Avoriaz by Dominique Granger
If you're wondering how to save money on your next ski holiday, we'll let you in on our secrets to reduce the cost of your next trip. Here's our comprehensive list of money saving hacks that'll help everyone - from complete beginners to seasoned pros.
1. Book Off Peak
If you can travel off peak you'll save yourself some money. Even if you're tied to school holidays you might get lucky and find a week that a lot of schools don't have off. Our top tips would be checking out the week before Christmas (just choose a high altitude resort to ensure the best possible snow conditions). There's sometimes a week after New Year and often two half-term weeks with one busier than the other. Choose your Easter week carefully, as it's often possible to avoid a peak travel week, especially late March when snow conditions should be better.
2. Free Lift Passes for Kids
If you're taking the family skiing this winter then look out for deals on lift passes - as no ski holiday is complete without them!
Tignes - Val d'Isère and Le Grand Massif (for Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoens) are all offering FREE ski passes for all under 8's for the whole of winter 2022/23, and 8-15 year olds will benefit from children's lift pass rates. If you can't find free lift passes for children, the next best thing is family lift passes - you'll find these in plenty of destinations including Les Arcs and Chamonix.
3. Book Early
Take advantage of Early Bookings Offers which can save you up to 20% and get you the best pick of accommodation and room types. Also, flight prices generally only go up the closer you get to your departure date so set your alarm for when they release the flights and grab a bargain.
4. Book Last Minute
This is a risky one but it works well especially if you're looking for smaller apartments sleeping for 4 people or less. If there's a late season dump of snow this is a great way to sneak in a ski holiday.
5. Try Somewhere New
Lesser known resorts can offer better value versus their big name neighbours and you can still ski your favourite terrain. If you love the Three Valleys, why not try Les Menuires, part of the same ski area as Val Thorens so you'll be skiing the same slopes and still be able to stop at the Folie Douce for après.
6. Be Flexible
Being flexible with your dates can save you some money on flights and you’ll still have a great selection of accommodation to choose from. Many hotels and apartments now don't have a set Saturday – Saturday changeover day so there’s a lot more flexibility – just ask! You might also find Sunday - Sunday is available at your chosen property which makes for a quieter transfer day, plus the chance to ski on 'transfer Saturday', probably the quietest day on the mountain!
7. Make a Packed Lunch
You can have your lunch with the best view without queueing, scrabbling for the last table on the sun terrace and without the hefty price tag. Whether it’s a classic sandwich with delicious local cheese and meats or something more refined, it’s well worth taking a little time to organise a packed lunch so you don’t have to pay €20 every day for a raclette, chips and a soft drink.
8. Debit & Credit Cards
When using your debit or credit card abroad check what your bank’s fees are and always make sure to pay in the local currency if you’re given the choice as this will be the best rate. If you’re looking to avoid being charged card fees altogether you can use a Monzo card or a prepaid travel card.
9. Rent Your Equipment
It’s no surprise that renting can be better value than buying ski gear and paying the airline carriage fees to get it all the way to the resort with you. If you’ve booked through Powderbeds you can save on your equipment (up to 40%!) when you hire from SKISET.
10. Stock Up in the Valley
If you’re staying in a self-catering accommodation it’s wise to do the bulk of your food shopping down in the valley as the supermarkets will be far larger and better priced that their mountain equivalents. For example, if you’re staying in Les Arcs the best supermarket would be in Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
11. Self-Drive
Why not try something different this season and drive to the Alps? It’s better for the environment than flying (if there's a few of you travelling in the same car) and will mean you won’t have a strict baggage allowance to stick to. You could even make a road trip of it and stop off in a few locations overnight on the way.
12. Compare Your Flights
If you’re flying to the slopes this winter then use price comparison sites like Skyscanner or Kayak to find the best prices for flights.
13. Rent Your Ski Gear or Buy Second Hand
Rather than spend a fortune on brand new ski gear, why not try renting this season? You could check out Ecoski for their clothing rental service, with a focus on eco-friendly and sustainably minded brands such as Patagonia and Picture Organic Clothing, or use their repairs service to give your old gear a new lease of life.
Alternatively look out for second hand bargains online - try WhoSki.com, a peer to peer marketplace a little like eBay for skiers.
14. Ask the Experts
It can be exhausting hunting around for the best accommodation deals so why not sit back, relax and let the experts do all of the hard work? They’ll know the best value accommodation, latest deals and best resorts so you can’t go wrong. Ask one of the Powderbeds team to help, email: [email protected] or call: 0131 240 3300.
15. Be Financially Protected
Look for ABTA bonding for accommodation-only bookings and ATOL protection for holidays including a flight within the package. Powderbeds offer ski accommodation only and are ABTA bonded so your money is 100% financially protected. Our ABTA number is V3690. Many online travel agents offering ski accommodation don’t offer any financial protection so be careful!
16. Bin Your Cookies
This is a great tip for when you’re booking anything whether it be flights, accommodation or ski hire. Clear your cookies before booking so that you don’t fall victim of a sudden spike in price because you’ve returned to your basket a few hours or days later.
17. Water
This is one of the easiest ways to save money when you’re on the slopes and it’s good for the environment as well. Take a reusable bottle with you so that you can fill it up at your accommodation before you head out for the day and you won’t need to buy bottled water on the mountain.
18. Choose Your Resort Carefully
Resorts like Courchevel, Méribel and Val d’Isère come with a premium because of their luxurious reputations and picture perfect villages. Check with our ski experts first to avoid paying €10 for a hot chocolate that could cost you half that on the other side of the mountain.
19. Plan Ahead
Have a plan and book restaurants for lunch before you find yourself standing in the middle of a piste, cold, hangry, possibly with cold and hangry children, ready to spend an arm and a leg just for a slice of pizza.
20. Check the Forecast
That unexpected cold or sunny spell during your trip could cost you if you’re not prepared. With a captive market, the price of extra layers or sunglasses in resorts can be significantly more than back in the UK.
21. Pack Smart
Be sure to write a list and check it twice. It will make sure you pack exactly what you need and you have a list to check when you’re leaving to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. That one lonely glove is no use to anyone.
22. Sharing is Caring
Whether it’s for ski lessons or airport transfers, doing shared transfers and group lessons is a great way to reduce your spend or save a little money for après.
There you have it, our top money saving hacks for your next ski holiday. To book your stay now, check out our huge range of ski accommodation today.
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Posted on Wednesday 16 Nov 2022