How are Paul Hyde Journeys different from other ski vacations or tour operators?
It is attention to detail that delivers you a one of a kind experience. We test our views, experiences and perspectives with others. We consult with local operators, professionals, associations and embassies. We search out the opinions of our guides and our past guests who have had pervious experience in the region. And we constantly monitor changes in even our most proven destinations that could impact conditions, experience quality or safety. But in the final analysis we judge each destination using one common gauge: if we ourselves would not be totally comfortable, happy and fulfilled going there then we simply will not take you there.
 Hard work, diligent research, extensive planning and great people are the true secrets behind our Journey's Ski experience. Nothing comes easy; especially a great, once in a lifetime experience. It takes patience, persistence, sound judgment and hours of thoughtful planning and preparation. We explore, we research, we plan, we check, we double check and we practice because we know that practice makes perfect and we know we only have one chance to get it right.
We pride ourselves in offering one-of-a-kind experiences for active people. People, who love experiencing what life has to offer, value freedom and want to embrace the many exhilarating vistas and unique opportunities the world has to offer.
We select and train our hosts, guides and coaches with great care. We choose only those with true and evident passion for our chosen brand of ski experience; with an enthusiasm for meeting new people; with a zest for life and a love of the outdoors and natural beauty. They must possess the right mix of proven a track record, technical knowledge and real time experience.
What does my trip price include?
We are first and foremost about great and memorable skiing experiences that are geared towards helping each individual skier achieve their personal peak performance. This is our hallmark. Our proven on-hill instruction strategies are derived from advanced race and recreational training techniques and are designed to ensure rapid performance improvement at all levels.
Journey features are:
- An experienced Paul Hyde Journeys group host and trip guide
- Professional Paul Hyde Journeys Ski Coaches
(Minimum of two coaches per trip/ maximum 5 skiers per coach)
- Highly experienced local professional expedition guides
(hiking, mountain biking, nordic walking & snowshoeing)
- The best qualified local historical and cultural experts and tour guides
(all entrance fees included)
- Accommodation in the most intimate quality hotels that best represent the region (based on double occupancy)
- Daily Breakfasts
- All dinners and lunches except selected lunches and dinners where you can explore local culinary delights on your own or enjoy the peace and quiet of room service and an early night (local wines will be included with selected evening meals, wine tastings and special events; all other alcoholic beverages are user pay)
- Day pack and water bottle
- All equipment required for non-skiing activities
- Access to selected Demo Skis provided by independent equipment manufacturers
- A fully provisioned private mountaintop marquis for skier's enjoyment and refreshment
- At selected destinations, access to a private lane space for our exclusive use while training
- All lift tickets and mountain rail passes for the duration of the trip
- Ski equipment management, care and storage; on site tuning and repair equipment for do-it-yourselfers
- All tips of a non-personal nature for baggage, portage and hotel service
What level of experience do I need to go on a Paul Hyde Journey vacation?
Our coaches are experienced in working with all skill levels, from beginners to expert. Please review the specific Journey you are considering and contact us regarding your particular skiing ability and needs.
Our proven on-hill instruction strategies are derived from advanced race and recreational training techniques and are designed to ensure rapid performance improvement at all levels. And we offer a broad range of programs that encompass early stage intermediate though to expert skiers and racers. We extend programs that are tailored to meet the needs of skiing couples, adults only, families and serious racers.
We do not mix skiers of obviously different skill levels together and we do recommend that beginner and early stage intermediates consider taking advantage of Private instruction option (see Supplemental Options Available to Guests - under Journeys Section).
Can I make changes to the journeys offered?
If you want more or less time, or want to extend your stay, we will do our best to accommodate your special request. Please contact Paul Hyde Journey's to discuss your requirements and how we can help you achieve them.
What is GST and why do I have to pay it?
 GST is a mandatory sales tax on all Canadian goods and services. The good news is you can claim a GST refund if you are an individual (versus a business) and a non-resident of Canada and the total of your eligible purchases of short-term accommodation and goods, before taxes, is CAN$200 or more. Please call to ask us about obtaining a GST Rebate form or to directly access a GST Rebate form please go to http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/gf/gst176/README.html
Can I cancel my reservation after I pay the deposit or pay for my trip?
Yes. Paul Hyde Journey's must receive your cancellation request in writing. Your deposit is not refundable. Any cancellation more than 90 days prior to Your Arrival Date will be refunded less your deposit.
Paul Hyde | Journeys offers trip cancellation insurance, the cost of which will be added to your payment. Should you elect to not pay for the cancellation insurance, you will be subject to the normal terms of cancellation.
What type of person goes on a Paul Hyde Journey?
People, who love life and value freedom and who want to embrace the many exhilarating vistas and unique opportunities the world has to offer. People who want to see and experience the world from a fresh, new and invigorating perspective. You will ski hard, learn much and improve greatly as you strive to reach new personal highs. And you will relax in style as you luxuriate in the best locally available accommodation and enjoy the best food and wine the region has to offer surrounded by our unique brand of personal service.
Whether you simply want to become a better skier, learn to ski tougher terrain, combine skiing with the opportunity to experience new countries and cultures, ski exotic destinations or sharpen your skills as a master or junior racer, we have programs to suit.
People who are looking for a ski vacation that offers an opportunity to significantly improve their skiing, explore new terrain, enjoy breathtaking vistas and relax in style. Perhaps their dream is to ski the Canadian Rockies, the Andes, the Alps with expert / coaching / instruction, mountain hiking and local cultural exploration. Maybe they want to summer ski on the worlds best glaciers, take advantage of winter ski conditions in the southern hemisphere, enjoy ski and hike adventures at the worlds best high mountain destinations, get a taste of multiple ski resorts and peak performance training during a single trip, explore remote ski areas well off of the beaten path or possibly even have us design a purpose built trip for them and or their group.
How many people will be on the same journey as us?
We develop our programs for up to 20 guests at a time. This enables the optimum coach to skier ratios.
Can I take days off and do what I want?
 Paul Hyde | Journeys is all about choice and freedom. While our programs are structured with activities, we offer choices and the flexibility so that you are satisfied with your exposure and opportunities to get the most out of a region.
While on a journey, if you choose to do your own thing, we only ask that you advise us of your intention and we are prepared to help you organize activities or excursions that fall outside of our planned programs.
What if our flights or trains are delayed and we do not arrive on time?
We provide all of our guests with the respective destination contact information (phone numbers) that are staffed 24 / 7 and we document all of our guests' travel plans, so we will be aware of any flight or travel related delays and will make the necessary arrangements for you to be met, picked up and taken to our destination hotel. In fact, if your luggage is delayed or lost, we will arrange for one of our local associates to follow up and for delivery of your luggage when found - we will endeavor to help make arrangements for you to have the items and equipment you need to fully enjoy your journey.
What legal documentation do I require to get into our destination country?
Passports are essential.
Travel visas are not required for our European and North American journeys.
Each country we visit has unique visa and passport requirements depending on your nationality and country of residence. These requirements my change without warning for reasons beyond our control. While we will always try to provide you with accurate and timely information about these requirements we must ultimately rely on each traveler to confirm that they have the correct travel documents for their particular destination, nationality and country of residence and that of there family. Paul Hyde Journeys can not be held liable for any expenses or costs arising from travelers being denied access or prohibited from entering a country visited on a trip.
We further recommend that travelers retain separate photo-copies of all travel documents in a safe and separate place in the event of loss of principle travel documents.
What kind of trip information will Paul Hyde Journeys supply?
We will be sending you all of the required information prior to your departure. The frequency that you receive the information will depend on the lead-time to departure dates.
In addition, we insist on having copies of your travel and legal documentation: passport, health insurance information, emergency contact information, medical profile, etc. that we keep secure but accessible in the case of emergencies.
Other than skiing what is there to do in the destinations you have chosen?
 We offer a complete range of performance improvement adventures that are extensively researched to ensure the very best and safest snow conditions while immersing you in the finest that the local culture has to offer and revealing the true nature of the region.
All of our Journeys incorporate excursions and activities that will provide you with the best opportunity to experience the region - physically and culturally. Please see our Journeys for more detailed descriptions of the possible activities or contact us to discuss your travel interests.
An example is Hiking, walking, trekking, snowshoeing, and other multi-discipline activities into our journeys.
What if it rains while we are on the ski hills?
Paul Hyde Journeys will do all it can to make your getaway as comfortable and enjoyable as we can. If rain is in the forecast when you are scheduled to ski then we will attempt to rearrange your schedule to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. But we do not guarantee you will not experience rain during your skiing. Your glacier skiing experience will only be cancelled if the glacier is closed.
Other than skiing what is there to do in the destinations you have chosen?
On Hill - please bring the ski equipment that you want to work with. For most of our destinations, we recommend layering clothing as weather patterns in high altitude destinations can change throughout the day. Your layered clothing should be suitable for winter through spring like conditions, and you should include waterproof gear.
 Off Hill - We provide our guests a series of pre trip mailings that will outline the specifics of the region and destination they have chosen for their Journey. In these mailings, we guide our guests on acceptable dress code for the Journey activities planned and identify if any restaurants or other local venues require specific dress codes. Typically, casual clothing and smart casual clothing is widely acceptable for all of our journeys.
Off Hill - we recommend that the proper footwear be brought for the specific activities planned. We will provide guidelines and recommendations for footwear.
Do I have to bring my own ski equipment?
We recommend that you bring you own equipment, for the simple fact that you know it and will be comfortable on it. Minimizing distractions while we are coaching or instructing you is ideal.
We make high performance demo skis available on our Journeys - from various manufacturers and for most destinations, there is a broad selection of Ski shops to rent high performance skis from.
We urge you to discuss your intent and expectations with regard for equipment with us prior to your Journey, and we will endeavour to accommodate your needs or make the appropriate bookings in advance.
How much do we ski during the trip?
Our on hill programs are structured to optimize the learning environment. We typically train for 3 - 4 days and take a day off; finishing with 3 - 4 days corresponding to the first set of days.
For our Summer Journeys, we start early and finish early afternoon as snow conditions soften and are not ideal for the skiing we are doing.
For our Winter Journeys, we ski hard for full days - stopping for lunch on hill or in nearby restaurants.
How do you select your destinations, hotels and restaurants?
Our program investigation, analysis and planning is extensive. We travel the world seeking to combine great natural beauty and vivid cultural experiences with great skiing. And where possible we seek to integrate hiking, walking, snowshoeing, and other multi-discipline activities into our journeys in order to ensure that you have a chance to experience the most that a region has to offer in the available time. And our research never stops. We are constantly seeking to raise the bar in our ongoing search to make the best even better.
We invest in getting to know a region before we commit. We experience the local culture first hand; we evaluate the safety and closely examine the facilities; we select the best available accommodation and we relentlessly examine menus and sample the local cuisine. Without exception we seek only the very best a region has to offer. And if the best is not good enough then we either don't go or we bring in the resources, ingredients and supplies that are necessary to meet our rigorous standards.
What about safety on the mountain?
We invest in getting to know a region before we commit. We experience the local culture first hand; we evaluate the safety and closely examine the facilities; we select the best available accommodation and we relentlessly examine menus and sample the local cuisine. Without exception we seek only the very best a region has to offer. And if the best is not good enough then we either don't go or we bring in the resources, ingredients and supplies that are necessary to meet our rigorous standards.
Where applicable, we will identify and recommend on hill evacuation insurance.
What is altitude sickness and will I experience this on your trips?
Because many of our Journeys will result in you being at elevation of 8000 feet or more, you may experience Altitude sickness
First of all you should talk with your doctor to understand what this is and how to deal with it.
Some of the first signs of high-altitude illness are headache, lightheadedness, weakness, trouble sleeping and an upset stomach.
Please consult your doctor prior to your Journey and discuss your questions about Altitude sickness.
How are emergencies handled while we are on the ski hill or on an excursion?
Paul Hyde | Journeys guides and coaches have local emergency contact information with them at all times and on a daily basis we review and discuss emergency procedures.
We strongly recommend that you sign up for emergency medical insurance, and where applicable, we will identify local emergency evacuation insurance for you to subscribe to.
We compile and maintain emergency contact lists for all of our destinations
What is the recommended level of fitness for one of your Journeys?
To get the most out of the experience - we recommend as a minimum, an average level of fitness. We are interested in providing people who are passionate about skiing, travel and experiencing the world, unique and unforgettable journeys and to enjoy the experiences we offer you should be at an average level of fitness.
Typically our guests are active people involved and interested in the activities that we provide.
What if my spouse or partner is a Non-Skier?
 NO Problem! Our Journeys programs offer non-skier itineraries that expose you to the culture, physical beauty and local colour of a region.
In fact, if as a skier, you choose to take a day off skiing and join the excursions, go for it!
If you have specific interests in a journey for the two of you or a small group, please call to discuss how we could put a Custom program together for you.
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