Parents Guide & FAQs

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Vermont Ski Tours (VST) is a dedicated  ski travel provider specializing in safe, well‑organized, school‑based winter trips. We coordinate everything from transportation, lodging, lift tickets, rentals, meals, and on‑site logistics so group leaders and students can focus on enjoying the experience. 

Since 1968, VST has supported thousands of school groups across the northeastern United States, ensuring smooth, reliable, and fun ski adventures. 

Included in the Trip Package

• Lodging — Hotel accommodations for the full weekend.
• Transportation — Round‑trip private charter bus service.
• Lift tickets — Valid for all for all ski days.
• Breakfast each day — Provided by the hotel each morning.
• Driver tip — Gratuity for the charter bus driver.
• All taxes, gratuities, and fees — No hidden charges; all standard fees are covered.

Not Included in the Trip Package

• Lunches — Students purchase lunch at on‑mountain dining locations.
• Dinner during bus travel — The halfway dinner stop on Friday and Sunday is not included.
• Lessons — Ski or snowboard lessons must be purchased separately.
• Equipment rentals — Rentals are available at the resort but not included in the trip price.

Varies by Group

• Saturday dinner — Some groups include Saturday dinner in the trip price; others treat it as an optional, out‑of‑pocket meal. The group leader determines the plan prior to the trip.

If a student is attending the trip and does not need a lift ticket for the destination resort (because they have an IKON Pass, Epic Pass, or another valid pass), VST will deduct $150 from the trip price for that individual.

This adjustment applies only if the student’s pass is valid at the specific resort the group is visiting.

Every trip’s exact schedule is set by the group leader, but most school ski weekends follow a similar structure. Here is a sample itinerary to help parents understand the general flow of the weekend. 

Sample Weekend Itinerary

(Actual itinerary is determined by the group leader.)

Friday – Departure Day

• Group meets at school or departure point
• Private charter bus arrives with VST escort
• Load luggage and ski equipment
• Halfway dinner stop (fast‑casual, not included)
• Arrive at hotel

Saturday – Full Ski Day

• Wake‑up and hotel breakfast
• Load bus for the mountain
• Lift tickets distributed on the bus
• Arrive at the mountain
• Full day of skiing and riding
• Lunch on the mountain
• Mountain closes and bus loads
• Return to hotel
• Dinner options vary by group preference

Sunday – Ski & Return Home

• Wake‑up and hotel breakfast
• Load bus and check out of hotel
• Arrive at mountain for second ski day
• Lunch on the mountain
• Mountain closes and bus loads
• Depart for home
• Halfway dinner stop (fast-casual, not included)
• Return to original departure point

VST arranges professional charter buses through trusted transportation partners. These buses are modern, comfortable, and equipped for long‑distance winter travel.  All buses include a lavatory, wi-fi, outlets and DVD TVs.  The bus will make a dinner stop on both the departure and return trip.  The charter bus and driver are dedicated to your group the entire weekend.

Yes. On both the trip to and from the destination, the bus makes a scheduled 30‑minute dinner stop about halfway through the drive. Students will have access to multiple fast‑food and convenient options, and the may choose whatever they prefer.

Dinner during this stop is not included in the price of the trip.

VST does not assign roommates. All roommate pairings and rooming lists are created by the group leader, based on the school’s policies and student preferences. Once the group leader provides the finalized list, the hotel determines the room assignments according to their room types and availability. 

Lift tickets are typically delivered to the hotel before the group arrives. VST then distributes them on the bus during the ride to the mountain so students are ready to ski as soon as they arrive.

In some cases, lift tickets must be picked up directly at the ski resort. When this happens, VST will collect the tickets at the window and distribute them to students before they leave the bus.

Every lift ticket has a unique barcode or serial number. Students should take a photo of their ticket immediately after receiving it. This photo acts as proof of purchase.

If a student loses their physical ticket, they can show the photo of the barcode or serial number at the resort ticket window, and a replacement ticket will be issued.

If a student loses both the ticket and the photo receipt, the resort cannot replace it. In that situation, the only option is to purchase a full‑price retail lift ticket at the window. Neither VST nor the school can replace the ticket nor obtain a discount once both forms of proof are lost.

To save both money and avoid morning lines, VST strongly recommends renting equipment in advance at a local ski shop before the trip. If your child needs to rent at the resort, VST can help coordinate the process. Please contact your group leader or VST ahead of time. 

Neither VST nor the ski resorts require helmets, but many group leaders do. VST strongly recommends wearing a helmet. Helmets are available for rental at the resort. If your child needs a helmet, please contact VST or your group leader.

If your child needs lessons at the resort, VST can help coordinate the process. However, some lessons may need to be booked directly with the ski resort. Please contact your group leader or VST ahead of time for resort specific details.  

Breakfast is included with the trip and is served each morning at the hotel. 

Lunch is not provided as part of the trip package. Each ski resort offers multiple on‑mountain dining options, including cafeterias, grab‑and‑go counters, and quick‑service restaurants. Students can choose any option that fits their preferences and schedule.

Most resorts are cashless, so students must use an electronic payment method (credit/debit card or mobile pay) to purchase lunch.

Dinner plans are determined by the group leader prior to the trip. Some groups choose a restaurant, hotel dining, meal vouchers, delivery to the hotel, or dinner on your own. Check with your group leader for the specific dinner plan. 

No. Most ski resorts have moved to cashless systems. Any incidental purchases such as lunch, snacks, and ski shop items require a card or mobile payment. Students should not bring cash for on‑mountain purchases. 

Students have several options for storing their belongings while skiing:

Bus Storage:  

Ski bags on the bus — Ski bags and equipment may be left on the bus, but they are not accessible during the ski day. Students can only retrieve items left on the bus during morning drop‑off and afternoon pick‑up.

Ski Lodge Storage:  

Lockers — Most ski lodges offer paid lockers for secure storage of personal items.

Bag check — Many resorts provide staffed bag‑check services for free or a small fee.

Storage racks — Ski and snowboard racks are available outside the lodge for temporary equipment storage.

Equipment Security:  

Lock your skis or snowboard — VST strongly recommends using a ski or snowboard lock whenever equipment is left unattended. Theft is uncommon but does occur at busy resorts.

Bus Rules

• Stay seated — Students must remain seated while the bus is moving.
• No sitting on armrests — Armrests are not designed for seating and can be unsafe.
• Respect bus property — No damaging seats, trays, or equipment.
• Keep the bathroom clean — Students must use the restroom responsibly and leave it tidy.
• No disruptive behavior — Loud or unsafe behavior is not permitted.
• Follow bus company policies — All charter carrier rules apply to every passenger.
• Keep Aisle Clear - The bus aisle must remain clear of bags and people at all times.  

Hotel Rules

• Follow curfew — Curfews are set by the school and must be followed.  Hotel quiet hours begin at 10pm. 
• Stay in assigned rooms — Students must remain in their assigned rooms unless permitted by the group leader.
• No minors in the fitness center — Hotel gyms are off‑limits to students.
• No disruptive behavior in the pool — Students must behave safely and respectfully in pool areas and follow posted rules.
• No noise in hallways — Voices carry; hallways must remain quiet.
• No noise after hours — Hotels strictly enforce quiet hours after 10pm for all guests.
• No hall sports — Running, ball games, or horseplay in hallways are prohibited.
• Respect hotel property — Damage or misuse may result in charges.
• Students may be fined for noise violations — Hotels may issue fines for excessive noise or disturbances.

 Ski Resort Rules

• Follow mountain safety guidelines — Students must obey posted signs and ski patrol instructions.
• Use the safety bar on lifts — It is required by law and must be used every time.
• Follow the Skier Code of Conduct — Students must follow standard skiing safety and etiquette rules.
• Stay in designated areas — Skiing out of bounds is strictly prohibited.
• Respect resort property — Equipment, lodges, and facilities must be treated with care.

Note:  Chaperones and group leaders may add additional rules based on school policies or trip needs. 

Policies about whether students may leave the hotel or resort are determined entirely by the school and the group leader. VST does not chaperone students and does not set behavioral or supervision rules for any group.

All expectations regarding curfews, free time, off‑property privileges, and general conduct are established by the school’s administration and the group leader. Families should refer to the school’s trip guidelines for specific rules.

Regardless of those policies, students are still required to follow all hotel rules, resort rules, and charter bus company rules at all times. These policies apply to every guest and are enforced by the respective organizations.

Full refunds are issued for cancellations made 30 days prior to departure.  

Due to the nature of group travel, no refunds are available within 30 days of the trip. This is because:

• Bus pricing is fixed regardless of passenger count.
• Hotel rooms are shared; if one student cancels, the room cost remains the same.
• Lift tickets are sometimes refundable, but not guaranteed.

However, VST always makes a good‑faith effort to help schools and students facilitate refunds for last minute cancellations whenever possible. For example, if another student takes the spot of the person cancelling, VST can typically issue a refund.

Refunds are issued only after the final accounting and group payment for the trip has been completed.  Refunds are issued in the same manner in which the original payment was made.  

Ski resorts have on‑mountain medical facilities staffed with trained professionals who can evaluate and treat injuries.

VST coordinators cannot provide medical care, but they may assist with logistics and helping connect chaperones, parents, and resort medical staff as needed.

VST makes commercially reasonably efforts to make the trip run as scheduled. Both VST and its charter bus carriers monitor weather conditions closely and may adjust bus departure times, either earlier or later, to ensure safe travel. These adjustments help groups avoid storms, icy roads, or unsafe driving windows.  

Trip cancellation is always at the discretion of the school and the group leader.  

A school may cancel a trip 30 days prior to departure for a full refund.  Conversely, if a school cancels within 30 days of departure, VST works with the group leader to recover as much of the trip cost as commercially possible. Unlike individual travel, group travel requires both significant lead time and non-refundable upfront costs. For example, certain expenses, such as but not limited to, charter bus and hotel room block deposits are non‑refundable, regardless of the weather or attendance. 

Whenever possible, VST will help the school reschedule the trip for the same ski season. This is the preferred option because it avoids financial loss for schools and students. Rescheduling depends on hotel availability and the school’s calendar, but VST makes every effort to accommodate the group.  Alternatively, if a trip cannot be rescheduled during the same season, VST works with the group to obtain credits for the following season.