The first time I visited Honduras, I was backpacking through Central America and heard Roatán was a cheap and beautiful place to dive. I planned on a few days. I ended up staying a month, diving every day, twice a day, not wanting to leave.
13.02.2024 - 00:07 / euronews.com / Angela Symons
Ski resorts across Europe have been left snowless this winter as temperatures spike.
Those at lower altitudes have been particularly hard hit, with almost a third of European resorts - from Austria’s Tyrol mountains to France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - currently forced to close.
As the climate heats up, the problem is getting worse. Since the 1960s, there have been five fewer snow days every decade in the French Alps, according to weather service Météo France.
Research published last year in the journal Nature showed that if global warming reaches 2°C above pre-industrial levels, more than half of the 2,234 ski resorts studied in 28 European countries could be at very high risk for snow supply.
In future, ski seasons are likely to shift to mirror the changing climate. But still, there’s no guarantee of snow on your next European ski trip.
So what can you do if you show up to a snowless ski resort?
Unfortunately, most insurers will not cover ski holiday cancellations due to low or no snow.
This is because it falls under a ‘lack of enjoyment’ scenario, explains travel insurance provider World Nomads. It is therefore the equivalent of asking for a refund due to rain during a beach holiday.
Nonetheless, comprehensive winter sports insurance is more important than ever for low-snow holidays, as skiing on icy or sparsely covered slopes increases the risk of accidents.
You can also do other activities in the mountains, such as hiking and biking, both of which will usually be covered under your ski holiday insurance.
If all ski lifts in your resort are closed entirely for a day or more, you may be entitled to a refund. Any bookings for hotels, equipment hire or lessons would need to be cancelled or amended through the provider.
Failing this, you may be entitled to coverage under your travel insurance depending on the terms and conditions.
Most ski trip providers have policies in place for no-snow scenarios, such as changing your dates of travel or gaining a lift pass for a nearby resort at a higher altitude with more snow.
If you have booked a package holiday with Inghams, for example, and less than 10 per cent of your destination’s runs are open due to a lack of snow, they will organise transport to a resort with better conditions covered by your ski pass. You will also be refunded for any lift passes or lessons that you can’t use.
Similarly, Esprit Ski will organise free transport to a resort within two hours of your location for a maximum of three days if the resort you are staying in is fully closed, and will organise replacement passes for the new resort. They will also refund any ski lessons booked through them that can’t go ahead.
Crystal Ski allows you to change your holiday to another of its packages fee-free if less
The first time I visited Honduras, I was backpacking through Central America and heard Roatán was a cheap and beautiful place to dive. I planned on a few days. I ended up staying a month, diving every day, twice a day, not wanting to leave.
Rainbow-like stripes of vibrant tulips as far as the eye can see. White, lavender, deep purple, and even rare yellow and blue lilacs perfuming the air. Acres of fluffy cotton candy-colored peonies as big as salad plates. And 500 varieties of irises in just one charming display garden.
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