Why SkiBound schools should ski in Austria

"Austria is picturesque and has beautiful scenery, as well as being full of famous landmarks. With tree lined mountains and lakes there are many charming resorts which have atmosphere both on and off the mountain. Austrian ski resorts are truly winter wonderlands themselves, this combined with potential educational experiences, means these memories will be spoken about in the classrooms for weeks after the school ski trip.

The country itself is very clean and safe, ranking high as one of the safest countries to travel and live worldwide. Additionally, accessibility to the resorts and within the resorts are brilliant too. Roads are extremely easy to get around and are regularly cleared of snow. Our school ski groups love to go shopping in the big supermarkets to purchase souvenirs - Haribo sweets are always a favourite! Supermarkets are in abundance, well-stocked and accessible so easy to stop by after a long day on the slopes. Most of our SkiBound selected Austrian resorts are located near big towns and cities.

Another reason why I think Austria is ideal for school ski trips is due to it's unique hospitality. It embodies comfort and cosiness. Many of our SkiBound properties are family run and have been working with UK school groups for years. Hospitality is at the heart of their existence. The workers care about what they do and it is great for the schools to see part of their everyday life through our family run properties."

"The scenery you find in Austria is outstanding. Both on and off the mountain, throughout the journey and in the resort itself, the environment is breathtaking. The country has undergone some modernisation of its buildings, but they never lose their traditional Alpine appeal.

The lift systems and mountain infrastructure are brilliant. Due to regular investments in new ski lifts and improved facilities at gondola stations, efficiency and quality experiences are a top priority for Austrians. I've worked in various ski resorts in Europe and Austria definitely stands out due to it's modern and efficient way of working.

A key priority for all ski trips is snow of course! Austria definitely provides this with the majority of SkiBound selected resorts having super modern snow machines. This ensures snow from the start to the end of season. These extra benefits allow teachers to feel confident when taking their groups away, which is why Austria is my favourite ski destination."

• "Pizza nights are super popular with our schools. These normally involve our groups visiting a local restaurant and experiencing even more Austrian hospitality. It's a change of scenery for the students and changes it up for the teachers too.
• Swimming is a great evening activity after a long day on the slopes. Many of our resorts have pool options nearby and some even have slides too. Another activity to really allow students to relax and enjoy their trip.
• Ice hockey is a fun and very popular event. Seeing a local team is an extraordinary experience which they wouldn't necessarily see at home. Schools pack into the ice hockey arena and the atmosphere is electric. Make sure to enquire well ahead of time as availability can sometimes be limited."

How can Austria accommodate for different skiing abilities and ages?

"Austria offers world-class ski schools for all levels. The ski schools have English speaking instructors, who are trained in working with school groups. Austrian ski instructor training is considered to be one of the best in the world. Those who complete the training will have completed a vast amount of training days to get them all prepared for the season and to look after our school groups, with one goal in mind: progression and fun on the mountain.

At the start of the week, the ski instructors will organise the school group into different abilities. All instructors are more than capable to support any type of skier, whether it's their first time putting on a ski, or have been going for several years. We always ask for students abilities from parents and teachers before the trip, but this is checked again at the start of the week. The instructors are also very aware that abilities can change throughout the week, with some students progressing faster than others, so there is often some reshuffling throughout the trip."