One-minute summary
- School ski trips and winter stays are paid for weeks or months in advance — and winter is exactly when flu and injuries come along.
- Cancellation fees for courses and package holidays rise as the departure date approaches, often to the full price in the last few days.
- If your child falls ill: see a doctor before departure, cancel with the organiser straight away and ask for confirmation of the cancellation.
- Cancellation insurance for a CZK 7,400 ski trip costs CZK 666 and reimburses the cancellation fee after deducting the 10% excess.
- Take it out as soon as you pay — not when your child has already started coughing.
Why winter is risky for things you’ve paid for
A school ski course, ski school during the spring holidays or a week in a cottage — everything is paid for in advance, often as early as the autumn. And between paying and departure there’s winter: flu, tonsillitis, stomach bugs, plus injuries on skates, on sledges or during training. One day with a fever is all it takes, and your child isn’t going anywhere.
Meanwhile, the organiser pays for the coach, accommodation and instructors in advance for each place, which is why they keep part of the money if you cancel — the cancellation fee.
What cancelling a ski trip costs
It depends on who organises the ski trip — a school, a sports club, a ski school or a tour operator. You’ll find the cancellation terms in the application form, contract or terms and conditions. They’re usually tiered by how many days are left until departure. An example ski trip for CZK 7,400:
| Cancellation | Cancellation fee | You lose | Insurance pays back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60+ days before | 20% | CZK 1,480 | CZK 1,332 |
| 30–59 days | 40% | CZK 2,960 | CZK 2,664 |
| 15–29 days | 50% | CZK 3,700 | CZK 3,330 |
| 7–14 days | 80% | CZK 5,920 | CZK 5,328 |
| less than 7 days | 100% | CZK 7,400 | CZK 6,660 |
What to do if your child falls ill before the ski trip
- See a doctor before departure. A medical report with the date and diagnosis is the key document — even for ordinary flu.
- Let the organiser know straight away and cancel the ski trip in writing (an email is enough). Every day you wait can increase the fee.
- Ask for confirmation of the cancellation stating the cancellation fee — or confirmation that they won’t refund the money.
- Notify the insurer of the claim without undue delay at skody@colonnade.cz, with your policy number — we can help you via the online form.
How to insure a ski trip
You buy cancellation insurance on its own, without travel insurance — even if you pay the school or club for the ski trip. The parent is the policyholder and the child is the insured person. The premium is 9% of the price: for a CZK 7,400 ski trip, that’s CZK 666.
The insurance reimburses the cancellation fee after deducting the 10% excess if your child can’t go because of, for example:
- illness or injury (with no excess if hospitalised, i.e. the full cancellation fee),
- illness, injury or death in the family,
- mandatory quarantine ordered by a public health officer within 2 weeks before departure.
Injuries during ordinary recreational sport aren’t excluded. What is excluded is injuries while taking part in a race or competition, in professional sport and on expeditions — see the what the insurance doesn’t cover page for details.
The mountains for adults: cottages, apartments and package holidays
Popular cottages and apartments in winter often want the whole stay paid in advance with no option to cancel. With a non-refundable CZK 16,800 cottage, you lose everything if you cancel. With CZK 1,512 insurance, CZK 15,120 would come back.
You can insure accommodation as well as a ski package holiday with a tour operator — and illnesses and injuries in your family are covered too.
Pre-winter checklist
- Read the cancellation terms of the ski trip or stay before you pay.
- Right after paying, ask for a cancellation insurance quote — we’ll send it by email.
- Keep the application form, proof of payment and insurance policy in one place.
- If illness strikes: doctor, cancellation with the organiser, confirmation, notifying the insurer of the claim.
Related
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. The wording of the policy terms and your seller’s terms is what counts. The example scenarios are illustrative.