The terms and conditions of this document together with your booking form comprise the agreement between Mountain Utopia Limited (hereafter known as Mountain Utopia) and all those supplied by the group leader. The contract is deemed to have been made as soon as the deposit payment is received by Mountain Utopia or its booking partners.

The contract is made on the terms of these booking conditions and governed by Scots Law. Both parties shall submit to the jurisdiction of Scottish Courts at all times.

Booking

1. The group leader (who must be over 18 years of age) must complete the booking form on behalf of all other members of the group and in doing so confirms everyone's acceptance of these booking conditions and for all matters relating to the booking. He/she will be personally liable for all monies outstanding from the remainder of the guests.

2. Your holiday booking is confirmed when the deposit of 25% of holiday cost is received. Until this point Mountain Utopia reserves the right to offer the holiday period to others. An invoice for the balance will then be sent to the group leader. The total amount outstanding on your holiday must be paid within 8 weeks of departure. For bookings made within this period the full cost of the holiday will be payable at the time of booking.

3. The prices quoted for weekly catered holidays include 7 nights accommodation, evening meals with wine on 6 nights, breakfast on 7 mornings and local taxes. Also included is all bed linen, towels and bath robes. Prices do not include flights or travel costs; travel, holiday and medical insurance; lift passes; childcare; equipment hire or lessons.

4. Prices for any (all-in) activity, bespoke and summer holidays will be (tailor made). What is included will be specified at the time of booking.

5. If at any time prior to the start of the holiday, there is a change of group leader, Mountain Utopia must be notified by the original group leader and a booking confirmation forwarded in the name of the new group leader forwarded.

Payment

1. Acceptable payment methods to Mountain Utopia are Bank Transfer, Bankers Draft, and Credit Card (credit card payments may incur a fee for the service) and are taken in pounds sterling. We may accept payment in other currencies including Euros, based on Mountain Utopia receiving the sterling equivalent in full and without charges.

2. We do not store credit card details nor do we share customer details with any third parties.

3. Mountain Utopia will not be responsible for charges imposed on you, by your bank or credit card issuer. This also includes payment discrepancies caused by variations in exchange rates used by your bank/credit card issuer.

4. In the event of a rejected payment the booking leader will be contacted to make immediate payment by other means. Failure to do this will mean automatic cancellation of the booking.

5. If the final balance is not received 8 weeks prior to the day the holiday commences Mountain Utopia reserve the right to cancel the booking and any deposits paid will be forfeited. In the event of late payment of your final balance, charges or loss of revenue incurred on our behalf will be added to your balance.

Cancellation by you

1. You, or any member of your party, may cancel your holiday at any time providing that the group leader makes the cancellation in writing/email. Mountain Utopia takes no responsibility for non-delivery or non-receipt of such written cancellation. Non-receipt of balance of holiday cost by us will not be taken as notice of cancellation.

2. Your deposit will be retained for administration costs. Cancellation charges will be levied as follows:

- 8 weeks before commencement of holiday: 50% of total holiday cost

- 4 weeks before commencement of holiday: 75% of total holiday cost

- less than 14 days weeks before commencement of holiday: 100% of total holiday cost

Alteration or Cancellation by us

1. We reserve the right to make minor amendments to brochure, website and holiday details before and after bookings have been confirmed. In the case of a change being made we will advise you at the earliest possible time.

2. Due to circumstances beyond Mountain Utopia's control it may be necessary to make major alterations to a confirmed booking or to cancel the booking completely. In this instance Mountain Utopia will endeavour to make alternative arrangements for accommodation (of the same or superior quality) if available, or offer a full refund of any monies paid, within seven days of the cancellation being confirmed. We accept no legal liability and no compensation will be paid.

3. If we are forced to cancel or curtail your holiday due to events amounting to Force Majeure or if the client defaults in the payment of the final balance, we cannot make any refunds, accept any liability or pay any compensation. (Force Majeure meaning war, political unrest, weather, strikes, acts of God, epidemics, riots, civil strife, industrial disputes, terrorist activity, natural or technical disasters, and nuclear war).

Your Holiday

1. The chalet is available from 4 pm on the day of arrival. If you are arriving earlier let us know and we will do our best to accommodate the group by storing luggage and providing transport into Morzine, however, this is cannot be guaranteed.

2. On departure day, rooms must be vacated by 10 am. If you would like to ski on your last day, we can store your luggage in the chalet. We will also do our best to offer, but cannot guarantee, a room being available to change in.

3. Mountain Utopia may provide the group with recommendations for airport transfer providers. However, Mountain Utopia does not control these arrangements which are made between the group and the chosen transfer provider subject to their terms and conditions.

4. Ensure when booking departing transfers you allow suitable time to reach you flight adhering to advice by transfer providers. Mountain Utopia accepts no responsibility for late arrival, missed departures or other circumstances beyond our control.

5. Mountain Utopia provides a free transportation service in resort, to and from ski lifts in the morning and afternoon, in our fully insured, winter-equipped minibus. Use of this vehicle is entirely at your own risk and Mountain Utopia takes no responsibility for death or personal injury caused through use of this transportation. Please note that the use of the vehicle is provided free of charge and does not form part of the holiday cost.

6. Mountain Utopia is pleased to assist in sourcing many of the extra services you may need when on holiday, these services are subject to the terms and conditions of the individual companies and our assistance is based on previous experience and recommendations. It is up to the group leader to satisfy themselves that these third party services (including childcare services) meet your requirements. Any problems are to be taken up directly with the party concerned.

7. It is up to the group leader to ensure that each member of the party is responsible for the safety of all their own personal possessions, documents and equipment. No responsibility or liability is or will be accepted in respect of such items.

Your liability

1. The group leader accepts total responsibility for any damage or loss caused by any member of your party, to the chalet and Mountain Utopia property. Full payment for any such damage or loss must be immediately made to us or the third party concerned, and the payment responsibility lies with the group leader, irrespective of who caused the damage. This is to be paid to Mountain Utopia, by the payment method supplied at time of booking, before the group's departure. If you fail to do so, you must indemnify Mountain Utopia against any claims (including legal costs) made against us as a result of your actions.

2. Mountain Utopia reserves the right to take a damage/security deposit from the group on arrival at the chalet if deemed necessary. Failure to agree to this will cancel any contract of accommodation with the group and Mountain Utopia.

3. We expect all clients to have consideration for other people. If in our reasonable opinion any member of your party behave in such a way as to cause or to be likely to cause, distress, danger or annoyance to any third party (including other clients, staff and local residents), excessive noise inside or within the chalet grounds, or a negative impact on the reputation of Mountain Utopia, we reserve the right to terminate the holiday of the person concerned without notice. Our responsibilities towards that person will immediately cease and we will not be responsible for meeting any costs or expenses they may incur as a result. We will not make any refunds or pay any compensation to the individual involved or to members of his/her party or associates wishing to curtail their holiday as a result.

4. For the security of the chalet, its contents and the group, any persons not booked with Mountain Utopia can only visit guests with prior notification and permission of chalet staff. 

5. Any client not properly securing the exits after leaving the chalet will be liable for any property stolen as a result of that negligence.

6. There is strictly no smoking inside the chalet. If there is evidence of smoking inside the chalet, deep cleaning will be charged as appropriate to remove odours etc. Clients smoking outside are requested to use ashtrays.

7. While we will try and make our chalet as child-friendly as possible, it is not child-proof. It is parent's responsibility to ensure that their children are supervised at all times. It is the parent's responsibility to check all cots, child seats and high chairs before use.

Passports/Visas and Insurance

1. It is a condition of booking that all members of the group have adequate medical and travel insurance including cover for all activities partaken.

2. It is highly advisable for all group members to also have up-to-date European Health Passports.

3. Many winter flights are through Geneva Airport, which is in Switzerland and outside the EU. All group members should ensure that they have the necessary passports/visas etc that may be requested by all airlines and border controls.

Our Liability to You

1. Mountain Utopia accepts responsibility for ensuring that all parts of our contract with you are properly performed subject to the following exceptions.

2. Mountain Utopia cannot accept liability where any failure to perform was due to (i) the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or (ii) those of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable or (iii) an event which either ourselves or the supplier of the services in question could not have foreseen or forestalled even with all due care.

3. Mountain Utopia does not accept any liability however arising, or pay compensation for:

a) Any cancellation, loss, delay or costs arising or connected with adverse weather or traffic conditions, avalanche, mud slips, slides and snow conditions and the effect any of these may have on travel arrangements, accommodation and activities.

b) Limitations imposed by resort authorities, ski-lifts, ski school or ski hire operators.

c) Travel arrangements made by the group or on behalf of the group.

d) Any personal injury or death wheresoever or howsoever arising caused to any visitor and/or any member of the group for their duration of stay. This is not intended to exclude any statutory rights the group and/or visitor may have. This agreement and any proceedings there under are to be governed by English Jurisdiction.

4. While we will endeavour to ensure the security of guest's personal possessions, Mountain Utopia cannot accept responsibility for any theft or loss of personal possessions from the chalet or our vehicles.

Ski Orientation and Route Suggestions

1. Mountain Utopia do not offer a ski/snowboard guiding/orientation service, to show you around the marked pistes, lifts and links around the Portes du Soleil area. We do not hold ski guide qualifications and do not have the necessary insurance for guiding. Under no circumstances will our staff offer guiding. We can offer route suggestions, restaurant choices and advice but this taken at your own risk.

2. Skiing and Snowboarding can be a dangerous pursuit both on and off piste, as can cycling, hiking and other outdoor pursuits. Mountain Utopia will endeavour to make your trip as safe as possible, but not all risks, dangers and hazards can be anticipated or avoided.

3. Any suggestions of paths, tracks and pistes are based on previous experiences, and we cannot account for changes in the conditions and dangers. Any persons taking up a suggestion does so at their own risk.

Special requests