Pick a cheap destination
When it comes to skiing and snowboarding, going to Europe will always be cheaper than flying to somewhere such as the US or Canada – but costs vary massively on the continent.
Marcus Blunt, the co-founder of the ski holiday company Heidi, suggests somewhere off the beaten track such as Bansko or Borovets, both in Bulgaria, for a cheaper deal.
“In Italy, Livigno boasts lower prices thanks to its tax-free status, while Bardonecchia is another lower-cost option with great-value ski passes, and Sestriere has a longer snow season, so you can pick up a bargain in April,” Blunt says.
“Andorra is also a good bet, particularly El Pas de la Casa and El Tarter, which is Soldeu’s little sister. In France, Tignes is cheaper than its upmarket neighbour, Val d’Isère.”
As a rule, the higher you stay, the more you pay. One tactic is to pick a smaller resort connected to a big ski area. For example, Brides-les-Bains in France’s Three Valleys is connected by cable car to the popular high-altitude resort of Méribel.
Time your trip
New Year and February half-term are the most expensive times to ski or snowboard in Europe. If you have children, the Easter holidays will be cheaper than half-term.
For the child-free, December is cheap-ish, but you will be gambling on having enough snow. Early to mid‑January can be affordable, but it could be very cold. Later in March and April are cheaper, but the snow may not be as good, especially at lower altitudes.
When we looked on the travel firm Sunweb’s website, an all-inclusive week-long stay at Belambra Club Les Cimes du Soleil in Avoriaz, France, was priced at £1,627 for two people in the middle of February, but less than half that amount (£805) during the first week in April.
Book far in advance
You might have missed your chance to get a bargain ski trip for this year – many of the cheap deals sold out ages ago.
Research by Club Med found that 56% of Britons had already booked their ski holiday by September – a 30% increase compared with last year. A forward-thinking 37% of survey respondents had booked up to a year in advance.
Jane Bolton at the ski holiday company Erna Low says: “It always helps to book your winter sports holiday early – plenty of resorts offer early-bird discounts, whether it is accommodation or lift passes. So even if you have no option to book outside the peak ski holiday weeks, this method can save you money.”
Buy a package
Package deals are a cost-effective option, bundling together essentials such as accommodation, lift passes, equipment rentals and meals, and sometimes travel, too. Tour operators can often negotiate special rates with resorts, allowing them to pass on discounts.
Going all-inclusive also means you can lock in your holiday costs at the time of booking, protecting yourself against fluctuating exchange rates. Prices vary widely, but check out the likes of Club Med, Sunweb, Crystal Ski and WeSki to compare what’s on offer.
Another option is to build your own package on the website of a firm such as Heidi. The site offers the flexibility of a DIY holiday with the convenience of a package by offering all the elements of a winter sports holiday in one place.
Some ski operators offer guarantees or promises that kick in if there is not enough snow – but read the terms and conditions carefully. For example, with Club Med, if more than 50% of the ski domain is closed for two or more consecutive days within five days of your departure date, you can move your holiday to another resort (if available), or cancel and get a Club Med voucher to use towards a future booking.
Go self-catering
It is cheaper than a catered chalet or hotel, but the obvious downside is that you will need to buy and cook your own food, or pay to eat out.
Richard Sinclair, the chief executive of the ski holiday company Sno Group, says that for skiing holidays in Europe, accommodation makes up most of the cost, so opting for self-catering can bring your costs down, “but only if you are organised and do actually shop and cook, rather than eat out”.
He adds: “For the biggest savings, buy groceries before you drive up the mountain, as even supermarkets can be dearer in a ski resort.”
Check out the UCPA
The UCPA (Union nationale des centres sportifs de plein air) is an adventure sports and travel organisation originally set up by the French government in the 1960s to provide “sport for all”. It offers budget packages that include accommodation (often multi-share), meals, lift passes and ski and snowboard rental, and ski lessons at its own ski school. Centres are generally no-frills but with a sociable atmosphere.
Holidays start from about £600 a person for a week, all-inclusive but not including travel. Trips for under-25s are discounted to encourage young people into sport.
With Crystal Ski, its “promise” lets you change your holiday fee-free if fewer than 10% of runs are open in the ski area you are travelling to, or if your ski lessons are cancelled.
Hire equipment
Skis, ski boots, poles and helmets are pricey to buy, so hiring is cheaper. Renting equipment will also save you on airline baggage fees.
Intersport is one of the best-known rental services in Europe, with more than 700 stores in the Alps and Pyrenees alone. Costs vary, but as a rough idea, hiring skis, boots and a helmet for a week in Tignes, France, costs from €122 (£102). It’s cheaper to book online beforehand as opposed to just turning up at the shop.
Find cheap ski gear
If you do not already own ski gear, borrowing a jacket and salopettes from friends or family members will obviously be the cheapest option, followed by scouring eBay or Vinted for secondhand deals.
If you want to buy new gear, TOG24 had some great-value outfits when we looked, including kids’ salopettes from £30. Decathlon is worth a look, too, with adult ski jackets from £219.99.
Buy lift passes in advance
Most ski resorts offer discounted lift passes for multiday stays, so it can be more economical to buy one of these in advance rather than paying daily rates.
According to the information website Snowplaza, in Austria’s Ski Amadé region, the online early-bird discount can be as much as £48 on a six-day ski pass. Some ski passes are subject to the dreaded “dynamic pricing”, so leaving it until you arrive at the resort could mean paying over the odds.
Plan getting there
Flying is the quickest way to get from the UK to most European ski resorts. To get the best deal, use Skyscanner or Google Flights to compare fares.
Driving can be more cost-effective for a family or group, but remember to factor in things such as Eurotunnel tickets and tolls, as well as petrol or electric vehicle charging fees. Snow tyres or chains will be compulsory in some mountain areas.
The Eurostar Snow train runs between London St Pancras and the French Alps every Saturday from December to the beginning of March. The return leg is on Sundays. The service goes to Lille Europe, where skiers can get connecting trains to resorts such as Chambéry, Albertville and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Prices begin at £139 each way.
Alternatively, Snow Express offers return coach trips from London or Folkestone to the Alps from £179, including skis and luggage.
Check your travel insurance
Make sure your travel insurance covers the winter sports you intend to participate in, and take note of any exclusions – for example, skiing off piste or under the influence of alcohol.
Your insurance should cover you if you need medical treatment, mountain rescue or repatriation. A good winter sports policy will also provide cover for lost lift passes, closed pistes, avalanches and lost or stolen equipment.
Make sure you check the winter sports cover in any annual insurance policy you hold (as part of your bank account, for example). Some policies have an age limit for winter sports and/or set a limit on the number of days covered for winter sports.
