Luxury Skiing Holidays on a Budget

Don't let your skiing holiday eat your savings

Ski holidays can be very expensive, forcing many families to put their whole annual holiday budget in one basket, but with a little forward travel planning, you can enjoy a wonderfully comfortable, exhilarating and relaxing ski holiday, and still have enough left over for a summer holiday too. By organising the whole thing independently, you will get a perfectly tailored ski holiday, and you may be amazed at how much you can get for how little.

The key to cheap ski holidays is finding the right destination and right time of year. On the whole, ski holidays are cheapest at the beginning of the season, although there are often some excellent ski deals at the end of the season too. The most expensive times to take a ski holiday are at Christmas, New Year and during school half terms so it is best to avoid taking a ski break during these times. As for cheap ski destinations, Eastern European countries including Bulgaria and Slovenia provide sensational value for money, and closer to home, Andorra is a magnificent place to take a cheap ski break. If you are new to the sport, there are many smaller resorts with excellent learner slopes, where ski passes will not damage your wallet too much.

Great Cheap Ski Holidays

Top Five Cheap Ski Holiday Destinations

Cheap Skiing Holidays in Andorra

The cost of living in the tiny Pyrenean country of Andorra, nestled in the border of France and Spain, makes it a perfect place to go for a cheap ski holiday, especially if you enjoy staggeringly cheap nights out on the town.

Cheap Skiing Holidays in Bulgaria

The quiet Bulgarian ski resorts of Bankso, Borovets and Pamporovo offer some fantastically cheap ski passes, and there are a great range of modern, spacious, and comfortable cheap ski chalets to rent too.

Cheap Ski Holidays in Slovenia

The central position, unspoilt nature and uncrowded slopes of Slovenia mean that bargain hunters love Slovenia for cheap ski breaks, with abundant nature all around. The modern facilities and wide pistes make it a perfect location for learners.

Cheap Ski holidays in Scotland

By cutting much of the travel costs, Scotland is one of the best places for cheap ski holidays from the UK. Perfect for a last minute cheap ski break, the Nevis, Cairngorm and Glenshee ranges offer a great array of pistes.

Cheap Ski Holidays in Switzerland

Although not the first place you think of when talking about cheap ski holidays, Switzerland actually offers some remarkable value for money in its smaller resorts, and you might be surprised to find exactly how far you budget will go.

As with many money saving travel tips, the answer to a great cheap ski holiday is forward planning. The best way to find a cheap flight is to book early, although, to really save money, the European rail network is an exceptional asset to have at your disposal. If you are taking your own ski gear (and avoiding costly equipment hire), driving is a fantastic option as well. Driving is even better when you fill the car with people, and sharing the petrol costs as well as the cost of taking a ferry or the Eurotunnel with other ski travellers.

Once you have your travel organised, turn your attention to find accommodation in cheap ski chalets. There are some wonderful chalets listed on HomeAway Holiday-Rentals, and for further value, you can also find some astonishing special offers on many of the ski chalets, especially at the start or finish of the traditional ski season. Another great tip for finding cheap ski chalets is to look for accommodation just outside the main ski resort, as rental prices reduce as you get further from the centre.

Once on your cheap ski holiday, there are many more money saving tips which will actually enhance your enjoyment. Taking a self catering ski chalet means you do not have to dine out each day, and your choice of ski pass is essential. Skiing half days or taking a 5 day pass as opposed to a full 7 day pass means that you can also enjoy many of the other activities and attractions available without feeling that you must head up onto the slopes in order to get your money's worth.

No matter how good you are at keeping costs down, a cheap ski holiday can become exceedingly expensive should something go wrong and you are not in possession of winter sports insurance. Ski insurance can cost as little as £15, and considering that having a broken wrist attended to can cost up to €3,000, not including evacuation off the slopes, it is a good idea to be covered.