Summary

Tignes |

I spent the New year in Tignes at the UCPA and had an amazing time. It was my first time at UCPA but do enamoured that I immediately booked a second trip for February.

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Val d'Isere | Snowboard Half Time

I went on Snowboarding holidays by myself Xmas time. I'm single girl and unfortunately most of my friends are either couples or would not go on skiing and boarding vacation. At first I was a little bit worried, but as soon as I got on a bus with other travellers I was hit by amazing bubbly atmosphere. All the guides and instructors were very friendly, always happy to help and advice. This was an amazing surprise considering that most of them work on very low pay. Also I met bunch of great friends. I opted to stay with three other girls in shared room, and all of us get on very well. Usually I'm used to more expensive and luxury holidays. Despite all the rooms being very basic, it was very clean, food was fantastic and snowboarding equipment was very new. I would definitely recommend to any single or a couple or bunch of friends to go with this company. I'm actually just about to book my summer holidays with them now. It's a little bit different to drinking and partying and I love it !

Tignes |

I recently stayed at the Tignes (Val Claret) UCPA centre and had the best weeks skiing ever. I booked through the Action Outdoors website which was pretty straight forward. This was my first time in a UCPA centre and I was travelling with my girlfriend and four friends – a mix of skiers and boarders ranging in experience from complete beginner to ex-seasonaires. On arrival after a long coach journey we were greeted by a cheerful and welcoming team at the UCPA centre who gave us the lowdown on the arrival procedures. The centre was extremely well organised and helpful staff made the task of checking in/booking onto lessons/collecting lift pass and equipment so much easier than I have experienced in any other resort.

As we had arrived early we left our bags in the bar and went out to explore the resort. The centre is located close to everything you need with shops/bars and restaurants all within a few hundred metres of the front door.

I had heard mixed reviews about the quality of the rooms at UCPA centres but was pleasantly surprised with what we were given. My girlfriend and I had opted to pay the supplement to go in a twin room which was well worth it when it only costs around £5 extra a night. Our room had twin beds, a table and chairs, wardrobe, wash basin and a balcony. We shared a toilet and shower with the room next door. Although the rooms were basic they were perfect for a weeks skiing, plenty of storage and comfortable beds – what more do you need?

The equipment collection and storage area was well thought out and made it easy to drop off and collect your skis/boards at the start and end of each day. A 50 metre walk to the drag rope and you were good to go. The equipment itself was in good condition. One of my friends had a problem with her binding on the first day but this was quickly rectified by a member of UCPA staff.

Espace Killy is by far the best ski area I have experienced in Europe. Fast lifts and lots of them with no queues at all. The high altitude and decent snow depths this April meant we could ski pretty much the whole of the area, top to bottom, glaciers to tree skiing – Espace Killy has the lot!

One of the highlights of our trip was probably the Apres, especially ‘La Folie Douce’ over on the Val d’Isere side. This is a must for anyone visiting – just check out the videos on youtube. The bars in Tignes were a little quiet but it was getting towards the end of the season. Most had a happy hour and you could get a pint of beer for 4 euros.

My girlfriend was a beginner and had chosen the half time instruction. She was put in a group of around 8 skiers on the first morning but then moved to a smaller group of three for the rest of the week as the instructors thought this would be more suitable for her. In the space of a few days her skiing and confidence improved considerably and she was comfortably tackling red runs with no fear! She said her instructors were brilliant and although were not fluent in English they knew enough to teach her and show her the ski area.

The food at the UCPA centre was very good. Breakfast was a continental style buffet with a range of cereals, bread, croissants and fruit. Lunch was a full meal with several hot choices, desserts and cheeses. Dinner was a different theme each night including Italian and Mexican and. Just like breakfast both lunch and dinner were buffets and you could have as much as you like. One lunch time I had steak and chips- twice! That would cost 40 euros on the slopes!

The overall atmosphere in the centre was very welcoming and relaxed. I was surprised how many people had come on their own but the open bar/entertainment area really lent itself to meeting new people and discussing the days skiing. It was also nice to see all of the instructors and staff mingling with the guests at meal times and evenings.

The only criticism that I had with the centre was the stairs! Our room was on the top (5th floor) and after a days hard skiing the legs struggled with the stairs!

I had to think twice about writing this review. Part of me did not want to submit it. I selfishly want UCPA to remain a secret so that I can book more amazing cheap ski trips but the other part of me wants to let other skiers/boarders know about this hidden gem. UCPA really is the best way to go on a winter holiday. You literally cannot do it any cheaper!

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Serre Chevalier | Snowboard Off Piste

I visited Serre Chavalier for a UCPA Off Piste Snowboarding holiday in January of this year (13th-20th).

I booked this holiday because I knew from a previous UCPA holiday to Chamonix, that should I be travelling alone, UCPA was the way to go, having a friendly inclusive atmosphere. I was totally right. From the moment I arrived until I left I was never alone, despite having arrived knowing no one! In fact, one of my new friends even gave me a ride to Grenoble after I left, reflecting the friendship made. We are still in touch.

UCPA put me in a dorm with three other girls all who, like me, arrived alone. We were in different groups during the day, as we were all different abilities but nevertheless we met up after for yoga and dinner and met up with other groups of guys at the bar. We were so like minded and got on so well it looked like a set up. Obviously such connections were made in other dorms too and we all met up in the evenings with the group size increasing over the week.

Never an evening went by when there wasn't a social occasion. UCPA had something for everyone..during the days and into the evenings. The food was fantastic and there was loads of it. The relaxed buffet style breakfasts and dinners worked well with our daily schedules and lunches were made after breakfast and brought up the mountains.

The staff on reception were great. One of my room mates who had fallen during the week was looked after professionally and with great care when dealt with by the staff. It was indeed like one big family.

Our group had a wonderful friendly experienced safe and fun instructor. He arranged a programme designed for our ability and we ventured further off piste as the week went on. He encouraged the group to speak English as he knew it was easier for the two english speakers (myself and an english man) to understand technical details in our own language. By the end of the week even the French were speaking to the French leader in english!

We were riding in not only Serre Chavalier during the week but also in Mon Genevre and La Grave. The variety was wonderful, and the fact that the instructor based the choice on our preferences as well as slope conditions, and weather of course, was great. We had our own minibus for our group and great 'Craic' on the journeys to location (and great sleeps on the way home!). The technical advice and training we got from our instructor was ten out of ten.

My only disappointment was that it was too cold for the pool to be open. I think however because in every other way this holiday met or exceeded my expectations I didn't let this bother me too much.

A holiday I would go on again. I totally recommend UCPA to anyone. What a fabulous experience.

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Tignes | Snowboard Half Time

This was my fifth UCPA trip via Action Outdoors. And each time I booked I hardly had any issues. If I had any questions, Action Outdoors emailed back very swiftly with helpful answers. The only thing that I could make a point on this trip was that we weren't told of any transfer details from the airport to the resort until I had to call the bus operators (Ben's buses in this case) directly. All the other times, we were texted the transfer details and didn't have much of a problem. The info on Action Outdoors page was very thorough and informative. The only point I could make on the website is that when we try and log in to our group page by logging in as opposed to clicking the link from the email, it was quite difficult to locate it, in fact I don't think I ever located the group page by logging in - I think I had to search for my Action Outdoors email each time to click the link.

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Argentiere | Beginners Snowboarding

As a 19 year old with the expensive hobby of snowboarding, finding the money to go on trips away isn't always easy however with the deal that Action Outdoors was offering I couldn't resist!

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Val d'Isere | Beginner Snowboarding

I had just moved to London about four weeks previous from Australia and was still unfamiliar with European travel and experiences. I'm a teacher's aid, so I get the school holidays off. I had a week off in February and really wanted to hit the slopes to work on my snowboard skills. I had looked at other tours and snow packages and they were all coming up near the 1000 pound mark, which was too expensive on such short notice (as this was the week before I was looking). I was lucky enough to see a post on facebook about action outdoors and looked more into it and further conversation on the phone convinced me that I should try it as it was an all inclusive package at a more than reasonable price! So I booked it literally the day before I left and I must say, it has been one of the best things I have ever done!! The people were friendly and my instructor was very helpful, teaching me the basics of snowboarding and encouraging and helping me where needed. The food was good and the rooms tidy and sufficient for a week of boarding. All in all, I left with new friends and great memories. I loved Val D'Isere and definitely hope to return again. :)

Tignes | Snowboard Full Time

Where do I start. Excellent from start to finish. The value for money is uncanny. I stayed in Tignes at the UCPA resort. From the moment I stepped of the plane it was seamless. The UCPA chalet was really good value for money and just as I expected. Unfortunately I was injured on my second day. The tuition I had up until that point was 1st class. The staff at the resort were so helpful and knowledgeable. I called a outdoor activities representative whilst abroad and they were very sympathetic and helpful and their response and expertise made my claim seamless. All in all I was injured but still has a memorable holiday. Thank you thank you action outdoors. I will be booking with you again and cannot sing you praises enough to my friends.

Flaine | Snowboard Half Time

I went to Flaine in March this year for my first time ever snowboarding. The resort was exactly what I expected, simple but with everything you need. It may not be the prettiest of buildings that you stay in, but you wont be going there to look at the resort, it looks a lot nicer from up the slopes and that's what counts.
The rooms are basic. We had four single beds, a wardrobe each, a shelf each, a plug socket (take a euro adapter and a normal UK extension lead for more sockets if you need them), small room with a toilet and another room with a shower and a sink. We had enough storage space for all our wet gear, however the radiator was partly covered and meant not much could be put on it at once (however this could well be just because of the layout of the room we were in, not sure about other rooms). Also, the windowsills are wide enough to keep a few bottles of beer cold for you as you don't have a fridge or anything in the room.
The instructors were amazing, they don't just help you learn to snowboard, they make sure you're enjoying it and they're there to have fun as well it seems. Very patient despite being in a group with varying quality, so anyone is able to learn.
The food provided was outstanding, with it being a buffet, you can make sure the portions are big enough so you don't go hungry. There wasn't a day when they didn't have something I liked.
The only real negative I could think of, is that it's fairly quiet once the lifts close, but the cheap drinks in the small supermarket just down the stairs from the UCPA can make up for that. However, the UCPA bar was always lively and there is a pool table there (2 Euros a game).

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Chamonix | Snowboarding Full Time

Literally the best snow holiday I have even been on. As it was my first time booking with the UCPA I was quite skeptical since it was far cheaper than any other snow holiday and that the UCPA is a non-profit organisation, I didn't really know what to expect since I was solo traveler. I had booked a coach ride to Chamonix which was much better than I expected.

Arriving at the UCPA, everyone was welcoming but there will be many sad faces of people who had stayed the previous week, don't let that put you off, by the end of the week I understood why they had sad faces, they didn't want to leave!

Food: The food was amazing, my mouth still waters from thinking about dinner, 3 course buffet, a cheese board, baguettes and you could basically take as much food as you like since there was so much of it and trust me, you'd be going for seconds or thirds because it tasted so good.

Slopes: Yes you have to bus it but don't let that deter you, the slopes are superb, especially for an intermediate snowboarder like myself. There aren't many black slopes but that doesn't matter since there's such a wide variety and they are long with lots of off-piste and jumps etc. Seriously masses of FUN and loads and loads of jumps!

Lessons: Snowboarding full time instruction was great, they really put you into the right group to coincide with you level. They teach you how to use the best technique and are patient with you. At the end of the week, they give you feedback and tell you how much you have progressed, what level you made it to and which group you could be in the next time you come. Trust me, YOU WILL WANT TO GO AGAIN.

Weather: I booking this holiday for the end of March till the beginning of April and was really lucky with the weather, perfect snow all week except on the last day (6th April 2013) the snow was starting to get really slushy.

Itinerary: Was good and makes the most of the time you spend there. Wake up at 7-7:30 every morning (easy when you're excited all the time), finish by 4 or 5 depending on how baron you are and the rest of the night is yours to do what you like. There are many things you can get up to and if there's nothing you want to do you can always go drinking. Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday are free days where you can either rest or go on the slopes with your friends or the friends you make if you're a solo traveler.

Accommodation: It's room share with 4-6 people but that doesn't matter since you're outside all day and you're only using the room to sleep in. The shower is really nice, relaxing and spacious. Toilets are always cleaned in the morning and there are lots of them.

I would rate the overall experience 9/10 AWESOME. It would be 10/10 but the toilet paper is too rough :)

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