Experts' top tips for budget skiing breaks including a 20% discount for vegans
Going vegan may be one of the best ways to secure a bargain ski trip.
With the dark autumn nights drawing in and - save for a few more expected days of heatwave later this week - attention turned towards the chillier portion of the year, planning a ski trip is no longer a preposterous idea.
Several snow focused travel experts have shared their advice on how to secure the best-value European ski holiday this year and early next. As demand increases closer to the winter and weather patterns become more unpredictable, finding a resort at an affordable price is becoming more challenging.
Despite these challenges, it's still possible to find a great deal for this season by following expert advice.
There are plenty of ways to keep the cost of a skiing break low (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Go vegan
One way to reduce costs is, surprisingly, by reducing carbon emissions. Generally going green makes getting away on holiday more expensive, due to the high cost of taking the train and bargain plane tickets kept low by the government.
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AliKats, a family-run company based in Morzine, France, offers up to a 20% discount for those who travel by train, follow a plant-based diet, and refrain from using the chalets' hot tubs. Inghams Ski has also made it easier for environmentally conscious travellers by offering a range of train packages to resorts in Austria, France, Switzerland, and Italy.
"Flights makeup the largest slice of the pie when it comes to our holiday carbon footprint and aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe," says Krissy Roe, senior sustainability manager at Inghams Ski.
The company is expanding its services by incorporating the new Eurostar Snow train, which was launched in August. This service operates from Saturday to Sunday, connecting London St Pancras to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (with a single change in Lille), providing access to the ski slopes of Val d'Isere, Tignes and Les Arcs.
Additional advantages include shorter check-in times and no restrictions on luggage weight.
Lizzy Nelson, a ski consultant at Nelson Travel, expressed her excitement about this development: "This is something our ski customers have been crying out for," she said. "Starting at £99, these tickets include two suitcases, one piece of hand luggage, and space for skis or snowboards. In contrast, many pay higher prices for flights and then have to purchase extra luggage space to fit sportswear, snowboards or skis."
Make your trip a merry one
While Christmas is typically the peak season for most resorts and often sells out months in advance, it could surprisingly offer the best deals this year. Richard Sinclair, CEO of SNO, explains: "With some resorts seeing late snow last year, many skiers have moved their school-holidays ski trip to half-term and Easter," he says. "Many families found how much fun T-shirt skiing is in the spring, with long sunny days and an early start to the afternoon apres ski."
However, these Christmas bargains may not last. Sinclair warns: "Prices will rebound as soon as the big snowfalls come," he cautions. "But pick a high resort like Val Thorens or Zermatt, to be certain of great snow conditions."
Go low
If you're willing to take a risk on booking a lower resort, it's possible to secure some excellent deals.
"Since May 2023, we've observed a shift in early bookings, with higher resorts being booked earlier in the year, showing a 154% increase in booking numbers for winter 23/34 (Val Thorens and La Plagne), alongside a 67% decrease in bookings for what are perceived as lower resorts (Les Gets and Megeve) year on year," states Cahal Kane, managing director of SkiYodl, an online platform where individuals can book self-catered ski accommodation.
"As a result, there is a surplus of availability for high-quality properties in lower resorts that are usually taken by now. We can't guarantee the snow, but booking in February or March should provide you with snow security in resorts such as Les Gets and skiers can currently choose from the best properties at fantastic prices."
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Avoid booking too late
However, whatever you do, don't delay your booking. "A lot of the inexpensive or less popular accommodation has been taken, and so waiting for late-deals on the unsold properties doesn't work like it used to," warns Sinclair.
"Bookings overall for next winter are ahead of previous years. There are some new chalets coming onto the market but likely not enough to satisfy increased demand."
Cathy Rankin, the UK and Ireland Sales Director for Groupe Pierre & Vacances, has highlighted an increasing shortage of available accommodation in the French Alps. She explained: "There is an increasing shortage of beds available in the French Alps for holiday rental. This is a result of many 'leaseback' owners have reached the end of their mortgage and no longer rent their property for season long tourism."
She further added that this issue is compounded by a significant delay on new developments due to the pandemic, resulting in fewer available beds. New planning regulations requiring eco-ratings also slow down new development. She advised customers to book now to secure the best choices of resorts/accommodation in a more restricted market place.
Alternatively, skiers could consider exploring Scandinavia. Laura Greenman, Managing Director of Magnetic North Travel, noted that Norway and Sweden experienced record levels of snowfall in April 2023, while Alpine resorts struggled with lack of snow.
Greenman pointed out several factors that make Scandinavia an attractive skiing destination, including cheaper spacious chalets and attractive flight prices. However, what truly sets Scandinavia apart are the winter adventures beyond the pistes, such as husky sledding, snowmobiling, ice-fishing, snow shoeing and Northern Lights activities coupled with days skiing downhill.
"We've even arranged winter kayaking trips in the fjords which can experience a completely different climate to the high altitudes of the ski resorts."
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