How to Find Cheap Ski Holidays?

Is there such a thing as a cheap ski holiday? Put it this way, there are lots of ways of ensuring you get a cheaper holiday if you are willing to shop around and consider different ways of doing it! Check out our quick guide.

Whenever you are looking for cheap ski holidays online you'll need to first make the choice between whether you want to be independent or whether you want to do a cheap skiing breaks through one of the package specialists. The real difference between a package ski holiday and an independent one is the element of freedom you will have to pick and choose what suits you (but check out the special package holiday section for more details).

Tips for Finding a Cheap Ski Holiday

To get a good value ski holiday the key is :

Shop around
Be able to go at the last minute
Be flexible with where you want to go

As part of these 3 key elements, you shoudl also be looking to book your own flights far ahead so you get a good deal and then see if you can find the accommodation yourself cheaply through online sites.

There's also ways to keep the peripheral costs low too, keeping costs down on transfers by looking at buses that operate or see if you can share taxi services to resorts. Also, you don’t need to eat out every night in resort, many well priced supermarkets are situated just out of resort so stock up on the way in and self-cater, you will save a fortune.

Which Ski Resorts Cost Less?

We look at some great ski resorts that are great value for money. They achieve this for their good value lift passes and relatively cheap apartment based accommodation. But don’t think that cheap means that the skiing isn’t brilliant, you don’t have to pay over the odds for great powder!

Let’s start with Andorra, often quoted as the best budget country to ski in. Check out the twin ski areas of Pal Arinsal and Ordino-Arcalis. They have now merged to form Vallnord, offering 66 runs. There are a good range of reasonably priced hotels and apartment blocks to suit tighter budgets.

Many think that Austria will work out too expensive but do check out the little known resort of Bregenzwewald. Its snow record is good but it also has really good value accommodation. It doesn’t necessarily offer a huge après ski scene but would be fine for families or couples wanting a quieter ski holiday. The hotels are 3* and 4* and we have found that the accommodation overall is noticeable cheaper than better known Austrian resorts. 200km of piste is available as well as 300km of cross country skiing with a good smattering for all levels, 38% of runs are blue, 36% are red and 14% are black. Nearest airports are Friedrichshafen and Zurich.

Many boarders and skiers often think that Switzerland is too expensive for them. That is probably because they are thinking of places like Zermatt. But check out Nendaz which sits in the Valais region of Switzerland. You can easily access the Four Valleys and even get to Verbier without paying through your nose for it. That’s because Nendaz offers good value apartments to stay in so as long as you can get cheap flights you won’t pay over the odds to ski in an amazing area.

Sauze d’Oulz also has a reputation for being a great budget ski resort. Part of the Milky Way in Italy it used to be favoured for being a bit of a lads resort but that is changing now. Nice wooded slopes make this a really pretty place to ski with red and blue runs that take you across into France. There is also a great range of really good value ski hotels and apartments. In Italy also check out the resort of Val di fassa which links into the Sella Ronda circuit through the Dolomites. The scenery really in breath taking but you won’t pay through your nose for it. Skiing here is mostly reds but if this is your bag then you will be able to book good value hotels and apartments.

Want to go Further Afield?

If however you are tired of skiing in Europe and want to try something further afield but again don’t have a lot to spend do check out Killington in Vermont, USA. You can get cheap flights to Boston and many operators will give you good deals on ski accommodation. It has a good snow levels and you have six wooded peaks to explore. So don’t discount trying to get to the USA. If you also add in the great service offering you get in both the USA and Canada many skiers feel this often represents better value them many European resorts where you get stung for a cup of coffee on the piste.

In Summary

It is definitely possible to ski and board on a budget without compromising on the quality of the experience! Skiing and boarding can be an expensive pastime. The flights and accommodation can be reasonable but when you add in lift passes, equipment hire and of course the après ski it can all add up.

But follow some of our tips and with some good luck thrown in, you’ll be on the slopes for less and it won’t cost you the earth.

By Will Smith