Oak Hall Holidays

Welcome!

Welcome to Winter at Oak Hall!

Detailed Information for Hotel Staubbach, Lauterbrunnen J15

We are delighted that you will be travelling with us this winter and are confident you will have a great time. You will be part of a group of about 70-80 people. If you are coming alone, our friendly team and guests will very quickly help you to feel part of the group. Each evening we meet together for a time of singing and a helpful Bible talk.

Code	Departure from UK	Arrival back in UK
J15	Thu, 20 March 2025	Sat, 29 March 2025

The details of your holiday to Hotel Staubbach, Lauterbrunnen are in this document. It will be an important reference point as your holiday approaches.

All options that you have chosen (eg. equipment hire, ski instruction etc.) need to be booked and paid for in advance. We understand that things change - if you need to add extra items, please try to do this by four weeks before our departure. If for any reason you no longer require equipment, please contact us and we will do our best to help you.

Coach travel

Below are the coach details as they currently stand. Please note that schedule changes can sometimes be necessary beforehand. Also, although in most instances we are able to maintain our schedule, delays inevitably arise from time to time during the journey due to traffic congestion etc. Please bear this in mind when making onward travel arrangements at the end of the holiday.

Click on the symbol next to each meet point to see a map of the location (once the coach times are available).

Outbound

Thu, 20 Mar 2025	Meet at	Otford Manor	19:20
Thu, 20 Mar 2025	Depart from	Otford Manor	19:35
Thu, 20 Mar 2025	Meet at	Sainsbury's, Otford	19:55
Thu, 20 Mar 2025	Depart from	Sainsbury's, Otford	20:15
Thu, 20 Mar 2025	Meet at	Borough Green Train Station	20:25
Thu, 20 Mar 2025	Depart from	Borough Green Train Station	20:40
Thu, 20 Mar 2025	Meet at	Folkestone Services	21:20
Thu, 20 Mar 2025	Depart from	Folkestone Services	21:35
Fri, 21 Mar 2025	Arrive at	Resort	17:00

Inbound

Fri, 28 Mar 2025	Depart from	Resort	18:00
Sat, 29 Mar 2025	Arrive at	Folkestone Services	09:05
Sat, 29 Mar 2025	Arrive at	Borough Green Train Station	10:05
Sat, 29 Mar 2025	Arrive at	Sainsbury's, Otford	10:25

We aim to publish our timings six weeks before the trip start date. As a general rule, most trips leave Otford Sainsbury's in the early evening on our departure day and arrive back at Otford Sainsbury's by about 11.30am on the way home.

From Otford Manor/Sainsbury's, Otford

Our meeting point is the overflow car park at Sainsbury's, Otford (TN14 5EG) i.e. the car park opposite the petrol station.

If you need to park a car, you can use the return ‘Park & Ride’ service from Otford Manor. Although TN15 6XF is our postcode, SatNavs often prefer TN15 6XL.

Parking costs £17.00 per vehicle per trip (payable in advance). Parking is at the owner's risk and it is recommended that all valuables are removed.

Please drop off your passengers and hand luggage at Sainsbury’s (unless this would mean leaving someone under 18 on their own) before driving to Otford Manor with your main luggage. There is also a McDonald’s nearby (please check websites for opening times).

If you are parking and travelling alone, please come straight to Otford Manor and bring your luggage with you.

From Borough Green & Wrotham Train Station

If you are joining us at Borough Green Train Station, on arrival please make your way out of the station to the roundabout in the car park, where you will be picked up by the coach. There is a Co-op and Sainsbury’s Local near to the station.

From Folkestone

As there is no pick-up facility at the Eurotunnel Terminal, our Folkestone meeting point is 'Folkestone Services' at J11 on the M20 motorway. It can be accessed by car in both directions on the motorway (please note that it is not easily reached by foot). If you wish to park your car the charge is currently £10.00 for each 24hr period, payable on arrival via the self-service machine adjacent to the Bureau de Change. To find the coach meet point, locate KFC in the main building at Folkestone Services. Opposite, there is an exit to the coach parking area.

A further travel option is by high-speed train from London St Pancras to either Ashford International or Folkestone Central, before taking a local taxi to meet the coach at Folkestone Services.

The Journey

Cross-channel journeys are via ferry or with the Eurotunnel. You will be able to get off the coach during the crossing.

For overnight travel, we recommend that you wear loose fitting, layered clothing and bring with you a small pillow and thin blanket along with a wash kit in your hand luggage. You may wish to bring food for the journey, but we will make regular stops at motorway service areas and our team will also serve complimentary hot drinks. It is our policy not to carry or permit consumption of alcohol in our vehicles and smoking is not allowed onboard or immediately adjacent.

Luggage

We dress casually and our hotels and chalets are warm, so please keep your luggage light and to a minimum. Make sure your suitcase is robust and weatherproof as we cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage.

Luggage space on our coaches is restricted and the weight limit is 20kg per person. Please ensure your suitcase is no larger than 150 cm (60 inches) total dimensions (length + width + height), or a rucksack up to 75 litres. We cannot guarantee to carry luggage exceeding these limits. The exception is a pair of ski/walking boots if packed separately. Hand-luggage and clothing for the journey (which should also include your passport!) must be neatly packed and only occupy (along with you) the space comprising your seat and its footwell.

One pair of skis or a snowboard can be carried in a separate bag if this has been pre-booked (at a cost of £20) and provided we have space available. The weight of this bag should not exceed 10kg.

Coach Amenities

Onboard amenities include comfortable reclining seats, adjustable footrests, arm rests (aisle seats only), individual reading lights, toilet cubicle with handwash and mirror, solar tinted double-glazing and window curtains and a small number of USB charging points (please bring a cable). Chilled drinking water / orange squash is available on request (we can only carry a limited amount of drinking water but bottles can be filled free of charge at most service stations). Hot drinks are served at intervals by our courier. The heating and air conditioning are of necessity a shared amenity, but the upper and lower decks are separately zoned and can be adjusted by the driver. Occasionally you may travel on, or transfer to a hired coach with amenities that may differ slightly.

Your comfort is important to us, but the aisles, staircases and door entry areas must always be kept clear. It is a legal requirement throughout Europe and the UK that seat belts are worn. Children must be restrained by age-appropriate seats or boosters (which should be brought with you). Please contact us in advance if you are bringing a car seat, booster or any mobility equipment. Also note that our seats are fitted with lap-belts but have no Isofix anchors.

At the destination

Hotel Staubbach

Im Rohr 424F, Lauterbrunnen, 3822 Lauterbrunnen

Tel: +41338555454

www.staubbach.com/Welcome/

Hotel Staubbach is just a few minutes’ walk from Lauterbrunnen station and the mountain railway providing easy access to the slopes at Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg. You will usually need to vacate your room by 9am on the morning of departure.

Hotel facilities: Linen and towels are provided. Wi-Fi is available. There are hairdryers in rooms as well as free tea, coffee and hot chocolate in the dining area. Please note that there is a no alcohol policy onsite at the hotel.

During the trip there is usually the opportunity to go curling one afternoon. We tend to do this on the day we are skiing at Mannlichen as the rink is near the lift station. The cost for this is 15 CHF per person. There is a minimum of 8 people needed for it to happen. Your trip leader will give you more information on the holiday.

Sleeping arrangements

These are organised by the office before departure. Our standard arrangement is for those sharing rooms to share with others of the same gender, with the exception of married couples and families. If you are travelling on your own, as many of our guests do, we will arrange for you to share with someone of the same gender and, where possible, a similar age. If you are travelling with others and would like to share with them, please let us know in advance.

Catering

In the hotel Oak Hall cooks will provide the meals each day. Breakfast and dinner will be served in the dining room. At breakfast, items are available to make packed lunches so you may wish to bring a sandwich box.

Please find below some notes about the meal arrangements.

We can cater for vegetarians and will do our best to accommodate those with food allergies, but we will need some flexibility with options at mealtimes. The kitchen team will talk to you so that they are aware of your needs and can work with you to meet your dietary requirements as best they can.

Breakfast will include cereal and porridge; we are able to provide gluten free cornflakes and soya milk. You are also free to bring your own cereal and/or milk.
Items are provided for packed lunches; we are able to provide gluten free bread/rice cakes. You are also free to bring your own bread/crackers.
In the evening, we can normally accommodate most dietary needs with the main course; as long as you are able to be flexible. For example, where the meal includes a wheat-based carbohydrate you may be served a jacket potato that you could eat with the meat/sauce, cheese and/or vegetables. Sometimes, it may be the vegetarian option that will be adapted to your needs. If the main dessert cannot be adapted to your needs then fresh fruit will be made available for you.

Gluten, dairy and nuts are handled in the kitchen. Team will do their best to keep products separate, but we cannot guarantee the absence of gluten or nuts in our food. Please contact the office if you would like further clarification.

Travel essentials

Passports and visas

You will need to carry a full, valid passport in your hand luggage to be able to leave the United Kingdom. For those who hold a British Citizen passport you will not require a visa for Switzerland.

Following Brexit, there are new regulations for passports when travelling to the Schengen area (i.e. many European countries - you can check the list online). They are complex but we’ve tried to make them as easy to understand as we can! Please follow these instructions:

1) Check the issue date of your passport. It needs to be less than 10 years before the start of your holiday (e.g. if your holiday starts on 15th August 2025, your passport issue date can’t be before 16th August 2015).
2) Check the expiry date of your passport. It needs to be at least 3 months after the end of your holiday (e.g. if your holiday ends on 22nd August 2025, your passport can’t expire before 23rd November 2025).

For British passports, please check that you have signed your passport (unless it was issued before Jan 2017 and has a digital signature) as some countries check this on arrival.

For tourism, a British citizen can stay for 90 days in a rolling 180-day period in the Schengen zone without a visa. Please be aware of any time you are spending in the Schengen zone prior to your Oak Hall holiday.

If you have a passport of a different nationality or status, please check about your visa and passport validity date requirements. We strongly advise you to check your requirements at the time of booking, as there can be delays in issuing visas.

New EU rules

There are new rules for non-EU nationals who are entering the EU, including British Citizens. The first stage is due to start in October 2025 when fingerprints and a photo will be collected at the border. This will replace stamps in your passport.

The second stage is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, so it won't affect your holiday. When it is introduced, British Citizens will need to complete a visa waiver form (known as ETIAS) to travel to the EU. The cost will be €20 and it will last for 3 years.

GHIC Card

The Global Health Insurance Card gives you free or reduced-cost healthcare in state-run facilities while you are abroad. This replaces the EHIC card. Most people who are resident in the UK can apply for a GHIC.

The GHIC does not cover everything that travel insurance covers, so it is important to have both travel insurance and a GHIC (if you are entitled to one). Also, some travel insurance companies require you to have a GHIC. For more details and to apply, click here: www.ghic.org.uk

Travel insurance

We require everyone travelling with us to have travel insurance. Please check the travel insurance section of the website for further information. Please make sure your policy includes full winter sports cover. Please add your insurer, policy number and their emergency assist telephone number to your online booking.

Holiday money

In most cases, you can pay with a debit or credit card. You can also purchase the local currency (Swiss francs) before you depart.

Keep in mind that local buses may not always accept card payments, so it's a good idea to carry cash if you're planning to travel by public bus.

Packing guide

Useful Items

You will need suitable footwear for walking on snow and also non-marking indoor shoes/slippers for the accommodation. Medical items such as tubi-grips, cold remedies etc may be difficult to find at the resort, so you may want to bring some with you.

A quick checklist:

Passport
GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card)
Winter-jacket and ski trousers
Ski gloves, socks and hat
Fleece or warm layer
Sunglasses or goggles
Helmet (or hire from Oak Hall)
Wrist guards (if snowboarding)
Sun cream
Lunch box and water bottle
Bible & notebook for evening study talks
Plug adaptor
Earplugs (if you are a light sleeper in a shared room)
(Optional) Games for the evening (e.g. cards or Dobble)

We have a webpage here for first time skiers. This includes a link to a full packing guide.

Note: Plug adaptor for Swiss plugs – different to European plugs e.g Switzerland Plug Adapter, (Pack of 2): Amazon.co.uk

Lift pass prices

Your lift pass is not included in the basic cost of your holiday.

The cost of the lift pass depends on your age and the number of days it covers. Prices for this season (2024/2025) for a full area lift pass in Swiss francs (CHF) is shown in the table below:

Weekly Pricing Tier: Standard

Main Region

	Child	Youth	Adult	Senior
4 days	135CHF	174CHF	299CHF	269CHF
5 days	161CHF	217CHF	354CHF / £325	319CHF / £293
6 days	183CHF / £168	247CHF / £227	404CHF / £371	364CHF / £334
7 days	204CHF / £187	271CHF / £249	450CHF / £413	405CHF / £372
8 days	220CHF	295CHF	485CHF	436CHF
9 days			520CHF	468CHF
10 days			554CHF	499CHF
11 days			587CHF	528CHF
12 days			617CHF	555CHF
13 days			646CHF	582CHF
14 days		406CHF	670CHF	603CHF
15 days			697CHF	628CHF

Hiking

	Child	Youth	Adult	Senior
4 days	102CHF	163CHF	214CHF
5 days	116CHF	187CHF	246CHF
6 days	130CHF / £119	207CHF / £190	272CHF / £250
7 days	141CHF / £130	226CHF / £208	296CHF / £272

Lift pass prices will be updated one week before departure, in line with the exchange rate on the Post Office website. We ask you to pay for your pass online before your holiday departs so that it can be ready for you on the first morning of your holiday. Please take a photo of your pass (or note the reference number) as soon as it is issued to you as this will be required if a replacement is needed.

On all coach options, the last day will not be a full day on the slopes due to the coach departure time, preceded by an earlier evening meal.

Jungfrau Lift Pass

The full area Jungfrau region ski lift pass includes local ski bus and access to the top of the Schilthorn, James Bond museum and glass walkway.

The hiking pass includes full access to the local ski bus and trains. To reach the Schilthorn, James Bond museum and glass walkway an additional discounted ticket can be purchased.

Equipment hire

We recommend that you use Oak Hall winter sports equipment which will be fitted for you.

The minimum age for Oak Hall ski and snowboard kit hire is 12 years. If you require equipment outside the sizes we offer (including children's sizes) or if our equipment is unsuitable for you, we will arrange to return any hire payment you have made to us and introduce you to a local hire shop where you can arrange to hire the equipment you need.

Ski equipment hire

Our ski equipment consists of very good quality carving skis, boots, ski poles and a boot bag - all available at an economical cost. Our stock of equipment provides ski lengths 130 - 172 cm and adult UK boot sizes 4 - 12. If you are using your own boots, then please note that our kit bindings will accept boots with sole lengths between 26 and 38 cm.

Snowboard equipment hire

We offer excellent adult boards with bindings and soft boots for hire. Our stock of equipment provides snowboard lengths 140-160cm suitable for those weighing between 45kg and 120kg. Boots are available in adult UK sizes 4-11.

Helmets

We strongly recommend that you use a helmet when skiing or snowboarding. In most resorts, helmets are a legal requirement for children. All guests in Oak Hall lessons must be wearing a helmet. We are able to provide adult helmets for hire and they can also be hired at local ski shops or from UK based suppliers.

Let us know!

Please inform us of your equipment requests in advance, including your height, weight, shoe size and snow sports experience so we can ensure suitable equipment is available.

Payments

All hire charges for Oak Hall equipment are payable with your final payment, due two months before the holiday departs. Should you lose or damage the hired ski or snowboard equipment, we ask you to pay the replacement cost at the resort and then make a claim on your travel insurance.

Hire Prices

Helmet	£18
Ski boots only	£29
Skis and poles only	£76
Skis, boots and poles	£87
Snowboard boots only	£29
Snowboard only	£76
Snowboard with boots	£87
Carriage Fee for own skis/snowboard	£20

Ski and board instruction

Our instruction package for J15 consists of 5x2 hour group sessions for a total of £88.

Occasionally small groups (4 or less) may receive shorter but more personalised lessons in order to best match ability. Learning in a group is fun and you will receive plenty of personal tuition and feedback.

We are very passionate about using our own Christian ski and snowboard instructors, but sometimes we are unable to find enough instructors to meet the demand for lessons. When this happens we will get in touch to let you know, cancel your lessons, refund you the full amount that you paid and help you book in with a local ski or snowboard school.

Ski Instruction

We offer ski instruction for all levels of ability from beginners to advanced. Whilst our instructors are willing to instruct children, parents or guardians must be prepared to accompany their children during their lessons if required. Parents are responsible for children at all other times - this may affect their own lesson arrangements.

Snowboard Instruction

We are unable to provide snowboard instruction in Hotel Staubbach, Lauterbrunnen for J15. However, you may be able to arrange your own lessons with a local school. Please contact the office if you need any help.

Final payment: when?

The balance of your holiday payment is due by 20 Jan 2025. Please make a note of this date. We send e-mail reminders but sometimes e-mails don't arrive! You can pay this online by clicking here. To pay in instalments, log on to your booking and add a part payment at any time before the deadline. If you are no longer able to travel, then please let us know.

Contact

Oak Hall

If you need to get in touch with us, please contact the Oak Hall team via:

Email: office@oakhall.co.uk

Telephone: 01732 763131

Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:30

On arrival day, if you need to make contact outside of office hours, an emergency mobile number is provided on the answerphone message from the office.

Here are the links to connect with us on social media:

Oak Hall Expeditions

@oakhallexpeditions

Finally...

Please upload your travel insurance and passport details, plus a head and shoulders photo in the guest area of our website. For details of our full booking conditions and more information, please visit www.oakhall.co.uk/terms. You may find the FAQs section particularly helpful.

As a team, we will be doing all we can to ensure that you have a great time away with us. Our prayer is that it will be a worthwhile time of exploring, hearing helpful Bible talks and meeting new friends.

See you soon!

Hotel Staubbach, Lauterbrunnen - J15