Skiing is not the cheapest of sports and finding budget ski vacations can be a challenge. There is plenty of information online and offline about ski vacations, and finding wonderful resorts with great ski opportunities is no problem at all if you have plenty of money. However, finding a package to fit a small budget can be much more difficult.
One way to save money is to look for less popular resorts. If you can find a new resort that is cheaper just because it is trying to make a name for itself, you can get some real bargains. There are other cases too where you can find a great deal by being flexible in some way.
For example, check out resorts that are a little harder to travel to. Sometimes just being a few miles more from the airport can make all the difference to a resort. In the same way, hotels that are not right next to the slopes tend to be cheaper. If you are driving to the resort, you may be able to save a lot by staying in a motel a little out of town, and driving to the slopes each day.
Another thing you can look for is last minute package deals. You can get some great bargains here. Be open to all the possibilities by not deciding your destination before you start looking. Keep an open mind and the perfect last minute low cost ski vacation may fall right into your lap.
Be wary of offers that may look cheap but in fact have all kinds of extras. You may have to pay for meals, ski hire, other equipment, chair lifts, lessons and more, on top of the basic charge.
On the other hand, if some of these things are not included you may be able to save money by going for less expensive options. For example, consider self catering in an apartment instead of hotels. This can work out much cheaper, especially if you are in a group of 4 or 6 people.
Or, if you are in a hotel where meals are charged as extras, don’t take all of your meals in the hotel but look for small restaurants where the local people eat, or buy bread, cheese and cold meats to make your own picnic lunches. You may also be able to cut costs on equipment by borrowing from friends or family instead of hiring skis when you arrive.
Finally, don’t be tempted to skip the insurance. Injuries on the slopes are common even for good skiers, and they can be costly to treat. Check whether your health insurance will cover you and if not, take out extra. Trying to cut costs by cutting out insurance has turned many budget ski vacations into an unexpectedly expensive option.
Albina Skane says
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