Cheap skiing holidays?

Question

I've been trying to find a cheap skiing holiday for about a year now. It's so annoying when you see a deal saying '£299pp!!' but when you go to book it ends up more than double that with the needed extras like lift passes and ski hire etc. Anyone got any suggestions on a cheap skiing holiday flying from anywhere in UK going to ANYWHERE! Thanks!

Answer 1

Try any of the resorts in North America on the western side of the continent. We got an outrageous amount of snow this year and the crowds are gone except for a couple of the top resorts. Whistler/Blackcomb in BC Canada, Banff/ Lake Louise Ab, Canada.  Tahoe in Ca, USA, any other USA resorts in the western US should be great for another month. Try their web sites and enjoy.

Answer 2

The way things are going you should still be able to get 2 Pounds on a US Dollar next year. If you are in a position to go NOW, you're gonna have to head to the Rockies. Vermont is getting a bit mushy..but I'll be there next week anyway.

Killington, VT (for example) had $112 per person/per night for lift tickets and hotel rooms. That's 56 Pounds (roughly) given the exchange rate. That was the mid-season rate. Granted you have to fork over the cash for airfare to the states which is probably more costly than flying to France, Italy, or Switzerland.

That doesn't include food or ski rentals, but you're still getting away dirt cheap because of the exchange rate.

I work at a Resort Spa in Pennsylvania. We've had a steady stream of UK residents all winter. We charge $350 per night (all inclusive) and it was like the British Invasion some weeks. Likewise, when I went to New York City for Christmas shopping I think every fifth person I bumped into was from England. If you have Pounds to blow...go to the US.

Answer 3

Ski passes and equipment hire are never quoted in any holiday price and yo are correct with passes in the Alps costing 300 euros plus in some resorts this is a massive cost.

I have found the cheapest way is to buy your own equipment as soon as you can. It may cost initially but with ski and pole hire being £50 a week it will quickly pay itself off. Once yo have your own equipment go for non packaged options but take friends with you to share the cost. You can actually get a week apartment that sleeps 4 people for about £800 so that's only £200 each. If you go in one car and share the driving and the petrol and the tolls you can get to the Alps for about another £60 each so you will keep the cost down especially if you self cater and buy food and wine at the supermarkets.

In my experience however no matter how you work it a weeks skiing in Europe is likely to run to about £800 - £1,000 for a week.

You are right, that is expensive.

The only time I have got a ski holiday really cheap is when I booked literally 2 days before we went. We got a catered chalet (all meals included except for one evening meal as the staff had a day off), coach travel for only £300 each. However we still needed to buy the ski pass. It really was a last minute thing and we risked not getting a holiday by leaving it that late.

I guess enjoying the snow is simply an expensive sport!