First ski holiday advice!

As an alternative to buying a helmet, you could just get a Buff (a thin cloth tube thingy which you wear over your head). These are very lightweight and easy to shove in a pocket but will keep the ears warm, the hair out of your eyes and the other peoples sweat off your head if you hire a helmet. It can also be worn at home after, just in case you decide skiing is not for you (unlike a ski helmet).

Thanks for all the kind and helpful replies! ive never been on a forum before where people want to hep as apposed to put you down! We will be booking the flights at the end of ths month and I will be buying my own hat also, spots pursuit has some cool looking ones on sale now, im not sure if that's a cheap site or not.
I heard about getting a beginners pass but my sister says not to bother as I will get bored and end up having to buy another one out there? is this so? I will be getting a few lessons before I go and im a bit of a adrenaline junkie but all the same I would prefer to come back in one piece and don't want to waste money on something I wont use?

Organise lessons before buying the pass and then get the one suggested.

felthorpe wrote: It can also be worn at home after, (unlike a ski helmet).

But I know several people who walk around at home in full ski kit - got photographic evidence too!
:mrgreen:

People often worry a lot about the logistics of a group holiday, naturally. But once you're there, have hired your skis and are off and away, it's worth setting out some ground rules for how the group prepares and also interacts. This is especially the case if you've got a mix of experience in the group. A few tips:

Assume that you will get separated and lost. Have each others mobile numbers on your 'phones. Take money and plastic with you every day. Don't assume that 'someone else' will be around to help. Agree what to do in the event of people being separated. Always carry a piste map.
Generally, this is just a convenience thing so that if the group splits for some reason everyone is still able to enjoy themselves without writing-off most of the day trying to link up again.

Be realistic if you have some more experienced skiers in the group. They'll want to zoom off and have some fun. So agree, say, that the morning is everyone together, then in the afternoon you split the group. Or whatever works.

Make sure you know where to go if someone is slightly/moderately injured. If it's France, the procedure for getting medical attention can be confusing. Understand that most insurance cover is post the event - you will have to pay for stuff and then claim it back (hence the carrying payment suggestion).

NEVER force someone to do something they don't want to. Experienced skiers are particularly prone to this and it can really spoil it for newbies in a group. If someone says "No, I'd rather go back / on the green /etc." do not argue with them, or try and persuade them otherwise. It's a holiday, after all.

Keep your passports safe somewhere, and keep a photocopy separately, along with home contact details and insurance contact details. Have the UK Border Agency helpline number handy in case you lose your passport (not the Passport Office).

This doesn't have to be heavy - it can all be organised beforehand and if you're unlucky it can help a lot. Of course, if you're on a package trip, the Tour Rep will help you, but it will do no harm to be prepared - they might not always be able to help immediately.

Finally, some resorts have useful apps with a 'Find Your Friends' function. You turn on your GPS and register yourselves and can see where people are. It might be worth checking and downloading this before you go, while you have home broadband access.