PURPOSE
These General Terms and Conditions of Sale govern the terms under which SNOCOOL offers and sells ski instruction, snowboard instruction, off-piste skiing, ski touring, and other mountain activities supervised by its instructors.
Any booking implies full and unconditional acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS AND SERVICES
The services provided by SNOCOOL are supervised by instructors holding the professional qualifications required under French regulations, or by instructors undergoing training within the legal framework of their qualification program.
In France, ski instruction is a regulated profession. All instructors legally authorized to teach, whether they work for SNOCOOL, ESF, or any other ski school, follow the same national training program and hold the same State Diploma or equivalent professional qualifications recognized under French law.
Lessons may be provided on a private or group basis.
The client is responsible for selecting the appropriate technical level when booking. SNOCOOL reserves the right to transfer a participant to a group more suited to their actual ability level, subject to availability, without entitlement to any refund.
Instructors are bound by an obligation of means and not by an obligation to achieve a specific result.
BOOKINGS
Bookings may be made:
• through the SNOCOOL website (stripe);
• by email;
• by telephone;
• via WhatsApp;
• at SNOCOOL offices in Tignes or Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise.
A booking is considered confirmed and binding upon receipt of payment and issuance of a booking confirmation.
PRICES
All prices are quoted in Euros, inclusive of applicable taxes.
Unless otherwise stated, prices do not include:
• equipment rental;
• lift passes;
• insurance;
• personal expenses.
SNOCOOL reserves the right to modify its prices at any time. Services will be charged at the rates in effect at the time of booking.
PAYMENT
Payment may be made by:
• credit or debit card via the online booking platform;
• bank transfer;
• cash, within the limits permitted by law;
• any other payment method offered by SNOCOOL.
Payments made through the online booking platform are secured via Stripe.
For bookings made online, a 3.5% processing fee is applied to cover transaction and payment security costs. This fee is clearly displayed to the client before final confirmation of the booking.
Clients wishing to avoid these fees may book directly with SNOCOOL by email, telephone, or WhatsApp and pay using one of the payment methods offered by the ski school.
Banking information is never collected or stored by SNOCOOL.
CANCELLATION BY THE CLIENT
Any cancellation request must be submitted in writing to SNOCOOL.
The following conditions apply:
• Cancellation more than fifteen (15) days before the start of the service: full refund of all amounts paid.
• Cancellation fifteen (15) days or less before the start of the service: no refund will be granted.
No refund, credit note, postponement, or compensation shall be granted for cancellations made less than fifteen (15) days before the start of the service, regardless of the reason, including illness, accident, injury, transport disruption, weather conditions, border closures, family circumstances, or any other personal reason.
Clients are responsible for obtaining appropriate insurance covering, among other things, cancellation of their holiday, ski lessons, accommodation, lift passes, equipment rental, transportation, and any other travel-related expenses.
Any service that has commenced is payable in full. Any service interrupted or not used due to the client’s actions or circumstances shall not give rise to any refund, credit, or postponement.
CANCELLATION OR MODIFICATION BY SNOCOOL
SNOCOOL reserves the right to modify or cancel a service whenever safety conditions require it.
Depending on the circumstances, SNOCOOL may offer:
• an equivalent service;
• a postponement;
• a credit note;
• a full or partial refund.
No additional compensation or damages may be claimed.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Mountain activities are subject to weather conditions and to decisions made by ski area operators.
Weather conditions including snow, fog, wind, cold temperatures, reduced visibility, precipitation, or any other climatic conditions shall not constitute grounds for cancellation or refund provided that SNOCOOL is able to deliver the service safely.
Instructors reserve the right to adapt the content, location, schedule, or format of any service whenever safety considerations require it.
Interruptions, restrictions, or partial or complete closures of ski lifts that are beyond SNOCOOL’s control and decided by the ski area operator shall not give rise to any refund, compensation, or indemnity from SNOCOOL.
Where reasonably possible, SNOCOOL may adapt the service in order to maintain the activity under conditions compatible with participant safety.
LATE ARRIVALS AND ABSENCES
Participants must arrive at the meeting point and time specified in their booking confirmation.
Any delay on the part of the participant shall reduce the duration of the service accordingly.
The service shall end at the originally scheduled time.
No refund, extension, or compensation shall be granted in the event of late arrival or non-attendance.
INSURANCE / LIABILITY
Insurance is not included in any SNOCOOL service.
Participants are strongly advised to take out suitable travel and winter sports insurance before their stay. If you already have personal insurance coverage, please ensure that it adequately covers the activities you intend to practice.
As an option, most French ski resorts offer “Carré Neige”, a ski insurance policy that can usually be purchased at the same time as your lift pass. Participants should carefully check the level of cover provided and ensure it meets their individual needs.
Whatever insurance policy you choose, it should cover personal injury, lesson cancellation, mountain rescue and medical assistance costs, third-party liability, and repatriation expenses.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS
Photographs and videos may be taken during activities for communication, promotional, and marketing purposes.
Clients may accept or decline such use at the time of booking.
Refusal shall not affect participation in any service.
PERSONAL DATA
Personal data collected by SNOCOOL is used exclusively for:
• booking management;
• customer relations;
• administrative and accounting obligations.
Personal data is neither sold nor transferred to third parties.
In accordance with applicable data protection regulations, each client has the right to access, rectify, delete, and restrict the processing of their personal data.
