The 390,000 British skiers hitting the French Alps every year are being charged £788 million more for skiing holidays than those going to the rest of Europe.
French Prices Snowball
The exclusive study of 30 ski resorts in 10 European countries by www.PriceRunner.co.uk, the price comparison website, reveals France as the most expensive ski destination. Skiers could save over £2,500 by avoiding Courchevel and heading for Bankso in Bulgaria, the “best developed ski resort in Eastern Europe” according to the 2007 Great Skiing & Snowboarding Guide.
The PriceRunner.co.uk ski-comparison report reveals:
- The average price of a skiing holiday in Europe for a family of four is £1,982
- A typical family ski holiday in France costs over £3,800 compared with just £1,073 in Bulgaria, the cheapest country in the study
- Switzerland – the Royal Family’s location of choice – is surprisingly cheap compared to France at £2,185 while Germany is the fourth cheapest country overall at £1,612
- The cheapest resort for kids is Zelena Rhuda in Czech Republic and the most expensive is Val D’Isere
- The most expensive resort for an adult ski pass is Val D’Isere at £132 and the cheapest is Zelena Rhuda at £50
- Snowboarders should head for Slovenia, the cheapest destination for snowboard rental at £43. The most expensive is Kitzbuhel, Austria at £110
Let it Snow
After a slow start to the season, Europe’s ski resorts have seen snow fall over the past few weeks and more in forecast. Some of the best conditions can be found in the resorts of Verbier and Zermatt in Switzerland, halfway down the price table. Temperatures in pricey France have been very mild, resulting in slushy slopes while in super-cheap Bulgaria more snow and low temperatures are forecast, which should lead to perfect conditions.
Ski with the Stars
Trendy Courchevel is the favourite ski resort of the stars with Posh & Becks, Ewan McGregor and Lionel Ritchie all going there to ski, pose and drink the £3.30 vin chaud. Heather Mills, recently spotted on the slopes of super-cheap Slovenia, could have quaffed nearly five glasses there for the same price.
Betony Garner, spokesperson of the Ski Club of Great Britain, comments:
“Whereas skiing has traditionally been seen as an expensive, middle-class pursuit it is becoming more accessible to people with a tighter budget due to cheaper flights, increased competition and the development of new, more affordable resorts.”
Party on the Piste
For après ski, Norway is by far Europe’s most expensive country. A beer costs over £4 and a basic lunch costs over £12. Countries to hit for a party on the piste include Italy, where a beer costs under £1 and Germany at £1.35, a third of the price of Norway. The cheapest country for lunch is Slovenia at just £4.27.
Mattias Berg, UK Country Manager from PriceRunner.co.uk explains why it is important to explore your options before choosing your skiing holiday:
“The prices of ski holidays differ greatly, but it is wrong to assume that the most expensive resorts are always the best. If you are flexible in terms of resorts and countries, you can have a truly great skiing holiday on the cheap.
Make sure the resort offers the range and level of skiing you are interested in, and especially at the moment, check the likelihood of snow. Putting in the time to research resorts before booking is well worth your while, to have some really good skiing conditions and great holiday after the slopes have closed.”
| Country | Price |
|---|---|
| France | £3,803 |
| Italy | £2,436 |
| Austria | £2,223 |
| Norway | £2,198 |
| Switzerland |
£2,185 |
| Sweden | £1,676 |
| Germany | £1,612 |
| Slovenia | £1,402 |
| Czech Republic |
£1,272 |
| Bulgaria | £1,073 |
Prices for food and drink for a family of four including lunch and drinks on
the mountain, beer and vin chaud for a week:
| Country | Price |
|---|---|
| Norway | £857 |
| France | £820 |
| Switzerland | £801 |
| Italy | £696 |
| Austria | £657 |
| Germany | £642 |
| Sweden | £579 |
| Bulgaria | £494 |
| Czech Republic | £358 |
| Slovenia | £289 |
Prices for ski hire and ski passes for a family of four for a week:
| Country | Price |
|---|---|
| France | £719 |
| Austria | £629 |
| Norway | £588 |
| Sweden | £563 |
| Italy | £553 |
| Germany | £513 |
| Slovenia | £477 |
| Bulgaria | £446 |
| Switzerland | £440 |
| Czech Republic | £369 |
For further information please contact Pete Murphy, Nicola Parker.
