Skiing and snowboarding can sometimes be thought of as an expensive holiday. However, there are ways to visit top resorts without it costing as much as you think. Here are some inside secrets to finding cheap ski holidays.
1. Keep an eye out for sales
As the ski season approaches, tour companies (like Skiworld) will want you to travel with them and to give you the best possible experience for your ski holiday. To find the best-value ski holidays then keep an eye out for deals, such as Black Friday, January Sales and other promotions throughout the year. To find out first about any Skiworld sales then sign up to the Skiworld Offers Alert.
2. Try a self-drive ski holiday
Self-drive ski holidays include travelling to the ski resort by car, instead of flying. As a result, you can sometimes find incredibly good value deals where you’ll get seven nights’ accommodation and Eurotunnel crossing for not much more than £100 per person!
3. Travel in a group
Generally, prices are lower when you book a group ski holiday. This is because you can book the entire accommodation and often receive better rates as a result. Depending on your group size you may even be able to get group discounts.
4. Consider self-catered ski apartments
Another way to go on a low-cost ski holiday is to stay in a self-catered ski apartment. You can then head to the local supermarket where you can get your food and drink for the week. This can be even more affordable when travelling with a group and splitting this cost.
5. Travel outside of peak dates
Peak dates such as Christmas, New Year, Half Term and Easter will be the most expensive, as this is when the kids are off and naturally flights and holidays become more expensive. To avoid these higher prices, try and travel outside of these dates, such as January, early February or the end of the season which are often more cost-effective.
6. Consider less ‘big-name’ resorts
Some resorts are less expensive than others such as Les Deux Alpes and Alpe D’Huez. However, if you find one of our current deals (see below) or promotions you may still get a great price allowing you to visit typically expensive resorts like Val d’Isère or St Anton on a lower budget.
Les Deux Alpes
7. Check out our latest ski deals
Keeping an eye on our latest deals and promotions will give you the best chance of picking up a great holiday at a reduced price. This could include kids travelling free, or a doubling of our already tasty discounts. Head over to our ski deals page to check these out. Of course, the Skiworld Offers Alert will give you a pre-warning of these deals before they go live to the public.
8. Find free or discounted lift passes
Sometimes it’s possible to find ski holiday packages that give you free or reduced-price lift passes. This can be a great saving as a lift pass is an essential purchase (you can go on the lifts without one!). Often the best lift pass deals are offered with early booking (at least four months in advance), but you can also grab great savings on lift passes with all-inclusive ski deals.
9. Lock in the exchange rate early
The benefit of locking in the current exchange rate for all your ski extras is often overlooked, this is important to be certain of the costs, especially in uncertain times. When you lock in the exchange rate you be assured that the price will not increase even if the exchange rate fluctuates nearer your departure date.
10. Sign up to the Skiworld Offers Alert to get First Dibs
The Skiworld Offers Alert allows you to be one of the first to hear of any new deals we have throughout the year. You may even get to hear about deals before they’re on our website, allowing you to grab the best prices before anyone else.
11. Be flexible on dates
The more flexible you are on dates, the easier it will be for you to grab a good-value holiday as you’ll have more options. Some dates are more popular and expensive than others including Christmas, New Year, Feb Half Term and Easter. Being flexible also makes it easier to book a last-minute ski holiday deal.
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12. Go all-inclusive/Ski-All-In
Going on an all-inclusive ski holiday (also called Ski-All-In) is a great way to get some extra discounts on your holiday. Ski-All-In deals include your lift pass, ski hire (or carriage), as well as accommodation, flights, and transfers. The other important advantage of booking your ski essentials in advance is that prices are then locked in and won’t go up before your holiday, which is good to know with the cost of living increasing so rapidly at the moment.
Meribel
13. Grab some discounted ski gear before the holiday
Its well known that the clothing shops in resort are often pretty pricey. To avoid breaking the bank, head to a shop in the UK before you depart. This is also the case when renting helmets, it is often more cost-effective to purchase your own prior to the holiday.
14. Ask for a price-match
We offer a ski holiday price match promise on our apartments and hotels meaning that if you find the same holiday package on a different site, then we’ll match it or beat it. This is applicable in any of our European, USA and Canadian resorts where we offer holidays to.
15. Look for a room with extra beds
If you’re a group with an odd number, or if you’re travelling with a child, it is best to try and scout out a room with a extra bed, this saves you paying for an empty bed. These are available in chalets, hotels and apartments, so just give us a call and we would be happy to help you find one!
16. Book a Last Minute Ski Deal
Often, the lowest prices can be found by booking late. This tactic might not suite everyone (e.g. large groups) as options can be limited, but if you’re able to make spontaneous decisions you could save more than 50% on holiday costs. The last minute ski holiday deals on catered chalets are especially good value as not only do you get a big discount, but the price includes flights, transfers, accommodation and hosted catering featuring breakfasts, afternoon tea and evening meals with wine!
Other articles you may like:
The Best Ski Chalets for Groups & Families
Bubble or Quits – Ski Chalets with Private Hot Tubs