Skiing … holidays on the cheap
Cheap Skiing Holiday?
- As a beginner you don’t need the big ski areas of the major ski resorts. Instead you can do very well in the small resorts of Andorra and Eastern Europe. They tend to focus on beginners and intermediates. In both places self catering accommodation is your cheapest option and the lift passes are reasonable too.
- In some instances (usually depending on exchange rates) you can save money by construct your own skiing holiday, by booking direct with resorts and arranging your own transport. However, the simplest route is the package deal - covering transport, accommodation and meals. It depends how much time you have to spend making the arrangements.
- Bear in mind that discounts are often available for group bookings. If you are personally responsible for booking a large group, you might even get a free holiday out of it (unless you are magnanimous enough to share out the saving). As with all other holidays, you can pick up some great prices if you book late, provided you are not too fussy.
- If you book a package you should compare a few different offers - but make sure you are comparing like with like. For instance, some ski packages include lessons for beginners, a lift pass and/or ski and boot hire. Check on this, because it makes a considerable difference to the value of the holiday deal.
- Rent your ski equipment until you are ready to buy. You can easily rent skis, poles, boots and even ski-suits. That leaves you with a few key items left to either buy or borrow from a friend like a hat, gloves, socks, sunglasses and goggles.
- Lift passes are an absolute must - you can’t get up onto the mountains otherwise! If they are not included in the package price, expect to pay around £140 for a week’s pass. Boot and ski hire at a resort will usually set you back by around £60. A week’s worth of beginner’s lessons in a group will be £100+.
