and UCPA get a great price on lift passes. The main saving is in the “no-frills” accommodation – you have to clean your own room, the food is buffet style and you have to clear your own table – this allows the prices to be kept at low as possible. 

  Read more​

• Can I book a twin room?

  The majority of bedrooms in the UCPA centres are multi share, meaning the rooms are shared by between 3-8 people. Most centres have a limited number of private 2 person rooms available for an extra fee. These rooms are available only to pairs booking together  - both people must select twin room from 'room options'  when booking and pay the extra supplement.

  Twin rooms do sell out quickly especially on busy dates therefore if this option doesn't appear in the room options then unfortunately it isn't available. Using the quick search on the home page or the advanced search option you can search for twin room availability.

• Can I book directly with UCPA?

  Of course you can. However, we are the UK agent for UCPA therefore you are booking the exact same packages, at the same price, the only difference is all paperwork and customer service is in English.

  Our prices are exactly the same and you can select between GBP or Euro currency. We automatically add the Saturday 'early arrival' to your booking as we expect you will want to arrive on time to hit the slopes first thing on Sunday morning after a good night sleep. If you would prefer to arrive on Sunday, no problem just let us know once you have booked.

• Can I pay in instalments?

  The UCPA require a £100 deposit to secure your place on the holiday. The final balance is required 8 weeks before travel. If you prefer to pay by instalments you can pay in two 50% instalments.  The first 50% must be paid by 8 weeks before travel and the final installment, making up the full balance due, must be paid in full at a minimum of 4 weeks before travel.

  We try our best to contact everyone 8 weeks before they travel when payment is due. However sometimes due to incorrect contact details this isn't possible.  Therefore it is your own responsibility to diarise when your balance is due and to make sure you make the payments on time. If you do not pay for your holiday on time and we can not get hold of you we will be forced to cancel your holiday and you will lose any previous payments made. Therefore if you do receive reminders or answerphone messages, please contact us immediately so we can come to an arrangement with you. It is better for us that you attend your holiday and have an amazing time than we lose your money in fees to the UCPA! 

  ​ Log into your booking and make a payment 

• I’m already good at the activity chosen – why should I take any lessons?

  The great thing about the UCPA courses is there truly is a level for everyone, even real experts. The 'regular' instruction levels range from beginner to expert. The expert groups are usually made up of those that have grown up doing these sports and know them like the back of their hands. The more advanced groups are unlike regular courses, they are fast paced, searching out the best terrain and working to perfect technique. Everyone, even experts, develop bad habits or have slight weaknesses - the instruction will help you iron these out and become even stronger.

  Taking part in a course is highly recommended. It's a great way to get to know other people at the same level as you, to push your limits and develop your skills and they give you the opportunity to explore the area under the guidance of a local expert. You don't have to attend every session, if you want to take the morning off to do something alone, no worries just let your instructor know.

• I am under 18 or over 45 can I book with the UCPA?

  UCPA is a not for profit organisation set up more than 50 years ago to encourage young people to participate in outdoors sports and to make the top resorts and quality coaching more accessible and affordable. UCPA has changed a little over the years however the ethos remains very much the same. Therefore although there are some exceptional circumstances and packages, the majority of UCPA courses and holidays have an age restriction of 18-​45. The UCPA has specific exemption from any Age Discrimination Laws in France and Europe due to the ethos behind the organisation. 

  UCPA have made some exemptions to their age registrations in recent years introducing special courses and weeks to allow those up to aged 55 to take advantage of the excellent value UCPA summer sports activities. You can see the age relaxed courses here

  There are no Family trips or Youth programmes throughout the summer, we only sell these packages in the winter.

• How do I get to the resort?

  You can pick from a number of travel options: own travel (sort yourself out) or fly to the nearest airport and take an airport transfer to resort (we can assist with the transfers in Argentiere and Chamonix only).

  Own Travel

  Select this option if you are going to make your own way to resort, whether it be by plan, bus, train or car. We will send you the address and details for parking. A great option if you are familiar with the area, enjoy a road trip and there are a few of you travelling together. 

  Transfers (Argentiere and Chamonix only)

  If you plan to fly to the Alps you must arrange transport from the airport to resort and back. We can arrange airport transfers on your behalf with one of our partner suppliers. Alternatively you can plan your own transfers if you prefer. Before booking flights make sure the airport is easily accessible from the resort and you are aware of any limitations with flight times - all transfer information is outlined on individual resort pages under the 'getting there' tab. To book an airport transfer through us select the correct option under 'travel options' on the booking page. If this option isn't displayed it may not be available for the package you have selected. We will take your flight times and book your transfer for you.

• Can I get a discount?

  The UCPA is not for profit, hence the extremely low prices. Any profit generated is reinvested back into the UCPA to refurbish the centres. Due to the very low profit margin the UCPA are unable to offer discounts. Occasionally they may have some discounted packages due to a large amount of availability or a last minute cancellation. All special offers will be advertised on the Special Offers page.

  If you are aged 18- 25, there are a limited number of reduced price places. You don't want to miss out on these amazing deals!  

• How do I book?

  Booking your UCPA holiday is very easy through ​UCPA UK.  All bookings are made online. Once you have found the package that best suits your needs (resort, course and date) you should click on the 'book now' button on the booking page and continue to follow the instructions.  No booking is made until a payment has been made and received by ​UCPA UK. The booking is then only confirmed once you have received a confirmation email from us. It may take up to 24 hours for us to confirm your booking with UCPA, therefore don't book your travel until you have received confirmation from us.​

   

• I haven't received my confirmation email

  If you've waited over 24 hours and haven't received a confirmation email from us, please check your junk/spam folder first. If the email isn't in there, please contact us and we can resend your confirmation email. Sometimes confirmations can take longer than 24 hours to be sent.

Formal Questions -Summer

• What type of insurance should I have?

  Travel insurance is vital for any foreign trip, especially for summer action sports holidays. Having adequate insurance is a condition of booking a UCPA holiday with Action Outdoors. Make sure your insurance covers all the activities you intend to do. We strongly recommend that you arrange suitable insurance soon after you book your holiday; as well as providing cover for travel disruption, medical expenses and property loss, insurance often covers any injury, personal tragedy or travel changes which requires you to cancel your holiday before departure (check limitations). Neither Action Outdoors nor UCPA are liable to give a refund or pay compensation for circumstances outwith our control e.g ski area closure due to lack or snow/extreme weather, travel delays/cancellations due to adverse weather conditions/road closures and the cancellation of a holiday by you due to injury or personal circumstances. Therefore please ensure the travel insurance you purchase provides adequate cover for all unexpected events. Read our cancellation policy for further information on cancelling your holiday.

  We advise you to read the insurance policy closely, particularly what you will receive if your flight is cancelled due to bad weather or you miss your flight due to road closures, this has caught a few people out in recent years!

  In addition to private travel insurance it is recommended all European citizens carry a valid EHIC card.

  Read more here

• What insurance do you offer?

  Action Outdoors doesn't offer summer sports travel insurance, so this is something that you will have to investigate yourself. 

  Read more about travel insurance

• What is your cancellation policy?

  Should you or any member of your party need to cancel your chosen holiday once it has been confirmed, the party leader must immediately advise us in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only be effective when it is received in writing by us at our offices. As we incur costs from the time we confirm your booking and may be unable to re-sell your holiday, the following cancellation charges will be payable. Where the cancellation charge is shown as a percentage, this is calculated on the basis of the total cost payable by the person(s) cancelling any amendment / cancellation charges which have already been incurred. Insurance premiums and amendment / cancellation charges are not refundable in the event of the person(s) to whom they apply cancelling.

  Our cancellation policies vary depending on the type of holiday your have booked, they are as follows: 

  Individual UCPA Programs

  More than 30 days prior to departure: Loss of deposit

  Between 30 and 21 days: 25%

  Between 20 and 15 days: 50%

  Between 14 and 8 days: 75%

  7 days or fewer prior to departure or in the case of absence at departure without prior cancellation: 100%

  Group bookings will have their own specific cancellation policy stated in their group contracts

  Depending on the reason for cancellation, you may be able to reclaim these cancellation charges (less any applicable excess) under the terms of your insurance policy. Claims must be made directly to the insurance company concerned.

  If you have to cancel then please inform us as soon as possible by e-mailing info@action-outdoors.co.uk stating that you wish to cancel your trip. Please note that we require the e-mail to be sent from same e-mail address that we have on file for the holiday booking. Contact us if there are circumstances that make this difficult.

  It’s not our goal to profit from your cancellation – in most circumstances if you can find someone to take your place then we will make a name change for only a small administration charge. It may also be possible to swap dates if there is enough time to resell your trip – contact us and we will do our best to help you.

  * If any member(s) of your party is/are prevented from travelling, the person(s) concerned will be able to transfer their place to someone else (introduced by you) providing the following requirements are complied with. We must be notified of the transfer(s) not less than [two weeks] before departure. A transfer will not be possible if there is a waiting list for places in which case the available place must be offered to the next person on that list. Where a transfer to a person of your choice can be made, all costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers as a result together with an amendment fee of £20 must be paid before the transfer can be effected. For flight only, or flight inclusive bookings, you must pay the charges levied by the airline concerned. As most airlines do not permit name changes after tickets have been issued for any reason, these charges are likely to be the full cost of the flight. 

  Full terms and Conditions

• How do I make an amendment to my holiday?

  The possibility to amend a holiday will be on an individual basis depending on time till you travel, popularity of the week and reason for the amendment. We will always try and help our clients out but the earlier we are aware of any possible amendments, the easier it is for us to try and resolve them.

  If you simply need to add travel, then please e-mail info@​ucpa.co.uk and we will do this straight away (up until the week of travel when it will depend on availability)

  If you need to upgrade rooms, change course, change dates, change names etc then we have to go via the centre and UCPA HQ in Paris so you will incur an administration charge of £20 if it the amendment is feasible. 

• What happens if I need to make a complaint?

  If you have a problem with any aspect of your holiday you should first discuss the problem with UCPA staff while in resort, allowing them the opportunity to fix the problem immediately. If the staff are unable to solve your problem you should then contact the Action Outdoors office. We aim to have any problems resolved while you are in resort.

  If you are still unhappy with the service that you have received from UCPA and we were unable to resolve the issue, please send an email on your return from your holiday explaining the situation as precisely and clearly as possible and we will pass it onto the UCPA complaints department for investigation. Please note that any complaints or requests for compensation are at the discretion of UCPA who are a not for profit organisation.

  As an ABTA intermediary we follow the guidelines set out in the ABTA code of conduct. 

  However we ultimately strive to do our best to make sure that your holiday runs smoothly, that you have a fantastic time and that you return home with only praise for the whole UCPA concept!

• I have not received my £100 security deposit back?

  What to do: First, check with your bank that the money has actually been taken as UCPA do not actually taken this money from your account (as it is a pre authorisation), it may appear on your statement, but please confirm with your bank whether the money has been taken.

  If using a Monzo or Revolut, it seems a common fault of the app not properly releasing the preauthorised payments back into your accounts.

  If you can check with your bank and then let us know that would be great and we can then check with centre directly for you.

General Questions- Summer

• What should I expect from my holiday?

  We appreciate the UCPA concept is very different from other action sports holidays you may have been on and often the prices can seem to good to be true. Therefore we have put together information on 'what to expect' for first time travellers. Here you can read more about the UCPA, the package, the accommodation and generally what to expect!

  Please visit the individual resort pages to read more about the resort, the ski area, how to get there and the accommodation. Here you will also find an image gallery so you can view the interior and exterior of the UCPA centres. 

  The activity pages have more information on all courses available at the UCPA. Here you can read more about the ability levels and example itineraries. You can read the specifics of each course by 'clicking' on the course price on the course list. This opens the booking page which also has all the specific course information.

• I’m travelling on my own – will I meet other solo travellers?

  Of course you will! A large percentage of ​UCPA UK clients travel alone - the UCPA environment is very social. The shared rooms ensure you will meet 3-5 room mates. If you take instruction (recommended) you will have the same 8-10 people in your group everyday who you will get to know very well. The UCPAs all have sociable bars where people congregate before and after meal times to share a beer. The UCPAs are really relaxed and very sociable places, the perfect environment for meeting people.

• Do I need to bring a deposit?

  You will be required to leave a deposit when you check in to the UCPA. Normally the deposit is 100 euros in cash, but most UCPAs will accept £80 sterling or a passport instead. More recently UCPAs are preferring to 'swipe' a credit/debit card upon check in, just as most hotels do. You will be provided with full holiday details including the deposit requirement as part of the 'Holiday Details' email sent a few weeks before departure. 

  The deposit covers your room, equipment hire and lift pass. It will be returned to you in full once you have returned your kit, your lift pass and cleaned your room.

• What are the room sharing arrangements?

  The room sizes vary from centre to centre, to see the exact specifications of accommodation at each resort click on the 'accommodation' tab in the relevant resort page.  The rooming is handled directly by the UCPA staff in the centre and is planned a few days before arrival.

  If you are travelling with friends you should book together as as part of a group (when you login to your booking you can see your group members). The UCPA always tries to room groups travelling together in the same room. It is very unlikely but in some rare circumstance this isn't possible and friends may be roomed separately. If your group doesn't entirely fill a room you will be sharing with other people. The only way to 100% guarantee you are roomed with a friend is to book a private twin room. 

  If you are a solo traveller UCPA will ​do what they can to room you in a single sex shared room. The UCPA makes every effort to try and match solo travellers with those with the same native language and/or of similar ages. Solo travellers can't select the twin room option as this is for 2 people travelling together only.

• Is all equipment provided? What should I pack?

  During summer the UCPA has a wide variety of courses, therefore the packing list will vary depending on the course, the sport and the location. Below is a rough guide to what will be provided as part of the packages and what you will need to pack for yourself.

  Check out the summer packing list to make sure you have everything that you need! 

  Good quality and heavily discounted ski clothing can be found in shops such as TK MAXX, in outdoor shop's sales or online. To avoid buying everything new you can hire good quality clothing from a UK based hire company e.g www.expeditionkithire.co.uk. Or even better, borrow what you can from mates. It is not very easy to hire clothing in resort, so make sure you have all your kit before you arrive.

• I’ve got my own equipment – should I bring it?

  If you have your own equipment such as mounatineering boots, ​​tennis rackets, ​wetsuits or walking poles you are welcome to bring them with you. The package does include hire and there will be no discount offered for those bringing their own equipment. Equipment is normally very safe here and very rarely does anyone bother to lock their stuff, however you may bring your own padlock if you wish to secure your skis/board overnight.

• Will all my friends be in the same group?

  Activity instruction groups are organised according to ability level – that way everyone is in the correct group for their ability, learning and progressing at good pace.

  When you arrive a member of the instruction team will chat to your about your level and experience and they will also asked if you want to be in a group with someone you know. Even if you request to be in a group with someone you know, this does not guarantee that you will be together. You will then be allocated a place in the correct group for your level. 

  It may be possible to move down a group to be with a friend, but it isn't recommended. You will definitely get more out of the experience if you are in the correct group for your level. There’s plenty of time to do other summer activities outside of the lessons and you can of course take extra time off if you wish.

• What happens if I have an issue when in resort?

  If you have a problem while in resort please contact the UCPA staff immediately to report the issue. If you have a problem concerning your instruction please speak directly to the Chief Instructor. This allows them an opportunity to resolve the problem asap, while you are still in resort.

  If you find that the problem has not been resolved then please contact the UCPA UK office on +44 203 328 5443 while you are still in resort and we will attempt to resolve the issue on your behalf. The office is open Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm and on Saturdays the office is open until approximately midday. If it is outwith office hours and it is an emergency i.e can not wait until the office re-opens, you can contact us on the emergency number: +44 7766812752. Please contact us when you are in resort so we can fix the problem asap and make sure you enjoy the rest of your stay.

  If you become ill whilst away, please contact your insurance company and arrange to see a doctor straight away. This will enable you, if required, to claim on your insurance for any lost days skiing and ensure you receive the proper medical attention required. The reception will be able to help arrange an appointment for you.

  If you followed advice and spoke to UCPA and ​UCPA UK staff while you were in resort and the issue was not resolved please email us, as soon as you return, outlining the complaint/problem clearly and precisely. We will forward this to the UCPA complaints department for consideration. Please note that all complaints and requests for compensation are at the discretion of UCPA and as a not for profit organisation reimbursement of holiday costs is unlikely, they are in a better situation to provide a credit note for a future holiday.

  We strive to make sure that all ​UCPA UK clients have a very enjoyable holiday and we do all we can to make sure any issues are resolved quickly.