Topflight's 2003 school ski package to Italy starts at €639 in January and €725 in the spring mid-term break (peak season). Its Austria deal starts at €685 in January, rising to a starting price of €735 during the mid-term break, writes Olivia Kelly

Inclusive in the price are all flights and transfers, taxes and insurance, seven nights' accommodation, with breakfast and evening meals, and the services of the resort rep. It also covers six two-hour lessons, a ski-lift pass and boot and ski hire. Some evening activities like discos and swimming will also be included.

Budget School and Group Tours are offering their school ski package to Konigssee, Bavaria, at €665, and Folgaria and Lavarone, Italy, at €760, in 2003. These packages are also all inclusive. Both companies allow one teacher to go free for every 10 paying students.

Typically, school ski trips cost under €800 for the week, including any extra evening activities like ice skating and bowling. However, they can cost as much as €1,000 for American resorts. These are all inclusive, however, so their is very little outlay once you get there.

Additional activities usually cost less than €20 per child for the week. Students must buy their own lunches and soft drinks in the evenings. Self- service cafeterias are available on most slopes and are reasonably priced. Most schools recommend children bring no more than €50 to €80 spending money.

The more traditional sight-seeing school tours do cost less, generally around €100 to €200 less. Also, while it's generally not possible to take a ski trip for less than a week, European capital tours are often booked for just four or five days, further reducing the costs.

Budget School and Group Travel offer a five-day Barcelona tour starting from €539 and a five-day Prague trip from €486 to €515. Both prices include all flights and transfers, taxes and insurance, hotel accommodation, breakfast, and evening meals tour guides and coach hire. Some entrance fees may be required.

A typical six-day (five-night) Paris tour from Student and Group Travel costs €405. The package is similar to that offered by Budget School and Group Travel and includes entrance fees to Disneyland Paris and a trip on the Seine by Bateau Mouche.

Ski Wear Costs:

Boots and skis are part of the package.

Ski jackets and trousers (salopettes) are available for hire from outdoor specialist shops at around €60 per week; a deposit is generally required.

To Buy:

Ski sunglasses €10

Ski goggles €20

Socks €6

Ski gloves €10-€15

A warm hat, thermal underwear and warm clothes and boots are advisable. Sun screen may also be necessary.