For skiers wanting to hit the slopes without breaking the bank, choosing the right resort is crucial. New research by travel money specialists No1 Currency has revealed a massive gap in prices between some of Europe’s most popular resorts.
Choosing Chamonix in France (£5,924 for a family of four for a week) over Zermatt in Switzerland (£9,720) will save you more than what the average household spends on groceries in a year – £2,953, according to UK government research.
Switzerland and Austria are the most expensive skiing destinations in Europe, while Italy and Bulgaria could be half the price. A family can spend a week of skiing in Bansko in Bulgaria for £4,442, while this would cost nearly double in the Swiss resort of Saas Fee.
Meanwhile, at £10,100, a week’s skiing in Grindelwald costs the same as a new Renault Twingo, and 80% more than a break at Les Deux Alpes – the French resort with the largest skiable glacier in Europe. By comparison, an all-inclusive two-week family holiday to the Maldives will cost you £200 less (£9,912).
Italy has a broad range of resorts and is known for its sunny weather. A week’s skiing for two in Cervinia costs £2,790 – half the price of a similar trip to any of the main Swiss resorts. And if you are looking for a romantic trip at an accessible price, the Italian resorts of La Thuile and Selva Val Gardena are also worth considering.
“Skiing has never been a cheap holiday, but the weak pound has ratcheted up prices even further for Britons wanting to hit the European pistes this winter,” said Simon Phillips, retail director at No1 Currency.
“The combination of good infrastructure and the odd dash of celebrity glamour make the well-established resorts in the big three skiing countries – Austria, Switzerland and France – an attractive but expensive proposition,” he added.
