Question 1

How do I book a ski lesson on Alpine Pal?

Accepted Answer

Search by country or resort, compare the instructors teaching there, and open the profile of the one you like. You can message them first to check they suit you. When you are ready, pick the date, the time and how long you want, and pay. The instructor has twelve hours by default to accept, and once they do, a chat opens to agree where to meet.

Question 2

Can I talk to the instructor before booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and you should. Every profile has a direct chat that works before any booking exists. Tell them your level, who is coming and what you want out of the lesson. It costs nothing and it is the single best way to avoid a bad match.

Question 3

How far in advance should I book?

Accepted Answer

For Christmas, New Year, the February school holidays and Easter, four to six weeks is sensible — those weeks sell out, and instructors are the first thing to go. Outside the holidays a week or two is usually enough, and midweek in January you can often find someone at short notice.

Question 4

Can I book a lesson for more than one person?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You choose how many students when you book. Bear in mind that the more people in a lesson, the less individual attention each one gets, and that a group works best when everyone is at a similar level.

Question 5

Are there lessons for children?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is one of the most common bookings. Profiles state whether the instructor teaches children and from what age. For young children a private lesson usually beats a group one, simply because the instructor can stop when the child is cold or tired instead of when the class ends.

Question 6

What happens if the instructor does not accept my booking?

Accepted Answer

Nothing, at no cost to you. If they decline or let the twelve-hour window pass, the booking lapses and you are refunded in full, automatically. Your money is held that whole time and never reaches them.

Question 7

How much does a private ski lesson cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends heavily on the country. Switzerland and the United States are the most expensive in the world; Andorra, Argentina and Chile are among the best value; France, Italy and Spain sit in between. Each instructor publishes their own hourly rate, and each country page gives the realistic range for that country.

Question 8

Are there any booking fees?

Accepted Answer

No. The instructor sets the price, we keep a 10% commission on it, and nothing is added at checkout. The figure you see on the profile is the figure you pay.

Question 9

When am I charged?

Accepted Answer

When you request the booking. The money is held from that moment and only reaches the instructor once the lesson has taken place. Payment runs through Stripe and your card details never pass through our servers.

Question 10

Can I cancel and get my money back?

Accepted Answer

A booking that is not accepted, or that the instructor cancels, is refunded in full and automatically. If you cancel, the refund follows the conditions that applied to the booking when you made it. A resort closure, lack of snow or weather that makes the lesson unsafe is treated as beyond anyone's control and refunded. If you simply do not turn up, the lesson counts as delivered.

Question 11

How long does a refund take?

Accepted Answer

It goes back to the card you paid with as soon as it is issued. How long it then takes to appear on your statement is down to your bank, and is usually a few working days.

Question 12

What does the verified badge mean?

Accepted Answer

That we have reviewed the documents the instructor sent us. Identity, qualification and insurance are marked separately, and we only mark what we actually checked. It is a documentary check at a point in time — not a certification, not an accreditation, and not a guarantee of how good the lesson will be.

Question 13

Do ski instructors need an official qualification?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the country, and the difference is not small. In France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland teaching for payment without the official qualification can carry criminal liability. In the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Japan there is no state licence and what counts is the national industry certification. Each country page names the credential required there and links the public register where one exists.

Question 14

What is a riding companion?

Accepted Answer

Someone without a teaching qualification who shares the mountain with you without giving lessons. We only offer it in countries whose law allows it — the platform blocks it at sign-up everywhere else. A companion may not teach technique for payment, present themselves as an instructor, or take charge of minors without their guardians.

Question 15

Can I find an instructor who speaks my language?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Profiles list the languages an instructor can genuinely run a lesson in, not just the ones they speak socially, and you can filter the search by language.

Question 16

How do I join as an instructor?

Accepted Answer

Apply from the become an instructor page. You tell us who you are, where you teach, what you charge and what qualification you hold, and you send the documents. An administrator reviews them before your profile goes live.

Question 17

What does it cost to list?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. No listing fee, no subscription, no charge for messaging someone who never books. We take a 10% commission on lessons you actually give, and that is all.

Question 18

Do I set my own prices and availability?

Accepted Answer

Yes, both. You set your hourly rate and your calendar, and you can change either whenever you like — a change never affects a booking already made. You also choose which resorts you teach at.

Question 19

Do I have to accept every booking?

Accepted Answer

No. Each request gives you twelve hours by default to accept or decline, and you can also propose a different time, which the customer can accept or turn down for a full refund. Declining costs you nothing, though answering quickly does tend to get you booked more.

Frequently asked questions

Booking a lesson

Paying and cancelling

Instructors and qualifications

Teaching on Alpine Pal

Ready to hit the slopes?