by Whether you’re planning your first trip to the slopes or you’re just having fun, traveling with the family or on your own, finding ways to save money on your ski vacation has never been more important. Prices are rising across the board, from accommodation to hiked passes, and the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze tourists’ budgets.
There’s no denying that ski trips inevitably come with extra costs. It’s easy to blow the budget on extras like lift passes and equipment hire and the price of lunch on the mountain at popular resorts often adds up.
If you’re planning for the season ahead, here are our top hacks to help save money on your trip, including which accommodation to choose, other resorts to consider, how to cut the cost of extras when you will choose and what you should pack.
Before you go
1. Book an all-inclusive stay so that everything is already paid for before you travel. At one end of the scale is Action Outdoors, and at the other is Club Med – the best thing about both is that lift passes, instruction and three meals a day are included.
2. If you prefer your own space, the amount you have to spend once you’re on holiday is staying in a chalet or hotel. Chalet board means you get a cooked breakfast, afternoon tea (usually cake and maybe soup) and a three-course dinner every day except one – the chalet hosts’ day off. Wine is often included at mealtimes, meaning you can save money on bar hopping if you want. “Consider traveling with family or other friends, that way you can book a larger ski chalet and keep the price per person down,” says Tim Andrews, founder of chalet rental specialist, OVO Network . But be warned, if you want to stay in a chalet this season be aware that the number available to British skiers has dropped significantly since Brexit and the pandemic.
3. Think flexibly – the Heidi app – which launched last winter and recently announced trips to 20 more resorts – uses technology to connect people to lesser-known resorts and add different vacations reserved, avoiding expensive travel from Saturday to Saturday. This winter the app includes North America and Eastern Europe.
4. If you are traveling at the beginning or end of the season, consider booking your accommodation directly with the tourist office. Some resorts have great packages to attract visitors in the quieter months.
5. Buying currency at the airport is not the same; you will end up with the worst exchange rate. Also avoid using a credit card abroad, as you often get overcharged. Preloading a card with your chosen currency can save you money on bank fees and ensure a more favorable exchange rate. The Revolut card, for example, allows travelers to spend in stores or online without charge. Whether getting money from a cash machine or using the card to pay, it automatically converts money into the local currency at the best available rate. Here are the biggest mistakes to avoid with your travel money.
6. One of the best ways to save money is to skip the Alpine resorts and go somewhere less known, in terms of holiday cost and holiday prices. Eastern Europe has seen huge growth as a ski destination in recent years, particularly Bulgarian resorts such as Bansko, due to the very competitive cost of packages there. However, if you are an adventurous intermediate or expert skier or snowboarder you may find the terrain limited and frustrating. Opting for the Pyrenees instead, with resorts such as Baqueira-Beret in Spain, the Grandvalira area in Andorra and the Grand Tourmalet area in France, gives access to varied and challenging slopes at a fraction of the cost of a trip to the Alps. Find the best ski holidays for this budget here.
7. It can be difficult for families to save money on skiing as they are restricted by school holiday dates. Opting for the Easter holiday over the February half term holiday can work out cheaper – and by considering smaller resorts, you can save twice as much.
For the trip
8. Eurostar can be booked up to 330 days, or around 11 months, and connecting TGV services 90 days in advance, so plan to bag the best prices. This winter the ski train to France can be booked directly with Eurostar (with a change at Lille).
9. Morzine-based chalet company Alikats is one of a growing number of operators offering discounts of up to 20 per cent to guests traveling by train. The Montagne Verte card offers visitors to Morzine and Avoriaz discounts on things like equipment hire, lessons and lift passes if they have proof of a valid train ticket.
10. Driving to the Alps can be worthwhile – it has the advantage of allowing you to fill your car full of food (and drink), as well as being kinder to the environment. Avoid filling up the car on the motorway – visit plein-moins-cher.fr to find the cheapest local fuel prices. Use our guide to driving to the Alps for more advice.
11. Are you worried about the cost of fuel? Consider driving an electric vehicle, thanks to a growing network of charging stations in resorts.
12. Try Geneva or Chambery and consider flying to less frequent hubs. Ryanair operates routes to Turin, with access to Italian resorts such as Campoluc and Courmayeur, and to Klagenfurt, in the heart of Austria’s little-known province of Carinthia.
On the slopes
13. Once you know where you’re going, check the resort’s website for any lift pass deals – including group discounts, early booking offers and family rates. Traveling with children? Check the age limit for free passes – in Le Grand Massif (Flaine, Les Carroz and Samöens) there are up to eight, and up to nine in Zermatt.
14. Consider what else is included with your pass – pool access, local discounts and more will fill your week with free activities.
15. Skiing in Italy? Visit Alto.ski, to get a pass that only charges you for the days you ski. Tignes and Val d’Isère offer similar benefits with their A La Carte pass.
In vacation
16. Go self-serving, but think about it first. Will you really want to cook every night, and will you be able to buy what you need at a good price as a resort? To save extra cost, use a meal delivery service, such as Huski, or if you’re driving, pack ready meals (home-cooked or otherwise).
17. Chalet companies, such as Chalets1066 and Ski France, offer the classic accommodation option but on your own terms – pick and choose the level of catering you want to budget for.
18. One of the most expensive things to do when you’re on holiday is buying lunch up the mountain – especially if you’re staying in an expensive Alpine resort. Instead of shelling out €20 for a burger and chips every day, buy sandwich and snack ingredients at the local supermarket and make them yourself. Don’t just go to any old picnic spot for lunch, go for one like Serre Chevalier’s three plans – outdoor grills without the need for charcoal, with resort staff available to clean them between uses.
In your suitcase
19. Rent as much as you can. Use EcoSki or WhoSki for clothing, and book your equipment hire in advance with the likes of Intersport or SkiSet – you’ll save around 50 per cent on resort prices.
20. Give new life to your old ski or snowboard boots with inner soles. Superfeet’s Winter Comforts cost £50 a pair.
