Where to ski this winter
Published by
Adam Baldwin
on
Winter is here which means the ski season is also upon us. To help with your getaway we’ve partnered with Ski Club GB to bring you some useful tips on how to get the most out of your time on the slopes and where to find the best deals.
If it's been a while since you last skied, you could be in for a shock with prices at some resorts up to 195% higher than just four years ago.
Comparing the cost of lift passes, tuition and ski hire for a week at 58 European and worldwide ski resorts, we've found an average increase of 41%, or £186, since winter 2015/16 – that was the last ski season before the Brexit referendum started a steep, bumpy decline for the pound.
When to go
One way to make costs savings is to be flexible on where and when you go. If you’re confined to the school holidays consider Easter rather than New Year or the February half term, and if you’re lucky enough not to be constricted, consider any time between January and March when you can take advantage of the best snow.
Discover new slopes
When deciding where to go it is important to be open to new places. You can get some great deals in the established European countries for skiing, but there are several up and coming ski resorts where you can get great value for money.
Based on the cost of a ski pass, a week of tuition and a week of ski hire, the investigation showed the best value destination for winter 2019 was Kekes in Hungary, where the total cost was £244 for one adult. This was followed by Zakopane in Poland, at £246.
5 best value ski resorts 2019
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Price shocks
At the other end of the scale, costs at some resorts have more than doubled since the Brexit referendum. The biggest increase was at Spindleruv Mlyn in the Czech Republic where prices have risen by 195%, equivalent to £261. The second largest rise – and largest increase outside of Europe – was in Whistler, Canada, where skiers face costs 156% higher than in 2015, equivalent to an extra £1,005.
The resort of Bled, Slovenia, has seen the third highest rise with costs over £200 more than in 2015, equivalent to a 115% increase.
10 ski resorts with the highest price increases since the Brexit referendum
(based on costs of lessons, lift pass, ski equipment hire for 1 adult)
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Top value
Despite these price hikes, there are some resorts known to be more expensive in the likes of Sweden, Italy and Norway that are offering considerably better value this ski season compared to 2015.
Salen in Sweden was £123 cheaper per person than in 2015, and Passo Tonale in Italy was £91 cheaper.
10 best value ski resorts compared to 2015
(based on costs of lessons, lift pass, ski equipment hire for 1 adult)
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Money, money, money
Whistler in Canada is the most expensive ski resort based on our research. A week-long ski pass, tuition and ski hire for one will set visitors back a cool £1,647. That’s more than six times the cost of Kekes in Hungary!
5 most expensive ski resorts 2019
(based on costs of lessons, lift pass, ski equipment hire for 1 adult)
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Get the right gear
Another great way to save yourself some cash is to look into whether renting or buying your ski equipment is more cost efficient. You’ll need to consider how often you’ll be skiing in the coming years (generally you’ll have to be planning to ski at least once a year to make purchasing equipment cost efficient) and how long you’ll keep the equipment for.
You can get some great discounts on both rental and your own equipment by investing in ski memberships such as with the Ski Club of Great Britain. They will also be able to offer you advice on the right equipment for you.
Order your FairFX euro card today and get a free £15 thanks to Ski Club GB. Lock in a great rate every time you load and manage your card on the go through our mobile app.
