by Bulgaria’s ski resorts have long been seen as the top choice for British skiers hoping to hit the trail on a budget. Borovets and Bansko may not have the glitz of Verbier, the après-ski buzz of St Anton, or the picturesque villages of the Trois Vallées, but as a solid, wallet-friendly option, Bulgaria has been unrivaled for over a decade.
That’s all about to change, however, with Bulgaria’s resorts this year being beaten by an unlikely budget contender: Italy’s Bardonecchia. The town of Piedmont, 96km from Turin and a few minutes’ drive from the border with France, is now Europe’s best value ski resort for adults, according to research.
By comparing the prices for an adult ski pass for a week, ski and boot hire, lessons, a range of drinks and lunch on the slopes in 36 European centres, researchers found that at £531.65 Bardonecchia was significantly cheaper than Borovets (£553.98) and third place. Le Corbier in France (£611.32), and much better value than many more famous resorts such as Morzine in France (£760.56) or Ischgl in Austria (£893.44).
Not surprisingly, millionaire’s playground Zermatt, where a week for one adult this winter, before travel, accommodation or evening meals, will cost £1,334.76.
Overall, of the “big four” European destinations of France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria, Italy offers the best value, with three other Italian resorts – Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere and La Thuile in the top 10, according to the annual ski. holiday report from Post Office Travel Money.
Located at the southern entrance of the Fréjus road tunnel, Bardonecchia has been a popular ski resort for over a century and in 2006 hosted several events of the Turin Winter Olympics.
The survey found that prices in Bardonecchia have risen by only 1.4% over the past year, compared to second-ranked Borovets (up 8.2%), while Bansko dropped to sixth place after a rise of 18.1% due to on increased ski school costs.
Prices have fallen in nine of the 31 resorts surveyed last year too, with the biggest falls in Les Arcs in France and Wengen in Switzerland, which are both 5.5% cheaper.
When priced for a family of four, the cheapest option was Jahorina in Bosnia and Herzegovina (£1,656.62), followed by Italian option Passo Tonale in second place; Bardonecchia was third.
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Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: “Ski resort costs are likely to play an important role in destination choice this year as the cost of living in the UK puts pressure on the amount of money available to ski enthusiasts. its annual winter sports holiday.
“That’s why it’s so important for them to do their homework before booking and factor all the costs of a ski holiday into the package price. The good news is that prices are lower in some popular resorts and, where they have gone up, the increases have not been as high as might have been expected, given inflation levels across the Europe.”
Crystal Ski Holidays managing director Chris Logan said: “Destinations that offer great value for market-conscious Brits continue to be in strong demand, with Italy continuing to be a favorite with our customers for the 2023-24 winter season. We have also seen growth in budget-friendly destinations such as Bosnia and Herzegovina since its introduction last season.”
The ski lifts are less stressful and a lot of fun
For many ski enthusiasts, Italy has always been the top choice and Bardonecchia has regularly hit the right notes, attracting loyal fans from northern cities such as Turin. The town was a sleepy medieval retreat, with a castle at the far end of Glen Susan until the Fréjus railway tunnel was pierced through the Alps in 1871, making Bardonecchia a strategic point. Skiing got its big start in 1934 when two Norwegian brothers started events, and then the 2006 Winter Olympics attracted new attention.
The infrastructure is good, bus services are on time and the food is excellent. Chris Logan, managing director of travel operator Crystal Ski Holidays, is a fan. “Bardonecchia has over 100km [62 miles] of running, enough to keep everyone happy. I love the atmosphere and culture of the Italian resorts, as well as they tend to be high altitude so reliable snow.”
Everyone exudes flair and style: the instructor who skis backwards down the slopes in front of you, the bright colors and the general sunny disposition of the local residents. Perhaps the real key, however, is its excellent organization. In terms of ski resorts, the connection between services is excellent: the three Bardonecchia ski areas, for example, are connected by a free bus service.
On those long days out, there is excellence refugees – mountain chalets that serve good food and drink – and the grappa is excellent. The lift queues even get the Italian treatment, as they are less stressful and more fun than elsewhere.
Kevin Rushby
