How do I sign up for a trip?
The best way to sign up for a trip is to go to one of our happy hours on the first. third, and fifth Wednesdays of the month during the season. That way we can meet face-to-face, answer any questions you may have about the trip, give you brochures and piste maps of the area, and enjoy some great food. You’ll also be able to meet other members who share your excitement and enthusiasm for the great outdoors, fests, and travel.
Do I have to be a member of Tannenbaum Ski Club to go on a trip?
No, you don’t have to be a member of Tannenbaum Ski Club to go on our trips. We’ll be glad you’re going with us. However, we charge a guest fee if you are not a member. If you think you might go on two or more of our trips, you’ll save money by becoming a member.
I’m a member of another ski club in the area. Do I have to pay the guest fee?
We have reciprocal agreements with most of the other ski clubs in the area, such as Frankfurt and Patch. If you are a member there, you don’t have to pay the guest fee to go on our trips.
Why aren’t our hotels closer to the lifts?
During ski season, European ski resorts book hotel rooms by the week. The “week” starts on a Saturday and ends on a Friday. TSC does its best to book hotels as close to the lifts as possible, while still maintaining excellent trip value. TSC trips bridge across two booking weeks, so most hotels will not book us; if they were willing to, they would charge exorbitant rates.
Why don’t we get to the lifts earlier?
We normally schedule our trip departures on a date and at a time that allows our members to work a full day. German law requires that bus drivers get eight hours of rest between duty days. So if the bus arrives late at our hotel and we are at a location where we must take the bus to the lifts, we must allow the driver to have the required eight hours of rest prior to leaving for the lifts.
Why doesn’t our bus take us to the lifts on the last day of skiing?
German laws limit the bus driver’s duty day to 14 hours. If he takes us to the slopes in the morning on our day of departure, his duty day might run out before we get home. We will try to find other transportation options so you can get in that last half-day of skiing or boarding.
I can’t make it to the meetings. Can I have someone sign me up for a trip and pay by EFT?
We understand that some of you live further away, or are deployed, or have class, or work nights, but you still want to go on the best ski trips of your life. We can accept payment by electronic funds transfer. Please coordinate payment with the trip captains then email a copy of the transaction receipt to the Trip Captain. This really helps us tremendously in keeping track of who paid what. Better yet, have your friend bring the cash to pay for your trip.
Why am I unable to get a full refund on a last minute cancellation?
Tannenbaum Ski Club is a non-profit, volunteer-run club. We book all of our trips through travel agencies months in advance. The travel agencies, hotels, and bus companies have strict cancellation policies that we must adhere to. The club does not have the funds to absorb the cancellation fees they charge, even when the cancellation is due to a short-notice TDY or deployment. We do our best to assist in finding you a replacement. Additionally, we try to work with the tour company for some type of refund but it’s not guaranteed and it’s typically not determined until after the trip when the final bill is consolidated. Contact your TC for further explanation.
How do I become a board member?
Our ski club—your ski club—is dependent on volunteers. Each year many of our board members depart Germany for their next duty station and replacements are needed. If you are interested in a fun, rewarding, and, yes, sometimes challenging experience, check our website and contact our club president for information regarding open positions.
I took some great photos. How do I get them posted on the website?
We’d love to put your pictures on the TSC website. If you have pictures you want to share, simply burn them onto a CD-ROM, bring them to the next social, and give them to the webmeister or any of the other Tannenbaum board members. You can also email any photos or videos you would like share to the webmeister, Michelle Villalpando @ tbaumskiclub@gmail.com
Where can I purchase ski insurance?
We recommend Walsh Insurance which can be purchased here.