14 ways to get cheaper skiing holidays
Taking to the slopes can cost a pretty penny. But, luckily for you, we know many ways to save money on skiing holidays. Here's how...
Being an avid skier and a perpetually skint student can be a tricky combination, as a seven-night holiday easily adds up to £500 per person. Ouch.
What's more, these figures often don't include some of the skiing essentials, such as your ski pass and equipment hire.
Don't panic though. There are plenty of things you can do to cut down holiday costs. Our top tips below are sure to save you some cash.
How to save money on skiing holidays
These are the best ways to cut the costs of going skiing on holiday:
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Book the holiday far in advance
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Hopefully we're not too late to let you in on this tip. If you know when you'll be jetting off, make sure you look up prices well in advance and book as soon as you're able to.
You might assume that a last-minute deal could save you some money, but this doesn't apply to the ski season. Generally, the longer you leave it, the higher the prices get.
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Research the best deals on holidays
Imagine finding a great ski holiday package deal, only to find that you could've got a much better deal if you'd bought cheap flights and accommodation separately.
You never know where the best bargains are to be found, but sites like Lastminute.com, Skyscanner and Momondo are great starting points.
The key is to take an hour or two of your time (or more) to compare the offers out there. Don't forget to factor in other expenses like accommodation, travel to and from the slopes as well as ski passes when you're doing the maths.
As an example of how doing your research pays off, Chelsea 'Travel' Dickenson (the Cheap Holiday Expert) is pretty much the world's leading expert on how to get cheap holidays. And, as part of her mission to go on 10 holidays in a year for the same price as the average Brit's annual vacation spend, she did a lot of research.
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Find group discounts on skiing holidays
Usually, the cheapest way to get a holiday is to go with a big group. You can get some great deals with a group discount, and skiing trips are no exception.
Not only is it cheaper to go with a university society (or a group of friends), but it can also be more fun. You'll be with a crew that's likely to be up for a good time, and your après ski is well planned out for you.
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Use the snow conditions to your advantage
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If you do end up leaving your booking to the last minute, one way you could still get a discount is if the weather isn't looking so hot (or cold... whatever).
A low snow level that isn't showing any sign of improvement can be used to your advantage.
The ski company may already have reduced its prices as a result of this. But if not, make the case to them that you shouldn't be expected to pay full price for the use of just half of the ski runs.
If you're not confident that you'll be able to persuade them, check out our guide to haggling and getting results.
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Choose your destination carefully
France and Switzerland consistently come out as some of the most expensive skiing destinations, so why not go somewhere a bit off-piste (like what we did there)?
Europe is jam-packed with amazing places to ski. There's no need to stick to the big-name ski hubs. Skyscanner has put together a great list of cheap skiing destinations, which helpfully includes the average costs of drinks, too.
If nights out aren't quite your thing, staying in a slightly smaller village away from all the action and bars will be even cheaper.
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Test out ski gear for free
Earlier in the ski season (from around late October to early December), many resorts host events where skiers can test the latest equipment from big-name brands for free.
This is suitable for everyone from first-time skiers to pros. Brands want you to use their latest equipment and give as much feedback as possible before the season properly kicks off.
Another bonus is that the period during which the testing events run is low season. Even once flights and accommodation are accounted for, you can be set for a pretty cheap trip.
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Go on holiday at off-peak times of the year
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As well as keeping an eye on the snow conditions, always try to book during off-peak times. As a student, this should be a lot easier for you, as your schedule tends to be more flexible than people who work full-time (unless you've got lots of essays and exam revision, of course).
Try not to go around Christmas or New Year, as these periods are always priced at a premium. The beginning of December is often a good shout, while the end of February is decent too. There will still be plenty of snow!
And, there's no better advice than avoiding the school holidays, both in England and in the country you're visiting (do your research).
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Try getting a student discount on your skiing holiday
As far as we know, there are no major companies or resorts offering student discounts on ski holidays. Or, at least, none that will make a huge difference to the cost of your trip (a few companies offer student skiing holiday packages, but these seem to be more expensive than just finding good deals yourself).
That said, there's no harm in asking the hotel or ski company for a student discount. Even if they don't publicly advertise that they offer one, it's worth asking.
This may work better if you're in a large group of students, as they'll probably be happy that you're willing to book so many slots at once.
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Borrow skiing gear from a friend
Skiing gear can be extremely pricey (not just to buy, but to rent, too) so you might find it massively bumps up your costs.
If you have any friends who regularly go skiing, ask them if you could borrow their gear in exchange for a nice home-cooked meal (or something else that's both cheap and heartfelt).
If you're planning on making a habit of skiing, it's probably worth looking into the cost of buying the gear yourself as opposed to renting ski clothes every time. This stuff isn't cheap, but it can work out cheaper than renting in the long term.
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Watch your spending money
No one likes having to watch their cash on holiday. But, let's face it – it's easy to go over budget when you're spending in a foreign currency.
The first step is to work out a daily budget before you leave.
Then, you could consider getting a prepaid credit card or an app-based bank account with a good foreign exchange rate. That way, you'll never go over your holiday budget, and you'll spend less on shady transaction fees.
If you're in a group, it's also worth seeing if people are interested in taking turns cooking each night rather than eating out regularly. It can be fun and you'll save a packet.
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Book your skiing lessons wisely
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When you're booking skiing lessons, think carefully about how many lessons you'll want or need.
While you don't want to under-book, you might not need one every day. Paying for lessons you don't use will be a real waste of money.
Also factor in any heavy nights you might have. Getting up for a morning lesson afterwards will be tricky.
That said, if you're confident that you'll be fighting fit throughout your trip, it's best to book lessons in bulk as you might get a skiing session for free (or at a discounted rate).
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Befriend ski reps
If you get networking while you're out there, you never know what might happen. We're not suggesting you use your irresistible charm to exploit your instructors. Instead, be your friendly self, and karma might throw in a good word.
And if you don't manage to get a free lesson or two out of it, you'll at least have made some good friends.
Check out our tried and tested travel accessories. -
Find the best exchange rates
Looking at exchange rates isn't very exciting. Nonetheless, it's worth spending some time to find the best rates.
To get the best bank for your buck, compare the market. As we mentioned earlier, a prepaid credit card is likely to offer you a good foreign exchange rate (as are app-based banks). We've got the best of the rest of your options outlined in our guide to spending abroad.
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Get the best value travel insurance
When it comes to holiday insurance for your trip to the slopes, the first thing to know is that you really do need it.
Secondly, skiing insurance comes with a premium so it tends to be a bit more costly.
That's because, unfortunately, the chances of you needing to use it are a bit higher when you're throwing yourself down the side of a mountain every day. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, the cheapest travel insurance deals don't often include ski cover.
You can still save money by comparing ski insurance deals that provide you with the same necessary coverage. Start with our guide to cheap student travel insurance. But, remember not to go too cheap and get cover which doesn't fully... well, cover you.
If you're determined to ski come rain, shine or snow, use these tips and head straight for your favourite search engine to have a look for the best deals out there.
And one final note that's worth us reiterating: beware of the "student ski holiday". It's likely to be marketed as a cheap package, but there are often hidden costs and the resort is usually not ideal.
Looking to get away this summer? Check out our list of the best student holidays for under £150.
