Informations and advice

Advice to parents
Choose a ski pass
Carré neige insurance
FAQs

Our recommendations

Advice for parents

For the comfort and safety of both you and your child:

Dress them appropriately for the weather, especially in cold conditions: warm, waterproof clothing, a windproof jacket, mittens, goggles with a retaining strap or a ski mask, tissues and sun cream.
Ski equipment (not included in our packages) should be suitable for your child's height, weight and ability: skis, ski boots and a helmet. Ski poles are only required from 1ère Étoile level onwards.
Wearing a helmet is compulsory.
A small snack in your child's pocket is always a good idea for a quick break.
Please provide a parent or guardian's telephone number in case we need to contact you.
Depending on the lesson booked, your child may require a lift pass.
If your child is enrolled at the Les Marmottons Children's Centre, the health information form must be handed to the team on Saturday from 4:30 pm, during the registration session at the nursery.
Please inform us before the first lesson of any allergies, dietary requirements or medical conditions.

To help lessons run smoothly:

Please arrive 10 minutes before the lesson start time shown on your E-ticket.
Your E-ticket must be presented at the first lesson, including for private lessons.
All participants must be registered before lessons begin.
Lessons must be paid for in advance at esf Valloire.
Equipment is not provided. Please ensure it is suitable for the participant's height, weight and ability.
Lift passes are not included in the lesson price and may be compulsory, depending on the activity booked.

Important information:

Taking part in a ski lesson requires a degree of personal responsibility. Participants are expected to follow their instructor's guidance while remaining responsible for their own safety and that of others.
Off-piste skiing involves inherent risks. While being accompanied by an instructor or mountain guide significantly enhances safety, it cannot eliminate those risks entirely.
esf Valloire reserves the right to cancel or suspend lessons in the event of adverse weather, insufficient snow cover, avalanche safety measures, an insufficient number of participants or behaviour that disrupts the smooth running of the lesson. Where possible, lessons may be replaced by an alternative activity or a credit voucher for the following season. No refunds will be issued.
For information regarding cancellations or interrupted lessons, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions of Sale, available from the esf Valloire offices and on this website.

Ski lifts

Lift Passes

Please note: A lift pass is required for most lessons, although a few exceptions apply depending on the participant's age, ability level and lesson departure point.

esf Valloire does not sell lift passes.

They can be purchased online via the resort's website or from the Lift Pass Office in the resort.

Lessons starting from the resort centre:

Children under 5: a free lift pass is available from the Lift Pass Office on presentation of proof of age. Although free, it is compulsory.
Piou-Piou and Sifflote: no lift pass required.
Ourson: a lift pass may be required during the week, depending on the group's progress. Your instructor will let you know the day before.
Flocon and Complete Beginners: lift pass required from the first day.
From 1ère Étoile onwards, and for all teen and adult lessons (including Classe Accueil): lift pass required from the first day.
Top 8 and Top 10: lift pass required from the first day.

Lessons Departing from Moulin Benjamin and Les Verneys:

Children under 5: a free lift pass is available from the Lift Pass Office on presentation of proof of age. Although free, it is compulsory.
Piou-Piou, Sifflote and Ourson: no lift pass required.
Flocon: lift pass required from the second day.
Complete Beginners: no lift pass required on the first day. Depending on the group's progress, one may be required from the second day onwards. Your instructor will let you know if necessary.
From 1ère Étoile onwards, and for all teen and adult lessons: lift pass required from the first day.
Classe Accueil (Adults): no lift pass required on the first day. Depending on the group's progress, your instructor may ask you to purchase one later in the week.

More information on lift passes and prices...

Ski Lift Website

Carré Neige

Get insured

Please note: esf Valloire does not provide insurance cover for its participants.

Lessons are non-refundable. We therefore recommend that you check whether your personal insurance covers you for skiing or take out Carré Neige insurance when booking your lessons online.

Carré Neige (valid for the duration of your stay) provides comprehensive insurance and assistance in the event of a skiing accident. If you require cover before your arrival as well as during your stay, an extended insurance option will be offered when you confirm your booking.

With Carré Neige, you benefit from comprehensive protection, including:

on-piste rescue,
reimbursement of unused ski lessons and lift passes (subject to the policy conditions),
ambulance transport,
and a wide range of assistance services.

In the event of an accident or if you need to cancel your lessons, ESF Valloire does not issue refunds directly. Any claim must be submitted online via the Carré Neige website.

Whether you're skiing on your own, with family or with friends carré neige gives you peace of mind by protecting you against the often significant costs associated with mountain accidents.

Questions about Carré Neige insurance?

How much does it cost?

At the esf Valloire ski school, the ‘carré neige’ is available as an optional extra for 6-day courses when you book your lessons.
You can also take out this insurance directly at the ski lift ticket office when purchasing your ski pass.

What happens in the event of an accident?

carré neige covers the costs as soon as you call on professionals to rescue or search for you, or who are likely to provide you with first aid.

The Benefits of Carré Neige

Rescue and evacuation
Reimbursement of ski passes and ski lessons
Additional cover: reimbursement of medical, pharmaceutical and hospitalisation costs in addition to those covered by statutory health insurance schemes; legal defence and recourse cover; ski breakage
Repatriation
Changes to cover and contract clarity:
01 / comprehensive cover effective from day 1 (no longer distinguishing between stays of less than three days and those of three days or more for ski passes and lessons,
02 / reimbursement from the first day,
03/ a single excess of €40 per claim; no longer a cover limit (maximum amount per person per claim: €50,000),
04/ additional reimbursement of medical, pharmaceutical and hospitalisation costs
05/ enhanced bad weather cover

Reimbursement for Ski Lessons* (this is not handled by the esf, but directly by the insurer)

In the event of an accident involving the insured person resulting in an inability to ski
In the event of illness
In the event of the insured person’s family returning home early
In the event of the repatriation of the injured person holding a carré neige policy
To one parent (and one only) holding a carré neige policy who is responsible for the care of an injured child holding a carré neige policy.
In the event of ski lifts being closed due to bad weather lasting more than one day and affecting more than 80 per cent of the ski area’s capacity.

*Full terms and conditions available on the carré neige website

What is the procedure to follow in the event of repatriation?

Ifyou are more than 150 km away and your state of health requires it, you can request repatriation by calling Europ Assistance on: 01 41 85 85 96.
For distances of less than 150 km and on the day of the accident: to arrange for cover or a refund, you can contact the carré neige claims centre on 04 79 07 36 11 or 04 79 07 36 12

How can I get a refund for my ski lessons?

Please complete the claim form, available on the carré neige website or at carré neige sales points (esf), within 8 days and then send it, together with the supporting documents, to the following address:

DIOT Montagne Assurances carré neige
PO Box 19 73 704 Bourg Saint Maurice Cedex

Please enclose the following supporting documents:
- The original ski pass (and/or proof of purchase of the ski pass and carré neige policy), as well as all invoices relating to your accident.
- An initial medical certificate from your doctor specifying the nature of the injuries and whether or not you are unable to ski.

How can I track the progress of my repayments?

As soon as we have processed your claim, we will provide you with your claim reference number. This will allow you to track the status of your reimbursements in real time on the website.

Personal insurance

Third-party liability: While you are under the supervision of an esf Valloire instructor, their professional liability insurance provides supplementary cover alongside your own personal insurance for damage you may accidentally cause to a third party.
Your own expenses in the event of an accident: Unless you have taken out appropriate insurance, you will remain responsible for costs such as mountain rescue, medical treatment, damage to or theft of your equipment, and any unused lift passes or ski lessons.

We recommend that you check your personal insurance policy to ensure you have adequate cover, so you can enjoy your holiday with complete peace of mind.

Any question?

Practical Information & Tips

Advice for parents

Lift Passes

Get insured

Questions about Carré Neige insurance?

Personal insurance

FAQ

My lesson starts from Moulin Benjamin or Les Verneys

Online lesson bookings are now open