Having the right travel and snowsports insurance is essential for your trip — make sure you’re fully covered. You are responsible for purchasing a policy that suits your needs. Be sure to read the policy wording carefully to confirm it includes everything required for your course and travel plans.

If you’re travelling from overseas, you’ll need comprehensive travel insurance that includes winter sports. If you’re based in the European Union, look for a policy that covers trip curtailment, loss or theft of valuables, and medical expenses.

In Italy, liability insurance is mandatory. This is pretty standard with insurance policies but if anyone is unsure whether they have suitable cover then you can add insurance onto your lift pass for €3.50 per day. This link allows you to do it before or after you collect your pass (which will be given to you in resort on Sunday): Assicurazioni online: calcolo polizze assicurative | 24hassistance 

Other laws in Italy that you should be aware of:

• Mandatory Insurance: All skiers and snowboarders must now have liability insurance to access the slopes. This may already be included in your travel or ski pass insurance, but it’s your responsibility to ensure you’re covered.
• Helmet Use: CE-certified Helmets are now mandatory for all, regardless of age, while skiing or snowboarding. Failure to wear a helmet could result in a €200 fine and a 3-day lift pass suspension.
• Alcohol Limits: Like driving laws, skiing under the influence of alcohol is now strictly prohibited. Police may carry out spot checks, and penalties apply for anyone found over the legal limit. Anyone found with a blood alcohol level above 0.5%, may face fines between €250 and €1,000, and risk having their ski pass revoked. Readings above 0.8% are considered a criminal offence. Enforcement is carried out by slope police, who may conduct breathalyser tests.
• Reckless Behaviour: There is a renewed focus on penalizing dangerous skiing or snowboarding, including speeding in crowded areas or ignoring signage.
• Eating & Drinking: Eating and drinking is now prohibited on ski lifts and boarding areas.
• Smoking: Smoking is also now prohibited in all outdoor public places where children may be present.

Once you’ve arranged your insurance, please email a copy of your policy to snowsupport@nonstopsnow.com so we can keep it on file in case of emergency.

Packing for life in the mountains can feel overwhelming — especially when you want to be prepared without overloading your luggage. But don’t worry — we’re here to help. And once you arrive, you’ll quickly figure out what works best to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable, both on the slopes and around town.

There is usually a 50/50 split between those who bring their own skis or snowboard and those who rent. If you would prefer to rent then we’d recommend Sports Center. They are located right by the hotels and have a good range of options. You can pre-order on their website here.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a full gear checklist with practical tips in our Equipment Guide — plus a snapshot of the essentials below.