The best tour and ski destinations from this year's School Travel Awards, as voted for by teachers
On June 6th, delegates from companies across the school travel sector will descend on London for the 2023 School Travel Awards. Celebrating the hard work and achievements of individuals, businesses, and resorts, these annual awards highlight those that have gone above and beyond to provide enriching educational experiences for schools from across the UK.
Whether it’s a top attraction for students, the best overseas destination, or a tour operator that consistently provides excellent service, the finalists for each award are voted for by teachers, for teachers.
In this blog, we’re going to focus on two categories: the 'Best International Destination or Attraction', and the 'Best Ski Resort'. We’ll explain what makes these the top options, and why you should consider organising a school trip to experience them.
Best International Destination or Attraction
This award is given to the top destination or attraction that teachers feel provides a brilliant overseas option for school trips. We agree, we send many groups to these destinations year after year, here's a bit more information about the finalists.
Berlin, Germany
Playing host to some of the most significant events of the 20th century, Berlin is abundant with excursions and experiences for history students. Providing rich insights into topics such as communism, propaganda and ideology, students will be able to explore a case study city that covers the Second World War, the Cold War, and the reunification of East and West Germany.
Berlin also has a vibrant art scene that is prevalent in every corner of the city, allowing students with a more creative focus to study how artistic expression through the decades has highlighted the thoughts and feelings of its people. Groups also benefit from the fact that the city is easily accessible by coach, and many of its main sights are concentrated in a small, walkable area of the city that can be easily reached by its public transport options.
Explore our school trips to Berlin, Germany >>>
CERN, Switzerland
Sitting at the forefront of discoveries in the world of physics, CERN and the Large Hadron Collider is an unmissable attraction for any STEM student. With guided visits from a former member of CERN, your students will be amazed at how scientists are pushing the boundaries of human understanding and what was believed to be physically possible, all in the hope of uncovering the secrets of the universe.
With such a focus on education, it’s no wonder that the tours and exhibitions here are eye-opening, immersive, and leave an impact on those that visit, particularly those hoping to pursue a career in STEM. For teachers, they were also impressed by its ease of access. Served by public transport and located just outside the city of Geneva close to the airport, a visit to CERN also allows groups the opportunity to visit this beautiful Swiss city and everything that it offers.
Explore our school trips to Switzerland >>>
Disneyland® Paris, France
A firm favourite for many UK schools over the decades, Disneyland® Paris offers students both a fun and educational experience for everyone to enjoy. Whether it’s an end-of-year enrichment trip or one that’s focussed on subjects like STEM or art & design, Disneyland allows students to immerse themselves in new experiences and thrills in a safe environment. It also offers a rich variety of educational exhibitions, events, and special occasions throughout the year to make your visit that bit more special.
From the UK, groups can reach Disneyland® Paris easily via coach, and you’ll have a large variety of accommodation options in the area to suit all budgets and preferences. You also have the option of adding a day or two in the city of Paris for some sightseeing and cultural immersion.
Explore our school trips to Disneyland® Paris >>>
Iceland
As one of the best case study locations for any geographer, Iceland’s unique geology allows students to explore natural landscapes and features rarely found in Europe. With awe-inspiring waterfalls, countless volcanoes, unique glacial landscapes, and active fault zones, groups are amazed at the large variety of experiences on offer here. The city of Reykjavík provides a safe place to stay with its own unique culture, museums, and exhibitions—perfect for those bad weather days! It’s also a great base from which to explore Iceland’s main natural attractions, with most locations accessible via day trips.
From the UK, more flight routes have opened up from airports across the country, allowing schools even more access to this unique destination. Whether you’ll be chasing the Northern Lights, hiking across a glacier, or getting up close to a huge waterfall, this will be a trip that you won’t soon forget!
Explore our school trips to Iceland >>>
PortAventura, Spain
Located just one hour south-west of Barcelona, PortAventura is a theme and leisure park that has been providing thrills for UK students for nearly 30 years. With themed areas across the park covering the Wild West, Mexico, China, Polynesia, and the Mediterranean, students are immersed in a rich variety of shows, designs, parades, and rides.
Also on the site is a large waterpark, perfect for those hot Spanish summers, and the new Ferrari Land, dedicated to the speed and legacy of the world-renowned car manufacturer. Groups visiting PortAventura can easily access the park from Barcelona, allowing them to combine a culturally significant city with a thrilling day out.
Explore our school trips to Barcelona, Spain >>>
Venice, Italy
Celebrated around the world for its art, culture, and history, Venice is a must-see destination for art and design students. With its distinctive Venetian architecture, world-class museums, and decadent palaces, the variety of sites and experiences allow students to develop a deeper understanding of art history.
Teachers find the city safe and walkable, which offers students more freedom to really take in their surroundings, and the variety of tours around the city and its museums make every trip to Venice fun, educational, and unforgettable.
Best Ski Resort
Finding the perfect ski resort for your group isn’t always easy, but for this award teachers from across the UK have highlighted a few of their favourites.
Claviere, Italy
Located on the border between France and Italy, Claviere offers a unique blend of cultures in a resort that is perfect for beginners and intermediates. Though small, the ski pass allows groups access to the 400km Milky Way ski area, with most making use of the bowl-style French resort of Montgenèvre next door.
The resort is incredibly safe, and the towns have plenty of activities off of the slopes to keep the students entertained. Its location also ensures good snow surety throughout the season, and the quiet nature of the resort means that queues are short, making Claviere perfect for groups that want to make the most of their time skiing.
Explore our school ski trips to Claviere, Italy >>>
Passo Tonale, Italy
Purpose-built for ski groups and set atop the Presena Glacier, Passo Tonale is one of Italy’s highest and most snow-sure resorts, providing an excellent snow record throughout the ski season. Its stunning scenery is coupled with an expansive lift network that allows groups to explore the mountain quickly and easily. The pistes offer something for everyone, with snow-sure beginner blues near the resort, long, sweeping blues and reds for the intermediates, and more challenging reds and blacks at the top of the mountain.
The resort town is a fun, lively experience, with a range of activities to enjoy in the evenings. It is also easily accessible by three different airports, giving you plenty of transfer options from across the UK if you decide not to take the coach.
Explore our school ski trips to Passo Tonale, Italy >>>
Prato Nevoso, Italy
With a lift pass that covers Prato Nevoso and the neighbouring Mondolé ski area of Artesina, groups can enjoy an extensive area of the mountains to hone their skills. Renowned for its welcoming atmosphere and friendly ski schools, Prato Nevoso provides students with everything they need to show quick progression throughout their stay, as they advance from the bowl-style beginner slopes to the wide variety of long blues and easy reds. Meanwhile, intermediate and advanced skiers can enjoy the wide, long runs in the main resort or the more challenging pistes on the Artesina side of the Mondolé ski area.
In the evening, you can still enjoy the slopes thanks to the two main floodlit blue runs, or you can explore a wide assortment of evening activities spread out across the villages. With doorstep skiing available, coach and air options, and excellent value for money, Prato Nevoso continues to be a firm favourite with UK ski groups.
Explore our school ski trips to Prato Nevoso, Italy >>>
Zell am See, Austria
Regardless of the ability of your students, the three skiable mountains that surround Zell am See offer everything you need for a great experience. Whether you want beginner areas, snow-sure glacier skiing, off-piste options, or long intermediate runs, you’ll find everything you need and more here. Groups can also benefit from Austria’s notoriously good ski schools and their friendly instructors, all of which helps provide a brilliant learning experience.
The resort offers plenty of fun and relaxing activities off the slopes too, with special events, shows, and excursions set against the village’s magical medieval backdrop. Teachers also like the range of accommodation options here, with many specifically set up for school groups and offering several in-house activities.
Where will you go?
Whether you’re looking for a city that offers something for everyone or a beautiful ski resort where your students will show significant progression, hopefully these teacher recommendations will help you in your decision-making process. Though there can only be one winner in each category, we think that they’re all winners in their own right and well worth exploring on your next school trip. For more recommendations, be sure to get in touch and talk with our experts.
Equity is a finalist for Best School Tour Operator
For the third consecutive year, Equity has been nominated as a finalist for the Best School Tour Operator. We really appreciate being recognised by our teachers for our hard work and ongoing commitment to providing high-quality educational experiences. Thank you to everyone who has already voted for us and who continues to travel with us year after year.
To find out more about our school tours and ski trips, please call us on 01273 648248. You can also fill out our webform, and our experts will get back to you as soon as we can.
