October 29th, 2008 - Posted by: Powder Monkey

Ski Holiday Money Saving Tips

When

1. An obvious one perhaps, but if you can, avoid holiday periods when the price of just about everything goes up. The first and second weeks in January are usually the cheapest and there are often bargains to be had in March. If you are confined to school holidays, Christmas and Easter weeks are generally far cheaper than New Year or Half Term and go high (Val Thorens, Tignes, Les Arcs) for good early/late season snow.

Where

2. If you want to ski in any of the giant ski areas like The 3 Valleys, The Espace Killy or Paradiski stay in an outlaying village rather than in the big name resorts. Outside the celebrated centres of Val d’Isere, Courchevel, Les Arcs etc you’ll find everything comes cheaper (except your lift pass).

For all-round savings, try somewhere completely different like little-known ski resort Saint-Jean-d’Arves. Picturesque Saint-Jean is an integral part of the Les Sybelles ski area which boasts 310km of piste, making it the 4th largest in France!

Getting There

3. Driving is one cheap travel option for groups of 3,4 and 5 people. But it is a long old drive – 9 hours on the French side alone. Flying, on the other hand, can be both cost and time effective. Fierce competition between low-cost airlines keeps prices low. Don’t be deceived by those fictional £9.99 each way prices though, since ‘extras’, such as baggage can bump the price up tenfold. Skiers with their own equipment should be wary of ski carriage charges which can cost as much as £50 (Ryan Air). So you don’t get stung, chose a flight provider that offers free ski carriage such as Snowjet.

If you do opt for air travel you can cut your transfer costs (and travel time) by choosing the best airport for your chosen resort. Flights to Chambéry are the best option for the 3 Valleys, Paradiski and Espace Killy, flights to Geneva for the Northern Alps and flights to Grenoble for the Southern Alps. Compare the distance to resorts from ski airports here.

Once you have your flights, you’ll need to think about how you’ll get from the airport to resort. A cheap way to do it for singles and couples is to take the public bus. There are services from all French ski airports to numerous resorts. Larger groups might want to consider car hire or a private transfer. While car hire might seem like the best option at first glance, remember to factor in the additional cost of snow chains, child seats, insurance, road tolls and in-resort parking.

Save money on UK airport parking by pre-booking online.

Accommodation

4. Go for self-catered. There is a huge choice out there these days. From the most basic cram-them-in cubby hole to luxurious chalet style apartments. P & V have a huge range to suit every budget. It’s also worth checking your chosen resort’s official website for accommodation deals.

If you are self catering, pick up a few basic stocks down the valley before the final push up the mountain as you’ll find elevated prices in your local Casino, Spa or Sherpa.

Equipment and Clothing

5. Pre-book ski hire and you will benefit from online discounts. Try Ski Set who have the largest network of shops in France.

Did you know you can also hire ski clothes? What a great idea for the kids who will have grown another 2 inches in a year!

If you happen to live anywhere near Bicester, Oxfordshire or similar outlet village you might find some of the big names in ski wear are represented. Bicester has a Helly Hansen, a Musto, a Quicksilver and a Tog 24 store, all selling quality branded gear at bargain prices.

Lift Passes

6. Pre-booking online from your chosen resort’s official website means you benefit from preferential rates and save time when you arrive in resort.

Food

7. Eating on the mountain can be super expensive and, more often than not, the price you pay does not reflect the quality of food you get – they have kind of a captive market at 2500m. Instead eat at resort level where the restaurants are competing for your business and they try especially hard to lure you in at lunchtime, offering value for money midday menus that will keep you going until the lifts close.

Alternatively, pack a picnic. If the weather is good, there’s nothing better than finding an improvised rock picnic table a little way from the piste to enjoy your lunch. If the weather is not so great, keep your eyes peeled for restaurants with ‘Une Salle Hors Sac’, where you are officially allowed to picnic, warm and in comfort.

Booze

8. Nights out can be costly – expect to pay central London prices outside of happy hours. Draught beer and house wine are the cheaper beverages and these are best value for money when ordered by the pitcher. Sprits are pricey but you always get a double measure. To save money and to avoid getting inebriated, drink less!

Tags: budget ski holidays, Flights to Geneva, Flights to Grenoble, Saint Jean d'Arve
Posted in News from the Alps, Skiing in France, Skiing on the Cheap, Snowjet | 2 Comments »