How to ski on a budget!

  France, France
Thursday, December 11, 2008

As anyone who has caught the ski bug will agree, adventures on the piste aren't a luxury, they're a necessity!



For snow-mad skiers and boarders the winter sports week away is an annual fixture and, thanks to cheap flights to the French Alps resorts, many of us have also got into the habit of squeezing in extra mini breaks through the season, too.

Ouch! As the credit crunch bites, question is: how can we get our fix? For die-hard ski buffs, skiing on a budget won't feel like a second-class experience, and if getting to the mountain is all that matters, the trick is quite simply to focus on the mountain!



Reminding yourself of the principal reason for your trip - TO SKI ! - will help you keep your eyes on the money. When you're whizzing down the slopes do you really care whether your chalet has a private Jacuzzi, or lies within skidding distance of a gourmet restaurant or luxury spa?



Thought not. And when it comes to skiing in the French Alps for less, self-catering apartments are by far the smartest option - often at least £200 cheaper than a week in a hotel at half-board!



To climb that financial mountain...

1.Time it right!

No prizes for knowing that prices soar around Christmas, New Year, February half term and Easter. If you absolutely must go at these times of year, hold out in order to snare the best late deals and discounts. You might not get the exact resort you wanted but you will get to ski for less.



And keep an eye on snowfall and falling prices at the end of the season - as long as there's enough of the white stuff this is the time to grab the best cheap deals.

2. No frills flights

Pick a resort that you can get to with a low-cost airline. Easyjet flies to Geneva, Grenoble and Lyon and Ryanair now has a ski flight web page with details of all the nearest resorts served by its new routes.



Be flexible on the resort and see which flight will get you snow bound for less.

3. Take the train

Compare the flight deals for the time you want to go with rail prices. Travelling to the French Alps by train can not only be even cheaper than a low-cost flight but a lot less stressful. The Eurostar ski train to France takes you all the way into the heart of the Alps. There are Eurostar services to Moûtiers, Aime La Plagne and Bourg St Maurice - gateways to the resorts of Val Thorens, Courcheval, La Plagne , Meribel, Tignes and Les Arcs.



For other French Alps ski resorts, check out the latest deals from Rail Europe (0844 848 4071). For example, for Alpe d'Huez you can take the train to Grenoble and get a bus transfer to resort.

4. Ferry nice!

If the numbers still don't quite add up, consider inviting friends or another couple along and make your way to the mountains by car.



If you split the petrol, ferry and road toll costs by four people, your total travel costs to the French Alps will be well under £100 each - fantastic! For latest ferry deals, visit Sea France (0871 423 7119).

5. Kit savvy

If you need to rent kit, do it online from the comfort of your living room before you go and you can get what you need for up to half the price you'd pay for ski poles and boots in resort. Check out the latest deals from top online suppliers such as Intersport and Ski Republic.



Fashionistas with their own kit should also resign to taking a style break! This might just not be the season for technical upgrades, and unless there's a hole in your boot or your jacket lets in water, last season's skiwear will still look good.

6. Kitchen confidential

Pick an apartment with a well-equipped kitchen and there's no reason to exist on hot chocolate and toast. To really keep track of your pennies, come up with meal plan ideas in advance and hit the supermarket as soon as you arrive.





Shop cleverly and you can not only have slap up breakfasts and dinners but take your own yummy lunches to the mountain rather than forking out for over-priced sarnies at the on-piste cafes. This way, you're in charge of your budget and if there is enough spare for celebratory meal out or hedonistic bar crawl, even better!

Do you have a great money-saving tip for skiing on a budget? If so, we'd love to hear from you. Please get in touch by leaving a comment or using the details at the side of the page.

PV-Holidays