How to plan a family ski holiday without breaking the bank

Guest contribution from Mountain People, the simplified way for you to book your next tailor-made Alpine winter and summer holiday, allowing you to book everything you need for your next trip all in one place

 

A common misconception still remains around the ski industry, that ski holidays are for the chosen few and are expensive. Like all holidays though, they can be as expensive or in this case, as inexpensive, as you want.

Of course, whether you are a seasoned skier family returning to the slopes this season or a family considering your first ever ski holiday (which you won’t regret), the options open to you are endless and this is all reflected in your budget. There are plenty of benefits of booking a package skiing holiday with a reputable tour operator or agent and if you do so in good time you can certainly find a bargain! However, we know some families may prefer to book a holiday independently, and if that includes you, here’s how you can do it.

Family Holiday

Let’s consider the options available for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children). Your first port of call has to be looking at your flight options; do you have to fly Saturday to Saturday? The answer is simply no! With the emergence of low-cost carriers and competition between the others, flight prices vary significantly, why not fly on a Friday or any other weekday that works for your party or consider an early morning flight which means more time in the resort. This will all have a significant effect on your flight prices for the whole family.

The Resort

Your choice here will have some effect on your budget, but most resorts will have a wide range of accommodation types ranging from Self Catered Apartments, Hotels and Chalets with deals to be found in all. For you, looking for resorts within as short a distance as possible from your airport will start reducing costs from the get-go. Transfer times to resorts range from an hour and thirty minutes up to four hours, depending on your chosen airport and chosen resort, so do your research.

Most big resorts are situated within a larger ski area, like the Portes du Soleil, Les Trois Vallées, Arlberg Ski Region, Dolomiti Superski etc. The majority of these ski areas have smaller resorts or what are known as satellite resorts nestled in the Valleys around them. These smaller resorts and satellite resorts are just smaller villages nestled in the same ski area and here you can make savings on accommodation and also enjoy a quieter space if that is what you and your family like. So why not consider Les Gets in the Portes du Soleil or Les Menuires in the Les Trois Vallées as options when considering where to go.

 

Transfers

Coach, Scheduled, Shared or Private transfer options, they scale in price accordingly. For a family on a budget, your best option could be a return shared or coach transfer to and from resort. Timing is a factor to consider here, so booking as early as possible will always be your best option as prices can go up if left until last minute!

Accommodation

Self-catering accommodation has to be next on your list for a budget-driven ski holiday. An apartment for a family of 4 will start off at €500 for non-peak season weeks. Non-peak season weeks are a good option to consider if you want to keep your price down and stay away from the large crowds in-resort. Peak weeks around Christmas, New Year’s, February mid-term, and Easter see prices increase and large numbers travelling, so if you can avoid these peak periods for your winter holiday, you will save accordingly. There are countless Residence operators across the vast majority of European resorts and this will give you access to self-catered apartments ranging from small studios for 2 – 4 people up to 3 and 4 bedroom apartments for 10 – 12 people if your family is slightly bigger or you convince another family to come with you (you won’t have to convince them ever again). One thing you will never forget after waking up in a ski resort is the view you will be greeted with every time you look out the window or stand on your balcony.

Ski Pass

Let’s be honest, you do not need a full area access ski pass, it is your first time skiing, a local area ski pass is going to be more than you need for your first trip and your next one (once you start skiing, you won’t stop). The difference between these two options is significant; you will save between €50 and €60 per ski pass. This will aid greatly in reducing your overall price. Further discounts are also available if you purchase a family pass which is available for groups of 2 Adults and 2 Children minimum, across a range of resorts.

 

Rental

You will be learning how to ski or snowboard and spending some time on your bum laughing in the snow, so you will require basic equipment. You’ll need an economy pack (Skis, Boots, Poles or Snowboard and Boots) for the week which will cost you around €90 per adult and between €50 and €70 per child depending on their age. A must recommend for us is a helmet, not everyone wears them (but you should), some insurance companies have gone as far as stating that you must wear a helmet under their insurance policy. An adult helmet will cost another €25 with children’s helmets costing around €20.

Lessons

The only way to ski or snowboard is to learn! With numerous Ski and Snowboard school providers in each resort, you will have a choice to make in terms of who to go with? Some of the big names have been around for years and subsequently charge accordingly. However, these providers will give you and your family some of the most reliable and focused ski and snowboard lessons on the mountains. For a family of 2 adults and 2 children having lessons every morning (half day) for the duration of their stay (6 ski days) the cost will be €740 approximately, that breaks down to €185 per person. To keep your family lesson costs down, take your lessons in a group. Each of these groups will generally have up to 6 people sharing a lesson with a dedicated instructor. These other people in your group will be of the same skill level as you and it is a great way to meet new like-minded people while in resort. Kids will love the group lesson experience and will receive a badge or equivalent at the end of the week after completing their lessons.

Travel Insurance

This is a must! No matter what level of Skier or Snowboarder you are, travel insurance with winter sports cover is something you and the whole family should have. Travel insurance comes in various options, where you can avail of a cheaper single holiday cover. However, if you will be travelling again later in the year, it may be more beneficial to get yourself multi-trip cover. There are countless travel insurance providers so you will always find a good deal for this.

 

 

QUIZ: Where to ski and snowboard?

With more than a thousand ski resorts in the Alps, it can be hard to find the perfect place for that amazing trip that ticks all the boxes, especially if it’s your first time going on a ski holiday. Therefore, we’ve created a quiz to help you find your ideal destination and guide you in the right direction in your search. At each question right down your option -A, B, C or D- and at the end of the quiz count the letter it has been repeated the most. Here we go!

1. Apart from skiing, why would you like to go on a ski holiday? 

1. As a break-away from the routine
2. I just want to take to the slopes!
3. Discover a new place
4. Have a great time with my friends

2. How much should the transfer take from the airport to the resort?

1. I don’t mind as long as the trip has a beautiful view
2. Less than 2 hours, I’m too impatient!
3. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu
4. I just want to arrive on time for the après-ski

3.  What type of skier are you?

1. The one that takes their time to contemplate the views
2. I’m a snowboarder
3. The adventurous kind
4. An après-skier

4. What’s your skiing level?

1. Intermediate
2. Expert
3. Beginner
4. I can try…

5. Which is your most-used emoji?

1. ?
2. ?
3. ?
4. ?

6. Best company to tackle the slopes with?

1. My partner and people from my closest circle 
2. Anyone who loves the snow as much as I do
3. Somebody willing to explore around
4. Friends! The more, the better

7. How will you spend your evening?

1. Relaxed at the spa
2. Still snowboarding or skiing
3. Discovering a new place in town
4. Drinking with my friends 

8. The most important thing about the resort?

1. The scenery
2. The pistes
3. The connections
4. The bars

 

Majority A – Val Thorens, France

At Val Thorens, approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes away from Geneva Airport.

After working so hard you look forward to treating yourself and relaxing. A great ski holiday must come along with a great spa! In the top-floor of the Pashmina Hotel, you’ll find the Occitane. You can have a massage, relax at the jacuzzi or at the steam room and take a nourishment treatment before descending the slopes. 

While you relax, and let the treatments take full effect as you have a glass of the finest champagne, you can enjoy the stunning winter panorama of the Trois Vallées. Also, if you want to explore other ski resorts, the Three Valleys is well connected by lifts with Méribel, La Tania, Courchevel and more.

Even if the first development built was a somewhat unsightly apartment block, Val Thorens is now home to some of the smartest hotels in the French Alps, more sympathetic with the Savoyard style. Some of the best hotels in the resort are Altapura, with an elegant Scandinavian style and Koh-i Nor, named after the largest diamond in the world.

 

Majority B – Avoriaz, France

At Avoriaz, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Geneva Airport.

All you care about is taking on those slopes! You are happier on the pistes and surrounded by snow, that’s why you’ll love the stunning views over the Morzine valley and Mont Blanc. Avoriaz has one of the best conditions to snowboard and ski: it has 600km of pistes to freeride, it’s usually one of the first resorts to get snow, and it’s the highest resort of the Portes du Soleil ski region (over 5900 feet). Also, the alpine resort has some of the best snowparks in Europe, including the Stash, a fun ungroomed area to freeride and freestyle. 

But if you go to Avoriaz don’t forget your swimming costume (yes, your swimming costume), you are going to need it at Aquariaz Indoor Water Park. Built on the top of a cliff, you can see the whole valley covered in snow while you’re swimming in a heated pool. Aquariaz has all the features you expect from a water park: a gently-flowing river to float around, an aquatic play area for young children, massage tables, and even a 10-metre high water half pipe.

Once a year, Avoriaz also hosts the Snowboxx Festival, with many ski and snowboard activities and an epic après party. Each year the line-up of the festival is headed by some acclaimed DJs such as Jax Jones, Annie Mac and Rudimental, amongst other artists. 

 

Majority C – Borovets, Bulgaria

At Borovets, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Sofia International Airport.

For you, each day is a chance to discover the world and skiing is just a pretext for new adventures! If you know the Alps well already, and they’ve lost their charm, then you should ski in Borovets, located at the foot of Mount Musala, the highest peak in the Balkans. This Bulgarian resort has great connections to other places worth exploring and it’s easy to find excursions to Sofia and Plovdiv. Also, it’s near the Rila Mountains and you can visit the fascinating Rila Monastery, the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. 

At 2925 metres of altitude, Borovets is a more budget-friendly destination compared to the Alps, and it has a wide offer of courses and activities for beginners. Still, intermediates can also have fun in the Balkans.

The resort also offers great après-ski plans where you can make other international friends, have fun and share some travelling recommendations. Besides, many skiers highlight Borovets’ nightlife as a key feature, as it’s the ski resort with the most bars per square km in Europe. Bulgaria is also one of the cheapest countries in Europe to buy beer, but you might want to try Rakia, Bulgaria’s national drink.

 

Majority D – St. Anton, Austria

At St. Anton, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Innsbruck Airport.

Taking to the slopes is an exciting idea, but you can’t stop thinking about the après-ski plan! St. Anton nights are well-known in the ski scene. Skiers and snowboarders can start their afternoon in the legendary après-ski mile, listening to live music and having an Austrian beer in bars like Mooserwirt, Taps, and Krazy Kanguruh. If it’s after 8pm and you are still looking for a place to continue the party and have some Jagermeister, you can go to Piccadilly/Postkeller, a complex in the middle of town with two ambiences: an area to drink and talk and another one if you feel like dancing. 

St. Anton is one of the snowiest areas in Europe, offering excellent snow conditions suitable for skiers and snowboarders of any level. However, experts will have a great time on the slopes in the resort and they can test their skills in areas like Galzig. On the other hand, the Nasserein area is more suitable for beginners and they can join the Ski School Arlberg, the largest school in Austria.

The Alberg region is the largest linked ski area in Austria and the lifts are highly efficient. With your ski pass, you’ll be able to ski at any point of the 305km in the Ski Arlberg area and visit neighbours resorts of St Christoph and Stuben and any of the other place in Lech and Zurs.

 

Happy with your resort? Which one is going to be your next destination? Share it with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, we’d love to know the result!