A Holiday In The Snow

For some people a holiday isn’t just about lazing about in the sun by a pool, drinking, eating and sleeping. Some people prefer action, adventure, excitement, exercise- and where better to find it than in the mountains? For an adventure-seeking holiday goer, the mountains provide it all- skiing, snowboarding, hiking and a multitude of other options. However, in the current economic climate, the idea of a holiday spent whizzing about on pristine slopes before relaxing with a glass of wine in a hot tub might seem an impossible dream.

In reality, there are things you can do to get a good deal on a retreat to the ‘winter playgrounds’ of the mountains. Here are a few ways to save money on every aspect of your ski holiday:

1)      Flights: Flights are probably one of the biggest costs of any ski holiday, especially when you remember the fact that, due to the inaccessibility of some ski resorts by plane, you’ll also have to get transport from the airport to your accommodation. One way to get a cheap flight is to look at the more budget airlines like Easyjet. They offer cheap flights to locations like Lyon or Genova- from here a resort like Courchevel is only about a two hour drive, and there are often regular buses and transfers to the resorts which will enable you to get there cheaply.

2)      Accommodation: When looking for cheap accommodation, don’t just look at it through travel sites like Thomas Cook or Teletext holidays. Often, if you go directly to the hotel you get a much better deal on rooms or chalets. This option also gives you more control and choice over which options you have- just think, with the money you’ve saved maybe you can afford a room with a sauna!

3)      Deals: Don’t forget to check out websites for special deals. For example, Alpine Holidays is offering a ‘recession busting super deal’ whereby you can book a self-catered chalet and get £100 off per person. Self-catered holidays in themselves are an excellent way to save money: most chalets come equipped with basic cooking equipment and the cost of food is about the same as in English supermarkets.

4)      Equip: Buying ski equipment is inevitably expensive and, unless you are a regular skier, not always worth it. Another option is to hire. Most ski resorts have on-site hire shops, however, to avoid queues and give you choice it can be an idea to ‘pre-book’ your equipment. Directly contacting the shop can also be a good idea - you can often get good deals like free ski equipment for children.

5)      Destinations:  There are many places to explore when wanting to ski. However, one of the most popular, and probably easiest to reach for Britons, is the French Alps. Tignes, Mirebel are just a couple of France’s popular destinations. But head to La Plagne if you want an altogether grander experience. The resort is absolutely  huge.

When it comes to skiing, a package-type break is often the most economically efficient and streamlined way of approaching a holiday that has so many strands and points to consider. Resolving all the many stresses that can emerge with planning this kind of excursion can be found at companies who deal specifically with ski holidays, packages, and ski weekend breaks. Try looking at a niche company like Alpine Elements – their website offers a variety of ski holidays, which cover a span of ski regions and an assortment of trips.